Here's a short chapter. It takes place a few years after the War of the Ring. Aragorn is King of Gondor and Arnor, Faramir is Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien. He is married to Éowyn of Rohan and they live in the city of Emyn Arnen in Ithilien.
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Faramir bolted upright with a strangle gasp. The same dream continued to haunt him, keeping him from the rest he desperately needed. Lying slowly back down on the bed, Faramir was relieved to see that he hadn't woken his golden-haired wife. The Steward of Gondor did not want to speak of the troubled dreams that plagued his nights, even to his beloved Éowyn.
For an hour Faramir lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and listening to Éowyn's soft breathing. Finally, the sky outside the large balcony windows lightening as the sun prepares to rise. Faramir quietly got up and dressed, preparing to start a new day. "F'r?"
He turned to see that Éowyn had woken slightly, having reached for him in her sleep and not finding him. Leaning over his wife, Faramir smoothed her hair and whispered, "Go back to sleep, love. I am just getting a head start on my work." This seemed to placate her and she quickly fell asleep again.
Faramir sighed as he walked down that hall to his study. His body felt heavy, strained. Even the few hours of sleep he had gotten were more stressful than restful.
Suddenly a hand clamped on his shoulder and Faramir's right hand went instinctively to his side where usually his sword would hang. "Good morning, my lord."
Faramir breathed out heavily and glared at the man who had startled him, a member of his personal White Guard. "Valin, please do not sneak up on me like that."
"I did not sneak up on you, my lord. I have been walking beside you for the past few minutes. You were unaware of my presence."
The Steward tired not to wince at the older man's disapproving look. Valin had been a mentor of Faramir's in the Ithilien Rangers, teaching him the ways of the woods. "I was distracted by my thoughts."
"You were distracted because you are overtired. You cannot continue to subsist on such little sleep."
Faramir, though know for his even-temper, flared up at Valin. "It is not your place to tell me what I can or cannot do, Lieutenant. If I wish for your opinion, I will ask for it." The surprise and hurt on the guard's face made guilt rise in the Steward's heart, but instead of apologizing he turned from Valin and stalked the rest of the short way to the study.
Collapsing into his desk chair, Faramir rubbed his forehead, already feeling the beginnings of a headache. //What is wrong with me? I don't snap like that, not at my friends.// He sighed as he lifted a parchment to read, the first of the day. //Perhaps Valin is right. Maybe I do need more sleep.// The images from his nightmare floated before him and he shivered. //Or maybe I should just never go to sleep again.//
Éowyn headed to the dining hall to meet her husband for breakfast. She frowned as she thought of Faramir who recently had been working late into the evening and rising before the sun. If he had always been one to live on little sleep it wouldn't have worried her so, but Faramir wasn't like that. Éowyn knew that her husband needed sleep and that he hadn't been getting enough for almost 3 weeks.
As Éowyn entered the dining hall, Faramir was already there. He gave her that wonderful smile that still made her weak in the knees. "Good morning, love. Hungry?"
"Quite. Shall we eat?" The couple sat down to the rather light breakfast that both enjoyed. Éowyn hesitated before speaking. "Faramir, are you feeling well?"
He looked up, surprised. "I fell fine. Why do you ask?"
"You have not been sleeping well, in fact, barely at all." She frowned at the guilt that flashed on Faramir's face. "Yes, love, I have noticed. And I am worried about you."
"Don't be." In a few short bites Faramir finished off his meal and pushed his plate away. "If you will excuse…"
"Faramir! It is unhealthy!"
The Steward stood and shoved in his chair. "I learned as a Ranger to live on less sleep."
"Not for almost a month without break!"
Éowyn knew the discussion was over as Faramir's face hardened into a stoic mask. "I have work to do. Forgive me for leaving you before you have finished." For a moment his eyes softened. "I love you." He left before Éowyn could answer.
She sighed. "I love you too, Faramir." //That is why I fear for you.//
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Don't know when I'll update. Soon hopefully.