And this is the end. I'm sorry to see it come to a close.
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Faramir enjoyed the evenings, reading to an entranced Anariel in the House's garden. The little girl had been diligently visiting the healing Steward and some of the Healers even believed that he was healing faster because of the her attention. Right now they were reading a history of the Kings of Gondor. It had taken the Steward awhile to explain to Anariel that the kings weren't really the fathers of the Ithilien Company, that Beregond had just meant that the king was in charge of them. //I do believe I will be able to kid Beregond and Aragorn about this for some time.//
As if summoned by his thoughts, Captain Beregond appeared in the garden. "Forgive me for interrupting, but I fear it is time to take you home for dinner, Anariel."
The girl's face lit up. "Did Mamma make cobbler for dessert?"
Beregond smiled as his adopted daughter. "Indeed she did. Why do you not say good-bye to Lord Faramir and we will see if we can sneak some without her noticing." Anariel did so and she skipped excitedly ahead of her new father.
Beregond and Caladwen had quickly taken the girl in as their own and Anariel thrived under their love and care. Even Bergil had come to like her, though he would never admit it to anyone. And, like Anariel, the city of Emyn Arnen was healing from the darkness that had laid over it.
The next morning Éowyn silently watched her husband who stood staring out the window in his room in the Healing House. The look in his eyes told her he was deep in thought about something that troubled him. She spoke up to let him know she was there. "The Master Healer says you may come home today." Faramir nodded, his eyes not leaving the view of the forest that had held so much darkness yet he still loved. Éowyn walked up and slid her arm around his waist. "Do you regret your decision, my love?"
"No." I was the simple, but true, answer. "Aragorn is the king. He will rule well."
"Then what is bothering you?" She glanced up and him, worriedly. "Are you still having nightmares?"
Faramir shook his head. "No, I have been sleeping well. It is just…I made so many mistakes and people were hurt because of it. I let fear and pride keep me from seeking help, I acted absolutely horrible to everyone. Because of mistranslation and doubts, I fell into the Acolytes' trap instead of heading the warnings."
"We all made mistakes, Faramir, mistakes that we cannot change."
The Steward sighed. "I know. It is just, when I think of how close we came to having that…thing unleashed on the world, I feel ill."
Éowyn squeezed him tightly. "I feel ill when I think about how close I came to losing you. I still see it in my dreams, you bound to that stone with a knife at your throat."
She shivered and Faramir wrapped his arms around her. Gently turning her to face him, Faramir stroked her cheek. "I am so sorry…"
Éowyn touched his lips with her finger. "No apologizing. You did that already and I forgave you."
Faramir smiled. "Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Yes, but I do not mind hearing it again."
"I love you, Éowyn." And he kissed her as the sun streamed in the window. A new day had come, the future a white easel ready for the next story to be painted.
Husband and wife did not notice the misty figure that watched them. *Nay rommë avan lei, yonen sergnalit.* May sunrise bless thee, son of my blood. Smiling, Miriel allowed herself to be swept away by the rays of sunlight, fading away to the unknown. She was free.
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Happy ending! In case anyone didn't understand, Miriel is actually Tar-Miriel the last queen of Numenor. In this story she was married and had to children but was forced to divorce her husband and marry Ar-Pharazon. Her ex-husband and her son were killed but her daughter survived and Miriel's ghost watched over her descendents. Every 150 years Dark Acolytes would kill one of the descendents in order to keep that nasty little beast in the cave alive while waiting for the true Heir of Numenor. Enter Faramir. He was tricked into not listening to Miriel's warnings and ended up almost being sacrificed to Morgoth. Oh, and the reason Aragorn was partially able to lift the sword and get through the elvish shield at the cave was because he has the blood of the Kings of Numenor even if it wasn't directly. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the story!