CHAPTER 35 : Worthy of Love

Faramir walked alone the in gardens, wondering when Éowyn would come to join him. He looked forward to her company everyday, and she had joined him for the past two days. She always knew the right thing to say, and he enjoyed all the talks they had. It was also comforting to just walk in silence with her, when the time came where there was no need for words. He felt like she understood him, and he felt safe telling her anything and everything. In a way she was just like Aislin, but he found her even more beautiful, although before all this he would never have believed that there would be anyone who surpassed Aislin in anything.

"Faramir?"

He smiled at the sound of her voice, and turned to face her. She stood before him, radiant and beautiful as always, with a smile on her face. He opened his mouth to greet her, but was almost bowled over by the huge force thrown at his knees. "Liana!" he gasped. She smiled up at him, her lovely brown eyes shining. Faramir looked up in surprise at Éowyn, who just laughed and nodded.

He picked Liana up with a smile and swung her around. She laughed, flinging her arms around his neck. "I missed you," she said truthfully. "Grandma and Grandpa are nice, but they don't talk to me like you do."

"I missed you too, Liana. It's good to see you again." Faramir set her down on her feet again. "Now, tell me everything. How have you been spending your time?" He led Liana to a bench and said to Éowyn, "Come, join us, company is always welcome here." Éowyn nodded once more, and joined the two at the bench, Liana sitting on Faramir's knee.

Éowyn watched as Faramir listened intently to Liana's chattering. The child was intelligent, and mature for her years, but Éowyn noted that she kept clear from speaking of the war, and what had happened. So many people, hurt by this war. She found herself laughing at times, and sharing secret smiles with Faramir. Liana was an adorable child, and Éowyn found it impossible to love her. She had done right by asking the warden to bring her to the Houses of Healing.

And Faramir! He seemed a completely different person around the child. A smile lingered on his face the whole time, as he looked down at the little girl he dandled on his knee. The shadow over his face seemed to have lifted, and he seemed to have forgotten all worry and trouble. For the first time since she had met him, she heard him laugh, a rich sound that seemed to ease the fears in her heart.

The morning passed quickly amid the pleasant conversations and laughter. "I should go now. Grandma told me to get home for lunch," Liana said. She gave Faramir one last hug. "I'll be back to see you soon, but there's work to be done in the city still, and I want to help out. Rianne is helping as well. I'll be back to see you." Then she got off Faramir's knee.

For a moment Faramir did not move, then he grinned sheepishly. "My leg seems to have gone numb," he said. Éowyn's laughter mingled with Liana's, and she extended a hand to help pull him up. "Thanks," he mumbled. "That was very embarrassing."

"It happens," Éowyn told him. "There's nothing to be embarrassed of."

"Mother said Faramir first met her by tripping over a laundry basket," Liana said, grinning. It was her first mention of her mother the whole morning.

Éowyn was surprised to see Faramir turn completely red, just like a boy would. "I met your mother when I tripped over a laundry basket," Faramir corrected Liana. Then he turned to Éowyn. "I just knew it would come back to haunt me again. That was probably the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me in my life. I had a bruise on my forehead for two weeks!"

I thought that I would never laugh again, Éowyn thought as she tried hide her helpless giggling behind her hand, to save Faramir from even more embarrassment. But here I am, having laughed away so much of the morning! "Come, Liana, I will bring you to the warden, and he will take you home."

Faramir caught her hand just as she was about to lead Liana away. "Will you come back later?"

Éowyn gave him a warm smile. "Of course I will."

Éowyn joined Faramir once more after she and Liana had found the warden. "She's on her way home now," she told him. "What a lovely child."

Pride swelled up in Faramir. "Yes, yes she is. No one can help but love her. For a child of eight, she's dealt with a lot. She's lost a mother not just once, but twice, and a man she considered her father."

"You really do love her very much, don't you? I find it admirable that a person can have so much love for so many people around him."

Faramir took Éowyn's hand. "There is nothing admirable about that, Éowyn. Anyone can love, and everyone is worthy of love."

Éowyn blushed as their fingers intertwined. "Yes, you've shown me that."