Look Whose Coming To Dinner

Eomer had invited Captain Calaren to dinner in hopes that his unruly daughter might concede this once and allow the man her attentions. She had been terribly stubborn and the last man he invited to dinner she purposefully spilled wine on his coat. She said it was an accident but Lindariel had saw what she had done. In truth the man was a bit too forward but he was well liked and respected among the men and seeing him turn away from her was disappointing. Calaren was a kind man with a keen knowledge and respect for horses. He was their best rider and taught the new recruits techniques on how to fight effectively in the saddle. He was only 24 but he had a kind, youthful appearance that Lindariel said might have their daughter looking at him.

He was tall, lean, well muscled with long, wavy blonde hair, deep blue eyes and a blonde well kept beard and mustache. Eomer also got a little satisfaction by springing these dinners on her without her knowing she was going to be sitting next to a possible suitor. The look on her face made him laugh a little inside. All the trouble she had caused him...he needed a little something to be jovial about.

As the women were seated their butler came out and set down another table setting next to her right then the soup had been served. Eomer had a difficult time containing his grin when she noticed it being set up next to her.

Narisa was counting down the days when she might see Eagan again. She missed him terribly and wanted so badly to tell her father about her relationship with him...especially when he began bringing in suitors for her. She could see her father's patience was running thin, but she continued to fight off every suitor he brought to her. She hoped he was running out of options because she was growing tired of it all.

That night she believed she was attending a normal family dinner. Theodred was there with Elisa and her parents sat beside one another as well. However, as she sat down she glanced over to her right and saw another place being set. She groaned silently because she knew what this meant...yet another suitor. She sighed and looked at her father, who appeared to be greatly enjoying all of this.

"Well Father, who is it this time?"

Eomer only tilted his glass to her and smiled. However Lindariel rolled her eyes at that. She didn’t like how her husband and daughter did not often get along. She did however think this was important so she decided to butt in.

“You know him daughter and if you are rude to him we will have words of it and trust me when I say chapped hands will only be the start,” she warned her. Theodred raised an eyebrow at his mother. “Mother...that’s hardly fair,” he began but Narisa flashed him a glare that caught him up short. He knew of her love for Eagan and loved and cared for his sister a great deal. To watch her have to go through this was not easy but she had told him NOT to reveal anything about it to anyone. He did not but he was coming awfully close to putting a questioning spin on everything and she’d know her parents would begin asking questions if they learned too much. What she needed was time, for herself, for Eagan, for the love she held for him. Time her father didn’t seem to want to give her.

Narisa knew her brother was only trying to help, but she did not want him interfering. The last thing she needed was her parents questioning her. She had promised Eagan that she wouldn't say anything about their relationship or what he was doing to win her hand. He wanted to be the one to tell her father this when he asked for her hand.

"Well, who is it then?" she asked as she took a sip of her wine.

OOC-I was just thinking that maybe Narisa and Calaren had a little bit of a thing for a while and to be honest if she didn't want to marry Eagan that she would choose him.

At that moment Calaren stepped through the double doors into the dining room. Theodred’s eyes shot up in surprise but then he smiled. His wife and mother did as well. Calaren was quite handsome in his suit and his hair looked soft and clean. It almost glimmered in the bright lanterns as well as his eyes.

“My apologies for being late, my King...my Queen,” he said as he bowed to them in turn. “My Prince, my Lady...Princess,” he said in a much more familiar tone. Eomer only waved him to sit down. Calaren did and smiled as he took up[ his table napkin.

He thought Narissa was quite...beautiful in that dress. It was his favorite color and he wondered if she had worn it for him alone. In truth her mother had been talking to her this afternoon and suggested in passing that she should wear it. Now her ‘idle’ suggestion might make more sense now. Not only had she been tricked into wearing a dress he would favor. She also wore a perfume that he liked also.

Narisa heard the double doors open and looked up to see Calaren walk through and into the dining room. Her heart actually skipped a beat at seeing him. Several years ago she and Calaren had been involved in a relationship, that had been known to her family. They had split mutually, each knowing that they were still young and wanted to explore other relationships. However, she still cared deeply for him and it was now clear that her parents knew this. The truth was that if she did not love Eagan and want to marry him that she would choose Calaren without a second thought.

He looked extremely handsome in his suit and his hair, which was longer now than it had been when they had been together, fell in golden waves nearly down to his shoulders. A rush of old feelings bubbled up inside of her and at that moment she missed Eagan more than she ever had in the two years he had been gone.

"Good evening Captain," she replied with a little glance his way.

To Calaren Narisa has blossomed into a very beautiful young woman. He had known her years ago when she didn’t mind a kiss or two or a cuddle on his saddle. He knew few better riders than Narisa and respected her for that. Calaren was better however which had drawn Narisa’s attention to him. Now a respected officer he was well liked among the men and women alike who thought his face too pretty to belong on a man. Calaren made it worse by his humbleness and modesty in most things. 


That afternoon years ago had been her doing and. Ow he was back his intentions obvious and likely her father would approve of the match in a moment if she acquiesced. “I see you are riding a new horse,” he said. He loved horses and always spoke about them. “She’s got a strong flank and gate, she will be a good jumper if you train her so,” he said. He was an excellent judge of horseflesh also but his cheeks colored slightly as he took a bit of his meat. He was thinking of their last kiss and how much her breasts had filled out since then.

Narisa took a small bite of food. She sometimes tended to eat too quickly and she could sense her parents watching her. Although she wanted to marry Eagan, she did care about Calaren and didn't want to appear rude or unladylike.

"Yes, she is one that my grandfather sent from Gehenna. He and I have talked about me going to Gehenna for a time to work with him on some of his horses."

Calaren smiled at that. "Oh, that sounds exciting!" He said obviously interested in that. "I've heard of your Grandfather...everyone has. maybe you have a bit of him in you eh?" He said as he ate some potato. "It's like being out there on the frontier, maybe you could start your own farm and breed them?" He asked. "I could even help you if you needed," he said.

Narisa enjoyed Calaren's enthusiasm. It caused her to smile. She was clearly proud of her grandfather and proud to learn anything she could from him. Narisa knew she was a great horsewoman, but also knew that there was always something new to learn.

"I'm not sure about starting my own farm, but it would be nice," she admitted.

"I would very much like to see Gehenna some day. I do not intend to be a soldier all of my life. It seemed...necessary at one time, but now...I'm not certain I want to continue until I am old and Gray," he said.

"Middle Earth gets larger every day it seems. Without Sauron our knowledge of the world increases. I wish to do some traveling but it is not my wish to do it alone," he added though he didn't look at her this time.

Narisa glanced at Calaren slightly at his last comment. She desperately wished Eagan was there. She needed him...now. She wasn't sure she would be able to easily turn Calaren down if he proposed to her. She picked up her glass of wine and took a slightly larger sip than she intended.

Meanwhile, Lindariel looked over at her husband slightly and smiled at him before leaning close and whispering.

"It looks like it is going well."

Eomer scoffed silently. "She'll do something to mess it up, mark my words." Calaren glanced her way then back to his plate. "How many people does it take to get you into a dress like that?" He quipped. He often teased her about being forced into fancy dresses and having her hair done just so. He liked to see her in riding leathers with her hair free to the wind. Not primped up like...like a 'noble'. Calaren was't much on ceremony nor the traditions of his parents. He often forged his own way. One of the reasons he was well respected.

"Still, you would be very pretty perched on my saddle in that," he said. Pertaining to the last time they met when she was on his saddle with her arms around his neck.

Lindariel sighed softly. "I wish you two would find someway to get along. You both have more in common than you think and she has tried so hard to impress you...to receive the same love you give Theodred."

Narisa began to blush ever so slightly at his words. She was starting at her plate, but could feel his eyes on her. She remembered everything about the last time they had been together...the feel of his arms around her, the wind in her hair, his whispered promises in her ear.

"Things...didn't work between us Calaren."

Eomer's mood darkened as he sipped his wine. He had had a bit too much wine tonight and it had soured his mood. He glowered at his wife but kept his tone low enough so no one but her heard him. "Every day raids and strife threaten our lands and she continues to worry more about horses instead of her duty to me...us," he said. For Eomer, it was always about duty. It came first in everything. "Perhaps you might remind her next time you speak with her," he said in a very unkind way. "What Rohan needs is sons and daughters willing to step up and do what must be done."

"We were younger then Narisa. And even though we said goodbye I never discounted you as a friend. You were and are always someone I could count on. Someone I could trust. I believe I have been that for you as well. Our paths split us apart but...now...I am here by your side and the future could become so much more for us if you wanted it to. Can't you see that? Your father may think that I came here for him but I think you know the truth of that. I had thought...Eagan was..." he was about to say then stopped and shifted his gaze to her father then back down between them. "Who you'd marry," he said. He and many others had seen them talking many times by the fences. Eagan would take rests and ride over to talk to her if he saw her there. A woman didn't come there like that unless she favored one man or another.

Despite her father trying to keep his voice down, Narisa had very sharp ears due to the elven blood that ran in her veins and she overheard what he said. She felt her heart sink at his words. All her life she had tried to please him, to earn the respect and love he showed Theodred, but to no avail it seemed. She admired and looked up to her father and to hear him say this about her shattered her heart.

Narisa knew she had very little time. If she did not choose a suitor very soon, one would be chosen for her and she would have no choice but to marry him. She did love Calaren and if she had to marry someone other than Eagan it would be him. Calaren was kind and truly loved her. She knew he would take care of her and allow her to just be who she was without trying to change her.

"Calaren," she quietly said after several long moments of silence, "I...I know what it is you want...why you've come here tonight. I...I cannot give you an answer right now. I need time to consider...everything."

OOC-So, I had a thought that maybe Narisa does accept Calaren's proposal because she feels she has no other choice. A formal announcement has not yet been made when Eagan shows up and goes straight to her father to ask for her hand where he then finds out that Narisa has already accepted Calaren's proposal. Calaren finds out that Eagan has come and asked for Narisa's hand and then proceeds to watch as Narisa chases after Eagan and sobs as she tries to explain. Calaren can see just how much Narisa loves Eagan and realizes that she had been waiting for him to return. Eagan starts to leave, but then Calaren approaches him and speaks to him alone before going to Eomer to tell him that he wants Narisa to marry Eagan.

ooc: Love it! I ave 'Chores' to do So I wont be able to get into it until later. Your idea sings in my head K.

OOC-Besides tonight, the rest of this week is going to be crazy for me because I had to reschedule the move to Friday so I am taking tomorrow off to finish packing and cleaning, etc.

OOC-I had one other idea for Narisa. I mentioned in my last post that she had overheard what her father had said. I'm thinking that at some point she does something rather heroic during a raid on one of the villages. Maybe she is out there visiting when the attack happens. Chaos ensues and during that time a young child is picked up by one of the raiders and taken off. Narisa then jumps onto her horse and chases down the rider. She is injured during her struggle with him, but manages to kill him and get the child back.

Calaren expected as much and took a sip from his wine glass before he turned to look at her. His expression was...thoughtful. "Oh I am not ready to ask you anything...yet, we've only just met up again. I would however, like to court you if you would agree to that?" he asked. "For the rest it will either happen or not," he added.

Narisa was actually grateful that she still had time. She wasn't sure how much, but she clung to hope that Eagan would arrive in time. She imagined him riding up in his best officer's uniform with the boots shined until they were practically glowing. She could see him walking confidently down the hall towards her father's study. She imagined what he would say and then imagined her father smiling and embracing him. She could practically feel Eagan's arms back around her and his lips against her own.

"...Yes, you may court me."