"You know of all my sorrow, lord Faramir, but will you not tell me of your own? There is suffering there, beyond that of shadow." Eowyn looked up into the gentle eyes of Faramir, her own begging. "You say I have healed you, but how can that be so, when I have done so little?"
"Your beauty, my White Lady, is all the healing I require." Faramir looked down upon her golden hair, and his heart gave a great surge. What he said was, in part, true. Her beauty had mended his wound as well as any healer, and her love had made him stronger. But still, she was not wrong. A part of him died on the field of battle, beside his comrades and friends. He felt it deep within him. But he could not lay such a burden on her. she had suffered enough. He took her soft hand and brought it to his lips, laying a gentle kiss upon it. She looked at him still, and her eyes were so full of love for him that he was overcome. But there was defiance also, and determination. He sighed.
"My lady, you would not understand my woes."
"You forget, my lord Faramir, that I am a shield maiden of Rohan as much as a lady. I would have you tell me of them, so that I might try to understand." She took her hand from his and walked toward one of the many balconies of the gardens. She sun shone high and brightly in the sky, and the white stone of the houses of healing seemed to glow. Faramir followed her until they both looked out over the city. All was quiet, the only sound that could be heard was the soft babble of a fountain below them. He stayed still for a moment and thought deeply, watching the water as it poured from the wall. Unbidden, a silent tear slid down his cheek. When she saw it, Eowyn took up his hand again in hers, bringing it close to her side.
"You can tell me, Faramir. Please."
It was another moment before Faramir could speak. When he did his voice was hardly more than a whisper.
"I killed them." His voice was raw and pained."Their blood is on my hands. It is my fault they died, and for nothing. Had I listened to Gandalf's counsel... " He trailed off. A few more tears slid from his eyes. He closed them quickly, but still he wept, crying for his fallen friends. Eowyn pulled him close, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. He did not know how many nights she had cried, blaming herself for the death of her uncle. Her heart went out to him, yet she knew there was nothing she could say. She simply held him in her arms, letting him weep for the dead, until at last he was silent again. Then, she unraveled herself from him and looked again into his eyes. Sadness lingered there, but the heavy weight they had born before had disappeared. She lifted her hand to his cheek and wiped a last tear away.