Title: Breaking Tradition
Author: Elly
Character: Merry/Éowyn- M/E pairing
Rating: G
Notes: Happy Birthday, Abby! Some Merry/Éowyn fluff for you. I couldn't find out when Éowyn's birthday was, so I made it up. If anyone can help me out, that'd be great. =D
Characters are not mine, no money being made, yada yada yada.
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Éowyn was laughing. It had been long since anyone had heard her laughter, long since anyone had laughed in the Houses of Healing. The times were dark, these past days after the battle and Éowyn's mood darker. But today she laughs. It is the Halfling who makes her smile, the one called Merry. Those who work in the Houses have become accustomed to his presence and think him aptly named. He always had a story to tell, usually about his family. "… And we found it three days later, hidden under his bed. It was there the whole time!" Merry grinned as he recalled his Pippin in younger days. Éowyn's laugh rang out again. "Such wonderful times you had, Merry!" "Oh, aye, my lady. Pippin was a handful, to be sure, but we had twice as many laughs as cries, so I think we'll keep him." Merry swung his feet, making him seem younger than his years. He was still smiling, thinking of Pippin. Éowyn had become quiet. He studied her for a moment, then asked, " What is it, my lady?" "What is today's date?" She looked serious. "Ah. I believe it is… the 20th, if I recall correctly. It's hard to keep track in here." Merry looked at her quizzically. "Why do you want to know?" Éowyn pressed her lips together into a line as slender as the sword she once wielded. "Today is my birthday," she murmured, almost too quietly for Merry to hear. "Your birthday? Why, my lady, that's wonderful! I didn't know!" Merry enthusiasm was a little forced. He was concerned with her sudden shift of mood; he wanted to hear he laugh again. He'd give anything to hear her laugh again. "It is wonderful, I suppose." Éowyn sensed his uneasiness. "Tell me how you celebrate birthdays in the Shire, Master Meriadoc." She didn't want him to become upset on her account. And his stories did have a marvelous way of lightening her mood. "Oh, birthday's are grand affairs in the Shire! Old Bilbo's birthday was such an event…" Merry continued, happily speaking about times past, trying to forget the present, and help Éowyn forget, even if just for a moment. Éowyn listened, not paying too much attention to his actual words, just letting herself be swept away in his voice and memories. "… And of course we all got the finest gifts. Bilbo was nothing if not generous." Éowyn frowned. "You received gifts? But wasn't it his birthday?" Merry stopped. "Of course! That's the whole point of birthdays, to give gifts. Is it not the same in Rohan?" "On our birthdays, others give us gifts to celebrate. It seems we are the exact opposite." Éowyn smiled a bit at that. They were so different, yet so alike in some ways. "Oh." Merry quieted a bit. "I wish I had known. I would have gotten something to give you." He did so want to make her happy. Somehow, her smile made his day better. He did admit that it had become something of a personal mission of his to make her smile at least once a day. He was doing exceptionally well today, until this. "It is no matter, Merry. Your stories have been the finest gift I could receive." Merry began to blush, much to his dismay. "That's very kind of you to say, my lady." A little smile touched Éowyn's lips and suddenly some things she had been wondering about slipped into place. "So, the person whose birthday it is gives the gifts in the Shire. Is that right?" Merry nodded, and gulped. Éowyn was suddenly very close to him. "Well then, I think I should like to give you a gift, if that's all right." Éowyn tilted Merry's chin up and looked into his eyes. He nodded. Hearing her laugh again and feeling her lips on his as she leaned forward and kissed him softly made Merry's heart skip a beat. Happy Birthday, indeed. |