A/N: I am not JRRTolkien. I have no rights to this story, and I do not want to make any profit from it.
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Faramir was a smart man, even though his father never saw that. It had taken years of Boromir's encouragement before he was able to have the self-esteem to believe in his own thoughts, rather than just go along with the Stewards. Faramir missed his brother daily, but especially when he needed some one to hear his thoughts, with out offering solutions or advice.
"There is something wrong with Eowyn," Faramir puzzled to his room. "But there shouldn't be. The war has ended, and they are rebuilding the gates. Parties have been sent out to hunt down some of the bigger groups of orcs, but Eowyn had no interest in being a part of that…"
It's just that there are times in our courtship, where I reach out to touch her and she braces herself, as if she were willing herself not to flinch away. Faramir thought, almost unwilling to admit out loud that he was scared Eowyn hated his touch. Faramir smiled slightly. If Boromir were here, he would tell me that there had to be another reason, as no woman would shy from the touch of the two handsomest sons of the Steward.
Faramir looked out the window with a small sigh. But what could it be?
The window overlooked a small courtyard where, by some chance, Eowyn stood looking over the plains towards the vague direction of Rohan. Before Faramir moved to go join her, he noted the four hobbits sitting in the corner of the courtyard, talking quietly together.
When Faramir reached the door the open door to the courtyard he raised his hand in greeting to the four hobbits, Merry and Pippin half bowed from their seats, but Eowyn was two wrapped up in her thoughts to notice his entrance. Faramir signaled the hobbits to stay silent, and slight mischievous smiles crept on the faces of Merry, Pippin and Sam. Frodo looked slightly wary as Faramir crept towards Eowyn, his boots making no noise on the cobblestone.
When he was within a breath of her, Faramir put his hands on Eowyn's shoulders saying "Most Beautiful, Fair Lady! How stands the morning?"
Faramir was so elated with his success of making it to Eowyn with out her notice, that he didn't feel her body tense, first at his hands, then at his words, until she spun around, faster than he could realize, and slapped him hard. Faramir took a step back and felt his cheek, where four angry scratches were blooming from her nails.
Eowyn's eyes were dark, and cold, and she hissed at him in her own language, automatically reaching for her sword, which thankfully she didn't have on. When her hand didn't find her sword, she froze in what Faramir might have called blind panic, unable to move or breathe.
Before Faramir could respond, Merry and Pippin were in front of them. Pippin stopped and stood in front of Faramir, while Merry pulled on Eowyn's hands, forcing her to look at him. "My Lady!" Merry exclaimed in a low voice. "Eowyn! You are safe! He's gone, it's ok. He can't hurt you here."
As Eowyn looked at Merry small recognition in her eyes, an unpleasant idea came to Faramir. "Oh! No-" he trailed off softly, and almost took a step towards the woman he loved, who was now kneeling on the ground, her head on Merry's shoulder.
Pippin blocked him. "My lord," Pippin said. "I think it might be best if you just go for now."
Faramir looked from Pippin to Eowyn, considering. "My lord, please," whispered Merry.
"As a favor to us," said Frodo standing up and moving towards the scene. Sam had stood up with Merry and Pippin, but he hadn't move more than a step away from Frodo. Now the two of them were coming closer.
Faramir could not deny them, the ring bearers, anything. "Report to my chambers at your earliest convenience," he commanded Pippen and walked into the stone building with a much heavier heart than before.
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Some one hurt her. Some man has hurt her. Back in his chamber, Faramir was angrier than he thought possible. His sadness and confusion had given way and all that was left was this desire to hunt down and kill who had put the fear in her eyes.
But when? And where? Who could have done this! Want her? Yes, men want her. But want her enough to… Faramir had started pacing at some point, but unwilling to finish that thought he threw himself into a chair.
"You are a man of reason," he told himself, taking a deep breath that didn't make him any calmer. "Let's start with what is known. I know that since the Houses of Healing she has been safe, I've been able to do that at least. Before that she was in the muster of Rohan. It is possible then? – but no. She was dressed as a man. Merry has told me that he was unaware. So then before that she was… with the women and children and elderly. Surely not then. I hope not then. Before that she was at Edoras. In her uncle's court! Her brother and cousin as princes, her uncle the king, how could some one have hurt her?"
Faramir was silent, watching the dust in the light that shone in through his window. "I need more information. But I cannot go to Eomer. I'm already in hot water with him for daring to look at his sister, let alone court her. I don't see how he could have let anything get to her since he's so protective. It would be a slap in his face to tell him he failed, even if he did. Miserably, in this case. King Elessar is too busy for this right now, he spends his time between the country and the Queen. Gandalf is always busy here and there. Maybe if I can catch him, he'll tell me what has happened… I'll wait for what Pippin can tell me and then try to find Gandalf."
He shifted the piles of paper in front of him, some of them were notes from learning the language of the Riddimark. Faramir flipped through the pages, hoping to find what Eowyn had said to him, but there was nothing. She had been determined to teach Faramir the good words first.
There was nothing good about what she said to me, Faramir mused. He let his thoughts consume him, staring at nothing, until a knock came at his door.