*sniff* I can't believe it's over! This, my friends, is the last chapter of Fell Wound. I'm sorry that it took so long, but hopefully you enjoyed it as much as I have.
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Relief
Faramir smiled joyfully as he spurred Belgir into a walk. He was finally free from that confining bed and ready to go home. Though he still tired easily, Faramir was all too happy to be going to Minas Tirith. //Nearly dying must make one homesick.// Aragorn rode up beside him. "Are you ready to go?"
"Very ready." He had already said farewell to the villagers of Tumbar, and given his thanks to Silhin, Galwen, and Adin. Éowyn, the White Guard, Glorfindel, and Elrond brought their horses up, and they set off. Glorfindel waved back at Silhin who smiled and clutched the wooden flower that the blonde elf had carved for her.
Elrond looked over at his friend who had a wistful look on his face. ^Do not worry about her, my friend. Galwen and Adin have taken her as their own and she will be happy again.^
Glorfindel nodded. ^Yes, her story will have a happy ending.^ The two elves smiled, as did the others who understood their Sindarin words.
Soon it was time for Glorfindel and Elrond to leave the group and head back to Lothlorien. Faramir and Aragorn were sad to see their father go, but they smiled and promised to give his love to Arwen. Elrond was just as sad. ^Farewell, my sons. I love you both dearly, so please try to stay out of trouble.^
^We will try, Ada. Farewell!^ The Men waited until the Elves were out of sight before continuing home. Gandalf had left on Shadowfax before them, claiming urgent business elsewhere, so they set a leisurely pace that Faramir suspected was ordered by Aragorn on purpose for the Steward's health. But he did not complain since he was so happy just being outside.
They were nearly to the city when Éowyn brought her horse up to Faramir's. They were far enough away from the others that she could talk to him without being overheard. "Faramir."
She felt her heart melt when he smiled at her. "Yes, love?"
"Do you. . . do you truly forgive me?"
Faramir drew Belgir to a stop, Éowyn stopping as well. "Éowyn, why bring this up again? I told you that there is nothing to forgive."
"But there is! I spoke without thinking and. . . and I hurt you as I had promised myself I never would."
Faramir reached over and took her hand. "I knew when I asked Aragorn to tell you not to come that you would be angry. Yes the words hurt, but I know you and I knew that you did not mean them."
Éowyn tried not to wince as Faramir admitted to being hurt. Though she knew it already, it still stung to know she was right. "Why did you not want me to come? You know I can fight and have not objected before."
A shadow passed over Faramir face. He sighed. "I have told you about the. . .dreams. . . I have." Éowyn nodded. He had told her before about the prophetic visions he experienced. "The nights before the attack I had a dream. And." Pausing, Faramir looked deep into Éowyn's eyes. "And I would sooner have you despise me for all time then let that dream come to pass."
In the depths of Faramir's grey eyes, Éowyn could almost see the dream that had caused him so much heart-ache. He had seen a vision of her, obviously either dead or worse, and had risked her wrath to save her. Éowyn felt tears in her eyes and clasped Faramir's hand tightly between hers. "Oh love! I had no idea!" She lowered her head. "Now I feel even worse for losing my temper."
Faramir lifted her head up and smiled. "Éowyn, when I fell in love with you, I fell in love with all of you, including your temper." He grinned. "I would rather have you and your fury than any even-tempered lady in all of Arda."
Éowyn laughed as her tears left her. "And I would rather have you, and your ability to get into trouble, than any other man in the lands of the world."
"Really?"
"Really."
As if sensing their riders thoughts, the horses moved closer together as Faramir and Éowyn leaned toward each other and kissed.
Sitting atop his own horse a good distance away, Aragorn looked back at the couple and could not stop the smile on his face. He had not heard their conversation, but obviously it had gone well. The other guards were all trying their hardest not to grin, happy that their lord had found his true love. Aragorn grinned. //Now he is truly healed. There is no better medicine than love.//
Two nights later, back home in Minas Tirith at last, Faramir fell asleep and dreamed.
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He walked through the bodies of the dead, mourning those whose lives were over, cut short by war. His Rangers, the knights of Dol Amroth, his family, all lay dead. All he could do was look at them, eyes filled with tears. But when he reached the end of the dead, he did not find the one body that had so filled him with fear before. Instead, she stood there smiling at him, alive, vibrantly alive! The sun broke through the darkness and the dead disappeared with the night.
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Faramir woke up, though it was only midnight. Going to his window, he looked out across his city. He thought of his fiancée, asleep in her own house. His nightmare had not come true, and within a month he and Éowyn would be husband and wife. Their love had survived its test, now it was stronger than ever. Faramir smiled under the starry sky. //Perhaps, like Glorfindel and Silhin, our story will have a happy ending as well.//
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*sniff again* Yay, I love happy endings. I was going to put in some ominous foreshadowing at the end, but decided against it. I am afraid it will be quite some time before the sequel comes out. My problem is that this is the first of three stories that culminate in the third story. Unfortunately while the third story is almost done, the second is barely beginning. And since I cannot post unchronilogically (is that a word?) you'll have to wait until the second one is finished. Until then, please review and tell me what you think, and please feel free to read my other stories. Namarie! (until later)
P.S. I'll also put some cut and edited scenes up if you want to check them out.