Summary: At a party one night, Faramir and Arwen get to know each other, and mutual
experiences create a bond between them. Arwen/Faramir friendship
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, they belong to Tolkien. No money is being made off this.
For my beta, Naomi (QueenofAngels1). You are the best!
The whole of Gondor was there, or so it seemed. They looked forward to the monthly celebrations, it was their only time to relax and to catch up on the times.
The fellowship was there, of course. Gandalf's fireworks lit up the sky as if it was daytime. He had left a huge supply with Sam and Rosie, and it seemed as if he was there, instead of in the Undying Lands. The fireworks were a glittering tribute to him.
Merry and Pippin always insisted on 'sampling' the mead before the party began. Arwen always let them do this, because it seemed as if they sampled the drinks even without her consent.
Trouble was they usually became drunk even before the party started. This was fine to them; they were often the life of the party, singing and dancing on the tabletops.
Sam brought Rosie, and often their daughter Elanor who often went off with Eldarion to play. Frodo was dearly missed by each person at the party, but somehow all of them knew he was happiest in Valinor. Legolas and Gimli were there too of course. Each month Legolas insisted to Gimli that he could handle the spirits, and each month Legolas became sick for a week, and never learned his lesson from one month to the next. He always had to call Gimli's bluff.
***
The party was in full force. Merry and Pippin were outdoing themselves, singing so loudly the band had to stop playing. Gandalf's fireworks made the little children scream with joy.
Eowyn was radiant in a red dress, which had been sewn by Arwen's ladies and given to Eowyn as a gift. The pair had become the best of friends, because Faramir often had to come into Minas Tirith and Eowyn came with him. At first there had been a soft friction between them, but they soon realized their loneliness was stronger. Eowyn missed Rohan and Arwen dearly missed Rivendell. So they became each other's confidante.
They swapped stories, and dearly loved to tell embarrassing stories about their husbands. Aragorn and Faramir hated this of course because the story always reached the other and they were teased mercilessly by the other. Aragorn, for instance, didn't like the story of how he'd fallen off his horse in the middle of an important speech, before battle. Faramir loved that story dearly. Eowyn and Arwen liked to give each other little gifts, and the dress was Arwen's biggest gift so far. It was red, and shimmered slightly with gold. Eowyn was beautiful.
Arwen was equally radiant, in a green dress that shimmered. The pair laughed, seated at a table as Arwen told Eowyn about Eldarion's latest plight.
"Eldarion came into Elessar's meeting, stood on the table, and asked loudly, 'Father, where do babies come from?' Estel went bright red. He still hasn't heard the end of it."
"What did he say?" Eowyn asked excitedly.
"He told Eldarion that he'd discuss it with him later. So I ended up telling Eldarion where babies come from." Arwen finished.
Eowyn chuckled. "I am glad Faramir and I will not have to answer that question for a while yet." They planned to have children someday but of course there was no rush.
The dancing in the Hall continued. Eowyn and Arwen had grown tired, as the celebration reached its eighth hour. Aragorn and Faramir were off somewhere with the remaining members of the Fellowship, catching up, for it was rare that the fellowship was able to get together anymore.
Arwen stood up, fanning herself. She let Eowyn know she was going to go outside to get some air, and excused herself.
Eowyn stood up and went across the crowded dance floor to her husband, Aragorn, and the rest of the fellowship. She took Faramir's hand warmly and joined the conversation.
"What are you discussing?" Eowyn asked.
"When Gimli is going to get himself a lady," Legolas quipped.
"A fine one to talk," grumbled Gimli.
"Where is my wife, Eowyn?" Aragorn asked. "Usually we can never separate you two."
"She went outside. Faramir, would you like to dance?" Eowyn asked her husband, getting her second wind.
Faramir groaned. He was too tired to oblige, even if it was for his beautiful wife.
"I'll dance with you," Aragorn volunteered, seeing Faramir's exhausted groan.
Eowyn beamed, and took Aragorn's arm. They went off to the dance floor.
Faramir, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy, went outside to the garden.
"Are you tired of the festivities as well?" A high clear voice asked. It was Arwen. She sat at the fountain of water that she had helped create. She truly looked majestic in the green dress.
Faramir jumped slightly; he didn't think anyone else would be outside when they could be inside enjoying the celebration. "I am tired, Your Highness."
Arwen smiled. "We have been friends for a while now, Faramir. I think we can go by our proper names."
"I apologize. . .Arwen." Though Faramir did not really think they were really friends. They did not really know each other, Faramir only heard of Arwen through Aragorn and Eowyn's stories. She was an acquaintance, really, but Faramir respected and admired her.
"They look wonderful, don't they," Arwen commented, looking inside at Aragorn and Eowyn. Eowyn was laughing as Aragorn swung her playfully around the floor. Arwen beamed at her best friend and husband.
"I suppose so," Faramir exhaled silently.
His use of a title again made her sigh. "It is seeing them together, isn't it." she guessed.
"She would not have married you if she did not care, Faramir. Eowyn is my best friend. I know this about her."
"How can you be sure, Arwen? How can you be sure that I am just her second choice?" Faramir countered.
"Faramir, why is this coming up now, when you have been married to her for three months?"
"I suppose it has never really been resolved in my mind." Faramir replied.
Aragorn swung Eowyn around the floor again.
Arwen shook her head. She had to be brutal now, just as she had been with herself. I am sorry, Faramir, Arwen thought. "Faramir, you are acting like a fool."
Faramir snapped up. "Excuse me, your Highness?"
"Eowyn would never have married you had she loved another. She is honorable in that way. Secondly, I have seen the way she looks at you and the way she looks at Aragorn. They are two very different looks. When she looks at you I see complete love and passion. She looks at Aragorn and sees a brother.
"I truly believe you are the best one for her. Before you Eowyn was so sad. Do you remember?"
Faramir nodded ruefully.
"And your kindness made her better. You balance each other." Arwen finished.
Faramir saw the situation so clearly now. "I am being a fool." He smiled at his lovely wife, who took a turn dancing with Legolas next. Legolas was a bit green but a worthy match for Eowyn's energy.
He remembered all the wonderful times he had with Eowyn, and how lovingly she looked upon him. His love for Eowyn washed upon him.
"Thank you. . .Arwen." Faramir smiled at her. "Would you like to go back inside?"
Arwen shook her head. "I am too tired. I think I'll sit out here for a while."
Faramir looked at his energetic wife inside and knew he would not be able to resist if she asked to dance a second time. "I think I will stay for a while as well."
Arwen looked surprised, then nodded. "I am glad to have your company. I have a humorous tale to tell of Estel."
Faramir leaned forward eagerly as Arwen recounted the story she'd told Eowyn just a while before, about Eldarion and the question.
". . .and Estel still has not heard the end of it," Arwen finished.
Faramir laughed at the story. "That is a good story to tease Aragorn about later on."
"You didn't hear a word of it from me." Arwen held a finger to her lips.
"Of course not."
"Did Eowyn ever tell you about when . . ."Faramir began, and told a hilarious tale about Eowyn and her attempt to sew.
"She sewed the sleeve too long? How long was it?"
"Arwen, it reached my knee. And the other sleeve barely reached my forearm."
Arwen laughed with great mirth. It was no secret that Eowyn was a novice when it came to sewing. Arwen remembered her mother teaching her how to sew, and grew quiet. She stopped laughing abruptly.
"What is it, Arwen?" Faramir asked.
"Nothing. I was thinking of my mother." Arwen did not regret her decision to stay with Aragorn for a second, but was sorrowful when she thought of her mother, and how they both did not realize they would never see each other again. She imagined her mother awaiting the ship to Valinor, and when it came it did not bear Arwen, her beloved daughter.
"She is in–Valinor, is that correct?" Faramir asked, hoping he had the right name for it.
"Yes," Arwen sighed deeply. "We did not realize we would never see each other again. I love Estel very much, but often the weight of my mother is so strong."
Faramir realized then the depth of Arwen's sacrifice for Aragorn. He could not imagine leaving his beloved Gondor for an unknown land, to live amongst another race. Nor could he imagine immortality and the sting of Eowyn dying in such a short time. He shuddered.
"My lady, I am sure your mother must understand your love for Aragorn. There was no other choice for you to make."
Arwen gazed upon Eldarion running around with Elanor. "I am certain of that."
"And your mother is in your heart, even if you were torn apart so quickly."
Arwen gazed at him. "You know what it is like, don't you."
Faramir nodded and thought of his own mother. "I miss my own mother as well."
"Isn't it wonderful to be able to share our sorrows," Arwen commented. Faramir realized Arwen had no one to tell of her mother's absence in her life. Arwen, noble Arwen would not tell Aragorn of her mother because she would not want him to feel guilty. Faramir was sure Aragorn would want to hear about Arwen and her mother, but Arwen protected her husband from it. It was admirable, yet Faramir knew Arwen would suffer because of it.
"I sometimes wonder what it would have been like, to go to Valinor," Arwen confessed. "Then I see my husband and our beautiful son, and I forget about it."
Faramir smiled. "I myself wonder what it would have been like had my mother been around longer. I think she would have adored Eowyn."
"As do I."
Arwen realized that all four of them had lost their parents in one way or another. Aragorn's mother and father had died young. Eowyn had been raised by her uncle. Faramir had a father who favored another son. Arwen had remarkable parents, but had chosen to leave them forever. It was a bond between the four of them, and she realized now why they were so close. Their experiences were similar in nature, and it drew them all together. The bond drew Arwen and Faramir together.
"We have both lost so much," Faramir commented. He was referring to family. He'd lost his entire family just like Arwen had lost hers.
"Yes," Arwen said simply, thinking of Elrond, her mother, and her brothers. "We have also gained so much more than we could imagine."
Faramir looked inside at the glowing Eowyn, and at the laughing Aragorn.
"Arwen, I am sorry I have not tried to get to know my queen better. She is quite a remarkable person."
Arwen chuckled at the compliment. "And I regret not knowing the Steward of Gondor and my best friend's husband."
Arwen leaned over the fountain and splashed some water on her face. Some of it landed on Faramir, and he gasped. Mischievously, he splashed Arwen. She gasped as well, and returned his bluff. "There is a high price to pay for splashing your queen!"
Faramir simply laughed and splashed back till he grew too tired. A certain understanding had been reached between them, and he was glad of it. It was a blessing to have another friend in Gondor, especially one he could relate to so well with. He knew now that Arwen would not be just an acquaintance now, she would be a trusted friend.
"I think it is time we rejoined our spouses," Arwen said, standing. "Shall we?"
"We shall," Faramir said, standing. He offered Arwen his arm. Eowyn and Aragorn were already walking toward them.
"Friends?" Arwen asked, taking his arm.
Faramir nodded. "Forever." They joined their spouses and danced till the sun came up on them, both glad to have a new kindred spirit.
If you liked this, let me know! Please review, this is my first fic. I'd love to do more little fics like this, if anyone wants to see it. I think Arwen and Faramir have a nice little bond. I was inspired to write this after watching the brilliance that is the Return of the King!
