Epilogue

I had spent the entire day making the final preparations for my uncle's funeral. As I walked down the hall, I looked through the window to the stone platform encircling the Hall to see Faramir standing near the edge, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the sun setting over the mountains. I smiled to myself, then went outside and wrapped my arms around him from behind. "Good evening," I said softly as he twisted his neck around to look back at me. "I missed you today."

He unclasped his hands and moved to the side a little, drawing me into an embrace. "I missed you too," he said, kissing my forehead lightly. "How are the preparations going?"

"They're finally complete, I think." I sighed and turned to rest my head against his chest. "It's still hard though—these last few days have been nothing but a constant reminder that I'll never see him again." Faramir held me close, silently offering what comfort he could, until I finally lifted my head and asked, "What are you doing out here alone, anyway?"

"Just thinking," he said noncommittally.

"About what?"

"About tomorrow. I'm still surprised that your brother wants to make our betrothal official so soon."

"So am I." I grinned as I remembered the look on Faramir's face the day before when Éomer told us he wished to announce it at the funeral feast. "Especially since, the last I heard, he was still considering hunting you down like an orc. What happened during the journey to change his mind?" I asked, suddenly curious.

"We decided that it would be better for everyone involved if we reached some sort of resolution," Faramir said nonchalantly, though he seemed almost…embarrassed? I looked at him curiously, certain that there was more to the story, but decided not to press the issue at the moment.

"You looked as if something was bothering you," I said.

He pulled away slightly, looking at my face as if searching for something. "Éowyn, are you absolutely certain you want to marry me?"

My mouth dropped open in shock. "How can you ask such a thing?" I asked indignantly. "Faramir, are you…"

"My heart hasn't changed," he said quickly to reassure me. "It's just… I know I'm being foolish, but I know I wasn't your first choice. I don't want you to feel like you're obligated to marry me if you don't…"

I pressed a finger to his lips to silence him. "Faramir," I said, taking his hand in both of mine, "I love you, with all my heart. What I ever felt for Aragorn was nothing in comparison. But…" I took a deep breath, looking down and silently debating with myself whether to continue. He, more than anyone, has the right to know, I finally decided. "I think there is something I need to tell you about, though. I should have told you sooner, but I never knew how. But maybe it will help you understand."

"What is it, Éowyn?" he asked, looking a little uncertain.

I led him to the top of the stairs and sat down, pulling him down to sit beside me. "I told you that my uncle had fallen ill ere we rode to Gondor," I began. Faramir nodded as I continued, "But I never told you why." With that, the entire story of Gríma's influence in the court came tumbling out—my uncle's illness, Éomer's imprisonment, even the way he used to leer at me from the shadows.

Faramir listened silently, though I could see a hint of anger in his expression, until I told him of Gríma's attack during my last few days in Edoras. His eyes blazed in fury as he exclaimed, "Éowyn, he didn't—"

"No," I quickly interrupted, and he visibly relaxed. "He only kissed me, once, but…" I couldn't suppress a shudder at the memory, and Faramir put an arm around me. His touch helped me to relax, as did the silent reassurance that his anger was not directed at me, and I leaned against his shoulder as I added, "I never told anyone about that before, not even Éomer."

"Why?" he asked gently, though I could still see traces of barely-suppressed anger in his eyes. "Surely if someone had known he was threatening you, action would have been taken!"

"There was no one I could tell." My vision blurred slightly as I continued, "My uncle was deaf to all but Wormtongue's lies, and Éomer would have condemned himself by killing Gríma if he knew. And Gríma told me that he would ensure Éomer would be executed if I said anything. I had to keep my silence to save him; I could see no other choice."

Faramir nodded slowly, a look of realization on his face. "That explains why it troubled you so when Merry said he was at Isengard," he mused, half to himself. "And why…" he cut off, his eyes widening as he jerked back slightly. "Éowyn, had I known, I never would have tried to comfort you in such a way that day."

"I know," I said, taking a ragged breath. "I felt so guilty when I pulled away from you, but I couldn't stop myself."

"If he ever comes anywhere near you again…"

"You'll have to content yourself with defending my honor against whatever's left after Éomer's through with him, I'm afraid," I finished, making a choked sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. I closed my eyes as some of the tears finally spilled out.

When I opened them, Faramir was looking at me a little uncertainly. For a moment I was afraid once more that he was upset with me. Then he asked, "May I?" I nodded, and he pulled me closer once again.

"Don't worry, Faramir. You've never given me any cause to fear your touch," I said softly as I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I would never wish to give you a reason," he murmured.

"I know." I swallowed hard, then continued, "That was the very day that Gandalf healed the king." I didn't even bother to fight the tears as I was once again reminded of how much I missed my uncle. "And the day I met Aragorn. You must understand," I added, looking up at Faramir earnestly, "after so many years of believing that I had no way out of that situation, to see my uncle healed, Wormtongue banished, and to meet a man who would be a king, a man who was the first not of my kin to show me any kindness in a long time, all within a few hours… it was a little overwhelming. It was the first time I had had hope in so long, and somehow that hope became attached to Aragorn. But then when I learned that he was betrothed to another, all those hopes were shattered."

"So instead you rode into battle," Faramir said softly.

I nodded. "For so long, I had been made to believe that I was completely helpless. I couldn't keep my uncle from falling into shadow, I couldn't keep Théodred from dying, and I couldn't even keep Éomer out of prison. It was purely an act born out of desperation," I said. "I needed to prove to myself, more than anyone else, that my life was worth something. And I truly believed that the only way to do so was to sacrifice it in battle to help save my people. I could see no other way."

"I think I can understand that a little," Faramir said slowly, a far-off look in his eyes.

"You were the first person I met who could understand, I think. Éomer would have tried to, if I had told him, but he never knew what it was like to have no choice in what course to follow. Especially when even the choice of the path that led you there was taken away."

Faramir pulled back just a little to look at me. "And if you could have chosen differently, what would you have done?" he asked, echoing the same question I had asked him about Frodo so long ago.

"I've wondered that sometimes…how things would have been different if I had stayed in Dunharrow like I was supposed to. But I don't think, under the circumstances, I could have chosen differently. Nor would I wish to," I replied, blinking away the last of my tears. Faramir looked at me quizzically. "Don't you see, Faramir? I cannot regret taking that path, despite the pain I brought upon myself. Nor can I truly regret what led me to those choices, because it led me to you. Aragorn may have healed my body, but you brought me hope. And that is what truly healed me."

Faramir looked at me silently, his gaze piercing. Finally, he brushed away my tears with his hand, just as he had done so many times before. "I think I finally understand," he said softly. "I still wish you hadn't had to go through all that…it amazes me that I was able to win your heart at all."

"But you did, Faramir. And you hold it completely." He still looked at me quietly. Suddenly, I laughed. "You're a difficult man to convince, my Lord Steward," I teased, pulling his head down and kissing him. Though he seemed somewhat startled, he quickly relaxed and returned the kiss, wrapping his arms tighter around me.

He finally pulled away after a long moment. "You're rather…persuasive, my lady," he said breathlessly as he smiled at me.

"Shall I convince you again?" I said innocently.

Faramir laughed. "As much as I would enjoy that, I had better refrain, or your brother may have my head yet."

I smiled, and leaned my head back to rest against his shoulder again. "I love you, Faramir."

"I love you, too." He kissed my forehead gently as he rested his arm across my back, then we both fell silent as we watched the last traces of daylight fading beyond the mountains.

Author's Note: I'll just be honest and say that I've had this epilogue written for a very long time. I meant to fill in more of the story between Éowyn leaving Minas Tirith and this point. But writer's block turned into getting distracted by Lord of the Rings Online for quite awhile, and then a lot of real world stuff intervened. It's nagged at me for years that I left this unfinished, though, so I've finally decided to just share the ending that I had. If any of the readers from back in the day are still around, I hope it's a satisfactory finale, and thank you for your patience.