Alrighty, here's another chapter. It deals with Eowyn and Faramir still, though the next chapters will deal with the aftermath of the War of the Ring. Hope you all like it!

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            Faramir stood on the walls of the city, looking out. It had only been five days since he had first met Eowyn, yet he knew that he was hopelessly in love with her. Though she wasn't the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, since he had lived among the fair elves, her hidden spirit and courage held his heart captive. //Would that she only felt the same about me.//

            "My lord," He turned to see Eowyn walk up behind him. "May I stand here with you?" She still wasn't sure yet if he had truly forgiven her for her accusations the day before.

            "I would be honored, my lady."

            Eowyn shivered in the cold wind. "I do not think I dressed warm enough. The air has an evil chill to it." At once, Faramir called for a servant to bring her a heavy cloak and a warm mantle. Eowyn gasped when the servant returned with the mantle. "It's lovely!" she declared of the robe. It was the blue of a deep summer's night, silver stars embroidered on the hem and throat.

            "It was my mother's."

            His sad voice startled Eowyn. "I cannot wear this. You mother... "

            "My mother would love to see it on you." Faramir wrapped the mantle around Eowyn's shoulders. "It suits you." She pulled the robe closely around her, trying to block out the cold.

            It had been long since Faramir had seen the mantle and it brought back the vague memories he had of his mother. No longer could he see her face, he only remembered her kind, loving voice singing to him. He remembered that it was after her death that he first became the brunt of Denethor's anger.

            Faramir shoved thoughts of his father away. //I will not think of him. That is my past.// He saw Eowyn looking northward into the frigid wind. With a sinking heart, he realized that she must be thinking of Aragorn. "What do you look for, Eowyn?" he asked her anyway.

            "The Black Gate of Mordor lies that way and it is there that he must be arriving now. It has been seven days since he rode away."

            "Seven days," Faramir murmured, almost to himself. "Do not think ill of me, Eowyn, but these seven says have brought me both joy and a pain that I never thought to know. Joy to see you, but pain because the fear and doubt of this evil time has grown dark indeed. I would not have this world end now, or lose so soon what I have found."

            Eowyn tried to ignore the deep look in his eyes. "Lose what you have found, Faramir? I do not know what you have found in these days that you could lose. But come, my friend, let us not speak of it." //I fear my will shall falter.// "Let us not speak at all! I feel that I am standing upon some dreadful brink, and it is utterly dark in the abyss before me. I cannot tell if there is any light behind me, for I cannot turn yet. I wait for some stroke of doom."

            Faramir's heart ached at her words. "Yes, we wait for the stroke of doom." //But no matter how doom comes, I fear my heart is in your hands, to take or to destroy.//

            They stood in silence as the wind died. It seemed that light had failed, the Sun bleared, and no sound came from the City. Without thinking, Eowyn reached for Faramir's hand, gripping it tightly. But Faramir did not notice, for he saw a great wave of darkness rise over the mountains, threatening to drown all life. Lightning flashed and the earth quaked, the walls of the City trembling beneath their feet. "It reminds me of Numenor." Faramir was startled to hear himself speak.

            "Of Numenor?"

            "Yes, of the land of Westernesse that foundered, of the dark wave climbing over the green lands, above the hills, and coming on, darkness inescapable. I often dream of it."

            "Then you think that this darkness is coming? Darkness inescapable?" Eowyn drew close to Faramir, feeling safe in his strong presence.

            "No." Faramir looked at her, and saw that she tried to hide her fear. "It was only a dream. I do not know what is happening. My mind tells me that a great evil comes and we stand at the end of time. But my heart speaks differently. Such hope and joy come to me that my mind's reasoning cannot deny it. Eowyn, White Lady of Rohan, in this hour I do not believe any darkness will endure!" Indeed hope did fill Faramir, and in his joy he leaned over and laid a soft kiss on Eowyn's forehead.

            Suddenly, a great wind rose, the shadow left, and the sun shone brightly across the land. Singing was heard coming from the streets of Minas Tirith. An Eagle flew from the East, bringing news of Aragorn's victory, yet Eowyn paid no attention to any of it. All she felt was Faramir's kiss burning upon her forehead, and upon her heart.  

(A/N: I would end the chapter now, but I felt like combining it with the next part, so. . . )

Faramir had not seen Eowyn in days. After news of the victory came, he had left the Houses of Healing to take up his authority as Steward, and began preparing for the King's return. Always, though, his mind and heart seemed to wander to the White Lady who still dwelt in the Healing Houses.

            One golden day, as Faramir worked in his room, the Warden of the Houses of Healing knocked on the door. "Lord Faramir? Might I have a word with you, my lord?"

            "Come in, have a seat." The Warden had barely sat down when Faramir spoke again. "How is Eowyn?"

            "The Lady Eowyn is why I have come to see you. She walks alone in the garden, not speaking to anyone. She grows pale, and I fear for her continued health."

            Faramir frowned. "I will speak with her."

            The Warden smiled, relieved. "Thank you, my lord. I know you can help her."

            Eowyn stared out from the ramparts, her thoughts and feelings wearying her from their constant battles. //Why does Faramir's presence torture me so? And why does it hurt even more when I do not see him? I don't understand.//

            "Eowyn." She turned her head, following Faramir with her eyes as he walked to her. "Why do you tarry here, and do not go to the celebration in Cormallen where your brother awaits you?"

            "Do you not know?" //Tell me, because I myself am unsure.//

"Two reasons there may be, but which is true, I do not know."

            His evasiveness frustrated Eowyn. "Faramir, I am not in the mood for riddles. Speak plainer!"

            "Very well. You may not be going because only your brother asked it of you and watching King Aragorn in his triumph would bring you no joy. Or because I do not go and you desire to be near me. Maybe for both these reasons and you yourself cannot choose between them." His silver-grey eyes pierced her soul with their intensity. "Eowyn, do you just not love me, or do you refuse to let yourself?"

            "I wished to be loved by another, but I do not desire your pity for that."

            "I know you desired to have the love of Lord Aragorn because he is noble and powerful and as his wife you would have the renown and glory you covet. He is admirable to you as a great captain is to a young soldier." Eowyn lowered her head, surprisingly ashamed of her feelings. "And he is, a lord among men, the greatest there now is. But when he gave you only understanding and pity, you wanted to have nothing except a brave death in battle. Look at me Eowyn!" She slowly raised her head, her own blue eyes staring into the depths of his grey ones. "Do not scorn the pity that is the gift of a gentle heart. But as for me, I do not offer you my pity. You are a high and valiant lady and have won renown by deeds that will never be forgotten. You are beautiful beyond the words of even the Elven-tongue. And I love you." Faramir clasped her hands between his and pulled her closer to him. "Once I did pity your sorrow, but now, even if you were sorrowless, without fear, even were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, I would still love you. Eowyn, do you love me? If your heart could never have room for me, tell me so and I will leave, for even though you may wish to be friends, I could not bear to see you lonely and sad, or worse, in the arms of another. But if you do love me as I do you, then I would ask you to marry me and my joy would be greater than any other's in the land."

            Faramir's words, his love, melted Eowyn's hardened heart, and she saw her true feelings revealed to her at last. Finally, she realized that she loved Faramir, had always loved him, but had refused to see it out of pride. Now her pride no longer held her in bondage and her heart sang at Faramir's words. Her dream also made sense in her new freedom. Just as Faramir had professed his heartbreak should she find love in another, so Eowyn remembered her anger at the dream woman. Anger that the woman had taken the one she truly loved away from her.

            Tears rolled down Eowyn's cheeks. "Oh Faramir! My pride has refused my heart long enough! I stand now in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun, for the Shadow has departed! I will be a shieldmaiden no longer. I will not fight with the great Riders, nor will I take joy only in songs filled with battle and death. I will be a healer and love all things that grow." Eowyn looked into Faramir's eyes and he saw that her's were filled with love. Love for him, true and absolute love! "No longer do I desire to be queen." And a smile spread across her face like the rising sun.

            Faramir laughed, in relief and in pure happiness. "That is well, for I am not a king. Yet if you will have me, Eowyn my love, then we will marry, and perhaps in time we will live in fair Ithilien and grow beautiful gardens in peace. All things there will grow with joy if the White Lady comes."

            Eowyn smiled in return. "Then must I leave my own people, my love? And would you have your people say of you, 'There goes a lord who tamed the wild shieldmaiden of the North! Was there no woman of the race of Numenor to choose?'"

            "I would." Faramir took Eowyn into his arms and kissed her. At once, all thoughts flew from their minds, not the least of which was that they were standing on a wall, in view of many. Their thoughts were only for each other.

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Just a few more chapters to go! I can't believe how long this story has gotten! I hope it hasn't been so long that it's gotten boring.