elfoflight | OPEN RP POST

Stupid. He'd been stupid. But what else could he have done after the fact?

...What would she do?

France gently coaxed her into taking a seat, and settled beside her still facing her. At her words, his heart clenched.

"You came all this way," before he could stop it. "If you could have stayed home, you would have."

Both very true. She wouldn't have left their people on a whim. She'd have stayed as long as her spirit let her.

"This country, France...This is what I am now. I am the people, the land, everything you see in these borders is me. I... am the personification of France."

And she let herself be, she sat quietly with her eyes cast down at the floor. This is who he was now. Not Arafinwë who had been king of the Noldor in Tirion.

"I came because a part of me has been missing for more than an Age." She said softly, glancing up at him briefly, unable to resist reaching and brushing a hand along his jaw.

"What is left now of the High King? Is this all you can ever be now?"

He wished she'd look at him... He'd missed her eyes. He'd missed her. But he could understand why, and then she did look up. France sighed quietly and leaned into her hand again.

"As long as the French people remain, so must I. After... I do not know. Perhaps the elf you knew may return, if the Valar permit. Until then, all his memories remain within me."

He couldn't say his personality was the same - though he could feel that part of himself reappear. With her. With Maglor. He'd tell her about Maglor later, when she'd had the chance to adjust a little.

"Eärwen... You are my heart. The heart of France, and of Arafinwë."

"The Valar would never forsake you. We are still Iluvatar's children." It was instinctive to say as much and there was no waver, she had no doubts. The Valar had never forsaken them before and neither would Eru.

A lump formed in her throat. If anything, he would go to Mandos and she would follow. She wouldn't be able to live through his loss one more time, she knew she didn't have the strength left for that.

She tangled her hand in his hair, brushing through it briefly before leaning her forehead against his. Her lip formed a little smile.

"And you are mine."

It was amazing how good hearing it from her, so automatic and without hesitation or doubt, made him feel. France felt himself relax, even as he let her press their foreheads together. His eyes closed as he heard her continue.

But not before he saw that little smile, further adding to his relief and fanning the flames of his joy at her having found him.

"With you at my side again, I can do anything." And he wasn't stupid to think his people didn't need attention.

"Will you give this new me a chance?"

Reaching, she wrapped both arms around her and sighed a little. Give the new him a chance? It was hard to think about. She'd come looking for the husband she remembered, the elf she'd married and now she was finding someone else in his place.

"I will try." Softly. A part of her was afraid, she couldn't go back either way. Whether she gave him a chance or not, she'd given up her own place across the Sea and she'd never asked the Valar to dissolve their marriage. They were still bound. It would only hurt more not to try.

"Be patient with me though."

Let her lead? He could do that. Patience? No doubt. France smiled softly and let his arms wind around her waist, fighting to keep from holding her tight for fear it would make her uncomfortable.

"Thank you," he replied just as soft. He heard her fear, and knew what she had to have given up to find him.

He pulled back, freeing one arm to reach up and thread fingers gently through her silver hair. "You have always been worth patience, and more."

There wasn't anything she wouldn't have given up to find him. The pain of giving up everyone in Tirion was nothing compared to missing him. Already she could feel herself living more than she had been for years.

It was a little easier now with the familiar feeling of his hand through her hair. And a part of her just wanted to lean against him but she wasn't entirely ready yet, leaning against his hand instead.

"I have missed you so much."

She looked better than when he'd seen her on the streets, not that she hadn't been a sight for sore eyes. France kept carding his fingers through her hair, reveling in being able to, and reminding himself of the feel of it all over again.

That sense of comfort would hopefully return in time, but until then, he'd make himself take it slow. Show her the joys of the modern world. Teach her what she needed to know, and then more. He had no doubt she'd find a place in this world.

"As have I, you."

For now, all Eärwen needed was him, to find what remained of him that she'd always loved. Everything else, language and understanding the modern world, could wait. And now she turned slightly, leaning against him though the slightest bit tense. It was a step towards trying to find their balance, one she wanted to try now rather than risking making things progress more difficultly.

"Everyone sends their love, Artanis especially." She'd been the most encouraging when Eärwen had originally voiced her plan. They all had been but she and their granddaughter knew her pain. "Tirion is in good hands now."

And he'd be right there with her as much as he possibly could. But there was only so much time he could take away from his every day tasks, as much as England claimed he slacked off.

France found his throat close up again when she leaned against him, even just that little bit. He dared to turn his head and press a tender kiss to her forehead, thanking her for trying. That no matter what he'd love her as long as he existed in any way.

News from Tirion had him close his eyes, running the words through his head over and over again before nodding, smile wavering a little with emotion. Opening his eyes again, he looked at her. "I knew it would be."

Hardly different than life had been in Tirion, they'd had their own duties there. Duties she'd taken on. After so long apart though, she wasn't sure she'd want him to go far now.

It felt almost the same as it had before, leaning against him. And she just wanted to stay there, didn't want to move. The safe, warm feeling he'd always left her with was still there, the comfort he'd given her. It felt good.

"You were wise."

Not much different at all, no. France knew that, after some time for her to adjust, he'd rely just as much on her as he had for Ages before. Until then, he'd still talk to her about almost everything, teaching her and introducing his new self to her.

After a while, France let the arm wrapped around her tighten a little. As long as she wanted to lean against him, he'd let her. And if he couldn't quite keep his fingers from playing with her hair... could anyone really blame him?

"I wed you," and that was really the only answer he could give. The only one that needed said.

Oh, she couldn't help but laugh softly at that. Yes, he'd married her and she'd married him. And he'd given her beautiful, wise, strong children and a love like she'd hardly ever imagined for herself in her youth by the Sea.

Neither was she going to complain about him playing with her hair. It was soothing and she relaxed a bit more against him. She wouldn't call him 'France' but at least she'd found enough comfort in him for now.

"You did." And she'd never regretted a moment of their marriage, even if more than once they'd been separated and how much it had hurt. "Promise not to leave me again."

Excellent, he'd gotten a laugh out of her! Just as beautiful as he remembered. And even more so after the hurt he'd caused her. France's smile was bright and full of joy. From his perspective, their children were gifts from her.

He didn't particularly care if she never called him France or Francis. He was her sunshine. However she wished to call him was perfectly fine by him.

A bit of laugh was in his voice as he spoke, but the words were no less honest. "I would wed you again. And again. And again, if you so wish."

Never leave her again? France's smile faded a little, growing a little wry. "I promise. I will never leave you again." Not permanently, at the very least.

Marrying him again was something she would be entirely open to. A part of her was even eager to make a claim to him in this modern world as well as the one they'd been born into.

"I would." But not for a little while, she had to know him now first. He would always be hers and he knew she would always be his.

"Good." Eärwen wouldn't say that she wouldn't live through it again, he didn't need that on his mind. Not now, now when they'd just been reunited. "I would follow you anywhere."

Well, she had. That she was here was proof enough.

He'd give her time before proposing to her anew. Court her all over again. Even after they'd wed again, he'd continue to pay court. She was worth it.

France smiled warmly at her. Just as ever, they were of like minds. He knew without doubt that if their roles had been reversed, and she had gone to become France, he'd have followed her.

He pressed another kiss to the top of her head, relaxing a little back against the couch. "You should know, death for those like me is not permanent while the people continue. I will, and have, come back from that darkness. It can take hours, or it could take months, depending on the degree of damage and state of affairs." She needed to know that, because he wasn't foolish enough to believe she'd continue without him again. But if she knew it was temporary...

"I am more cautious these days." Because even as a nation, he was getting old. And old nations sometimes really did have to be more careful.

Edited 2015-03-20 08:59 (UTC)

And just like that she was tense again, just at the thought of him dying in any way. Death wasn't natural for them, it wasn't exactly permanent either but it worked differently. She didn't like this, she didn't like him being anything other than one of the Eldar but she had no power to change it either. However much she wished it.

"I cannot lose you again." It was barely a whisper. "Not even for a little while." Even tensed up though, she kept leaning against him, he was still a comfort. And he was here and alive yet, that was important. He was alive even if he was speaking of his death almost as if it were nothing. It wasn't nothing for her, she'd lived through the deaths and be-embodiments of her children and that had been difficult enough.

"When will this end?"

No, it wasn't natural. For anyone. And yet it happened, with nations. He hadn't wanted her to be entirely surprised if he didn't come home one day but showed up later.

France sighed and wrapped both arms around her, leaning his cheek against her head. Since she hadn't pulled away. "My people are at peace, as are my allies." A few years before, not so much. "I work hard to keep it that way."

He couldn't answer her question. If he knew, he would tell her.

A part of her wanted to lash out, not for nothing was she called the swan maiden of Alqualonde. Swans could be vicious. She didn't have the energy though of any real desire. Her husband was made into this and he couldn't even tell her when it would come to an end. When she would have all of him back.

"Peace does not last forever." He would know, they all knew what was to come. The Dagor Dagorath. No one would be safe. At least, by then, there was some guarantee of him being himself again. And she'd be here with him.

She was still tense, trying to make sense of this and trying to warm up to this new Arafinwë.

"Tell me of your-" She paused briefly, not liking what she was going to say. "-your people."

In all honesty, he was waiting for her to lash out at him. At the situation. At anything and everything. He knew his wife, and treasured even her fury.

"No, it does not," he quietly agreed. "And accidents do happen."

France heard and understood that hesitation, and raised a hand to once more slide gentle fingers through her hair. Playing with silver strands that he'd missed dearly.

"These days, we are mostly conserving our history. The arts. Rebuilding and building anew. The monarchy has been abolished," there might have been a bit of a shudder that ran through him at that and he had to pause for a moment before continuing. "We do a lot of trade, and mingle with other cultures." And there was a bit of a wry tone there. Clearly a story was hidden within simple words.

"Ah, but I will have to take you around Paris, and Versailles." The fondness in his voice was obvious. He really couldn't help but love them, being what he was.

Then he shook his head as he remembered one thing that, if left unsaid so early in their conversation, would get him into a heap of trouble. "I should tell you that Makalaure never sailed, and has yet to Fade. Though he has begun to, he continues to wander here and there. He knows what I am."

She leaned against his hand, sighing. Accidents did happen, she knew that much. She knew they could cause wars when one wasn't careful too. This was Arafinwë though and he was wise, wiser than many, and could prevent them often enough. Otherwise he was a skilled warrior, she hadn't followed him to Middle Earth during the War of Wrath but he'd returned. He'd survived it.

"You keep busy then." She saw the shudder and reached out herself to cup his cheek, comforting him. He'd been a monarch too but she didn't point that fact out. Pleasant things, she wanted to try to focus on the pleasant.

"I will go anywhere with you, you know that." A little smile. And she wouldn't mind being shown around. Eärwen hadn't really seen much as she searched, a lot blended together to the point that she'd really only kept track of what country she was in rather than any individual or interesting landmarks. And he would be with her, things always seemed brighter with him with her. That and anywhere that he seemed to speak of with fondness, even if it was so foreign to her, would be worth seeing.

And then his latest piece of news. It had her freeze in place for a moment, staring at him. It wasn't something he would joke about, she knew that much. He would never joke about their nephew.

"Makalaure lives?" Beginning to fade though- "We cannot leave him to wander."

For all that he was wise, he still had a boss. Someone to answer to, so he could focus on other things than just one aspect of the running of his land and people. And there was plenty for him to do.

And France had been a mighty nation. Once. But England had often been stronger and definitely bigger. When she could read the languages of this world he would have her read all the accurate history books. Even if some didn't put France in a very favorable light, and others would tell her things... she wouldn't really like.

Such as his marriage (since abolished) to England for a time. He'd been desperate, and there had been no other real choice. It was that, or die.

And she would be told, no doubt, how he flirted and romped with anyone he could. Those... would not be good days for him. Any elf would have trouble fully understand the reasons behind such tellings.

"Very," he answered wryly. The hand cupping his cheek earned a soft sigh and he leaned into it. Grateful for her presence. He smiled softly in return. "I know," was the murmure. She'd already proven that.

France grimaced at her reaction to that news and he shook his head a little. "He refuses, beyond a few days at a time. I had to push to get him to agree even to stop here whenever he was within my borders. You know the Oath. He fears for my safety." Sound familiar, Eärwen? "He is as stubborn as ever. But weary and heartsick."

They would be bad days for both, with no guarantee that she would even want him to touch her very much after the revelation that he'd be married again or that he'd been flirting with others. The shock would wear off, in time, but immediately after she would learn of it would be the hardest. There was nothing they couldn't get through though, that she had always believed. And would continue to believe.

After all, how strong could their marriage really have ever been if she couldn't find a way to accept what he'd been forced into? The marriage customs of other races were nothing when compared to theirs.

"Then he needs to be with his family." She understood the wariness. And she was grateful that Maglor worried for her husband but they were strong when together and they knew what they should and shouldn't do if a time ever came that his Oath forced him into action.

Very slowly, almost experimentally, she leaned in towards him. And then gently kissed his cheek, beside his lips. She was unable to resist making a face at the facial hair though.

And he would deserve all of it. He'd wait. Forever, if that was what it took. There were things France was not proud of that he'd done. There always would be. But he'd never touched another. That much, he knew England would back him up on, if the other nation's word meant anything. If it would even be necessary.

France let his arm around her tighten a little, pride and love for her just growing - if that was even possible. His lips twitched a little, eyes closing as he let out a quiet breath. "Then I expect you, of any and all, could convince him where he belongs."

The kiss to his cheek had his breath catch and heart leap, even if the face she made threatened to have him laugh. It was a step forward. His lips twisted ruefully. "You will not have to deal with that past today," he promised. It was a little thing to give her, and it would freak his fellow nations out. Worth it.

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good. call. ara.

ahaha yeah sob

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