Hello everyone! I decided to give you a Christmas present and give you TWO chapters today. I have also seen ROTK twice already and I must say it is the best of the three (imo). The scenes with Faramir and Denethor were absolutely heart-wrenching. And boy is Faramir cute when unconscious and about to be barbequed! =D

Reviewer Responses:

Callie3= Thanks for the compliment. As I think I've mentioned before, these really aren't sequels because I wanted Faramir's story to stand alone, but I really wanted to write this too. Hopefully they will live up to your expectations. And why his dying words were so short is kinda explained here.

Iawen Londea= Hmmm. Twins. Well, I know they'll be in the sequels but you'll have to keep reading to see if they're in this one or the next. You know, it wasn't until I wrote Faramir's story that I actually began liking Faramir the best. You get attached to the characters you write. Hope you like this chapter.

 Argentum Draco= At least I'm updating before Christmas as a gift. And I'll give you a hint to the riddle…the answer is not fish. =D poor Faramir, my preciousssss. Cruel authors hurtss you. Angsst followsss you. *gollum*. Ok, I'm done now. (note to self: drink less caffeine.)

char= *hides behind Elladen* ummmm. Here, have a chapter. Please don't hurt me!

Kathryn Angelle= *Evil Skittle whistles, well, evilly* Can't answer, you'll have to read the chapter.

Niliwen= He does deserve a happy ending…but Tolkien already wrote it. Though I am feeling a bit guilty after watching ROTK. He really has been through a lot.

LeeAn= What happens to Faramir is up to me…and Evil Skittle. Unfortunately, Evil Skittle has grown in power after much sugar and caffeine.

Anodien= I'm so glad you updated! And don't worry about Elladen, he likes good reviewers. Merry Christmas and God bless!

Anime_Richu= I can see you are very adamant about this. Just remember that in reality (er, in fictional reality?) Faramir lives happily ever after with Éowyn. And after seeing ROTK I almost wonder if Denethor does deserve to go through this. Grrrr.

OK, the reviews are starting to be longer than the chapter so I'll just thank you guys, as well as evil witch queen, Alex92, and Arahiril for becing such great readers!

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Dealing

            "Éowyn. Éowyn!" She heard the voice, but paid no attention to it. Her grief was too great. "Éowyn, wake up, you are having a nightmare!"

            //A nightmare?// The haziness of sleep faded as Éowyn felt someone shaking her. Beneath her head, she felt a shivering hand. Éowyn's eyes opened with a jolt as she remembered the details of what had happened. "Faramir!"

            A hand rested on her shoulder. "Faramir is still with us, for now." Éowyn looked up at her brother. "I walked in to find you crying in your sleep. You have not done that since you used to dream about Mother and Father's deaths."

            Éowyn lifted a hand to feel her cheek, sticky with tears. "It seemed so real, Éomer. Lord Elrond came, but even he could not save him."

            Éomer knelt down beside his sister and hugged her tightly. He could feel her shaking against him and a burning anger rose within him. Anger at Faramir for putting Éowyn through this, anger at Aragorn for not being able to help, anger at the elves for not being here, but most of all he was angry at himself for being helpless to do anything for his sister. Éowyn was the only family he had left and he knew that when Faramir died she would fall into despair. The light in her eyes would go out, just as their mother's had years before at the news of their father's death. And like Mother, Éowyn would try to drive the despair away by never stopping, never sleeping, until a sickness drove her into an early grave. Then Éomer would be alone, the only thing left to him a cold throne and an empty house.

            He gently released her. "Éowyn, you need to go outside, get some fresh air."

            "I won't leave him."

            Éomer looked at her sternly. "Do not make me order you to leave. I don't like using my power as king, but you need to get away and so help me I will make you." At Éowyn's startled look, Éomer softened. "Please, sister. I will stay with him and alert you to any changes."

 With great reluctance, Éowyn did as she was asked, leaving Éomer alone with Faramir. The King of Rohan narrowed his eyes at the dying man. "You cannot die, Faramir. If you leave my sister like this, I swear to you that when I die I will hunt you down in the otherworld and make your afterlife so miserable that you will beg to suffer under this poison again!"

~*~

            Éowyn left Faramir's tent with great reluctance. After being so long in the darkness, the sun's light blinded her for a moment. As her eyesight cleared, Éowyn gazed at her surroundings. She was on a small hill that looked down at the village of Tumbar. Éowyn watched as the villagers worked to repair the town, Rohirrim and Gondorian soldiers helping them clear debris and rebuild their homes.

            "I shudder to imagine what would have happened had we not arrived in time." Éowyn jumped at the voice next to her. Turning, she found Aragorn staring down at the damage to the village. Aragorn continued speaking, his eyes never leaving the town. "Unfortunately, I have seen it happen before. Help arrived too late and all that is left are charred remains and dead bodies. It is very hard to bury mothers and their children when you knew you could have helped them had you been there."

            "Do not try to make excuses, my lord." Aragorn looked over at Éowyn. The White Lady of Rohan glared angrily at him. "Yes, I know that coming here saved these people and I agree it was the right thing to do. But nothing you say will make me forget that Faramir is dying. Nor will I forget who ordered him to come in the first place."

            Aragorn lost his temper. "I will have you know, Lady Éowyn, that I did not order him to come, he came on his own free will. And need I remind you that you also wished to come." Éowyn opened her mouth to speak, but Aragorn cut her off. "I also seem to remember that you were not happy about being left behind either and that you and Faramir argued before we left. I cannot help but wonder if your harsh words were the cause of his distraction in battle and resulting injury."

            Aragorn fully expected Éowyn to slap him, but she didn't. Her face just paled as the emotion in her eyes went from anger to shock to grief then back to anger. In one swift move, Éowyn swung her arm and punched the King of Gondor in the face. Not having expected that, Aragorn nearly fell from the impact. He silently swore to himself. //I forgot she's a shieldmaiden. Of course she wouldn't just slap me.//

            His inner monologue was interrupted by a voice behind him. "You deserved that, Estel." Turning around, Aragorn found Arwen glaring at him. She had witnessed the entire exchange. "How dare you speak so to Éowyn! Her betrothed is dying and you tell her that she is the cause? Ada would be ashamed!" Still glaring, the elf-queen turned to Éowyn. "And so you should not blame Aragorn. He did not wish this upon Faramir anymore than you did! Faramir would not want either of you to act like this!" Arwen looked at her husband. "Now if you would remove yourself back to our tent, I wish to speak alone with Éowyn."

            Aragorn quickly obeyed, leaving the shieldmaiden with Arwen. The Queen's face softened.  "Éowyn, do not think of his words. No one but the orcs are at fault."

            "I cannot help but think of them, Arwen." It was obvious Aragorn's words had cut deeply into Éowyn's heart.

            "Éowyn. . . "

            "No, please. I do not wish for comfort. I wish for Faramir to come back to me. And if I cannot have that, then I want only to be beside him before he. . . " She could not finish, could not say that word, so horrible, so. . .final. Éowyn turned her back on the elf and walked quickly back to Faramir's tent.

            Arwen didn't follow, knowing that nothing could console the Lady of Rohan except the return of her beloved. The Queen of Gondor watched as the sun set and the evening star rose in the sky. She thought of her father, the son of Eärendil the Mariner whose ship was the evening star. Elrond had seen much trouble and heartbreak in his long life, from being seemingly abandoned by his parents, to the lost of his twin brother to a mortal life, to the capture and torture of his wife Celebrían at the hands of the orcs. //Will he be able to handle losing a son to death as he lost Mother to the Grey Havens?//

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Since The next chapter kinda goes with this one, I'll put it up as well. Merry Christmas!