Disclaimer: Since Faramir is far above my own station tear, he is not mine, along with everything else.

Thank you SOOOO much, Carrie S and Mercury Gray!! Yes, I'm sorry for taking so long, and I hope this lives up to your expectations. As to Faramir/Eowyn/Eomer, it seems to me that they would all be on their best behavior, trying their hardest to get along happily. And besides: Faramir doesn't have the highest self-esteem level, and he's used to dealing with people that may not show their affection for him. cough I really appreciate the reviews!!

ARG!! This is my first try at writing Faramir/Eowyn romance etc. Actually it's my first try at writing romance at all. I think it's quite dreadful, and therefore I would absolutely LOVE suggestions about how to go about this. I'm trying to use this chapter as more of a practice, so bear with me.

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Chapter Two: Eowyn

Eomer gave a small smile. "I have some business to attend to, so if you'll excuse me..." His voice trailed off as he turned and left the room.

Immediately Eowyn ran over to Faramir and threw her arms around his neck. "Faramir," she said, as she buried her head into his shoulder.

Faramir rested his chin on her head. "My heart." He leaned down and kissed her.

Eowyn pulled out of the embrace after a few moments. "I have missed you," she said softly. "I have suffered for lack of your company."

Faramir smiled. "If you have, you still look radiant," he replied. [I have not seen her this well in a long time.]

"Only because I was looking forward to your arrival," she said. "I have been thinking of nothing else for at least two weeks, ever since I heard you would be setting out soon."

"I have been looking forward to this too," he said. "It seems like ages, and yet it also seems as though we've been together the whole time." Faramir knew he sounded silly, but he said it anyway, for lack of anything better.

"Ever the philosopher," she laughed. "I will have to get used to you."

"I hope it will not be too much of an inconvenience." [I hope.]

"Never." They kissed again. "I am being selfish," Eowyn said eventually. "You must be hungry." She looked at him. "You seem so tired. Surely the ride couldn't have been that hard? I thought you were a better horseman than that."

"I'm tired because I ended up stacking barrels near the Gate." Eowyn tilted her head to the side in puzzlement. As Faramir proceeded to tell her the story, she laughed merrily. "I only wish that Eomer had come sooner," he said, as he concluded his story.

"You know, I can just imagine you trying to reason with a foul-tempered overseer," she giggled. "No wonder you couldn't convince the man. You're far too polite."

Faramir laughed. "I wish you could have seen the look on his face when Eomer told him who we were! I don't think I've ever seen anyone so pale before."

"I wish I had as well." She snapped her fingers suddenly. "I'm sorry, I forgot to get you something to eat."

Faramir rose as well. "There's really no need. I could scrounge up something later. I'd rather spend the time with you."

"Nonsense, I can tell that you're hungry." Faramir sighed in defeat, causing Eowyn to smile. "Why don't you come with me to the kitchens?"

"Gladly. We do, after all, need to start making up for lost time."

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Faramir and Eowyn sat down at last in a quiet corner in the kitchens, laden with bread, cheese, and hot soup. "So," Eowyn asked, as they began their meal, "what delayed you in Minas Tirith? You said in your letter that something unplanned turned up. Nothing serious, I hope."

Faramir paused for a moment. "No, just something that needed to be done. We placed a memorial in the gardens for my father and brother."

Eowyn stretched a supportive hand across the table to rest on Faramir's. "An important delay, then. I am glad for it, even though I waited longer for your arrival."

"Thank you. I'm relieved to hear you say that." Faramir smiled warmly. [At least she's not angry with me for being later than I expected. Not that she would be,] he corrected himself, [but I'm glad that she doesn't think me foolish.] He waved his hand. "Enough of me. How is the healing on this land? Eomer tells me that progress is good. No doubt that the success is due partially to your help."

"Yes, although I have little to do with the actual repairs. I help more with resettling people, and ordering new homes to be built to replace those that were lost. Orcs had attacked the Westfold, as you know, when – Mundburg – was attacked." She began to stammer a little. "The people were in my charge, you see – I was left to care for them when the Riders left. But I did not. And they were defenseless."

"Do not blame yourself, my heart," Faramir said, as he read her eyes. "You would not have been able to do anything from Dunharrow even if you had stayed. And you did your people a mightier service in your deeds at the Pelennor than if you had protected them against Orc raiders." [Do not fall back into your unhappiness.]

"I tell myself that, and I'm beginning to believe it. But every time I see another family's home that has been destroyed, I can't help but think that I could have done something."

Faramir gazed at her intently. "No guilt should be yours," he said. "But even still, if you had not killed the Witch-King, then we might not have won the battle, and there would have been no Rohan for you to defend."

Eowyn thought on this for a moment. "Yes, you are right," she said slowly. "And if I had not gone, I would never have met you."

Faramir smiled. "And then where would you be?" he teased.

"In quite a desperate situation, my lord," she responded with a laugh.

He gave a sigh of relief, glad that their conversation had changed to a happier direction. Faramir took the opportunity to ask the question that had been plaguing him the whole journey. "Did Eomer give you the gifts for Midwinter?"

"Yes, he did. And the letter."

"Did you open them?" [More importantly, did you like them?] Anxiety crossed his face.

"Yes, I did, Faramir. And I can only say that I could not believe how perfect your gifts were. The headpiece is absolutely beautiful. And your portrait of Theoden was –" She stopped, at a loss for words, and looked down at the table.

"I am glad, then." Faramir gave a broad smile. "I was hoping you would. Did you hang it yet?" he asked, eager to know that she wasn't just telling him she liked it to make him feel better.

Eowyn looked up again. "It is hanging at Edoras, until we move to Ithilien, and then I would like it to hang in a place of honour, where everyone can see it."

"Wherever you want it." [Then she does like it.]

"And now I must give you your gift." Eowyn grinned. "Shall we go?" She stood up. Faramir followed suit, gathering the empty dishes. Eowyn picked up the remaining bowls, and helped him carry them back to the washing area.

"I have to ask –" Faramir gave a guilty smile "– did Eomer read my letter?"

"He did indeed." They laughed. [I had a feeling he would.] "Although I made him promise that he wouldn't do something like that again."

"That is good. I think, next time, I will want to write something a little more personal."

"I hope so." She took Faramir's hand in her own. "Come. I want to give you your gift." Leading him back to the Great Hall, they continued their conversation. Faramir knew that there were still some – issues – that still needed to be settled concerning their living arrangements, and as much as he really did not want to think about it right now, he knew it was only right for her to know. A lull in the conversation provided him with the opportunity.

"Eowyn?" he started. "There was something else that delayed my coming here."

"Oh?" she asked, tilting her head to one side, as was her way when she was puzzled by something.

"Yes. You see," he bit his lower lip slightly. "King Elessar wishes us to live in the Steward's rooms when we are in Minas Tirith."

Eowyn looked confused. "But I thought – we had already agreed – that we wished to live in your normal rooms..."

"I know," Faramir said.

"And the arrangements have already been made..."

"I know," Faramir repeated. He tried to explain. "Aragorn thinks that since I am the Steward, I should live in those rooms. I said yes," he lied, not wishing to go into the whole matter. Despite all earnest efforts on both their parts, Faramir was still shy with Aragorn, and the events of the past few months had eaten away at his confidence. He understood Aragorn, just as Aragorn understood him, but it did not make things any easier. "I'm sorry."

Eowyn raised an eyebrow. "I don't mind – I'm just rather surprised. You seemed so set on not living there..." One look at Faramir told her volumes. "Well," she said, with forced brightness, "we'll just have to redecorate."

Faramir merely smiled his thanks to her, for not pressing the matter any further.

Guiding him further from the Keep, they continued until they reached the stables. Once inside, Eowyn stopped. "Close your eyes," she ordered, and Faramir obeyed. Gently, she led him to Sigeberht's stall, and turned his body to face the proper direction. "Now you may open your eyes, Faramir."

His gaze fell on a horse blanket, neatly folded and resting on a rack. He walked forward and rested his hand on it. "Eowyn, it's wonderful," Faramir said, gently touching the soft cloth, surprised at such a generous gift.

"Here," Eowyn said, as she unfolded it. Faramir held one side, and she put the other side on the rack, leaving her hands free to explain the symbols. "The border is a traditional Rohirric design. At the rear is the White Tree, so that it will match in at least one way with the rest of the official blankets of Gondor. The leaves over the sides come from your official Captain of the Rangers tunic, which you said were also a symbol of Ithilien. So that will match your new station. And this shade of green can represent either Ithilien or Rohan, whichever suits your fancy." She beamed at Faramir.

"Thank you, Eowyn, it is beautiful. I shall be proud to have Sigeberht wear it. It was so thoughtful –" Faramir stopped. [Each symbol holds meaning, and she knows it. She thought of this herself.] He smiled. [Gondor for my home, Rohan for hers, and Ithilien for ours.]

"You said that yours was destroyed during the War. And the one you have," Eowyn said with a laugh, as she looked over at it, "is not suitable at all." Faramir smiled. "You are pleased, then. I can tell."

"That I am. Thank you again." Faramir kissed her.

"Faramir, are –" Eomer walked in suddenly. Faramir turned around quickly in surprise, as Eomer grinned. "I was going to ask if you were here, but I see that you are indeed." Faramir gave an embarrassed cough and found his boots suddenly interesting, as Eowyn blushed, and fingered with the edge of the blanket. Eomer laughed loudly. "I was wondering, Faramir, if you'd like to take a tour of the Glittering Caves with me. There's a group going down, and I thought you might be interested."

[I'd rather stay with Eowyn,] he thought, as he looked over at her, [and the thought of going down to the caves is not appealing at all. But I don't want to offend Eomer.]

"Faramir, go with Eomer," Eowyn said, making the decision for him. "It should be a new experience for you. I don't think you've ever been in a cave before. Well, a cave similar to those that you will see."

"Right then, it's settled," Eomer said. "I'll meet you back in the Great Hall in a half-hour. And don't be late."

"I'll try not to be," he said with a smile. [So I will go to the caves, then. Hopefully the tour will be short.]