March 21st

In the morning, Faramir dresses and feels relieved when he does not feel much pain in his shoulder. It gives him hope that he might soon leave the houses and take up his duties as the steward. Duties which he would like to attend too as soon as possible. Just as he is considering that Beregond enters his room.

"Suil, Beregond."

Faramir made the decision to greet Beregond as soon as he saw him. He does not want Beregond to attend on him without being acknowledged by him. Especially, since he did not acknowledge Beregond the past few days. Or at least he did not acknowledge Beregond as much as he prefers to. Beregond's respond comes immediately.

"Suil, my lord. Are you feeling alright?"

Faramir smiles calmly because he knows that this is a normal question to ask. Considering his shoulder, he is can say that he is alright which he does tell Beregond.

"Yes, Beregond, I feel fine. My shoulder does not pain me as much as it did yesterday."

"I am glad to hear that."

Well, that concludes that. Now he would like to know why Beregond came. He does not expect breakfast for another hour which would give him time to take a walk in the garden. This Faramir decides to look into it.

"Why did you seek me out right now, Beregond? Breakfast should not be brought for an hour."

"I know that, my lord. The reason I came actually concerns breakfast. I came to inform you that your breakfast will be delayed today. The kitchens are delayed due to an incident that occurred in the early hours."

Well, that explains why breakfast is delayed. He is glad to know about it now. It means that he will have more time to spend in the garden. Unfortunately, he also knows that some will not be pleased with this. When he notices Beregond's worried look, he decides to reassure him.

"That is no problem, Beregond. I only hope that no one was injured during the incident."

"No one was seriously injured, my lord. A few maidens suffered some scratches but are already treated for it or receiving it as we speak."

"That is good to know. If you could arrange for my breakfast to be brought to the garden today."

He got the idea of eating breakfast in the garden just now. He was considering how to determine when he will receive his breakfast. Something which he expects to be difficult in the current situation. Especially, because he does not want to be treated any different from the others who reside in the houses.

Also, he wants to take a walk in the garden. Combining it with the uncertainty concerning at what time he will receive breakfast, makes for a difficult situation. As such he decided that he could eat his breakfast in the garden.

Beregond is quick to respond to his request.

"Ben iest lîn, my lord. I will make the arrangements."

"I will go to the gardens then to take a walk there. Once my breakfast has been brought to the garden, please seek me out."

"Carathin i iest lîn, my lord. I hope you have a good walk in the garden."

Then Beregond bows to him and leaves the room. Faramir is not far behind him in leaving the room. He sees how Beregond walks in the direction of where he remembers the kitchen of the houses is located. Most likely to inquire about his breakfast. Or at least that is the only reason he can imagine. He does not believe that Beregond would have come to the houses to look after him without eating beforehand. Faramir smiles amused at Beregond's dedication to him and turns towards the garden.

As he walks towards the garden, Faramir starts to wonder why Beregond keeps looking after him. It is strange for he is certain that Beregond as a member of the citadel guard is more needed by them than that he needs him. The citadel guards are already with few members in the city that every man will be needed. For Beregond to then be allowed to keep looking after him does not make sense.

This is another thing he needs to inquire about just as he needs to do with the incident in the kitchen. He wants to know how badly everyone was injured. Also, he wants to know how the incident could occur. It is something which he will have to inquire about at a later time for he is nearly in the garden.

Once he walks into the garden, he looks around to see who is already in the garden. So far he cannot see many people. He only sees a few men walking around. Men who he does not recognize even though some of them are Gondorians. That he does not recognize the Rohirrim is not surprising. Well, one Rohirrim he does recognize.

He sees princess Éowyn standing on the bastion clad in all with. She seems to be gleaming in the sunlight. Seeing this makes him smile. He walks towards her and addresses her once he approaches the part of the bastion she stands. He does this while he still at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the bastion.

At hearing her name called, Faramir sees princess Éowyn turning around and walking down from the bastion. They greet each other and then take a quiet walk in the garden. He finds the companionship from her easing. Even though they are not talking, he draws comfort out of her presence. They have been walking for about an hour when Beregond finds them.

"My lord? Your breakfast is ready. Where would you like to eat it?"

Faramir sees that Beregond has his breakfast in a basket. Or at least that he assumes for else Beregond's question does not msk3 sense to him. He already knows where he will eat. From his walk from yesterday, he knows that there is a table not far from here. It is there that he intends to eat his breakfast.

"There is a table not far from here. I will eat my breakfast there."

"Ben iest lîn, my lord."

He mentions for Beregond to follow him as he guides him to the table the saw yesterday. Princess Éowyn follows them quietly. It gives him an idea which he decides to ask the princess.

"Princess Éowyn, have you eaten breakfast already?"

"No, I have not, my lord. I was told that it was delayed due to an incident in the kitchen. But why do you ask that?"

"I was told that to. But as to why I ask you, I ask because I would like to know if you would do me the honor of breaking your fast with me?"

"I would be honored to, my lord."

Faramir smiles at the princess' pleased expression. He now knows that he managed to make her happy. Happy to break her fast with him. He smiles at her and gets a smile in response.

"Princess Éowyn, I will go collect your breakfast and bring it to you here, if you would like me to do that?"

Beregond's question pulls them both back to the present and from their staring at each other. Faramir instantly pulls an impassive expression over his face. A reaction he gained from his experience with the court ever since he was allowed to attend court and with his father during the past few years.

As for princess Éowyn, he sees how a flush goes over her face. It is quickly replaced by a look he recognizes immediately. The look of a noblewoman wanting to keep her feelings to herself. Or to not have potential weaknesses notices. The last he has not only seen on noblewoman but also warriors.

"I would appreciate it were you to do that for me."

Beregond nods and follows them to where Faramir is guiding them. Faramir knows that Beregond can only collect the princess' breakfast once he has placed his breakfast down.

Once they reach the place Faramir mentioned, Beregond places his basket on the ground next to the table. He then bows to them before walking away. They are then left alone.

Faramir mentions for princess Éowyn to sit down. Once she sits, Faramir sits down. He sees how she is looking around the area they sit in. He meanwhile takes his time to consider everything he needs to ask Lord Húrin later. His musing is interrupted by princess Éowyn speaking up.

"He is a loyal servant, is he not? Does he always serve you when you are in this city?"

"Beregond is loyal, of that, I have no doubt. But he does not serve me when I am in the city. He is a member of the citadel guard."

"Would the guard not need Beregond more than you need him?"

Princess Éowyn breaks the silence he let rise in an attempt to give her the time to process what he has told. Her question cake just as he wanted to continue with his explanation. It addresses just that which he intended to explain to her. At least as best as he is able to.

Faramir sees how her brows are furrowed in confusion. An emotion he totally understands since he still feels the same emotion with this subject. He decides to answer her question quickly as he does not want her to become even more confused than she already is.

"Yes, I imagine that they need him more than I do. Unfortunately, I do not know why he keeps attending on me. I never asked him to attend on me."

Princess Éowyn nods and they lapse into silence once more. As they stay in one place and are not walking around the garden, Faramir takes his time to listen to the birds as they fly by. At the same time, he looks around to determine which plants grow here. When he first found this place, he did not pay much attention to these matters.

The area they are in is mostly hidden by bushes. There are nice shades around it created by the trees. The shades cover the table allowing for a cool place to sit in the warmer months nor will the sun blind them should it become visible.

In front of the bushes and beneath the trees grow a variety of flowers. He wonders who made this area if one actually did. The way the plants grow it is likely that they came here by the hand of nature. Not the hands of men.

All by all, it gives off a calming feeling. At the same time, he also knows that they are secluded here. Thus they will most likely not be disturbed a lot here. If at all. That is why he knows that he has chosen a good place for them to eat their breakfast. They will be able to eat it in peace.

Looking back at princess Éowyn, Faramir sees that she is doing the same thing he does. It is then that he decides to ask her what she finds of this place.

"Princess, what do you think of this small area?"

Hopefully, he will get an honest answer from her and not one that the ladies of Gondor would normally give him. In an attempt to flatter him, they would give him the answer they think he expects. That answer is not the one he seeks.

But considering what he knows of her, Faramir does not believe that she would answer similar to the ladies of Gondor. She seems, to him, to be a person who tells people the truth. Whether that is a factual truth or an opinionated truth, Faramir cannot determine right now. He can only determine that, or at least try to, once she has answered his question. On that answer, he does not have to wait long.

"I find it a peaceful place. More peaceful than the remainder of the garden because of its seclusion. Not that the garden is not peaceful."

Faramir is pleased by this response. But just when he wants to respond, Beregond returns with princess Éowyn's breakfast. This is also stored in a basket, Faramir suspects for Beregond carries another basket. He places the basket also on the ground.

Once both baskets are in the ground, Beregond starts to unpack the basket containing the princess' breakfast. The content he places on the table in front of her. Faramir sees how soon enough a bowl covered with a blanket is placed in the table. From the smell that escapes, he suspects that the bowl contains porridge. The blanket, Faramir believes, serves to prevent the porridge from cooling too much too soon. The bowl is soon followed by a small kettle, a few bowls with toppings, a cup, and cutlery.

Faramir does not understand why she would want porridge right now. He has never liked it and as such was more than happy when he was no longer expected to eat it. Not that he will refuse it if it is offered to him. But he does not know the customs of Rohan. They could be different from those of Gondor. If he is honest then he expects them to be different.

It is then that he notices that his breakfast has been placed on the table. It consists of baked bread, bacon, cooked egg, and cheese. It is all placed on a plate covered by a larger plate. He also had a small kettle, cup, and cutlery placed before him.

Faramir smiles for he is happy to have one of his most liked breakfasts served. He looks to Beregond and thanks him with a nod. Beregond bows and leaves them alone after that. It is then that Faramir glances at the princess. He sees how she frowns at the breakfast he has had served. Wanting to know what caused her frown he decides to ask her.

"Is there something, princess?"

"No, there is nothing wrong, my lord. I am merely surprised at your choice of breakfast."

"I could say the same about your choice, princess. Apparently, we both have strange choices in breakfast in each other's eyes."

They share a laugh at this. They find it amusing that they choose for breakfast that the other finds strange. It should be noted that not all the requests for a breakfast choice can be served. There is simply not so much of a stock of food in Minas Tirith.

"Could I ask you something, my lord?"

"Of course, princess."

Faramir wonders what it is that princess Éowyn wants to ask him. He cannot imagine anything that she might want to ask him. Well, now he will have to wait and see what he will be asked.

"I would ask you to call me by my name."

That is a request he can easily follow. But then he will also make a request of his own.

"Then, Éowyn, I would ask you to do the same. Please call me by my own name."

"I will do so, Faramir. Shall we start with our breakfast?"

"Of course, we do not want to have to eat it cold, do we?"

"No, we do not want that."

It is then that they both start on their breakfast. They prepare their breakfast so that it is to their liking. As they start to eat, Faramir considers what they can talk about now. A silent breakfast has always made him nervous. It feels to him as if he is waiting to be berated. It also gave him enough time to think over too many things.

After some consideration, he finally decides what they can talk about. They can talk about how they are doing right now. He does not imagine that breakfast will last long. They are both starved based on how quickly they both started on their breakfast.

Looking at Éowyn, he sees that she is absorbed by her breakfast. He had wondered if she would start a conversation. Or if he should do it. Considering the circumstances, he knows that he needs to start a conversation which he does almost immediately.

"Éowyn, I was wondering how you are doing today?"

He waits for her to answers since she has just taken a bite from her porridge. While waiting he starts on his toast. There is little else for him to do. Long he does not have to wait for an answer.

"I am doing as well as I can, Faramir. My arm is still a bit numb and painful. But that I blame on the break I suffered. The painkillers I receive help greatly with the pain. But when I move my arm it feels a bit sore. Something which will hopefully quickly pass."

"I am glad to hear that you are doing fine. I too hope that your soreness will pass soon."

He sees how she looks at him with an inquiring look. Is she wondering how he is doing? Or does something else occupy her thoughts? He knows that he will only find out once she actually asks her question.

"How are you doing, Faramir?"

"I am doing fine, Éowyn. I have some pain in my shoulder from time to time but it is all manageable without needing to take painkillers. It is my hope that I can soon take on my duties."

He decided to first give an answer before actually considering the question she asked him. Now that he has answered, Faramir considers the question he has been asked. It is a question which he had actually expected but at a later time. He thought that he would have time to ask her some questions before she would ask him questions. Now, it appears as if he will be the one who will be answering questions for some time.

Looking at Éowyn once more, Faramir sees how she is looking a bit confused. By the speed with which she asked her previous question, he suspects that he will receive the next one rather quickly. Which is confirmed not long after.

"If you have not yet taken on your duties as steward yet, then who looks after Gondor right now? I know someone must be doing it for else the cleaning and guard rotations I have seen would not have been happening yet."

"Lord Húrin is overseeing everything until I can take on my duties. I know that he will actually be rather busy. He not only looks after my duties but also looks after his own duties."

"And they are?"

"His duties are those of the keeper of the keys of Gondor."

After Éowyn nods in answer, silence fills the breakfast table once more. Due to the falling of silence, he knows that Éowyn's confusion has been resolved. The confusion he saw on her face when she asked about lord Húrin's duties.

Faramir also knows that now an opportunity has presented itself for him. He can now ask the questions he intended to ask her earlier. As he is determined not to let this opportunity pass, Faramir is quick to ask the question he finds the most important to ask.

"Éowyn, have you talked with the healers about the soreness you feel in your arm?"

"Yes, I have. They told me to exercise my arm. So far I have not been able to do it a lot. Mostly due to not having anything to exercise with."

He sees her shrugging while speaking. It makes him wonder if she does not know that she can exercise her arm with normal activities. It would give her an opportunity to exercise her arm while at the same time looking for something to exercise with. As he wants to find that out, Faramir decides he will ask her.

"Do you know that most normal activities will give you an opportunity to exercise? That way you have time to slowly increase the amount of exercise your arm experiences. Also, you will then have time to exercise while looking for something to exercise with."

He sees how Éowyn's face lightens up at his suggestion. It shows that she has not considered it before. Just as he had thought. Éowyn's words confirm that which he has seen on her face.

"I did not know that it would give me enough opportunities to exercise. I thought that I would receive some exercises from the healers."

"It is true that the healers will give you exercises. But it does not mean that you cannot exercise with your normal activities."

"Thank you for your advice, Faramir. I will make good use of it, that I promise you."

Éowyn smiles as she says this. Faramir smiles in return before replying. He is pleased that he could aid her in any way.

"Your welcome, Éowyn."

After this, they spend the remainder of their breakfast in silence. It is a comfortable silence they both enjoy immensely. Each can spend time on their own thoughts without eating alone. Faramir knows that he needs to seek lord Húrin out soon in order to learn what has been done and what needs to be done.

About thirty minutes later, they have finished their breakfast. That is when Faramir stands up while holding his hand out to Éowyn. He hopes that she will accept his offer to take a walk through the garden.

"Shall we take a walk in the garden, Éowyn?"

"Of course, but should we not clean our breakfast up?"

He can see the confusion in her face and smiles reassuringly. He does not see it as a problem if they do not clean up and tells her such.

"No, we do not need to. I have seen Beregond approaching in the distance. He will be here soon and clean up after us. It will be no problem if we do not clean up. Shall we go?"

At his words, the confusion disappears and she smiles at him. Faramir feels her hand slipping into his as she speaks.

"Yes, let us go."

So saying they spend the next few hours walking in the garden. They take their time by walking around slowly. Faramir makes sure that he shows Éowyn the best-hidden places there are during their walk. Places which he is sure Éowyn enjoys knowing about. All these places allow for some quiet in a sometimes busy garden. Especially, when many wounded seek the garden out shortly before noon, during the midday and shortly before dinner. Then it is typically quite busy, if not very, in the garden.

As they near the end of their walk, Faramir decides to ask Éowyn if he can walk her to her room. It is something which he has been considering for some time during their walk. He hopes she will accept it for he has come to enjoy her companionship. He would like to spend some more time with her if he can.

"Would you allow me to walk you to your room, Éowyn?"

"Of course I will allow you to do that, Faramir. How did you know that I would want to return to my own room now?"

"I noticed your exhaustion while we were walking. As such, I thought that you would want to lay down for a while."

While he answers, Faramir starts to guide them back into the houses. At the same time, he slows his steps down so that Éowyn can better keep up with her.

"That I surely want to do."

As she says this, Faramir sees that she is annoyed about something. Wondering what it is, he quickly determines a likely cause. That is the fact that she cannot do what she did before without tiring so much. All due to the wounds she suffered during the war. But to know if this is true he will have to ask her. An objective he quickly abandons. It is not of importance right now. He can always ask about it later.

Soon they are approaching Éowyn's room and he knows that it is time for him to ask a question. A question that has been on his mind for some time now. Even while he was considering the cause of her annoyed.

"Éowyn, would you do me the honor of breaking your fast with me again tomorrow? Maybe even for the remainder of the time, we are in the houses?"

"I would gladly do that, Faramir. I enjoyed the breakfast we had."

"I did too, Éowyn."

Faramir then proceeds to take her hand and places a kiss on the back. Looking up, he smiles at Éowyn. At the same time, he notices the flush that grows on her face.

When he eases his hold on her hand, Éowyn practically snatched her hand back. She cradles it before her chest covered with the other hand. Faramir smiles reassuringly at her before bowing.

"Good day, Éowyn. I hope your rest will restore your strength."

"I hope so too. Good day, Faramir."

Faramir leaves then but he did notice how Éowyn seemed shocked by his action. Her voice and actions clearly told him that. He hopes that he has not offended her by his actions.

At the same time, he is confused by her shock. His actions were completely normal for interactions between members of noble families. As such it should not have resulted in shock. Yet, they did.

Before he knows it, Faramir feels the wind blowing through his hair again. Looking around, he sees that he has walked back to the garden without being aware of it. Knowing that he has nothing to do today, Faramir decides to walk again through the garden. Maybe he will see one of the men he knows during his walk. Or someone else. Regardless of who he will meet, he will talk to them. If only to pass time.

During his walk, he comes upon a few of his rangers. He then spends some talking to them to learn how they have been doing. He learns that they are recovering well and are hoping to be back with the Rangers as soon as possible. Well as possible? More likely as soon as the healers allow them to go back to the field. A hope that grew when they learned that the healers expect them to make a full recovery.

After this talk, he continues to walk and does not meet anyone for some time. That time he uses to think about his own recovery and his plans for the future. Well, the future? For as far as he can think about the future considering the uncertainty of everyone's future.

While thinking about this, Faramir suddenly sees a familiar person sitting on one of the benches. This person turns out to be Lord Halbarad. Halbarad sits on one of the benches looking up into the sky. As he has done with his rangers, Faramir approaches Halbarad to talk to him for a moment.

"Good morning, my Lord Halbarad. How are you doing?"

"Good morning, Lord Faramir. I am doing as fine as can be in this situation. I have not yet regained my strength. Not that I would expect it considering the injury I suffered. And how are you doing, Lord Faramir?"

"I am glad to hear that. I am doing fine and hope to be able to leave the houses soon. But what injury did you suffer, my lord. If I might ask that is."

"You may ask. I suffered a cut in my sight due to my wandering thoughts during a battle."

Halbarad smiles self-reprobating. Faramir gets the impression that Lord Halbarad knows that he should not have done that. It would not surprise him when Lord Halbarad would have already berated himself for it. As Lord Halbarad does not say any more, Faramir decides to walk further. But before he can go far, lord Halbarad's voice stops him.

"Do not leave just yet, Lord Faramir. Please join me for a while."

"Of course, my lord."

Turning around, Faramir walks back to Lord Halbarad and sits down next to him on the bench. They spend some time in silence before Lord Halbarad speaks up.

"It seems so peaceful here. Do you not think so, Lord Faramir.

"It is peaceful, my lord. That I agree with. But it will not stay like this during the entire day. It can become considerably busy in the garden before noon, during the midday and shortly before dinner."

"That I certainly believe, Lord Faramir. Those are the times when everyone, who can, wants to be outside. No one wants to spend more time inside than is absolutely necessary."

Faramir sees how Lord Halbarad gets lost in his thoughts after this. The way Lord Halbarad looks tells Faramir that he is worried about something. Or at the very least wondering about something. As such, he chooses not to respond to what lord Halbarad says.

"I have been wondering, Lord Faramir, what the state of the city is?"

So that is what lord Halbarad was thinking about. Luckily, that is something to which he can respond easily.

"The city is as fine as it can be. In the lower levels, the damage is severe but higher up the damages are not so severely. Some areas were even spared the consequences of the siege. That is what I know so far."

"It is good to know that not the entire city was affected. But what do you plan to with the damages? And what are your plans for the future?"

"Time will have to tell what I can do with both. Right now, I can barely do anything."

Faramir hopes that lord Halbarad is unable to hear or notice that he is upset by his inability to do a lot. Hope which disappears with the next words.

"I can understand that you are upset by not being able to do a lot. Still, there must be something that you can do from the houses?"

Faramir is confused as to why Lord Halbarad would say that.

Is he hinting at something? Besides confusion, he also feels surprised. Surprise as to what reason lord Halbarad could have to say this.


Translations:

Suil: greetings

Ben iest lîn: as you wish

Carathin i iest lîn: I will do as you wish