A/N: Well, you know the drill for disclaimers by now, so if you do not
know, look at the last few chapters please. This long chapter isn't going
to be too funny, because the story was getting derailed. Well, this is
where the past three chapters will hinge together. Enjoy the ride and
review!
Joy Like No Other, Jewel Without Compare
"Hey woodsgirl! Are you joining the balrog hunts?" Gariniwen yelled at Éowyn one very cold day as they were on the practice field. It was already the twentieth of November and it was a Monday. Over the past few weeks, some students had been busy "assisting" in tracking the balrog, but these students were more of a hassle than an aid to the elves who were spearheading the investigation. The competitions had been held on an on and off basis, so the cheerleaders were practicing daily for their next competition that was going to be held that Friday. So far, the squad had been doing all right, but there was room for improvement.
"Why should I?" Éowyn asked.
"Well, you after all are a warrior and you know." Riniwel butted in.
"First, I have better things to do than to waste my time complicating the task that has already been left to Gildor and the wood elves, and to Professor Bombadil. The balrog search parties are not needed. Next thing, I have to work on my thesis" Éowyn said.
"That old thing? I haven't even started. You've got to be joking. How can you spend time on that?" Gariniwen asked.
"Let's see who the joke's on in May when we have to pass it" Éowyn said.
"Change topic! I don't even want to think of such things now," Riniwel said in exasperation.
"What do you want to talk about then?" Gariniwen asked.
"Oh you know, the people here Or maybe about boys or something" Riniwel said.
"At least she had to change the topic. But couldn't she have picked something with more substance than locker room conversation?" Éowyn thought. By now, she knew too well what these conversations led to.
"I hate the fact we haven't talked to that Greg dude or Éowyn's brother much! That bites" Gariniwen said aloud.
"At least we're practicing a lot more instead of bugging the jocks. Now Éomer has time to hook up with Lothíriel" Éowyn thought aloud without quite thinking of what she'd just said.
"Did you say hook up?" Riniwel gasped.
"Umm.." Éowyn began.
"It's not like that dancing queen can actually get to him before we can. We still have a chance"" Gariniwen said, cutting off Éowyn's thought.
"Well, they have something going on. I honestly believe that they mean to take each other seriously," Éowyn pointed out.
"After all, Greg Adamson is still our main thing!" Riniwel squealed.
"I thought he was with that Delilah redhead," Gariniwen said.
"Maybe not. She's such a player we can always steal him. I wonder how come you can't be more like her, Éowyn. Then you would end up with better guys," Riniwel said.
"Who wants to be like her? I'm happy the way I am. So if a guy wants me, he has to see me for who I really am, not a trinket to be showcased or hidden away. That's what I love about Faramir. He knows me for who I am, beyond all that is said about me," Éowyn said.
"I don't know why you didn't steal Aragorn from Arwen" Riniwel said.
Éowyn's eyes widened. It was no secret anymore, but just to hear it being brought up again was painful enough.
"I respect Aragorn and Arwen`s relationship. Besides, we have our reasons" Éowyn said, trying to disguise her shock.
"But you could've gotten so much better. You once liked Aragorn, I heard" Riniwel pressed on.
"I once liked him, but now I love Faramir. There's a difference " Éowyn said fiercely.
Riniwel and Gariniwen just shut up. They just couldn't get it.
"She would've been better for your brother. You're too scholarly"
Faramir turned to look at Harim. The two of them were busy going through their Literature books in the library that afternoon.
:"I don't know if anything even happened between them. My brother may have had a glimpse of her when he stopped by Rohan, but I doubt he actually talked to her," Faramir said.
"Your brother was fond of swords and battles. So is Éowyn" Harim said.
"Of course she is. After all, she is a renowned Rider of Rohan" Faramir said. He knew that deed on the Pelennor Fields would still be talked about, even in this odd Age.
"Yes and you're a scholar who was always second-best in his father's eyes, you could never fill in your brother's shoes, no matter how hard you tried to. Your father obviously preferred your brother, I hear. So if your own father treated you that way, how much more are you sure that you're first in Éowyn's affections? How do you know she doesn't love Aragorn, Greg or Wormtongue?" Harim taunted. .
"I don't think it's that way between the two of us," Faramir said.
"Once second-best, always second-best, that's what they say" Harim said icily as he gathered up his books.
"Those two almost blew up? Sometimes you act before you think, Éowyn" Lothíriel said to her friend the next day.
"At least I told the truth. At least they'll know better than to flirt with Éomer" Éowyn said.
"Never mind. After all, people did stare when your brother and I went to the coffee shop yesterday. I wonder if it will work out," Lothíriel said.
"There's nothing to be worried about. I'm not worried about you two. I'm more worried about the competition. This thing is really making life miserable. I can't be who I want to be. I feel like I'm getting pushed into a cage" Éowyn confided.
"Don't sweat it. For once, take things as they come. It's like grooving free form to music. You just feel things along and do what you can to make the best of it" Lothíriel advised.
"Hello Faramir. Where's Éowyn?" Delilah crooned the next morning (Wednesday) when they met outside the lecture hall.
"Already at classes. Have you seen her?" Faramir said.
Delilah pouted. "No. Listen, can you ditch that tomboy for even just one night like say tonight and have a few drinks with me" she offered aggressively.
"Actually, Éowyn and I were going to go with our friends for some snacks later after the cheerleading practice," Faramir said uneasily. One thing he didn't like about Delilah was the fact she was too aggressive in the wrong way, which made her too easy to have.
Delilah scowled at him. "Don't you ever live a little, even with her? I mean, I don't see you two doing stuff like drinking," she said.
"We have better stuff to do" Faramir said. Since that incident in Rivendell, they'd all been slightly wary of alcohol.
"Gosh, no wonder why you guys are so screwed up" Delilah said as Faramir walked off.
"Boy am I not accepting an invitation from that girl. I heard she's in cahoots with Wormtongue in a few matters. She even tried to flirt with me in full view of all, even though Thiri was there," Éomer remarked after Faramir told his story. The two boys were sitting on the bleachers while waiting for the cheerleaders to come.
"I can't believe you two boys are here watching this!" Arwen said as she and Aragorn joined the two.
"Weren't we supposed to also give feedback on their performance?" Lothíriel said as she jumped down from a higher bleacher
"It feels weird watching this to tell you the truth" Faramir admitted. "And to think I got into an argument with her yesterday over the importance of this thing because she's spending so much time on it to the point I barely see her"
"This competition is important to the school. Aside from the dance competition, this is our last chance to beat the Rhun and Harad teams" Aragorn pointed out as he put his arm around Arwen's.
". I swear, I have to be the worst on the squad. Add that to the fact everybody's late again. But thanks for coming anyway" Éowyn said as she sat down beside Faramir.
"Fashionably late is more like it" Greg boomed from somewhere.
"Is he a gay jock or what?" Faramir whispered.
"Or he simply lives on hormones" Éowyn said as she smoothed down her skirt
"Hey chicks, wazzup?" Greg said as he winked at Arwen.
"If he uses that lame pick-up line of his, he's gonna get it from me personally" Aragorn said.
"Hey cheer babe, whatcha doing hanging with Nerd here?" Greg said as he sidled up to Éowyn.
"Get lost Greg" Faramir said.
"Oh, so Nerd is getting possessive isn't he?" Greg mocked.
"All cheerleaders assemble! Greg Adamson, please report to Professor Saruman's office for your Math Tutorial" a voice barked from a speaker, breaking up the tension.
"Thanks Faramir" Éowyn whispered as she stood up to leave and she kissed his cheek.
"We'll wait here. You'll do fine," Faramir said before Éowyn dashed down to the field.
"Your life is charmed isn't it?" Aragorn asked Faramir.
"Perhaps" Faramir said as the group looked to watch the practice.
That night saw Faramir and Éowyn sitting quietly together on a window seat in the dormitory. The moon was rising in the East, and the only sounds that the two of them could hear were the wind blowing, the sound of people walking back from the balrog hunts, and the sound of each other's heartbeat. All was perfectly calm, and they were both at ease, though they were in silence.
"Am I strange?" Éowyn finally asked seriously, still looking out over the East. It was a question she never had an answer to. Nobody was ever able to answer it for her.
"What makes you ask? Normality is relative," Faramir said.
Éowyn stared at him "Are you trying to dodge my question?" she asked.
"You never asked me that before" Faramir replied.
"I'm always being looked at as a tomboy by the cheerleaders who say I should be more like Delilah, some people think I'm a deserter, then some boys like Greg and Wormtongue think I'm just a hot girl with long legs..I don't know who I really am anymore. I just want to know who am I to you" Éowyn admitted.
"You're much more than I can ever put into words. You're no ordinary person or woman for that matter," Faramir said.
"So you're saying I'm strange? Or are you speaking in riddles again?" Éowyn retorted.
"That's not what I meant, and I'm not speaking in riddles. You aren't just the woman who saved my life. You're the bravest, kindest and closest friend I'll ever have and I love you despite what people think. I don't think you were named "Éowyn" for nothing". Faramir said.
"You've been reading up on etymology again haven't you? I guess that's one of the quirks that make you so different from any other man I've met. Arda would be boring if we were all the same," Éowyn said lightly as her hand grasped his tightly.
Faramir kissed her hand and ran a thumb along Éowyn's fingers, all red and marked from a long day of schoolwork, practices and guitar playing. She was a wonderful person, sore hands and all, he knew. "I'm sorry about what I said yesterday," he said as his gray eyes met hers.
"You apologized to me fifteen minutes after we fought. It's also my fault actually, taking you and everybody else for granted even though you were always on my mind. I'm sorry too," Éowyn said.
"You wouldn't have done that if I had also made an effort to spend time with you" Faramir said.
"I know. I wish we could still talk more, catch up on each other and all, but it's past eleven already," Éowyn said in dismay as she looked at the clock. The night was getting old already.
"Let's go now. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day. And I think you and the squad will do great on Friday," Faramir said as he got off the window seat and helped Éowyn off after him. The morning would bring new things, and they had to be ready to face them.
"Ha! You could never face me you losers!" Greg's taunt rang across the ball field. This Thursday was different. Now instead of having lectures, time was being spent on electives, thesis writing and other activities, among them, PE class.
"Just pass the ball," Sam yelled.
"I don't think you should ask him that," Pippin said as he rolled up his pants.
"This is so unfair! How can we hobbits take down those Harad men?" Diamond asked Pippin.
"That's why we have challenges right? Besides, Elladan, Elrohir and Niliwen are with us. Anyway I have a feeling we can outsmart them" Frodo butted in.
"Riiiggghhhhtttt and Irilia, Gimli and Legolas are with Greg and Wormtongue. And to think I lost a contest the other day" Niliwen whined.
"Only because it was a poetry contest and you were up against Faramir, Aragorn and Frodo" Merry said.
"At least she won the journalism bet" Rose said.
"Hey, stop talking nerds! I'm gonna throw the soccer ball over!" Wormtongue yelled.
"Like he will," Estella said before the ball landed in front of her and Gimli kicked it away from her.
"The ball's coming your way Elladan! Be sure Legolas doesn't kick it in!" Elrohir called to his twin, who was the goalie.
"OUCH! Gimli! You don't tackle the goalie!" Elladan called from under Gimli.
"But Irilia kicked me!" the dwarf complained.
"Hey, where's Delilah?" Irilia asked.
"She's afraid of breaking her nails" Legolas said.
"I wish Eowyn was playing now instead of cheerleading. She's not afraid of breaking her nails" Rose said.
"She keeps her nails short anyway. How the heck did we start talking about nails?" Niliwen asked.
'Ask DYE here" Irilia said glancing at Legolas.
"What's DYE?" Elladan asked.
"The Dirty Young Elf!" Irilia said before Legolas bopped her with the ball.
"Shut up! I want to get lunch!" Worm whined.
"Only because you want to spy on Éowyn" Merry said before Worm shot him a dirty look.
"Let's just stop meddling into this love triangle shall we?" Frodo asked.
"More like Pentagon or even Hexagon" Worm said.
"I don't have a crush on Faramir anymore you hunchbacked @!@#%$" Niliwen yelled tactlessly.
"Hey no swearing girl. So if we've got Faramir, Éowyn, Wormtongue, and Delilah, who's playing the fifth?" Diamond said.
"Greg" Pippin said.
"Alright, so we aren't going to have the Soccer Conspiracy now!" Estella yelled before the ball came back into play. College romances were really complicated.
"You're a blind fool Éowyn" Wormtongue said to her at the lunch counter.
"I'd rather be blind than open to your indecencies" Éowyn said.
"Remember, I had a grip over you for years. You're JUST a child, a scared child" Wormtongue mocked.
"I'm not a child, " Éowyn said hotly. She couldn't deny she had been a prisoner of a different sort too,
"Then you're a restless rover. I know the look on your face when you saw Aragorn. And you *fell * for Faramir not long after! Can you call that love?" Wormtongue said.
Éowyn stormed off. How dare anybody say that about her! "There was a difference! Aragorn brought me hope where I had none and healing of one sort. I never could touch him, I wasn't meant to. Arwen was and is still meant to do that for him. But Faramir allowed me to touch him within, and he understood me in a way Aragorn never will. And I also feel that way too about him! But is Worm right? Can I call it love?" she thought to herself as she tried to mask her anger.
"You mustn't believe everything that they say" Arwen said softly from a table.
"Arwen, you aren't angry at me for just liking your fiancé, are you?" Éowyn asked.
"I understand. Aragorn is a great man, but I think Faramir is the man for you, Éowyn. I'm not angry, and I have just one bit of advice in this circumstance. . Just hold on now to what you've got, just the way Aragorn and I held on through all the years. That's all I can tell you. Now, do you want to join us for lunch?" Arwen replied.
"Thanks," Éowyn said as she sat across from Arwen at the lunch table.
"I'm nervous, and I look horrible in this get-up" Éowyn said the next afternoon at the locker room before the competition began.
"At least these skirts are short enough to attract attention" Gariniwen laughed as she looked at her skirt, which was a bit above her knees.
"You wear skirts shorter than that," Riniwel said.
"I want to wear pants under this" Éowyn said in disgust.
"You're so weird!" Gariniwen exclaimed.
"So what? I don't feel comfortable in this. I'd rather wear one of the dresses I used to wear back in Rohan" Éowyn said.
"Whatever, You'll never fit in if you think that way" Riniwel said just before the doors opened leading to the field and the audience.
Éowyn just shrugged and looked forward to the door. For now, fitting in and oddities wouldn't matter. All she would think about now was doing her best. That was all that mattered.
"Ooh man, the cheerleaders look hot!" Greg called as he scanned the group of cheerleaders assembling on the field.
Éomer rolled his eyes as he and Lothíriel joined their friends on the bleachers. "That guy needs a hormone adjustment" he remarked.
"Or a new set of brains" Arwen said nonchalantly.
"I can't believe that some of the cheerleaders let him get away with slapping their rears" Irilia said.
"Don't be so vulgar!" Niliwen retorted.
"Well, look who cracks the sickest jokes round here" Lothíriel said.
"Come on, the competition is beginning. I hope that the squad gets their routine right," Aragorn said as he looked towards the field.
"After all their mistakes we saw, I hope that they took our suggestions into consideration" Faramir said.
"Eru knows. Only Éowyn seemed to actually take us seriously" Frodo said.
"She would. She's not like any other cheerleader on the squad" Estella said.
"Yes, but if the other cheerleaders don't do their best or if Gariniwen manages to goof up badly again today, I don't see how we can get to even second place" Irilia said.
"Pessimist" Arwen said before the exhibition began.
"At least we got second place," Aragorn said later that afternoon after the competition.
"There's always the dance competition. Lothíriel and Éomer could do break-dancing" Éowyn smiled as she entered the room.
"I thought Aragorn and Arwen were going to do rock n' roll dancing" Lothíriel said.
"Never mind that for now. The point is at least you tried your best Éowyn" Éomer said to his sister.
"It's ironic. You hated the squad, yet you did your best, and the girls who were really into it just didn't care at all" Arwen said.
"It must've been the scolding on Wednesday. It's a pity really" Éowyn sighed.
"At least Irilia was wrong back there. Hey, where did my sister go?" Éomer said.
"Hey, she left the room" Arwen remarked.
"Let her be. I think she needs to talk to somebody," Lothíriel said.
"Aren't you coming inside?" Éowyn asked Faramir as she walked up to him. Éowyn had found him walking alone outside the dormitory looking towards the sunset. Now, the sky was all orange and gold, and in the East, stars were appearing in the sky. It was only about five or so in the afternoon, and it was getting dark.
"I was just thinking of things," Faramir said.
Éowyn took a deep breath. "Such as your brother?" she guessed
"I miss him very much. I feel like things would be so different if he was around now," Faramir said.
"I still wonder why your father even let your brother go on such a quest. But if you'd gone, who knows what could've happened" Éowyn said quietly.
"When my brother stopped by Rohan, did you see him?" Faramir asked curiously
"He wasn't in Edoras for very long. I saw him when he arrived, but I don't think he saw me. He instead went straight to the Hall, asking my brother about the way to Rivendell" Éowyn said, her voice very far-off as if she was remembering that day.
"Did he eventually say anything to you?" Faramir asked.
"Just the usual words of hailing and the usual compliment. But he never asked me to speak more to him, quite unlike you in fact. And everything I'd hear from him would be about the tales of the old battles or about the way to Rivendell" Éowyn said.
"Sounds like the Boromir I knew" Faramir said.
"But he's not very much alike to you. I know you two look alike, but then you both struck me as very different. There's nothing wrong with being a warrior, but even Riders sometimes want to hear the minstrels singing old songs of things other than slaying. You're the only man who ever read the "Lay of Leithan" to me. Not even my own brother could" Éowyn said.
"You still remember that time in Dol Amroth?" Faramir said.
"Of course. It was the night after I first caught you on the roof. We were sitting on the shore, by the waves, and you had your book with you. I wanted to know what you were reading, but at that time, I still couldn't read Sindarin. So you read it to me" Éowyn reminded him.
"I remember, when my mother was still alive, she once read it to my brother and me. Boromir slept right through it. I was sleepy too, but I couldn't fall asleep. And to think I was barely four at that time" Faramir said.
"From the same two parents, yet very different" Éowyn murmured.
"And I was never first in my father's love, not even when my mother was alive. I never competed with my brother though, but even then, I never was really in my father's favor either. No matter how hard I tried to fill in my brother's shoes after he died, I never lived up to my father's expectations. I was always second-best" Faramir said.
"I know what Harim said to you. He told me on my way out. I don't care what he or anybody says. I love only you and you're not the second-best. You never were, but that's just the way people looked at you" Éowyn said
"Sometimes, I wonder if my courage was really lacking compared to my brother's" Faramir said.
"Sometimes it takes more courage to live rather than to let yourself or somebody just give up and die. You have that courage. You never let me go into the dark, and I won't let you stay in the shadow of memory. You're not your brother, you're just yourself. I want you to be the person only you can be" Éowyn said with a strong intensity in her voice.
"I didn't let you go in the dark not because you were my friend. I saw so much in you, and you brought me joy, in a time and place I thought was without hope" Faramir said as he moved closer to her.
"And I see the same things in you too. You love me, and yet you never try to make me into somebody I cannot be" Éowyn said before they kissed.
As they parted, Faramir smiled. "So what's going on in the dorm now?" he asked Éowyn.
"A small "second-place" party. Good to see you're finally back in the present" Éowyn replied as she swatted his arm playfully and they began walking, hand in hand back to the dormitory.
A/N: Long right? I just had to hinge the chapters together as I said. Whew now that's done with. So I hope I got the story back on track (did you notice that in Chapter 12, some characters didn't appear?!) and don't worry, the problems aren't over yet. There's still more to come in Chapter 15 that's more supernatural than this chapter. If anybody can actually guess the word association with the title of this chapter and the characters, I'll give you an appearance in the next chapter. So please review!!! Namarie!
.
Joy Like No Other, Jewel Without Compare
"Hey woodsgirl! Are you joining the balrog hunts?" Gariniwen yelled at Éowyn one very cold day as they were on the practice field. It was already the twentieth of November and it was a Monday. Over the past few weeks, some students had been busy "assisting" in tracking the balrog, but these students were more of a hassle than an aid to the elves who were spearheading the investigation. The competitions had been held on an on and off basis, so the cheerleaders were practicing daily for their next competition that was going to be held that Friday. So far, the squad had been doing all right, but there was room for improvement.
"Why should I?" Éowyn asked.
"Well, you after all are a warrior and you know." Riniwel butted in.
"First, I have better things to do than to waste my time complicating the task that has already been left to Gildor and the wood elves, and to Professor Bombadil. The balrog search parties are not needed. Next thing, I have to work on my thesis" Éowyn said.
"That old thing? I haven't even started. You've got to be joking. How can you spend time on that?" Gariniwen asked.
"Let's see who the joke's on in May when we have to pass it" Éowyn said.
"Change topic! I don't even want to think of such things now," Riniwel said in exasperation.
"What do you want to talk about then?" Gariniwen asked.
"Oh you know, the people here Or maybe about boys or something" Riniwel said.
"At least she had to change the topic. But couldn't she have picked something with more substance than locker room conversation?" Éowyn thought. By now, she knew too well what these conversations led to.
"I hate the fact we haven't talked to that Greg dude or Éowyn's brother much! That bites" Gariniwen said aloud.
"At least we're practicing a lot more instead of bugging the jocks. Now Éomer has time to hook up with Lothíriel" Éowyn thought aloud without quite thinking of what she'd just said.
"Did you say hook up?" Riniwel gasped.
"Umm.." Éowyn began.
"It's not like that dancing queen can actually get to him before we can. We still have a chance"" Gariniwen said, cutting off Éowyn's thought.
"Well, they have something going on. I honestly believe that they mean to take each other seriously," Éowyn pointed out.
"After all, Greg Adamson is still our main thing!" Riniwel squealed.
"I thought he was with that Delilah redhead," Gariniwen said.
"Maybe not. She's such a player we can always steal him. I wonder how come you can't be more like her, Éowyn. Then you would end up with better guys," Riniwel said.
"Who wants to be like her? I'm happy the way I am. So if a guy wants me, he has to see me for who I really am, not a trinket to be showcased or hidden away. That's what I love about Faramir. He knows me for who I am, beyond all that is said about me," Éowyn said.
"I don't know why you didn't steal Aragorn from Arwen" Riniwel said.
Éowyn's eyes widened. It was no secret anymore, but just to hear it being brought up again was painful enough.
"I respect Aragorn and Arwen`s relationship. Besides, we have our reasons" Éowyn said, trying to disguise her shock.
"But you could've gotten so much better. You once liked Aragorn, I heard" Riniwel pressed on.
"I once liked him, but now I love Faramir. There's a difference " Éowyn said fiercely.
Riniwel and Gariniwen just shut up. They just couldn't get it.
"She would've been better for your brother. You're too scholarly"
Faramir turned to look at Harim. The two of them were busy going through their Literature books in the library that afternoon.
:"I don't know if anything even happened between them. My brother may have had a glimpse of her when he stopped by Rohan, but I doubt he actually talked to her," Faramir said.
"Your brother was fond of swords and battles. So is Éowyn" Harim said.
"Of course she is. After all, she is a renowned Rider of Rohan" Faramir said. He knew that deed on the Pelennor Fields would still be talked about, even in this odd Age.
"Yes and you're a scholar who was always second-best in his father's eyes, you could never fill in your brother's shoes, no matter how hard you tried to. Your father obviously preferred your brother, I hear. So if your own father treated you that way, how much more are you sure that you're first in Éowyn's affections? How do you know she doesn't love Aragorn, Greg or Wormtongue?" Harim taunted. .
"I don't think it's that way between the two of us," Faramir said.
"Once second-best, always second-best, that's what they say" Harim said icily as he gathered up his books.
"Those two almost blew up? Sometimes you act before you think, Éowyn" Lothíriel said to her friend the next day.
"At least I told the truth. At least they'll know better than to flirt with Éomer" Éowyn said.
"Never mind. After all, people did stare when your brother and I went to the coffee shop yesterday. I wonder if it will work out," Lothíriel said.
"There's nothing to be worried about. I'm not worried about you two. I'm more worried about the competition. This thing is really making life miserable. I can't be who I want to be. I feel like I'm getting pushed into a cage" Éowyn confided.
"Don't sweat it. For once, take things as they come. It's like grooving free form to music. You just feel things along and do what you can to make the best of it" Lothíriel advised.
"Hello Faramir. Where's Éowyn?" Delilah crooned the next morning (Wednesday) when they met outside the lecture hall.
"Already at classes. Have you seen her?" Faramir said.
Delilah pouted. "No. Listen, can you ditch that tomboy for even just one night like say tonight and have a few drinks with me" she offered aggressively.
"Actually, Éowyn and I were going to go with our friends for some snacks later after the cheerleading practice," Faramir said uneasily. One thing he didn't like about Delilah was the fact she was too aggressive in the wrong way, which made her too easy to have.
Delilah scowled at him. "Don't you ever live a little, even with her? I mean, I don't see you two doing stuff like drinking," she said.
"We have better stuff to do" Faramir said. Since that incident in Rivendell, they'd all been slightly wary of alcohol.
"Gosh, no wonder why you guys are so screwed up" Delilah said as Faramir walked off.
"Boy am I not accepting an invitation from that girl. I heard she's in cahoots with Wormtongue in a few matters. She even tried to flirt with me in full view of all, even though Thiri was there," Éomer remarked after Faramir told his story. The two boys were sitting on the bleachers while waiting for the cheerleaders to come.
"I can't believe you two boys are here watching this!" Arwen said as she and Aragorn joined the two.
"Weren't we supposed to also give feedback on their performance?" Lothíriel said as she jumped down from a higher bleacher
"It feels weird watching this to tell you the truth" Faramir admitted. "And to think I got into an argument with her yesterday over the importance of this thing because she's spending so much time on it to the point I barely see her"
"This competition is important to the school. Aside from the dance competition, this is our last chance to beat the Rhun and Harad teams" Aragorn pointed out as he put his arm around Arwen's.
". I swear, I have to be the worst on the squad. Add that to the fact everybody's late again. But thanks for coming anyway" Éowyn said as she sat down beside Faramir.
"Fashionably late is more like it" Greg boomed from somewhere.
"Is he a gay jock or what?" Faramir whispered.
"Or he simply lives on hormones" Éowyn said as she smoothed down her skirt
"Hey chicks, wazzup?" Greg said as he winked at Arwen.
"If he uses that lame pick-up line of his, he's gonna get it from me personally" Aragorn said.
"Hey cheer babe, whatcha doing hanging with Nerd here?" Greg said as he sidled up to Éowyn.
"Get lost Greg" Faramir said.
"Oh, so Nerd is getting possessive isn't he?" Greg mocked.
"All cheerleaders assemble! Greg Adamson, please report to Professor Saruman's office for your Math Tutorial" a voice barked from a speaker, breaking up the tension.
"Thanks Faramir" Éowyn whispered as she stood up to leave and she kissed his cheek.
"We'll wait here. You'll do fine," Faramir said before Éowyn dashed down to the field.
"Your life is charmed isn't it?" Aragorn asked Faramir.
"Perhaps" Faramir said as the group looked to watch the practice.
That night saw Faramir and Éowyn sitting quietly together on a window seat in the dormitory. The moon was rising in the East, and the only sounds that the two of them could hear were the wind blowing, the sound of people walking back from the balrog hunts, and the sound of each other's heartbeat. All was perfectly calm, and they were both at ease, though they were in silence.
"Am I strange?" Éowyn finally asked seriously, still looking out over the East. It was a question she never had an answer to. Nobody was ever able to answer it for her.
"What makes you ask? Normality is relative," Faramir said.
Éowyn stared at him "Are you trying to dodge my question?" she asked.
"You never asked me that before" Faramir replied.
"I'm always being looked at as a tomboy by the cheerleaders who say I should be more like Delilah, some people think I'm a deserter, then some boys like Greg and Wormtongue think I'm just a hot girl with long legs..I don't know who I really am anymore. I just want to know who am I to you" Éowyn admitted.
"You're much more than I can ever put into words. You're no ordinary person or woman for that matter," Faramir said.
"So you're saying I'm strange? Or are you speaking in riddles again?" Éowyn retorted.
"That's not what I meant, and I'm not speaking in riddles. You aren't just the woman who saved my life. You're the bravest, kindest and closest friend I'll ever have and I love you despite what people think. I don't think you were named "Éowyn" for nothing". Faramir said.
"You've been reading up on etymology again haven't you? I guess that's one of the quirks that make you so different from any other man I've met. Arda would be boring if we were all the same," Éowyn said lightly as her hand grasped his tightly.
Faramir kissed her hand and ran a thumb along Éowyn's fingers, all red and marked from a long day of schoolwork, practices and guitar playing. She was a wonderful person, sore hands and all, he knew. "I'm sorry about what I said yesterday," he said as his gray eyes met hers.
"You apologized to me fifteen minutes after we fought. It's also my fault actually, taking you and everybody else for granted even though you were always on my mind. I'm sorry too," Éowyn said.
"You wouldn't have done that if I had also made an effort to spend time with you" Faramir said.
"I know. I wish we could still talk more, catch up on each other and all, but it's past eleven already," Éowyn said in dismay as she looked at the clock. The night was getting old already.
"Let's go now. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day. And I think you and the squad will do great on Friday," Faramir said as he got off the window seat and helped Éowyn off after him. The morning would bring new things, and they had to be ready to face them.
"Ha! You could never face me you losers!" Greg's taunt rang across the ball field. This Thursday was different. Now instead of having lectures, time was being spent on electives, thesis writing and other activities, among them, PE class.
"Just pass the ball," Sam yelled.
"I don't think you should ask him that," Pippin said as he rolled up his pants.
"This is so unfair! How can we hobbits take down those Harad men?" Diamond asked Pippin.
"That's why we have challenges right? Besides, Elladan, Elrohir and Niliwen are with us. Anyway I have a feeling we can outsmart them" Frodo butted in.
"Riiiggghhhhtttt and Irilia, Gimli and Legolas are with Greg and Wormtongue. And to think I lost a contest the other day" Niliwen whined.
"Only because it was a poetry contest and you were up against Faramir, Aragorn and Frodo" Merry said.
"At least she won the journalism bet" Rose said.
"Hey, stop talking nerds! I'm gonna throw the soccer ball over!" Wormtongue yelled.
"Like he will," Estella said before the ball landed in front of her and Gimli kicked it away from her.
"The ball's coming your way Elladan! Be sure Legolas doesn't kick it in!" Elrohir called to his twin, who was the goalie.
"OUCH! Gimli! You don't tackle the goalie!" Elladan called from under Gimli.
"But Irilia kicked me!" the dwarf complained.
"Hey, where's Delilah?" Irilia asked.
"She's afraid of breaking her nails" Legolas said.
"I wish Eowyn was playing now instead of cheerleading. She's not afraid of breaking her nails" Rose said.
"She keeps her nails short anyway. How the heck did we start talking about nails?" Niliwen asked.
'Ask DYE here" Irilia said glancing at Legolas.
"What's DYE?" Elladan asked.
"The Dirty Young Elf!" Irilia said before Legolas bopped her with the ball.
"Shut up! I want to get lunch!" Worm whined.
"Only because you want to spy on Éowyn" Merry said before Worm shot him a dirty look.
"Let's just stop meddling into this love triangle shall we?" Frodo asked.
"More like Pentagon or even Hexagon" Worm said.
"I don't have a crush on Faramir anymore you hunchbacked @!@#%$" Niliwen yelled tactlessly.
"Hey no swearing girl. So if we've got Faramir, Éowyn, Wormtongue, and Delilah, who's playing the fifth?" Diamond said.
"Greg" Pippin said.
"Alright, so we aren't going to have the Soccer Conspiracy now!" Estella yelled before the ball came back into play. College romances were really complicated.
"You're a blind fool Éowyn" Wormtongue said to her at the lunch counter.
"I'd rather be blind than open to your indecencies" Éowyn said.
"Remember, I had a grip over you for years. You're JUST a child, a scared child" Wormtongue mocked.
"I'm not a child, " Éowyn said hotly. She couldn't deny she had been a prisoner of a different sort too,
"Then you're a restless rover. I know the look on your face when you saw Aragorn. And you *fell * for Faramir not long after! Can you call that love?" Wormtongue said.
Éowyn stormed off. How dare anybody say that about her! "There was a difference! Aragorn brought me hope where I had none and healing of one sort. I never could touch him, I wasn't meant to. Arwen was and is still meant to do that for him. But Faramir allowed me to touch him within, and he understood me in a way Aragorn never will. And I also feel that way too about him! But is Worm right? Can I call it love?" she thought to herself as she tried to mask her anger.
"You mustn't believe everything that they say" Arwen said softly from a table.
"Arwen, you aren't angry at me for just liking your fiancé, are you?" Éowyn asked.
"I understand. Aragorn is a great man, but I think Faramir is the man for you, Éowyn. I'm not angry, and I have just one bit of advice in this circumstance. . Just hold on now to what you've got, just the way Aragorn and I held on through all the years. That's all I can tell you. Now, do you want to join us for lunch?" Arwen replied.
"Thanks," Éowyn said as she sat across from Arwen at the lunch table.
"I'm nervous, and I look horrible in this get-up" Éowyn said the next afternoon at the locker room before the competition began.
"At least these skirts are short enough to attract attention" Gariniwen laughed as she looked at her skirt, which was a bit above her knees.
"You wear skirts shorter than that," Riniwel said.
"I want to wear pants under this" Éowyn said in disgust.
"You're so weird!" Gariniwen exclaimed.
"So what? I don't feel comfortable in this. I'd rather wear one of the dresses I used to wear back in Rohan" Éowyn said.
"Whatever, You'll never fit in if you think that way" Riniwel said just before the doors opened leading to the field and the audience.
Éowyn just shrugged and looked forward to the door. For now, fitting in and oddities wouldn't matter. All she would think about now was doing her best. That was all that mattered.
"Ooh man, the cheerleaders look hot!" Greg called as he scanned the group of cheerleaders assembling on the field.
Éomer rolled his eyes as he and Lothíriel joined their friends on the bleachers. "That guy needs a hormone adjustment" he remarked.
"Or a new set of brains" Arwen said nonchalantly.
"I can't believe that some of the cheerleaders let him get away with slapping their rears" Irilia said.
"Don't be so vulgar!" Niliwen retorted.
"Well, look who cracks the sickest jokes round here" Lothíriel said.
"Come on, the competition is beginning. I hope that the squad gets their routine right," Aragorn said as he looked towards the field.
"After all their mistakes we saw, I hope that they took our suggestions into consideration" Faramir said.
"Eru knows. Only Éowyn seemed to actually take us seriously" Frodo said.
"She would. She's not like any other cheerleader on the squad" Estella said.
"Yes, but if the other cheerleaders don't do their best or if Gariniwen manages to goof up badly again today, I don't see how we can get to even second place" Irilia said.
"Pessimist" Arwen said before the exhibition began.
"At least we got second place," Aragorn said later that afternoon after the competition.
"There's always the dance competition. Lothíriel and Éomer could do break-dancing" Éowyn smiled as she entered the room.
"I thought Aragorn and Arwen were going to do rock n' roll dancing" Lothíriel said.
"Never mind that for now. The point is at least you tried your best Éowyn" Éomer said to his sister.
"It's ironic. You hated the squad, yet you did your best, and the girls who were really into it just didn't care at all" Arwen said.
"It must've been the scolding on Wednesday. It's a pity really" Éowyn sighed.
"At least Irilia was wrong back there. Hey, where did my sister go?" Éomer said.
"Hey, she left the room" Arwen remarked.
"Let her be. I think she needs to talk to somebody," Lothíriel said.
"Aren't you coming inside?" Éowyn asked Faramir as she walked up to him. Éowyn had found him walking alone outside the dormitory looking towards the sunset. Now, the sky was all orange and gold, and in the East, stars were appearing in the sky. It was only about five or so in the afternoon, and it was getting dark.
"I was just thinking of things," Faramir said.
Éowyn took a deep breath. "Such as your brother?" she guessed
"I miss him very much. I feel like things would be so different if he was around now," Faramir said.
"I still wonder why your father even let your brother go on such a quest. But if you'd gone, who knows what could've happened" Éowyn said quietly.
"When my brother stopped by Rohan, did you see him?" Faramir asked curiously
"He wasn't in Edoras for very long. I saw him when he arrived, but I don't think he saw me. He instead went straight to the Hall, asking my brother about the way to Rivendell" Éowyn said, her voice very far-off as if she was remembering that day.
"Did he eventually say anything to you?" Faramir asked.
"Just the usual words of hailing and the usual compliment. But he never asked me to speak more to him, quite unlike you in fact. And everything I'd hear from him would be about the tales of the old battles or about the way to Rivendell" Éowyn said.
"Sounds like the Boromir I knew" Faramir said.
"But he's not very much alike to you. I know you two look alike, but then you both struck me as very different. There's nothing wrong with being a warrior, but even Riders sometimes want to hear the minstrels singing old songs of things other than slaying. You're the only man who ever read the "Lay of Leithan" to me. Not even my own brother could" Éowyn said.
"You still remember that time in Dol Amroth?" Faramir said.
"Of course. It was the night after I first caught you on the roof. We were sitting on the shore, by the waves, and you had your book with you. I wanted to know what you were reading, but at that time, I still couldn't read Sindarin. So you read it to me" Éowyn reminded him.
"I remember, when my mother was still alive, she once read it to my brother and me. Boromir slept right through it. I was sleepy too, but I couldn't fall asleep. And to think I was barely four at that time" Faramir said.
"From the same two parents, yet very different" Éowyn murmured.
"And I was never first in my father's love, not even when my mother was alive. I never competed with my brother though, but even then, I never was really in my father's favor either. No matter how hard I tried to fill in my brother's shoes after he died, I never lived up to my father's expectations. I was always second-best" Faramir said.
"I know what Harim said to you. He told me on my way out. I don't care what he or anybody says. I love only you and you're not the second-best. You never were, but that's just the way people looked at you" Éowyn said
"Sometimes, I wonder if my courage was really lacking compared to my brother's" Faramir said.
"Sometimes it takes more courage to live rather than to let yourself or somebody just give up and die. You have that courage. You never let me go into the dark, and I won't let you stay in the shadow of memory. You're not your brother, you're just yourself. I want you to be the person only you can be" Éowyn said with a strong intensity in her voice.
"I didn't let you go in the dark not because you were my friend. I saw so much in you, and you brought me joy, in a time and place I thought was without hope" Faramir said as he moved closer to her.
"And I see the same things in you too. You love me, and yet you never try to make me into somebody I cannot be" Éowyn said before they kissed.
As they parted, Faramir smiled. "So what's going on in the dorm now?" he asked Éowyn.
"A small "second-place" party. Good to see you're finally back in the present" Éowyn replied as she swatted his arm playfully and they began walking, hand in hand back to the dormitory.
A/N: Long right? I just had to hinge the chapters together as I said. Whew now that's done with. So I hope I got the story back on track (did you notice that in Chapter 12, some characters didn't appear?!) and don't worry, the problems aren't over yet. There's still more to come in Chapter 15 that's more supernatural than this chapter. If anybody can actually guess the word association with the title of this chapter and the characters, I'll give you an appearance in the next chapter. So please review!!! Namarie!
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