Yay! Faramir's better! And now the chapter in which I introduce... Eowyn! I actually like her now, especially after watching the Two Towers.
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Faramir walked through the garden of the Houses of Healing, feeling the soft breeze in his hair, the sun shining on his face, trying to forget the nightmares that now plagued him. The Steward sighed. He had not had a good night's rest since he had been wounded. Always dreams followed him. Though he fought them with all his strength, it tired him, making his healing slow. //Which aggravates the healers to no end.// he thought with a small smile. Indeed, that was why he was in the garden, the nurses felt it might help him heal. //Or at least get me out of their way. I believe they rue their decision to let me out of my bed.// The Warden of the Houses of Healing had been especially upset when he found the Steward lifting his sword with his injured arm. Despite Faramir's protests that the arm was healed, the Warden had insisted that he not strain himself in any physical way. The last straw had been when a nurse found Faramir giving piggyback rides to the healers' small children. //I guess they figure I could not strain myself in the garden.//
"My Lord Faramir?" He turned to see the Warden. //What does he want? I refuse to go back to bed.// Then Faramir saw the woman who accompanied the Warden. She was tall, with golden hair. Faramir saw that her arm was injured, but he perceived that her injury was not the cause of the pain he saw in her clear blue eyes. In fact, he saw the sorrow and anguish she felt, and he was saddened by it. //No one so beautiful should feel that way.// "My lord." The Warden spoke again. "This is the Lady Eowyn of Rohan. She rode with the king and was badly wounded, and is now in under my care. But she is not content, and wishes to speak to the Steward of the City."
Then Eowyn spoke up, not wishing to offend the Steward, who was perhaps the only one who could free her from the prison of the Healing Houses. "It is not that way exactly, for it is not lack of care that grieves me. No houses could be fairer, for those who desire to be healed. But I cannot lie idle, caged. I looked for death in battle, but I have not died and the battle still goes on."
Faramir signaled for the Warden to leave. //This woman wishes for death? I wonder why that is so.// "What would you have me do, my lady? I also am a prisoner of the healers."
Eowyn looked at the Steward. His dark hair gleamed in the sun, and she saw that he was quite handsome, his grey eyes filled with compassion and wisdom. The scar that ran under his eye gave him a dashing look. The Lady shook those thoughts from her mind and focused on how she could convince this Faramir to let her go. She did not notice how Faramir looked at her, seeing her grief. Again he spoke. "What do you wish? If it lies in my power, I will do it."
"I wish for you to command this Warden to let me go." But Eowyn felt doubt rise. //Does he think me a child who cannot sit still? I do not wish for him to think of me like that. All I want is to die like my uncle in battle. I cannot have Aragorn, I cannot ride with the army unless in disguise. All I can do is die bravely so that I will be remembered.//
"I myself am in the Warden's keeping. Nor have I taken up my authority in the City. But even if I had, I would listen to the healer's counsel and would not cross his will in this, unless there is some great need."
"But I do not desire healing. I wish to ride to war like my brother, Eomer. Or better yet, like King Theoden, for he died and had both honor and peace."
Faramir was grieved by her hopelessness. //Is this how Ada felt when I had lost hope?// "It is too late to follow the Captains, even if you had your strength, my lady. But unfortunately, death in battle may come to us all, willing or unwilling. If you obey the Healer's command, then you may be ready to face death in your own manner. You and I must endure, with patience, the long hours of waiting."
At his words, Eowyn softened a little. She felt tears begin to fall and she hung her head. //Am I relieved? No, it is better that I find death with my full strength.// "But the healers would have me lie in bed for seven days, and my window does not look eastward." //I wish to look out to where Aragorn is fighting.//
Even though he felt pity at her words, Faramir smiled reassuringly. "Your window does not look east? That can be amended. This I will command the Warden: If you will stay in this house, my lady, and take your rest, then you may walk in this garden, as you will, and you will be able to look east. It would also ease my care, if you would speak to me or walk with me."
Eowyn raised her head and looked into his eyes. She saw pity, compassion. Understanding? How could he understand what she went through? Eowyn also saw something else, something she could not identify. But she did not try to figure it out. "How could I ease your care, my lord, for I do not desire to speak with living men?"
"Would you have my plain answer?"
"Yes."
"Then, Lady Eowyn of Rohan, I say that you are beautiful." //Did I actually say that? Dear Valar, what am I doing? That's it, I've gone completely mad.// "In the valleys of our hills there are flowers fair and bright, and maidens fairer still, but neither flower nor maiden have I seen till now in Gondor so lovely and so sorrowful. It may be that only a few days are left before darkness falls upon our world, and when it comes I hope to face it steadfastly. But it would ease my heart, if while the sun still shines, I could see you still. For you and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow and the same hand drew us back." Faramir nearly clamped a hand over his mouth. //What possessed me to say all that? She probably thinks that I'm crazy.//
"No, my lord. Shadow still lies on me. Look not to me for healing, I am a shieldmaiden and my hand is ungentle. But I thank you that I need not keep to my chamber. I will walk abroad by the grace of the Steward of the City." With that she left, leaving Faramir to his thoughts.
//I wonder what it is that makes her so sad?// Faramir decided to ask the Warden about the Lady, but he knew nothing, though he told the Steward to try talking to the halfling, Meriadoc Brandybuck, for he had ridden with Eowyn in battle. After he and Merry spoke, Faramir felt he knew her better, understood her grief. The next morning, he saw her standing on the wall. "Lady Eowyn," he called impulsively. "Would you do me the honor of walking in the garden with me? I am bored of my thoughts and wish to hear yours."
Eowyn looked down to where he called her. His eyes looked so hopeful that she could not refuse. So she came down to the garden. "My lord, you are looking well this morning."
"For once my sleep was untroubled." Faramir looked at her. "And you look lovely today. A jewel in the sun."
Eowyn found herself blushing, and quickly changed the subject. "Have you any news from the east?"
"No, and we are not likely to get any. In the end, we will either have news of victory, or we will see the armies of the Dark Lord pouring through the gates. Yet with the King, I have more hope for the former." At the mention of Aragorn, both went silent. The rest of the day they spent silently walking or sitting, just enjoying the other's company.
Thus it went for the next few days. Eowyn found herself actually liking Faramir's company, his insights on war, philosophy, history. Faramir found himself falling more and more in love with the shieldmaiden of Rohan. It frustrated him, though, that her heart wished for Aragorn. Not only was he jealous, but he also knew that Eowyn would only get her heart broken, for Aragorn was truly in love with Arwen Undomiel, the daughter of Lord Elrond. Faramir did not wish for Eowyn to grieve anymore than she already did. Her constant death wishing also baffled him. It seemed that all she wanted to do was die gloriously in battle.
Finally his frustration got the better of him. Four mornings after he had first met Eowyn, as that sat next to each other in the garden, Faramir let his feelings out. "Eowyn, why do you want to die so badly?"
Eowyn was surprised by his anger. "I have told you, Faramir. The man I love doesn't love me and I am not allowed to fight like I have been trained."
"And for that you have become suicidal? Because King Aragorn was already in love with someone before he met you? That is no reason for seeking death."
Anger rose up in Eowyn and she started yelling at him. "How would you know how I feel? I gave my love to Aragorn, but he threw it away like unwanted trash! You do not know what it is like to have someone you love hurt you like that!"
Faramir froze. His eyes went blank as he struggled to hide his emotions. At once, Eowyn realized she had said something that had hurt him deeply. Before she could apologize, Faramir stood up. "You don't know anything about me," he rasped out. He began walking away. "Ask someone, sometime, about how I became Steward in the first place." Eowyn watched as he strode into the House, leaving her behind to ponder his words.
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I hope you liked this. I will try to update soon.
