Disclaimer: Faramir, etc. belong to Tolkien.

An especial thank you to Carrie S, Mercury Gray, and Emera (again) for their ultra-kind words. A wedding story? Hmmmm. And non-too-subtle foreshadowing, eh? Teehee.

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Chapter Three: The Glittering Caves

Faramir met Eomer in the Great Hall, as promised. He was wrapped in his warm cloak, after learning from Eowyn that the caves were always cold and damp. "So, Faramir, are you ready?"

Faramir looked around him. "Yes, but – I thought you said that there was a group coming."

"I thought there was too. But Maelgwyn, Hengest, and Horsa are not coming, even though I thought they were. So it is just us."

[So why are we still going then?] he found himself asking himself. "Is it safe enough, then, with only two people going?"

Eomer laughed at Faramir's hesitation. "Many people go there all the time, Faramir. Nothing will go wrong, anyway. We'll be quite safe, I assure you. I stake my reputation on it."

Faramir couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness though. [If I were you, I wouldn't stake my reputation on something that I can't control.] "Well, let's go then. I suppose I will just have to count your reputation as solid enough."

"It's as solid as the rock," Eomer said with a laugh. "Here, follow me. There's a passage in the outer courtyard. Then we walk through Helm's Deep – the actual ravine between the fortress and the caves. At the end of the Deep is a doorway to Aglarond. The entrance leads to some passages downwards, until finally the caves begin."

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Eomer and Faramir took torches from the guards as Eomer led him down the passages into the caverns. Faramir was not comfortable at all. The air seemed so stifling, and at times he found it hard to breathe. It was colder, much colder than he had anticipated, despite Eowyn's warnings. But wrapping his cloak more tightly around himself only made him feel more close and uncomfortable, and so he endured the cold as best he could, as his breath became more and more visible. He glanced at Eomer, who seemed unaffected by the temperature, and by the closeness of the walls, as the passage became narrower and narrower.

"Here we are, Faramir," Eomer said, pointing at a doorway chiseled out of the rock. "The entrance to Aglarond." Eomer walked through the threshold. Faramir took a deep breath and followed.

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Faramir could hardly believe his eyes. The very walls seemed to sparkle as they reflected the light of his torch, and for a time he forgot his discomfort. He took a step toward the wall, and ran his hand along the side of the cave, marveling at the crystals in the wall. "It's beautiful," Faramir said. "The very walls seem to glow."

"They do indeed," Eomer agreed. "It's unlike anything else in Middle- Earth." Faramir nodded his assent. "You've never seen such crystals before, I'm sure."

"Actually, I have," Faramir replied. "Did you know that Gimli cut a few rocks from the walls during his visit?"

"Yes."

"He gave me one for Midwinter. But it's more spectacular to see the entire walls covered with them."

"It certainly is. I first came here when I was very young. I thought the caves must be the most beautiful place anywhere."

"Do you still feel that way?"

Eomer shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure. There are many places I have never been." He turned around to face Faramir. "Why don't I show you the largest cavern?"

"I would love to see it. It must be magnificent."

Eomer turned back towards the caves. "Watch your step – it gets much steeper, and the dampness makes the floor and walls slippery."

"I will." [I shouldn't have a problem if I'm careful. Henneth Annun was the same, especially near the Window.] Faramir followed as Eomer led him further and further down. The air became even closer, and Faramir began to notice how unsteady some of the walls seemed to be. He tried to convince himself that it was just his imagination, but somehow he couldn't make himself believe it.

"I think we're almost there," Eomer said, after they walked in silence for a while. "It should be just around that corner. . ."

Faramir looked around the bend, and saw a huge cavern, with a high roof and sloping rock paths around a large lake. The cavern was well-lit, for torches lined the walls, allowing him to see completely the entire cave, all the way up to the ceiling. The torchlight danced on the walls, illuminating the crystals and showing the many side passages that connected to it.

"Why are there so many torches here?" Faramir asked, his curiosity overcoming his awe.

"This cavern is the main area for the women and children to stay when the fortress is attacked. We keep it illuminated always. Also, this is a good place to rest whenever someone comes down to the caves. Supplies are always stored here. All passages eventually lead back to here. That one -" Eomer pointed at a larger passage across the cavern "– leads to the mountains. That is the escape passage, if there is need for it."

Faramir nodded. "I see. This one is the largest, you said?"

"Yes. Would you like to grab a few things to eat and a flagon of water so that we can rest and eat something later?"

"How long are we going to stay down here?" he asked, sounding more worried than he had wanted to. [I don't understand how he can be comfortable, even here, no matter how large the cavern is. There's no fresh air at all.]

"I'm not sure, exactly. It depends on how much you want to see. But there's still a lot to cover – you haven't really seen any interesting rock formations yet. I don't think we'll be done here for much longer than three hours, but we might as well take something to eat, just in case."

[Three hours?] Faramir's jaw dropped. [Three hours with no fresh air, in these tiny little caverns?] "I suppose we might as well take something then," he said, not letting any reluctance enter his voice. [I don't want him to be offended.]

Eomer and Faramir walked over to the supplies, and took a flask each, along with some dried bread and fruits. "That should tide us over," Eomer said, as Faramir put his food in his scrip, and slung the flagon over his shoulder.

"Are you not putting yours away?" Faramir asked.

"No, I'll just carry mine," Eomer said, waving his hand. "Follow me. There is a passage that leads back under the Keep, and that is the one that is the most beautiful, in my opinion."

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They walked for a good two miles, as the passages became narrower, the air more musty, and Faramir more uncomfortable. He began to think that the walls were going to collapse at any moment. He kept telling himself that he was being foolish, but he was becoming so frightened that he could no longer enjoy the caves anymore. He wished desperately for fresh air, and kept hoping that Eomer would eventually turn back. But on they went, Eomer seemingly ignorant of his companion's unease.

Suddenly, a large crash came from above, and the entire cave seemed to shake for a moment. Faramir leaned against one of the walls, breathing heavily. [Stay calm. It was nothing.]

Eomer turned around. "I wonder what that was," he said, peering at the darkness. "It seemed to come from here. . ." Eomer walked under the area that the noise had come from. Another crash, louder than the first one, echoed through the caverns, and suddenly Faramir realized what was happening.

He threw himself at Eomer, and felt himself hit the ground hard, as the ceiling collapsed around them.