~@-/Pains in the Heart\-@~
I don't own the characters, just the plot. Inspired by Egleriel's excellent 'Éowyn Nimbeinaith' so kudos Egleriel! Please write a sequel! I like the idea of quoting Tolkien and sticking it into the story, so some bits may seem familiar.
Rosa Cotton, Calleigh, darkend-illusion and 'Lars':): Thank you!
Yeah, it was choppy; I was kinda running back and forth between the computer and the living room (Britney was on Graham Norton lol)
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The Lord Faramir was walking in the gardens when at last Éowyn came. Though she liked Faramir, he caused Éowyn terrible pain; for he looked at her with a loving sadness, ever desiring her but never able to articulate his feelings.
Perhaps it was the similarities between Faramir and Aragorn that had made Éowyn open up to him. In both, the blood of Númenor ran true; both were loremasters and warriors; both were kind and caring in their own right... but Éowyn was loath to forego the icy shell she wove about herself in Faramir's presence, in case her longing for friendship was misconstrued.
The watery sun was concealed by cloud and a chill wind blew from the northeast, so that Éowyn shivered slightly.
"It is cold," said Faramir. He glanced back at the Houses of Healing; a servant was hurrying out to where they stood carrying a dark-blue mantle, studded with silver stars. Faramir had sent for it when he asked for Éowyn. It had belonged to his mother, who he could barely remember. The only other woman he had ever loved.
Faramir took the thick cloak and wrapped it around Éowyn's shoulders. She shrank at the touch and knew that Faramir's arms lingered slightly when he pulled it around her. But Éowyn shuddered again, and Faramir marked it.
"What do you look for, Éowyn?" asked Faramir, his voice a mix of concern, pity and sadness.
"Does not the Black Gate lie yonder?" said Éowyn distantly. "And must he not now be come thither? It is seven days since he rode away."
"Seven days..." said Faramir. "They have brought me joy and pain. Joy to see you; but pain, because now the fear and doubt of this evil time are grown dark indeed. Éowyn, I would not have this world end now, or lose so soon what I have found!"
"Lose what you have found, lord?" Éowyn repeated airily. "Nor would I."
"Indeed?" said Faramir breathlessly. "What do you mean?"
"I would not lose such a friend as you, lord," she said with a sad smile, watching his heart break. "A friend who treats me as an equal, even though I am a woman. A friend, who does not condescend, but is kind and wise. I would not have this world end either, not now..."
She trailed off, continuing to stare in the direction of the Black Gate, and a shadow fell across her heart, for she perceived that Aragorn had fallen into great peril and she gasped, lurching forwards to grip the crenellations on the wall.
"What is it?" cried Faramir, alarmed, as he made to help her back up. Éowyn stood still, catching her breath. At last she straightened again.
"They have been attacked," she whispered fearfully. "They have been attacked."
It was as though they had gone deaf: a deadly silence swept over the land, as the wind stopped, and all went dim, and over the Ephel Dúath they saw a great darkness, pierced by flickering lightning; the very earth trembled to see it... and it was over.
"What has happened?" asked Éowyn. "I feel as though a great weight has been lifted from me, yet the world remains dark."
"The shadow has departed," said Faramir, wondering to hear himself speak. "My limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to me that now reason can deny. Éowyn, Éowyn, White Lady of Rohan, in this hour I do not feel that any darkness will endure!" He stooped and kissed her brow, but then Éowyn turned away and Faramir was confused. "Why to you turn from me? Can you not see how I feel?"
"I can see," said Éowyn softly, speaking into the breeze. "But I do not look at you as you look at me. My heart lies elsewhere."
She had no sooner said it than pain beyond belief smote Éowyn in the heart; it was as though her blood had frozen and her skin burned at the same time. She cried out, just once, and her knees gave way, and she knew no more.
===================
I don't own the characters, just the plot. Inspired by Egleriel's excellent 'Éowyn Nimbeinaith' so kudos Egleriel! Please write a sequel! I like the idea of quoting Tolkien and sticking it into the story, so some bits may seem familiar.
Rosa Cotton, Calleigh, darkend-illusion and 'Lars':): Thank you!
Yeah, it was choppy; I was kinda running back and forth between the computer and the living room (Britney was on Graham Norton lol)
===================
The Lord Faramir was walking in the gardens when at last Éowyn came. Though she liked Faramir, he caused Éowyn terrible pain; for he looked at her with a loving sadness, ever desiring her but never able to articulate his feelings.
Perhaps it was the similarities between Faramir and Aragorn that had made Éowyn open up to him. In both, the blood of Númenor ran true; both were loremasters and warriors; both were kind and caring in their own right... but Éowyn was loath to forego the icy shell she wove about herself in Faramir's presence, in case her longing for friendship was misconstrued.
The watery sun was concealed by cloud and a chill wind blew from the northeast, so that Éowyn shivered slightly.
"It is cold," said Faramir. He glanced back at the Houses of Healing; a servant was hurrying out to where they stood carrying a dark-blue mantle, studded with silver stars. Faramir had sent for it when he asked for Éowyn. It had belonged to his mother, who he could barely remember. The only other woman he had ever loved.
Faramir took the thick cloak and wrapped it around Éowyn's shoulders. She shrank at the touch and knew that Faramir's arms lingered slightly when he pulled it around her. But Éowyn shuddered again, and Faramir marked it.
"What do you look for, Éowyn?" asked Faramir, his voice a mix of concern, pity and sadness.
"Does not the Black Gate lie yonder?" said Éowyn distantly. "And must he not now be come thither? It is seven days since he rode away."
"Seven days..." said Faramir. "They have brought me joy and pain. Joy to see you; but pain, because now the fear and doubt of this evil time are grown dark indeed. Éowyn, I would not have this world end now, or lose so soon what I have found!"
"Lose what you have found, lord?" Éowyn repeated airily. "Nor would I."
"Indeed?" said Faramir breathlessly. "What do you mean?"
"I would not lose such a friend as you, lord," she said with a sad smile, watching his heart break. "A friend who treats me as an equal, even though I am a woman. A friend, who does not condescend, but is kind and wise. I would not have this world end either, not now..."
She trailed off, continuing to stare in the direction of the Black Gate, and a shadow fell across her heart, for she perceived that Aragorn had fallen into great peril and she gasped, lurching forwards to grip the crenellations on the wall.
"What is it?" cried Faramir, alarmed, as he made to help her back up. Éowyn stood still, catching her breath. At last she straightened again.
"They have been attacked," she whispered fearfully. "They have been attacked."
It was as though they had gone deaf: a deadly silence swept over the land, as the wind stopped, and all went dim, and over the Ephel Dúath they saw a great darkness, pierced by flickering lightning; the very earth trembled to see it... and it was over.
"What has happened?" asked Éowyn. "I feel as though a great weight has been lifted from me, yet the world remains dark."
"The shadow has departed," said Faramir, wondering to hear himself speak. "My limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to me that now reason can deny. Éowyn, Éowyn, White Lady of Rohan, in this hour I do not feel that any darkness will endure!" He stooped and kissed her brow, but then Éowyn turned away and Faramir was confused. "Why to you turn from me? Can you not see how I feel?"
"I can see," said Éowyn softly, speaking into the breeze. "But I do not look at you as you look at me. My heart lies elsewhere."
She had no sooner said it than pain beyond belief smote Éowyn in the heart; it was as though her blood had frozen and her skin burned at the same time. She cried out, just once, and her knees gave way, and she knew no more.
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