Chapter 3~

Year 3030, May 19

"Catch me if you can, Uncle Faramir!" Unknowing to her past, Eryn referred to everyone who cared for her or was good friends with her Uncle Faramir as 'Uncle' or 'Aunt'. Faramir tried to catch his niece as she ran through the gardens with speed he could not have caught up with.

" Come on now, Eryn. You will have playmates later! Now you must get ready for their arrival!" Faramir tried to coax her out of her hiding. At 12 years old, she was an excellent hider. Suddenly from the bushes on his right her head popped out,

" Who's coming?" he took her momentary confused state to grab her. She giggled as he pulled her out of the bush and picked her up.

" It's a surprise." Faramir told her

" Will I like the surprise?" she pried for an answer.

" Oh I think so," Faramir answered. He set her down and took her hand. He looked up at the white castle to see Eowyn smiling from the window.

" If I don't will you play fight with me tomorrow? Will aunt Eowyn?" she struggled to keep up with her uncle's long strides.

" I don't know. I am sure you will like the surprise. Now run along to your room and put on that pretty green dress your aunt bought you." Eryn smiled and ran off to her room. Faramir walked up and went into his room. Eowyn smiled as he entered.

" She loves you." Faramir smiled and put his arm around his wife's waist. " I fear her safety though, what if the blockade fails, and Gondor comes under seize. We should have all evacuated long ago. The Orcs are gaining power."

"My dearest, Gondor is in no danger. The Orcs have only come in groups of ten or twenty. All have been stopped miles before they reach the city." He stopped at a call that came from the lower level. He began to walk out the door, knowing what it was,

" Besides, Eryn is very capable of defending herself!" he said as he let the room. Eowyn smiled, she had managed to get a few of the guards flat on their back. Eowyn just hoped that she wouldn't do something stupid like she had. She shuddered and touched her arm at the thought.

Downstairs, the guard announced the arrival of Merry and Pippin. Faramir smiled at his old friends. He bent down and embraced Merry, then Pippin. Aragorn came up from behind them. He had gone and gotten them and brought them back for a visit. Eryn came running up. She ran and almost knocked Merry and Pippin off their feet. She embraced them and they embraced her back, laughing,

" Someone was excited to see us, Pip!" Merry laughed as she got up off them.

" I don't think excited is quite the word, Mer Maybe ecstatic or something a tab bit stronger." Everyone laughed as they were led inside. Once inside, Aragorn was immediately greeted by Arwen. She embraced him tightly. Eryn rolled her eyes as Aragorn gave Arwen a quick kiss. Merry and Pippin saw this a snickered.

" Any word on our other guests?" Aragorn asked Faramir. Eryn perked up,

" What other guests?" Faramir smiled,

" Hush." He told her quickly before turning back to Aragorn, " They should be here tomorrow night at the latest." A few servants came forward to Merry and Pippin,

" We will show you to your room now, little masters." They said Merry and Pippin followed them, Eryn would have too but.

" Eryn! Don't even think about bothering our guests." Aragorn called to her, Eryn scoffed. " Go play in the garden's until dinners ready." He added. Eryn rolled her eyes and went out to the gardens. She began to throw stones into the fountain, trying to get them to skip when she saw Eowyn and Faramir talking in their bedroom. There conversation seemed tense, she tried to make out the words but they were to far up. She eventually resigned herself to tossing stones again.

" Faramir, I think it's time she was adopted." Eowyn told him. Faramir looked up at her.

"You don't mean send her away do you?" he asked almost fearing the answer.

" No, no, no, dearest. I mean it's time someone took the role of being her parents, whether it be us or someone else in the castle. She needs that, a mother and a father, not just a lot of Uncles and Aunts." Eowyn put a hand on his shoulder.

" I don't want her to, she deserves more. Then any parents we can give her." Faramir told her quietly.

"Aragorn and Arwen, if they'll have it. Or us, why not us? She deserves a Steward."

" I wouldn't feel right adopting my n…" Faramir felt he almost slipped up.

" Your what?" Eowyn asked carefully. Faramir hesitated. " Tell me." She said softly.

" Eryn is my niece." Faramir looked at her for an answer,

" Of course she is and Aragorn's and mine and Arwen's that doesn't mean you should feel uncomfortable…" Eowyn said almost exasperatedly, her voice died out when she saw the expression on Faramir's face

" No. She is my niece, my true niece and last relative." Faramir looked up at her with tears in his eyes, " It wasn't a coincidence that I found her. That's why I left in such a hurry out of Minas Tirith…"

"And that man that had to see you…"

" He was going to be Boromir's father-in-law. He raised her, I thought she was dead, Boromir thought she was dead." Eowyn sat down taking this all in.

" When were you going to tell her, or me, or anyone?"

" I am so sorry, Eowyn please don't be angry. I swore to Boromir I wouldn't tell a soul. Please understand."

" Oh dearest," She got up and put her arms around him. " I won't ever be mad at you, I understand perfectly…does anyone else know?"

" Aragorn, myself, Arwen, and Gandalf the White and now you. That is all," Faramir told her. " So, I don't want her to be adopted. She is the true heir of the stewardship, you know." Eowyn looked at him, " As soon as she comes to the legal age of eighteen. I will have told her and she has the choice of letting me be the steward until I have an heir to claim it after myself, or she can assume her true position as Stewardess." Eowyn smiled

" What makes you think you won't have an heir?" Faramir smiled and kissed her brow.

" I said until, White lady of Rohan, until." There was a knock at the door. " Come in." Faramir called out politely. Eryn was standing there, smiling.

" Dinner is ready, Uncle Faramir, Aunt Eowyn." Faramir and Eowyn smiled.

" Come here Eryn," Faramir told her sternly. Eryn walked over cautiously. Suddenly Faramir reached out and grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the bed with them. Eowyn and Faramir began to tickle her mercilessly,

" Stop! Stop…please!" She begged as tears of laughter steamed down her cheeks. Faramir stopped and looked up.

" I'll race you to the Dinning room!" He leapt up and was out the door. Eowyn and Eryn exchanged looks and rushed out the door. Eowyn rushed in the direction of the stairs. Eryn just watched her and walked up to the window and climbed out. She climbed down the side of the building. When no one was looking she jumped down into the Dinning room window. She calmly sat down and looked to the door. Minutes later Faramir ran into the room. He looked at her bewildered.

" You…how did you?" Faramir sputtered. A second later Eowyn came in she gaped at her also. Aragorn broke their momentary stunned states,

" Will you two join us or should we start without you?" Aragorn said with a laugh. Merry and Pippin snickered, Arwen bit her lip so that she wouldn't laugh. Eryn snorted into her food. Faramir took their places next to the head of the table. Servants came into the room and provided them with their food. About half way through their meal a man came into the room. Aragorn looked up at him, people followed his suit,

" My lord," the man said with a bow, " There are two of your guests waiting, a Legolas Greenleaf, and a Gimli son of Glóin. Then Lord Eomer is here to see you also.

" Legolas!" Eryn hopped up out of her chair and was out the door. Faramir smiled as Eowyn, though with less speed got up and strode out of the room.

" Uncle Legolas!" Eryn called out as she ran up and flung herself at him. He caught her with a small ' Oof'. " Oh, how I've missed you, so!" He smiled and set her down. She smiled and embraced Gimli as well. " I have missed you also Uncle Gimli."

" We missed you also, Eryn. You have grown much since our last visit." Legolas told her warmly. Gimli nodded. Eomer came in behind them. Eowyn walked quickly up the hall and greeted her brother with a hug. Eowyn led them to the Dinning room, and they sat down.

The order of the Table was, at the head going right, Aragorn, Arwen, Gimli, Legolas, and Eryn. On the opposite side across from her was Merry, Faramir, Eowyn, and Eomer. Pippin sat diagonally across from Eryn and next to Merry on the left.

Legolas looked at Eryn. She was building things with her food. He smiled and held in laughter, as one tipped over sending food straight at Merry. Some mashed potatoes stuck to the side of his face. Pippin burst out laughing as Merry brushed some peas out of his hair. Merry lifted his own Mashed potatoes and stuck them to Pippin. Pippin with a mock rage threw them back at Merry. Merry ducked sending the mashed potatoes straight into the side of Faramir's head.

Eryn snorted into her pudding. Legolas looked away trying to hide his laughter. Eowyn looked at him then at the two hobbits and began to laugh. At this time everyone at the table was aware of the Food being thrown at people. Eowyn laughed so hard that tears rolled down her pale skin,

" What you think this is funny, do you?" Eowyn nodded. As she did Faramir took his pudding and dumped it onto her head. She shrieked. Then it was Faramir's turn to laugh at his wife. As he did this Merry figured out who threw the food at him and launched his food directly at Eryn. It missed and hit Legolas. Legolas scoped up his food turned to Eryn and said,

" I think this was for you," before bringing some mashed potatoes straight into her face.

Before you knew it, the dinning room was a food war room. Things were being chucked and thrown at everyone. Eryn ducked under the table as some food came flying at her. It smashed up against the wall.

Eventually everyone settled down. They sat back in their chairs, covered in food, and gasping for breath.

" I'm hungry," Pippin added. Merry whacked him upside the head. Legolas suddenly sat up straight.

" Where's Eryn?" he said with sudden alarm. People started to look around them. Legolas looked down and saw her fast asleep under the table. " Oh never mind, here she is. I think it's some ones bedtime." He lifted her, Faramir rose to take her, " No it's alright, I'll take care of it" Legolas told him. He brought her to her room. He set her down on the bed. Her eyes fluttered open.

" Uncle Legolas, tell me a story, please?" Legolas smiled and nodded,

" Let me see, what story to tell…Ah! How about I tell you about The breaking of the Fellowship?" She nodded and closed her eyes," We were canoeing along the Anduin after leaving Lorien, and in the night I saw a Ringwraith. So, with my new bow, I shot it down. The next day we were camped near the Falls. Frodo couldn't decide which path to take so we let him decide alone. Soon after he left, Boromir…"

" Faramir's brother," Eryn interrupted.

" Yes, Faramir's brother. Boromir tried to convince Frodo to come to Minas Tirith with us. He grew angry when Frodo refused. Frodo fled, and Orcs attacked us. Little did we know, Frodo had taken a boat and was trying to get away to go to Mordor alone. Sam ran out to stop him. Never have I seen a greater love of friendship then the way Sam loved Frodo. Sam nearly drowned trying to get to Frodo's boat. Frodo saved him and took in aboard and then Sam convinced Frodo that he was going and wouldn't leave Frodo no matter what.

' Meanwhile the Orcs went after Merry and Pippin. Boromir loved the little ones so much that when he went to protect them, he died nobly in battle. It took three arrows to kill Boromir. Three! He was truly a hero. He stayed alive long enough to tell us that the Uruk-Hai took Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Gimli, and I then set a funeral boat for Boromir and sent it down the Falls. Then the three of us were challenged to decide where to go. Aragorn was our leader. I thought that we should follow Sam and Frodo, Gimli thought Merry and Pippin. Aragorn eventually decided that we should follow Merry and Pippin. So then we did."

" What happened next Uncle Legolas?" Eryn said half-asleep.

" That is a tale for another time, now it is time for sleep." Legolas said. He stood up and kissed her brow. " Goodnight Eryn."

"Goodnight Legolas." Legolas left the room. He walked along passages thinking to himself.