Last One Alive

Prologue

Faramir was seven when he first met Eowyn. The young girl hailed from Rohan, and was visiting with her uncle, cousin and brother for about a month. In that time, while Boromir preferred the company of the nephew and son of King Theoden, Faramir was more curious about his niece. There was nothing that seemed particularly interesting about her brother, Eomer, or her cousin, the prince of Rohan, Theodred. They were closer to Boromir's age, and more interested in swords and fighting than anything else. The girl, on the other hand, was quieter than the boisterous older boys, and although she despised being left out of their games when she wanted to play, she seemed perfectly fine with being alone to almost any outside eye. But Faramir was exceptionally good at reading people, even at his young age, and he thought she seemed...sad. Boromir had told him that she and Eomer had lost their mother and father to a fever many years ago, and had been taken in by King Theoden as his own children. While Faramir knew what it was like to live without his mother, he couldn't imagine not having his father as well.

"You've been staring at me for 20 minutes." She said, looking up at him from over by her young colt, Windfola. Faramir blinked and looked down, embarrassed.

"Do you...want to play?" He mumbled.

"What? I couldn't hear you, speak up!"

"Do...do you...do you want to play? With me?" He tried again, looking at her and speaking a bit clearer. The girl blinked, then sighed sadly with a frown.

"You don't have to play with me and keep me company because your father asked you to. I'm alright by myself."

"No you're not." He said, surprising her, and himself, with his sudden boldness. "You look sad and lonely. Besides, no one sent me. My father hates me, and ignores me anyways. I want to play with you."

Eowyn hesitated, before tentatively asking "Can we play warriors and dragons?" Faramir nodded with a smile, which she hesitantly returned.

"My name's Faramir, by the way, second son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor."

"And I am Eowyn, niece of Theoden King of Rohan."

So the second son of the Steward of Gondor took time to try to keep the young niece of Theoden King company. Eowyn seemed quite grateful for the company, especially since he agreed to play warriors and dragons with her when the older boys would not. The two talked and played together, becoming fast friends. She learned of his love of learning and books, while Faramir discovered she was far more feisty and independent than the woman of Gondor and Rohan both were expected to be. He taught Eowyn the basics of how to read and write, and she taught him the basic care and keeping of a horse. He told her of his wish to become a Gondor Ranger, and she told him of her desire to become a Shieldmaiden of Rohan, fighting alongside the Riders of Rohan. She confessed to her loneliness in Rohan, and he confessed to his desire to make his father proud, and be seen as just as good as Boromir, though he held no bitterness or jealousy towards his older brother. They played warriors and heroes all week, playing together and forming a close knit friendship in her time in Gondor. And when the Rohirrian king's month-long stay in Gondor ended, they were sad to say goodbye, to each other especially.

"I'll miss you." She confessed, "I'll have no one to play warriors with home in Rohan, or read and talk with. No one's that interested in me."

"I'll miss you too. But you'll become a rider of your people, I just know it! One day."

"And one day, you'll become a ranger and hero, just as great as your brother."

And Eowyn gave young Faramir one last gift besides her friendship, company, and confidence in him. The day she left, she pressed a necklace that she'd always worn into his hands. Despite how worn it appeared, Faramir could see how well-crafted it was. Made of blue and black stones that had been polished and shaped, it was different from the necklaces he would often see on the necks of the ladies of Gondor. It was obviously treasured and clearly from Rohan, as it featured a small blue horse as it's centerpiece.

"It belonged to my mother, and passed to me when she died. But I want you to have it for now. For safekeeping. And to serve as a reminder and a promise. We will see each other again, and you may return it to me if you wish then." she told him, pushing it into his opeN hand and closing his fingers around it, forcing him to take it, though he protested.

"I will return it to you then, this I swear Lady Eowyn!" He declared.

Eowyn smiled down at him as she mounted Windfola. "Until we meet again Lord Faramir." And with that she followed her uncle, brother, and cousin, riding off out of sight.

"Until we meet again." Faramir murmured quietly to himself as he watched his friend disappear past the horizon, back to the land from which she came.

"Uncle, why did we visit Gondor?" Eowyn asked King Theoden curiously as they rode home toward Rohan.

"Did you not like it there, Eowyn?" Her uncle asked her.

"No, I did enjoy it. It's very different from home though, and while we played, you were almost always with Faramir's father and the King of Gondor."

"I was discussing and renewing the alliance we hold with Gondor and the city of Minas Tirith, as well as beginning to speak about the future of the friendship, trade, and alliance between us." Theoden told his niece.

"He was arranging a marriage for you, promising you as a future bride to one of the sons of the Steward of Gondor, arranging for you to marry Boromir!" Eomer teased his younger sister.

Eowyn merely wrinkled her nose and replied quite firmly, and in all seriousness "If I ever were to be married, it would not be to Boromir. If I had to marry one of the sons of Steward Denethor, Faramir would be who I would choose."

The words of his niece and nephew, and the spluttering of Eomer at his sister's reply, caused no end of amusement to King Theoden.

Eowyn was 14, soon to be 15, when she was sent back to Gondor from Rohan as ambassador and diplomat for her people there. Lord Denethor II had sent one of his men to Rohan to act as ambassador and diplomat for Gondor among her people as well. When she rode through the gates and was received by his father, Faramir ran down from where he was reading in the upper levels of their home, beating even Boromir, so as to greet her. He arrived just as they were finishing. He managed to collect himself in time to appear at least slightly dignified before his father and Eowyn. Of course, Boromir slamming into him from behind before straightening didn't do him any favors, but they managed to avoid falling on their faces and stay standing.

"Ah, Boromir, Faramir, good good. I trust you remember Lady Eowyn of Rohan, niece of King Theoden?" Their father spoke when he turned and saw that they had arrived.

"How could I forget the fair-haired maiden of Rohan?" Boromir spoke, smiling charmingly at her. Faramir frowned at his brother's flirtatious antics.

Eowyn, however, took it in stride and simply smiled politely at the elder son of the Steward of Gondor. "Lord Boromir." She nodded in greeting to his older brother, before turning her attention to him, and smiled sincerely, nodding in greeting again. "Lord Faramir. It's nice to see you again in good health." She said, looking almost exclusively at Faramir. She turned her attention back to their father as he stood, and, unseen to the others, Boromir nudged his younger brother playfully, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Faramir turned slightly red, glaring at his brother and elbowing him to tell him to keep quiet, turning back to pay attention to what his father was saying.

"Well, since I believe we are done here, you may go get settled in. Faramir, I trust you can show Lady Eowyn to her living quarters without getting lost, and will make her feel welcome?" Denethor turned to look sternly at his younger son. Faramir bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement, hiding the pleased smile at being given an excuse to speak with Eowyn again. "Very well," his father said. "You may go." He dismissed them and returned to whatever work he was doing before.

The two brothers escorted Eowyn out. Once they were out of the Great Hall, the three dropped their formal attitudes and began to speak as friends. Boromir spoke to Eowyn in a friendly manner, asking about her brother and cousin.

"Eomer is finishing training to become a full-fledged Rider of Rohan. Theodred has fallen a bit I'll of late, but should recover soon enough and also finish his training. They both send their greetings and regards." Eowyn told him easily. Boromir nodded and smiled.

"Well, I'd best be off, as I have my own training to attend."

"You're already practically a knight of Gondor, and are already well on your way to being the best fighter we've seen in ages, Boromir! What do you need to train for?" Faramir protested.

"One can never be too good little brother," Boromir grinned and took his leave.

Faramir shrugged and turned to grin at Eowyn. The two embraced as old friends, which they had become, as they had continued to exchange letters after she returned to Rohan.

"By the way," Faramir took her hand, and placed a small necklace in it, the very necklace she had given him the day she had left. "It's good to see you again Eowyn." he said sincerely. She smiled up at him, and fastened the necklace around her neck, before walking leisurely with him up towards where she would be staying with them, talking all the way, catching up about everything that they had missed in the time between the last letters they had exchanged and her arrival in Gondor.

"We prepared a room for you up high, close to mine and Boromir's. You've got a great view out towards the city. Our rooms are right down the hall if you need us, and you remember the way to the library right?" When she nodded he smiled.

"Goodnight Eowyn."

"Goodnight Faramir." she entered her room, and after a moment, he turned down the hall towards his own room. Boromir joined him on his way. The two brothers walked in companionable silence until they reached their rooms.

"Today was a good day." Faramir said, smiling to himself. "It is good to have Eowyn back, especially since she plans on staying here for quite a while."

Boromir smiled knowingly at his brother.

"What?" Faramir asked.

"Nothing. Remember today though, little brother. Today, life is good." Faramir smiled.

"Goodnight, brother."

"Goodnight, Faramir."