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The glad days had gone by one after the other, with no change either in the weather or in the heart of the many gathered within Minas Tirith to celebrate release from shadow; but for the few whose fates would be forever changed with their passing they grew dreary and undesired. Each coming hour seemed heavier that the last for the Lady Éowyn, while Lord Faramir's time was spent in planning and meetings of parley, so that his mind could be turned from what its passing meant. And in their waiting they saw little of the other, as if they tried to cling to their last moments apart; yet they still kept each other in their thoughts, as one does a threat which cannot be avoided.

And at last the day came when Beregond was brought before the King to hear his judgement, and many hearts were lifted when he received pardon and was bound to the protection of his Captain and Lord, for whom he had forfeited his very life; and many joyous calls came with the next ruling, which gave Faramir the lands of Ithilien so that he may build a princedom there, and dwell in Emyn Arnen with his own.

And at the end Aragorn and Éomer greeted each other and embraced, and spoke of their own kinship and of that of their realms, and all who were there took heed to their words and, agreeing with them, were glad. Then when they parted but a little the King of Rohan turned to the people and spoke:

"For many years our peoples have been blessed with the friendship between them, since the time that Eorl came forth from the North to these lands; and as the oath that he took has stood the test of the ages so too it will not fail from this day forth. And on this happy day shall the Mark and Gondor be bound with a new bond, for, lo, the Lord Faramir, Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien asks that the Lady Éowyn of Rohan be his wife, and she grants it in full heart; and they shall plight their troth before you all." And saying this he brought forth his sister and set her hand in that of the Steward, as he stood by his King's side; and as the crowds let out their cheers they could not see the stern gazes of the betroths nor the trembling in Éomer's hand.

Then when the evening came and the Lord and future Lady of Ithilien were seated together in great honour they could at last speak to the other, the first of their talks since parting in the gardens. And their words were silent and soft, for they were watched by many whose eyes were filled with glee for them, as none else but the two Kings knew of their agreement.

"My lady, we do not seem a merry pair," said Faramir, and his eyes glinted with wry humour; for he saw no other way to make lighter these moments, and for that he had great need; and not unlike his own heart did he think the Lady Éowyn's to be.

"'Tis true, my lord," she answered, but looked not upon him," for there is little cause for merriment."

To that he said no more, and what happy spirits he had brought unto his words paled with the sting of hers. But looking round the great hall in which they dined he read expectation and eagerness in the faces of the guests, more so than was between himself and her. His heart fell heavy from the lightness of tone around him, and so he fell in to the comfort of his duty; and he thought with worry how they would appear to those who watched their every move.

"Lady," he spoke once more, "it is the night of our betrothal. Our hearts should be filled with joy, yet many hours have passed and there has been nary a smile upon our lips. All we have done will be in vain lest we appear glad for this day."

"And would you trust me or my words in our days together should I deceive all with my smile this night?" she asked then, and her eyes shone with disdain where they held his face; and he felt them pierce his heart, and would have tuned away from the truth they bore of what she had surrendered. But he held her gaze, and for the first time wished to melt the ice which dwelt within her, not for her sake but for his own.

And then he leaned toward her, his face grave, and whispered "My apologies... Once more I ask for your forgiveness, my lady; yet I would ask more of you, that you give this night, and our days to come, an honest chance – as you would have, should your wedding had been arranged by your brother and not the Lord of another realm." And some part of him would have had him name his King for what he had once been to her – the man she had thought to love; but such a thing was cruel and witless, and would have pained her, and he wished no pain to ail her from that moment forth. So with a soft look in his eyes he spoke once more to her: "My lady, if you shall find it in your heart to smile tonight I will have it be for joy, not duty; and here do I promise to ease your search for it."

And though she doubted much his words and gave no answer to them, still she graced the hall with her smile that night, whether from the stories that the hobbits told when her betrothed brought her to join them, or from his own, towards the end. And when the morning came she no longer looked upon him with contempt, but found in him once more the man from the Houses of Healing whom she had spoken of her life to, and who had brought her worries ease. Then as they parted and she watched him leave, the light of the rising sun about him, she bade at last farewell to shadow and felt the warmth upon her skin, from need for life and weariness of darkness, if for nothing else.

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