(other-wordly)

[absurdities]

The Other-Wordly Meme

Words are magical things; they can have so many lovely connotations and varied histories.
Words have family trees just like people. They are linked to each other.
Some words are full of flavor and color and describe things you never suspected there were words for.
Words are why we're here.

The meme is simple: post a comment with your muse's name and canon in the subject line.
List any preferences you may have ("No Shipping," "No Smut," etc.), if you decide to leave the next step up to responders.
Responders (or original posters, if they so decide), go to the Other-Wordly blog and hit 'Random' until you get a word. Use the word as a prompt to write up an RP scenario. Do this several times, if you like. Mix and match. Have fun with it!

           Don't stop with a word, though! Words can often have etymologies that are at oddswith their current meanings.                Words can shift connotations over time. Let your imagination carry you with the words as its wind. 

Comments

drops all of these on you

[wroughtsteel]

all the au

[gondorian]

[ In Imladris Aragorn sees but half the faces he once knew; so many now are gone on to the Gray Havens and beyond that across the sea. Elrond is there still, keeping watch over his house, and they speak gently to one another of the days past, of the peril and terror of their great Enemy and the peace that followed the destruction of the Ring. For Men, a flourishing, a time of prosperity and growth, and for Elves a quiet diminishing. They speak of nothing that was once contentious between them. In his heart Aragorn too had wished Arwen to go, to cross the sea, to live instead of being bound to him in death.

He stays a month and then journeys back to Gondor with an honor guard, along roads now traveled well, and mainly safe.

And when the white city comes into view Aragorn speeds his horse, with a stirring in his heart: too many nights alone and chilled, too many nights missing Éowyn's warmth beside him. She gladdens him, his lovely young queen, and he does all he may to see her happy, for if her joy was once in marrying him that joy must now be lessened; she knows the truth in his heart, she knows that he gave it to another long ago and that an ache and emptiness still pierces deep within him. They make their best in spite of it. And his care for her is true, and all things he is tender with her, noble, high-hearted woman that she is. It is probably better, he thinks: they are both of them mortal, not one to long outlive the other, to diminish into a gray despair of life before the shadow of death comes as a relief.

And they have all their years ahead of them, their children and their grandchildren, and the glory of Minas Tirith restored, the Men of Gondor once again holding high their heads with love and pride. He is glad to come home, to come trotting into the courtyard and see the white tree and Éowyn coming from the citadel to meet him, and Aragorn dismounts his horse with an aging strength and grace and takes his young wife into his arms, lifting her up against him. ]

Éowyn. [ He speaks her name tenderly, his face against her golden hair. ] I have missed you.

yes give me all this glorious pain

[wroughtsteel]

[Many hours she spends watching over the city alone, and far beyond over the lands. Her heart aches knowing where Aragorn is, for she knows something still lingers in that place. His childhood, and many moments stolen, and Éowyn is not so naïve as to think that he does not indulge in memories he has there from his past, words spoken between him and the one who he had truly given his heart to, one who is now so far and yet keeps that treasure with her for all of eternity.

She cannot bring herself to resent him, for she had accepted him even knowing of his feelings, of his torn heart, and how part of it rested in his chest no longer. She knows that with whatever little he has left of it, he loves her fully, and it is a mild ember but she had always known that, had always seen in the depth of his eyes, and he had never lied to her about it. She loves him so, intensely and burning deep within her, aching and leaving a taste of ash in her tongue, and it hardly dwindles in the face of his own tepid affection for her, but she does not mind.

She pushes such thoughts aside, and is glad to see him returned, for his company is ever so welcome, it drives the loneliness and sadness away from her. She watches the group approach the city from her window, and she leaves the silence of her room to meet him by the courtyard. With each step he closes between them, the smile on her face blooms, as she as well begins to walk towards him, breaking into a run to finally wrap her arms around the shoulders of his beloved, a soft giggle when she feels herself being lifted from the ground.]

My love. [Despite all, her words are soft and carry in them nothing but affection for him, as she pulls from his embrace just enough that she can smooth her hands gently down his tired hair, cupping his cheeks.] So have I. Cold were the nights with you far from me.

[gondorian]

[ One of his guard leads away his horse, and the rest of the riders too begin to disperse so that he and Éowyn are left alone in the courtyard but for the honor guard that rings the ancient tree. They know this is Aragorn's preference when he returns from a journey: to have some peace and quiet about him in which to reacquaint himself with home, all the better if Éowyn is at his side, and leaves matters of no great urgency for later. He does not always get his wish, but just now he is returning home from Rivendell to a city in peace, and there is nothing which at once calls his attention, or takes him from his wife's side.

He smiles as she cups his cheeks between her hands, her warm and strong palms. ] Cold were my nights as well. [ Aragorn bends his head to kiss her, tender but lingering, enjoying the warmth of her lips and the taste of her mouth. His hands at last lower her and then take her hands from his face and wrap around hers, their fingers threading together. ] I want to hear all you have done in my absence. But take me somewhere first where we can be at our leisure, Éowyn. It was hard riding, those last miles.

[ Because he had wanted to be home all the sooner. ]

[wroughtsteel]

[It is close to magic the way that when he puts her down on the ground, she feels so much lighter. With Aragorn away, she saw worries and fears growing within her, lingering in her mind when she sleeps and dreams, but upon his return, it takes but a few moments for his soft words and his loving gestures to drive them away. For she feels her whole life a part of her will always wonder, will always doubt, but she also knows that with each moment that he embraces her and gives her his love, her strength and assurance will easily return to her.

Her fingers curl around his tightly in comfort, almost instinctively, and her smile is all the brighter at his request. She spares another moment to keep their closeness but finally she pulls away, holding only one of his hands instead so that they may walk side by side, past the white tree and towards the tall doors.] If you hope for exciting adventures then I am afraid I must disappoint you. My days were spent at peace.

[As they always were now, and she is grateful for that. Yet when she finds herself with no company but her own, on occasion it is easy to find herself bored. Surely as her husband he would know she finds comfort in wrapping her hand on the hilt of a sword then, away from prying eyes, if only in very light practice.]