**Authors Notes:
This one takes off where the other left off.**


***************Chapter 14***************


She missed her Uncle so much at times, so very much. Right now was one of those times as she thinks about who was going to give her away. If she married Faramir, she would have to ask her brother, but she had always thought it would be her Uncle that would give her away. Without him there, she didn't even know if it would be the same. She wanted nothing more then to make Faramir happy. She had so many other things that she had to keep in mind as well. Her brother, her country, not only Faramir. However suddenly he had leaped to the top of her list and she thought of him before she thought of other things. She was certain her Uncle would be happy about this. "He would have approved," she whispers, taking another bite before saying anything more. "My Uncle would have approved of you." She ignores the tear that trickles down her cheek.

He looks over at Eowyn, chewing on a piece of bread when she speaks. He smiles and swallow the bread before moving closer to the bed and leaning back against it. "I hope he would approve of me. He was a great man. I met him once before Mother died. He gave me candy." He smiles, looking like it was one of his better memories. He then tilts his head back and looks at her. "My mother would have loved you. Boromir as well I'm sure. Though I have a feeling Boromir would have been how Eomer is with me, not so rough but still protective. He always did look after me. When he could." He frowns softly. As much as she missed her uncle, he missed his brother just the same. "He would have loved you." He says softly to himself before he smiles sadly and goes back to eating.

She leans down and kisses the top of his head, rubbing her cheek against it before straightening. "I am sure that he would. I guess those we miss the most are the ones we wish were here the most. Though do not get me wrong, I love my brother. I just do not like that he has caused you such pain and problems. You may have impaled yourself on his sword, but he drew it. Though I do not like the thought of an arrow at his head." She takes a few bites, then goes on. "He needs someone. Someone that will love him for who he is, not what he is. I think that if he could find that, then he would be so much better off."

He looks at her and gives her a sheepish smile. "It was a reaction. I did not hurt him. And the only way he would listen to me is if I called his bluff. So I did." He eats some more food from his plate, his appetite coming back now that he wasn't feeling so sick. He sits silently for a while, watching the wall ahead of him, then finally he speaks. "Would you like me to sing for you when you go to sleep?"

She looks at him with wide eyes. "Would you, Faramir? Really?" She would love to hear him sing.

He smiles at her and nods. "Yes, M'lady I would. But only for you. And you may choose the song, as I may know it. I know many from every land merely because music was a means of escaping. Though now it shall just be a pleasure instead of an escape."

She reaches down and runs a finger along his cheek, and when he looks up and steals a kiss. "Then I would like you to sing something from Gondor. Something that is your favorite. Something that means something to you." She had only eaten a few bites of her dinner when she puts the plate down, unable to eat any more of it. "Would you like some?" She motions to the meat. "It is good, you could use it."

He had finished his food, and he was still hungry, but he shakes his head and smiles at her. "No, but thank you for offering." It showed in his eyes how much that little gesture of hers made him happy. "You may be hungry later." He sets his empty plate down and licks his lips, then takes a drink from the cup Eomer had brought for him. There was a cup of wine there for Eowyn too. "A song from Gondor is your wish. And one that I cherish?" He looks at her and sees her nod. "'Tis my lady's wish then I shall comply." He winks at her, then smiles and stares at the other wall for a moment, searching his memory for one of his most favorite songs. "Ah yes. I know which one." He takes another drink of wine, silent for a moment, before he starts to sing. It wasn't a rough song but a nice soft one. It was one he had always loved. It was one he cherished because it had been sung to him when he was a baby and sick. By his mother. It was a song about the stars and the sea, two things his mother always loved to look at when she could. And it always would calm him down. Unknown to him his voice was carried out of the tent and everyone was silent as they listened to him. He had a very good singing voice, another thing he inherited from his mother.

She puts the plate aside, wanting him to finish it because she just knew that she would be unable to finish it. But she doesn't argue the point when he refuses, she knew if he changed his mind he would tell her. So she relaxes, actually closing her eyes and letting the music wash over her. Oh she loved to hear his voice! It was like Satan, a soothing balm on a harsh burn, a caress from a favorite lover, a voice that brought tears to her eyes. She can't help but smile when that happens because she never had cried so much in years. But since her Uncle had died, she didn't remember a day that she had not cried. She wondered if there would ever be a day any longer that was tear free.

He finishes and listens to the silence, lost in memory. But when there is suddenly a loud roar of approval and clapping he jumps and his eyes widen as he looks towards the door to the tent. He smiles slightly but his face goes red. He lowers his head and laughs softly before he looks at Eowyn. "Did....you like the song?" He wasn't sure if it had been what she wanted to hear, but she had asked for his favorite. "I have others. More.....fun ones."

She was out of the bed and on the floor and in his lap within seconds, her arms going around him as she kisses him passionately. The song had brought tears to her eyes, not just because of the words, but because of his voice. That roar of approval was modest compared to how well she felt he had done and how beautiful she thought his voice was. So she kisses him, pouring her approval into that kiss, her love into that kiss, and her amazement as well. Unable to hold back.

He smiles as he returns her kiss, his arms wrapped tight around her. It had been more than he expected. When he pulls back from the kiss he is out of breath and desire for her shines in his eyes. But he knew nothing could happen until they were married. Though they both knew that someday they would be married. He just had to find the perfect time to ask her. But it wasn't now. "I think I will have the leftovers of your dinner now." He sees her look and laughs. "I only say it because what I would truly want to do with you would compromise all that I have promised not to do with you just yet." He keeps his hold on her now. "But if you wish you may stay where you are."

She was breathing heavily and she nods, licking her lips. "Okay, Faramir. I will stay here, and you finish my meal. You will need the energy to get well. She moves around in his lap, trying to help him with the plate and moving so that he could eat and still have her in his arms. She laughs when their arms get all tangled, his around her waist on one side, the other one behind her back. She finally takes the plate from him and lays it on her lap. "I have an idea. If you wish me here, then I will have to feed you." She uses the fork to cut the meat, it was tender enough to. Picking up a piece of meat she holds the fork up, smiling softly. "Oh come now, you don't have enough arms to feed yourself and hold me at the same time. We will have to just do it this way. Besides, I need to find out what you want to do tonight. Besides singing me another song when you finish, and besides doing anything further to compromise my standing."

He smiles and shrugs, then rolls his eyes as pain flares through his shoulder. He sees her look and smiles sheepishly. "I know. I know. I must remember not to shrug until it is fully healed." He smiles takes the first bite of food she offers him, thinking about what she said as he eats it. After swallowing he speaks. "Well...since I must not compromise your standing....and since you are far too sick still to spar with...and I as well.....I suppose we could read some more. Or we could spend time with the hobbits and Gandalf and your brother. Or we could tell each other stories."

Or we could just sit here holding each other and whispering words of love, she thinks. But she doesn't say it. Instead she thinks about what they really should do. She keeps feeding him as she speaks. "I think that what we should do is go outside and sit by the fire for a little while, spending time with Gandalf and the hobbits as well as my brother. I do not think that you should be in here much longer and I am sure that my brother will be sending someone in at any moment." She was surprised that he had yet to do so, and that showed her more then words that he was coming around to the idea. It would make things so much easier for all of them. She gets him another bite, her eyes going from the fork to his lips with each forkful. And it was those lips that were totally killing her. Lips that tasted like wine when they kissed her, lips that spoke soft languages to her, no matter the one, as if they were born to it, lips that sang songs as if they were born on the wind, lips that haunted her dreams, dreams of kisses and whispered words of love and marriage. It takes her a great effort to pull herself out of her thoughts when she realizes that he was watching her. She blushes and offers him another bite. "But if you really rather spend that time in here, then we can do so, though Monica will be returning soon I expect."

He smiles at her. "No no. I think we should at least spend time with the others. I am sure Gandalf will be giving me more of his tea soon enough." He sighs and shakes his head, eating another bite she offers him. He could get used to this treatment. He could tell that a life with her would never be dull. "May I ask you something?" At her nod, he smiles. "What were your parents like?"

She thinks about that seriously as she feeds him the last few bites of meat and vegetables that were on her plate. It was a hearty meal and very filling, but she had been unable to eat even the normal amount do to the cold she had caught. Luckily she had come out of that well. Now all that was left to do was to rest a few more days to get her strength back and she would be her self again. She would have no last effects. She only hoped that the same would be the case with Faramir. She did not want him scared by this in any way. Mentally and physically he had been through enough, he needed a rest.

"They were loving, caring, happy people. My father loved my mother so much. You could see it in their eyes when they looked at each other. There was no way of getting around it. They were in love. And as little as I remember, being only 7 when my father died, I always remember the time that I caught them whispering in the gardens. I remember the look that went between them. It was almost magical, like my father had never seen my mom before in his life. And my mother was looking back at him the same way. They didn't kiss, they just looked at each other. That was when I knew that I would know my love by the way he looked at me." She blushes as she reaches up to cup his face in the palm of her hand. "He looked at her the way you looked at me not long ago." It was the truth, when he had looked at her just a short while ago, he had had that look. The same one that had been on her father's face.

He smiles as he listens to her, drinking some of the wine from his cup when she finishes feeding him. He couldn't help wondering though. "Was it always like that? Did they ever fight?" His parents had fought, but it only started 2 years after he was born. When his mother started to drift away in mind and body. He knew his parents loved each other, as he'd seen the look of devastation on his father's face when his mother had finally died. So he knew that Denethor did love her. It was just that something snapped inside his father when she did. Like he figured if he didn't love anyone else, save Boromir, then he wouldn't have to risk losing them again. He looks thoughtful for a moment. It was a good way of protecting your heart from hurt. To not love someone. But then....what of those who loved you? They would be hurt also. He turns and looks at Eowyn. When he had thought she died, he felt scared and couldn't breath for a moment. So was that why his father closed himself off to him? Maybe. He would never know. He blinks when he hears his name. "What?" When asked what he was thinking about he smiles and just shakes his head. "Nothing, Eowyn. Nothing important anyway."

She thinks about that and is going to answer him when she notices that he wasn't even paying attention to her. "Faramir? Faramir? What are you thinking about? You were years away from here, from now." She takes his hand and holds it in her lap, as she shakes her head again. "I will not push....... No, they did not fight. Not that I saw at least. If there were fights, they kept them behind closed doors. No, Eomer and I had the run of the palace and the village, our parents keeping a close look on us more so because of scraped knees or bumped heads, not because they wanted to make sure we didn't overhear a fight. They laughed a lot." Her eyes were misting over as she remembered. "We all did back then. At least that was until our father died. I know that my Mother was not an Elf, so she could not have died of a broken heart, but that is my logical brain. My un-logical brain says that my mother did indeed die of a broken heart." She sighs deeply and looks at Faramir sadly then looks away. "She was lost without my father and especially the way that he died. He was torn from her and from us. There is a painting that my mother had commissioned that I will have to show to you when we get to the castle. It was weaved with the history, our history, from the time that they married until the time that my mother died. My uncle made sure that it was finished for us." She was rather proud of the tapestry. She could trace the line of her parents in it and that meant the world to her. It had a line for her, but it wasn't complete. It started, but never ended. Her uncle said that that was because her line had yet to truly begin. She hadn't know what he meant by that until now.

He smiles and listens to her, rubbing his thumb against her hand. "If you would like, I will tell you what I was thinking, as I do not wish for us to have secrets from each other. I was thinking about my parents. My father loved my mother, deeply. It wasn't until two years after I was born that the fighting started, though most times it was my father who started it, or kept it going. I don't understand it since he loved her so much. I think though, it was because when the fighting started was when mother started to leave us. No she didn't leave on trips. I mean her health was leaving her. And she hardly smiled unless she was looking at Boromir and I. Maybe that was why father hated me so. Because she hardly smiled at him. It broke his heart when she died. He became even worse. Towards me. He was different with Boromir, maybe because he had more time with him before he snapped. Oh I don't know. I don't know anything where my father was concerned. I do know he did love me when I was a baby. Before the fighting started." He is silent for a while, just kind of thinking about it all.

She nods when he asks if she wants to hear what the real reason is and starts to cry when she hears it. She had thought it had to be something big to have effected him the way that it had. She reaches out and takes his head in her hands and brings it to hers, kissing him deeply. She lays her head on his shoulder and takes a deep breath, "That is so sad, Faramir. You need to change that thread in your life. Make your ending a happy one. You seem to have started out on a bad footing with your father. He isn't here, but he is in your heart." She lays her hand on his heart, frowning. "Your heart still beats, Faramir, and it beats with his blood as much as your mother's. He may not have been a good man, but remember the words you spoke to him at his grave, your goodbye, your release. Do not let what he did to you so long ago ruin what you have become now. You are a great man, Faramir, not to spite him, but in spite of him! Oh Faramir, do not let a dead man's hate ruin who you are. He was wrong in his opinion about you. And you will never have fighting like that again in your home. Your brother is not here because he died far too early in his life. But if he was, he would tell you that none of that was your fault. One does not choose to be born, nor whom a parent loves." She wanted nothing more then for Faramir to understand.

He smiles at his beloved, wondering what good brought her too him. For she was the one thing in his life that truly made him happy at the moment. Even with the sorrow of his dear brother's loss or that he never knew his father's love. He leans his head against hers, holding her close and sighing. "It will take time, I do forgive my father, but it will take time to get past the hurt completely. But with you by my side, I do believe it is possible."

She could hardly believe that he was hers, totally, completely. She kisses his forehead and the takes his head in her hands. "We have to go out there, Faramir. They will begin to wonder. You have not even asked my brother about me, have you?" She shakes her head. "And without even that, this is just not proper. I know that you and I could care less, but we both know that at the same time if the others were to see...." She kisses his forehead and then the tip of his nose before kissing his lips. "I love you, Faramir. No matter what, that will never change. When times get hard, or we are apart, just remember that. Remember that all will be okay." She lets go of his head and moves out of his arms carefully, bending over to pick up their now empty plates. She takes the cup of wine she had yet to drink and heads to the door of the tent. "Come on, Faramir. You can sing to everyone out there around the fire. I am sure that some of the musicians could find something for you to sing to." She leaves the tent, Faramir right on her heals. Walking over to the fire not far from her tent, she stops in front of it, handing the tray to one of the handmaidens to take care of, she takes a seat on a log. "Good evening gentlemen," she nods to the men gathered there. She was sitting next to her brother, but had left a space on her other side for Faramir. As soon as he sits down she inches a little closer to him, just enough so that she could feel his body against her side but it didn't look anything less then normal and proper. "Good evening, Gandalf." She smiles across the fire at him. "I am feeling considerably better this evening. Though the meal my brother brought me also helped. I insisted on coming out here and visiting for a little while." She looks tenderly at her brother. "Lord Faramir has agreed to sleep at my tent's entrance." She couldn't help the sparkle in her eyes, after all he would be within the circle of the light.

He does indeed follow her out of the tent, his mind on the words she had spoken, a smile on his face. He takes his seat beside Eowyn, drinking the rest of the wine that was in his cup before he hears Eomer say since Faramir was taking up guard of Eowyn tonight, then he should also sing them a song. Looking slightly bewildered he looks over at Eomer. "I would not know what to sing. Besides, I'm sure there are others who would like to sing. A hobbit perhaps?" He glances at Pippin and Merry and then groans when Pippin smiles innocently and says they'd rather hear him sing. With a sigh of defeat he nods. "What shall I sing then? Perhaps a song the Rangers of Ithilien sang?" He looks over at Gandalf when he speaks, then frowns at his request for an elfish song. "I'm afraid I would not do it justice, Gandalf." When asked why with that particular look that Gandalf had he sighs. "Yes, alright. Let me see if I can remember it...ah yes." After a moment of silence he starts to sing again, yet this time it was in the language of the elves, which always did seem beautiful to him. This song was simple but also held meaning as well, and being from the elves it was beautifully written as well. And coming from him his voice was perfect for the song.

She leans slightly against Faramir, but just ever so slightly, listening to him. When he starts to sing elfish songs, she closes her eyes. She could almost be transported to that place where the elves gathered, his voice carrying the tune perfectly on the wind. She could not stop the fluttering in her gut as he finishes, opening her eyes to stare at him in awe. "That was just.... just... beautiful." She leans in, about to kiss them, then she suddenly remembers where she was and she changes her course quickly, using the movement to straighten her skirts and sitting a little different on the log. She looks at her brother, unable to stop the slight smirk. "He is good, is he not?"

Faramir smiles as he finishes and hears the clapping. He did love to sing. He hears Eowyn and smiles even more, looking over at Gandalf who was nodding his approval. He then looks at Eomer, smiling and waiting for him to say something, while everyone else was laughing and talking among themselves.

Eomer looks at his sister when she asks her question, then busies himself with drinking his wine, that is till she pokes him in the side. Sighing deeply he looks at Eowyn. "Yes he is good. I will admit that." He drinks some more of his wine, then gets and idea and smirks. He turns and looks at Faramir. "Now can you sing a song from Rohan?" He waits for the nod and then grins and names off a song that hasn't been heard in a very long time. For sure Faramir wouldn't know this one. So when he starts to sing it, perfectly, he can do nothing more than sit there in shock.

When Eomer names off a song she hadn't even heard since she was a kid she is about ready to tell Faramir he didn't have to when she sees a look in his eyes. They were doing it, over the songs, but still doing it. Playing a game of one-up-man-ship before she can stop them. But when Faramir starts to sing she can't help the quick laugh. Eomer had asked for it. She pats Faramir's knee approvingly and listens to him finish the song off. "You have a lovely voice, Faramir. Do not ever let anyone tell you any different." She looks to Eomer. "You have a lovely voice. Why not sing along with Faramir? I could pick out the song maybe join in." She motions with her head to the room. "Get everyone in on it? " She smiles at him, knowing that she would sing along if asked.

Eomer shakes his head and then looks at his sister, smiling. "No no. We should all get some sleep now. We will have an early start tomorrow if we want to reach Edoras before the end of the day. But I will postpone the request, until after Uncle's funeral." He stands up, stretching and nodding to his men as they all head off to their beds. He then holds his hand out to Eowyn, waiting for her to take it.

Faramir smiles and shakes his head at Eomer's reluctance. Getting up he smiles at Eowyn and goes to get his things from the cart so that he could get some sleep. He does stop though and sigh when Gandalf holds out a cup to him. "No no. I'm feeling good. Much better. I don't..." But he doesn't get to finish as Gandalf gives him an annoyed look. Sighing deeply he takes the cup and drinks the foul contents, gagging on them and having to clamp his mouth shut to keep from bringing them back up. He shakes his head at Gandalf, speaking only when he is sure he won't bring up the medicine again. "You enjoy making me drink that don't you? I would like to meet the elf who gave you that medicine." He shakes his head as Gandalf as the old wizard walks away. Sighing he goes about getting his bed ready in front of the tent that Eowyn was in.

She gets up and takes her brother's hand, letting him lead her into her tent. The two handmaidens, Monica and Evelyn, were both there already, Monica already fast asleep. She turns as she lets go of his hand. "I am sure that you will be outside my door as well, so should I need you I but need to speak up." She leans up on her toes and kisses his cheek. "Good night, Eomer. Everything is going to be just fine. You will see." She gives his hands a squeeze. "It already is turning out good. One more day and we will be home. I think you will feel a lot better when you get home again." She watches as the other handmaiden tries to get her attention to let her know that her outfit was ready. She sees the signal and lets go of Eomer's hands, moving away from him and to the bed where she things were put out, letting her help her with the laces on her dress. "Good night, Eomer," she says with a smile as she looks back at him.

Eomer smiles at his sister and nods. Then he gives her a kiss on the cheek and leaves the tent. He looks at Faramir making his bed outside the tent and smirks. "You don't snore do you?" He starts to set his bed out, away from Faramir's but also close to Eowyn's tent. Once done he lays down and pulls his blanket over himself. In no time at all he is asleep.

Faramir looks at Eomer as he comes out and snorts, shaking his head. "Your snoring will probably drown mine out, that is IF I snore at all." He smirks and lays down on the ground, his head pillowed by his leather armor. He pulls his cloak over him and closes his eyes. He does not fall asleep though, instead he just listens. After a few hours he slowly sits up. Looking around he notices everyone was asleep. Good. Getting up silently he sneaks past Eomer and into the tent. It was all too easy for him. Moving over to where Eowyn was sleeping he gently touches her cheek. When she doesn't wake up he moves to lay beside her, laying on his side and taking her into his arms. No one would mind if he held her for a few hours while they slept. It would ease his mind and he knew that he would be out of the tent before anyone woke up. He just couldn't help himself.

She finishes getting ready and then sits down. She doesn't climb into bed at first because she was listening to the men outside the tent. She was waiting to hear Faramir come in and tell her goodnight. But when he doesn't she finally gets into her bed and lays there, listening as everything got quiet. Still he didn't come in to tell her goodnight and finally she rolls onto her side and lets sleep take over. She slips into a deep sleep shortly before Faramir does sneak in so she doesn't feel him move into the bed with her. Remaining in the dream she was having, she snuggles closer to him when he wraps his arms around her, laying her head against his chest. She smiles in her sleep when she can smell him, feeling the soft material of his shirt under her skin. Yet she doesn't wake up yet, her breathing starting to return to normal, feeling safe where she was in his arm, she tightens hers around him, not wanting to ever let go.

He smiles when he feels her snuggle against him. He knew before but now just cemented the fact in his mind that he could not live without Eowyn in his life. Just the fact of her sleeping against him, both fully clothed, made him happier than ever before. He knew in his heart she loved him and when he hears his name spoken softly from her lips he smiles even more, for it was his name she spoke in her dreams. Kissing the top of her head softly he smiles and whispers to her. "Just for a little while. I just want to hold you for a while." He rests his head against her pillow and sighs softly, feeling much better with her in his arms.

She sighs softly, nestling her head against his chest, waking up a little. "Okay, Dear Faramir," she whispers, still half asleep. "For a little while will be nice. I always sleep better with you holding me." She was speaking the truth, half-asleep and not even really realizing she was speaking at all. Because it was a dream, it had to be. To be able to lay there with him holding her was a dream. One she did not want to wake from, that was for sure. She loved this man more then life itself. She had not known just what love could be until she fell in love with Faramir. Now, now she knew she could not live without that kind of love. That no one should ever have to settle for less. If this is what Aragorn felt for his elf princess, then she could see why he could have nothing less. For she could now have nothing less. She would have Faramir or nothing, it all paled compared to him.

He smiles at her sleepy response. "And I sleep better knowing you are safe in my arms." And I in yours, he thinks to himself. He kisses the top of her head again, smiling at her before he closes his eyes and sighs softly to himself. Even if he did get caught he wouldn't mind. It was all worth it really. But he did have to try and leave before the others awoke. He didn't want to get Eowyn in trouble. He gives the top of her head one more soft kiss and then rests his head on her pillow again. Closing his eyes he drifts off into a light sleep.

She smiles in her sleep at his words, then with another yawn she slides into a deep sleep. She knew in her heart that she wouldn't be sleeping so well if he wasn't there. Even with Gandalf coming in earlier to give her more medicine shortly after she first laid down. That sleep wasn't as good or as peaceful as the one that she is able to get in his arms.

When hours later he wakes her up to kiss her goodbye, whispering softly that he had to go when she protests and doesn't let her hold on him loosen, she has to admit that she was indeed feeling on top of the world. She finally relents, but only after he kisses her and tells her that it would only be a short time before everyone would be awake and they would be together again soon. So with another kiss he leaves her and she ends up laying there listening to him get settled again in front of her tent, picking out the whispers of each thing as he remains almost totally silent in an effort to not wake her brother. When she can no longer hear anything at all, she just lays there, unable to go back to sleep, thinking about everything that had happened over the last few days. She had found love again, a love so much more then she ever dreamed it could be like. A love that she knew would last all her life. She would hold onto that love for dear life. With a man who wasn't even afraid of standing up to a King for the right to love her. That thought brings a smile to her face. If you really looked at it, that is what he had done. He had stood up to a King for the right to love her. She would cherish that forever.