http://starli-ght.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] starli-ght.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] b2mem2012-03-01 08:26 pm

Closure, by Starlight

B2MeM Challenge: Day 1: i18, March 3019: Second Battle of the Fords of Isen
Format:Triple drabble
Genre: 
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Characters: Elfwine, Éomer, Lothíriel
Summary: Elfwine helps his father put closure on a particularly painful regret.

The year he turned thirteen, Elfwine finally began to show interest in learning the history of his homeland. 

"He has been living history, you see," Éowyn said, when they expressed their concerns about his previous lack of enthusiasm. "You were never a studious boy yourself."

But, when he did want to know, he devoured all books he could get his hands on, pestered everyone with questions, raided the soldiers for explanations on the finer points of strategy, plagued the bards for more stories, more poems, more names. When, at last, as it was wont to happen, he arrived to the matter with Isengard, he came up against a wall for his father would not say much about it.

He asked. And asked. And Éomer closed and closed himself more and more.

Subtly, Lothíriel tried to explain that it was still a painful subject, which, of course, only spurred his imagination on.

He searched high and low and, of course, called upon the Marshal. 

One spring afternoon, when they were sparring, he let his mock sword clatter on to the ground and said, as naturally as if he were recounting what he had eaten for breakfast, "There's a reason why you missed the battle, of course. If you had not been on the Eastemnet chasing after the Orcs, they would surely have finished Master Merry and Pippin. Not to mention that you would never have come across the King Elessar, and we all know what bad news that would have been!" after which he lifted up his sword and resumed his sparring stance, leaving his father to blink and pick up the pace.

That night, as they were settling for bed, Lothíriel noticed how subdued her husband was. It took little prodding to have him smile and say, "All's well now."

[identity profile] aliana1.livejournal.com 2012-03-02 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
Very nice! I especially like Éowyn's explanation of why Elfwine hasn't been interested in history until now, and Elfwine's very logical rationalization that both surprises and comforts his father. Great use of the prompt.

[identity profile] lindahoyland.livejournal.com 2012-03-02 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
This was most enjoyable!

[identity profile] grey-wonderer.livejournal.com 2012-03-02 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
I love the way Elfwine reasons this all out and just see the answers so plainly. Sometimes, being removed for things give us clear insight. This is great!

[identity profile] engarian.livejournal.com 2012-03-02 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
Wise boy. Eomer may well find himself outmatched in his older years. Well done!

- Erulisse (one L)

[identity profile] havamahal.livejournal.com 2012-04-01 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
I love Elfwine's reasoning. It's nice to see he could show Éomer the bigger picture. Even such little things can mean a lot to someone, who lost the people he care about.

Lovely story!

[identity profile] ladyelleth.livejournal.com 2012-04-04 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
The atmosphere in this is quite lovely - and Elfwine sounds like a young man quite after my own heart!
elleth: Melkor raising his arms before a starry background, with the text "Disco arose about Melkor" (Silm: Disco Melkor)

[personal profile] elleth 2018-03-02 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
Revisiting this after years! It's been a while, so it's been a reading with fresh eyes, and here's my take in 2018:

How nice! I love how eager and inquisitive Elfwine is, and I'm very glad he and Éomer came to an understanding, even though it must remain a painful subject. And Lothíriel as mediator is wonderful, very much the cherry on top of a good story!