Author's Notes: One more before bed, though I have 2 more half done, as I have to seperate two sections, I have to get up in a few hours and start packing. Hope you like it!

Also, a little note, they used to let us use a code that tabbed the paragraghs in, but now you can't use that code anymore. So unlike all the other ones from 1-17, chapter 38 and 39 and everything from now on out, doesn't look as good because the tab has been taken out and you can't use the stars like I have before chapter 31 and after (the name) but won't show up on this. Once again, I don't know why they are cutting these tags out, but they are. I think they should rethink it because it just looked nicer then it does now. So maybe they will bring back the DD code and the stars, if we get lucky. If not, well hope that nothing is too messed up.;)
Chapter39


Boromir was still in shock. His brother was sick and no one could help him. He lowers his head as he limps into his room, not expecting anyone to be there. He had felt this way before. But he had been 9 when he felt it. And just like then he lets the tears fall. Why was it always Faramir? He jumps as he feels a hand touch his cheek. He looks up and is stunned to see Monica standing there. He suddenly feels very embarrassed so he reaches up with his good hand and wipes away the tears, forcing a smile, acting like he was just fine. "My apologies, Monica. I did not know you were in here."

Monica watches as Boromir comes in and sits down, totally ignoring her. Then she realizes that he isn't ignoring her, he doesn't even see her. This fact hits home when he starts to cry, something men never did around women. She thinks about slipping out unnoticed but her heart goes out to him and she walks over and lays a comforting hand on his cheek. When he speaks to her, she shakes her head and sits down next to him her hand now cupping his cheek. "It is okay, Boromir. It is okay to cry you know. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. I sometimes wonder if you men have a heart, you never show it. But I can see that you do." She leans in and kisses him softly, unable to stop herself.

He is stunned by the kiss, but not so much as he was not expecting the sudden reaction it caused in him. He felt the need to hold her but he pushes that down. Instead he pulls back. "No…you do not....it is not right. It is a....." He can't finish and he lowers his head, silent as the tears flow. He now was not only crying for his brother but his father as well. Yes he had not been himself in the end and yes Denethor was now free from his torment, but he had still been his father. He loved him. Only now had it truly hit him that his father was dead, gone. Never again to be there if he needed him. And now so too was Faramir going to leave him. His family was falling all around him and he was to be the survivor. He, Boromir, the one thought to already be dead. He was starting to wish he really had been.

She doesn't care that he pushes her away, she doesn't let it hurt her feelings, instead she just wraps an arm around him and rubs his back, saying softly, "It will be okay, you will see, all will work out." She would let go if he pushed her away again, but she would give him another chance, knowing he was hurting for some reason, so trying to comfort him as best as she could.

She wonders what had brought this on and why the tears. He didn't seem a man to cry this easily and she wonders if it has something to do with Eowyn, but doesn't ask.

This time he doesn't push her away, he instead leans into her hold, his head resting against her shoulder. He didn't really know what he was doing. He was just so filled with grief that he wanted someone to hold him. He wanted to feel someone was there for him. He loved his brother. He had raised him pretty much. He'd almost lost him once when he was younger. Now to learn he was dying slowly and painfully, well that was too much for him. And then there was Denethor and his death. It was all too much for him. He didn't care anymore. He was hurting and he was only human. So the tears and want for comfort was only natural. And he did trust and like Monica. She was a good friend. So he would accept her comfort.

Glad that he didn't pull away again she wraps her other arm around him and holds him gently, still rubbing his back as she rocks slightly. "It will be okay, Boromir, no matter how hard it seems, it will be okay." Then she stays silent, just rocking him, her hands bother starting to move in a circle on his back. She wondered what more was going to happen and if it was Eowyn, what could have happened. She hoped he hadn't told her how he felt about her, because she was sure she didn't have to worry about her with Boromir.... right? That thought makes her frown, worried now that maybe Eowyn might return his feelings. In which case she was indeed in a lot of trouble.

He finally pulls away from her. But only so he could lay down with his head on her lap. He sniffles a bit, not caring that he sounded like a child. Or where he had laid his head. He knew Monica wouldn't mind. And he liked the way she was running her hand through his hair, brushing it from his face. "My brother.....he is dying. And there is nothing I can do."

She frowns at the news he gives her, her heart going out to him. She doesn't know what to say so at first she just rocks with him, hugging him close. Then something comes to her and she whispers softly, "Then you need to just be with him while you can, enjoy the time you have together now and not think about tomorrow."

He frowns and shakes his head. "I can not lose him, Monica. He is...he is all I have left. Every time I look at him I will see him dying. I wish to spend time with him but he seems...he does not wish to spend time with me. He seems guilty all the time. I tell him he does not need to give me the Stewardship. I do not want it. But he refuses to hear." He sighs softly and closes his eyes. "It was easier knowing he was dead first."

She shakes her head, taking his head in her hands and making him look at her. "Don't say that, you know that it isn't true. It wasn't easier, it was painful, you called to him in your sleep." He had called for both Eowyn and his brother, but she wasn't going to mention that. "If you wish to spend time with him, then do it. Spend time with him. He won't push you away. He has told you what he was hiding from you. Now that the hard part is over, ask him if there is anything more and if not, move on from there. Look into his eyes and tell him you won't take that which he loves away from him, and he will see that you mean it." She wasn't just talking about the Stewardship, but she doesn't let on to that, making it seem that it was his job rather then Eowyn she meant. She hears a knock and looks at the door, dropping her hands from his face. "Yes?" she asks as she stands and heads to the door. Hearing who it was she opens the door and stands back, waiting for the guard to give his message. She looks at Boromir and smiles, nodding, letting him know he should go, his brother wanted him.

He sits up and wipes at his tears when he hears the knock. Then he instantly standing when he sees who it is. "Beregond!" He smiles, but then frowns when he is informed that Faramir wanted him. Was he dying already? "He is not...at death's door is he?" He sees Beregond shake his head, then he looks at Monica. "Thank you, Monica." He gives her a kind smile before he leaves with Beregond, limping along beside the man.

She nods, her heart felt as if it would break it went out to him and his pain. When he leaves, she just sits down hard on his bed and puts her head in her hands. She should leave. Just pack up and leave. This was just too much for her, it was too painful being in the same room. He had pushed away her kiss and she had delt with that, because he hadn't pushed her away the second time. But she knew that the longer she was here, the more it would hurt.

She gets up and wipes at her eyes. She would leave. that was the answer. She would go pack now and leave. That way she wouldn't have to watch him with others. Because even if he decided that he was not in love with Eowyn, she didn't have a chance with him. Her love would never be taken seriously, she was but a handmaiden. At least she wasn't enamoured to Eowyn, she could leave if she wanted. She would make up some excuse, she was sure she could find one. She wasn't sure where she would go, but she would get out of here.

She gets up and heads out of the room, heading to her own to pack.
Looking towards the stables, Eomer and sees a man standing in the doorway with his head down and instantly knows it is Faramir. He suddenly becomes angry. What had the fool done now to upset his sister? Eomer stalks over to the stables and right up to Faramir. "What have you done now?! Why do you insist on hurting my sister when she has nothing but love for you?" He wasn't thinking really. If he had been he would have known it was not Faramir's fault for his actions. He ignores Lothiriel when she says his name and places her hand on his arm. He is about to say something more but is stopped by what Faramir says. He raises an eyebrow, confused as to Faramir's reaction. He was....accepting it? Accepting it and going to leave without fixing it? "Oh no you are NOT! You may be Steward of Gondor but I am King of Rohan and I order you to stay here! You will not leave this city Faramir. Not until this is all sorted out. Because I will not have my sister hurt anymore by you!"

Faramir watches her go for a moment. Then he lowers his head and sighs painfully. He was an idiot, just like his father had always told him. He should have told her. But he wanted to keep her happy. He didn't want to burden her with his problems. He looks up as Eomer stops and starts to yell at him. He nods, accepting that what Eomer said was the truth, since that was what he felt. He did always seem to hurt Eowyn. Even if he never meant to. "Yes. You are right. I should leave. She would be better off without me. I will not last long anyways." He turns to leave but is stopped by Eomer. He looks shocked at what the King says. "You can not keep me here, Eomer. You yourself know the only way to keep me where I wish not to be, is to lock me away in a dungeon." He was starting to get angry. Eomer may be King but he was not going to let him order him around. He himself was a Prince of sorts. He had high ranking as well. Besides, he was under the rule of Aragorn. Not Eomer. "You wish me not to hurt your sister? Then let me leave. For to be near me will be pain for her. And I." He hated it when Eowyn was upset with him. He turns again. "I am leaving." He stops as he hears Eomer shout out for his guards. He turns slowly, glaring at the younger man. "You would not dare." He snorts as Eomer just smirks and orders the 3 guards to take Faramir to his room and make sure he stays there. He grits his teeth. "You can not treat...get your hands off me!" He pulls his arm out of the guard's grip. "Do not make me harm them, Eomer, I will..." But he doesn't finish as something hits him on the back of his head, knocking him out. It wasn't a hard hit, it was just hard enough to knock him out a bit so that he wouldn't argue.

Lothiriel is shocked at what she hears. She had walked over with Eomer to listen to what was going on and instantly she puts her hand on his arm, saying his name warning, "Eomer." That one word conveys so much meaning, a meaning that he ignores totally. She sighs deeply when they knock Faramir out and when Eomer turn to smile at her she is glaring at him. "I do not think that that was funny, Eomer." She crosses her arms over her chest and glares at him. "You can not act like a barbarian and just run around this village knocking people out and dragging them to your palace. This is not proper." She doesn't approve of what they did, but she knew she couldn't stop him. So instead she tries to at least make it better on Faramir. "You make them pick him up this instant! They won't drag him all the way back when they are strong enough to carry him between them She starts walking with him, glaring at Eomer from time to time.

Eomer nods and the men pick up the Steward of Gondor and carrying him back to the hall. He looks over at Lothiriel and sighs. "Darling, do not be mad. It had to be this way. Yes I would have preferred not to use such force but I could not have him harm my men. He does not look it but he is deadly. His reflexes...." He shakes his head, awe obvious in his voice. "I have to keep him here, Lothiriel. I know Eowyn. She more than likely said something she will regret and if he leaves now he will not be here to sort these matters out with her. I do believe he is the right man for her, Lothiriel. I see how much he loves her and she him. No. It had to be this way, Love. They both need to understand that running from or hiding their problems from one another is not the way. I would not do that with you, and I hope you would not with me. But do bare with me, Darling." He stops walking and takes her hands, turning to look at her and smiling. "I may frustrate you, like I did a few days ago. I will try not to though."

Lothiriel takes his hands and looks up into his eyes, seeing the truth in hers. So she smiles softly and kisses him, forgiving his highhandedness this time. "Remember also that I have a short fuse but that I calm down quickly and I think we will get through this marriage in one piece." She smiles lovingly at him but the smile is tinted with sadness. "Come, someone should be with him when he wakens do you not think?"

He smiles at her. "The guards are with him." He then sighs. "Go to him. I must ride out after my sister. She went alone and more than likely without any type of weapon." He leans down and gives her a polite kiss, they were in public anyways. But it still held a little bit of passion. "I will be back as soon as I find her. Please, make sure he does not leave." He then kisses her once more before he moves away and to the stables.
Faramir was still out when they pick him up and carry him to the hall and through it to his room. He groans as the guard lay him on the bed. Two position themselves outside his door and the third takes a seat by the large window in the room and waits. When Faramir starts to come around he groans and sits up, rubbing the back of his head and wincing. He curses as he sees he was in the room and being guarded. He lays back down on the bed and puts his hand over his eyes. Now all he could do was wait. Or try to knock out the guard and get out the window.

He sighs deeply and closes his eyes again, the pain in his head starting to get worse. Oh not now. He didn't feel like being crippled with pain now. But the tell-tale signs were all there. The numbness, the black and then blurred vision. The dry mouth. His heart starts to beat faster as he starts to panic a little. The pain would soon come. The blinding pain that kept him confined to a bed for hours on end. He would not show it this time. He would fight it. Only one problem. He had tried that before and it just made the pain worse. He looks up as the door opens but sees nothing but a large black spot in front of his vision with little lights dancing around. He squeezes his eyes shut, that is until he feels someone lifting him up and holding a cup of something to his lips. Beregond. How he always knew was beyond him. But he drinks down the vile liquid quickly, then lays back down, coughing a little and keeping his eyes closed. Next he feels a cool clothe being placed over his eyes and again he sighs. Yes. Definitely Beregond. The man treated him like a son. But....he wished to have someone else with him. "Beregond?" He waits for the yes before continuing. "Would you see if Lord Boromir will come? Please?" He feels the bed move as Beregond gets up from sitting on the edge of it, then hears the door open and close again, then silence. Except for a chair being pulled closer to the bed and then his boots being removed and a blanket pulled up over him. The guard speaks softly, apologizing for hitting him. "This was not you, though I will have words with your King. Do not trouble yourself. This is something that would have come today eventually." He grits his teeth against the first pain, tears slipping from his eyes. The pain wasn't anywhere near as painful as it could be. When it was at it's peak it would be unbearable. But he would not cry out. He would be strong. He would deal with this pain like he did all the others.
Lothiriel nods before turning and heading to the castle. She stops in the kitchens and calls for some tea to be delivered to Faramir's chambers. Then she heads out herself, knocking softly before being let in. She can see him laying there, and the pain on his face. It pulls at her heart strings, thinking it was from the fight he had with Eowyn. "Faramir, I have come to keep you here." She smiles as she nods to the guard and takes a seat next to the bed. "Though it looks like you are in no mood to leave." She gets a worried look on her face. "Do you want me to call for the healers? Is there something I can do?"

"The healers can do nothing more than put me to sleep. I do not like being sedated." Faramir keeps his eyes closed, but he does reach out, smiling slightly as Lothiriel takes his hand. "I must tell you something. I am the reason for Eowyn's leaving. I...I am dying, Lothiriel. There is not anything the healers can do. I still have some time left. But the poison spreads in my blood."

Lothiriel lightly rubs the back of his hand, shaking her head sadly. "You can not be dying, Faramir, you are the strongest of them all. You can not have lived through all you did with your father to give up now and just toss up your hands and say you will be dead soon. That is not the strong man that I know. The Faramir I know would never give up hope so easily. Not after the years you went through of your own hell. Are you really going to let something like that defeat you so easily?" She was holding back her tears, knowing she had to be strong. She would cry later for her cousin, but for now she would not let him give up. "Are you really going to let something like that take Eowyn away from you, from your future children?"

Faramir frowns and shakes his head, wincing at the pain in it. "I fear I have....ruined what I have with Eowyn. I should have told her sooner. But I wanted to not burden her. I did not want her to worry constantly about me while I was in Gondor. I did not want her to give up what she had here to be with me in Gondor. I wish her to be with me but she is needed here, and she would regret any decision she makes." He sits up, pulling the cloth off his eyes. He gasps at the pain the light from the room causes when it hits his eyes. But it was made worse by how quickly he had sat up. "I must go...I need to find her....explain. Make her listen." He felt like he was going to be sick but he pushes it aside. He moves to get off the bed but is pushed back down by the guard and Lothiriel. He frowns deeply. "I must....I have to go to her....she does not understand. She thinks I do not love her." He had tears in his eyes as the guard covers him with the blanket again. "She will hate me if I do not explain."
Gandalf had been coming back from escorting the hobbits back home. He was stopping in Edoras to see how Eowyn and Eomer were fairing. And he had heard a very interesting rumor on his travels. That Boromir, eldest son of Denethor the II and heir to the stewardship of Gondor, was alive. This he had to see. He pats Shadowfax's neck lightly as they approach Edoras. "Soon my friend. You may rest for a while, then on to Gondor to see how young Faramir is doing and to speak with Aragorn and Arwen." He rides up to the gates and is about to call out for the gate guards to open the gates when the gates open and out rides Eowyn on her horse. He gives a confused look to the guard to his right, who returns it before shrugging. He wonders where the young lady is going to, and knowing one should not travel alone in these times, even with Sauron dead, he turns Shadowfax and follows after Eowyn, keeping a safe distance behind her.

Eowyn has no clue what is going on behind her and she would have cared less if she had known. Instead she was riding her horse off into dangerous grounds and not caring, if she thought about it she would probably see that she was indeed doing it to be in danger, but she wasn't thinking. So she keeps crying, the tears seeming to tear at her soul, wondering how Faramir could have done this to her. She ignores the voice that asks if she wouldn't have done the same thing. She ignores the fear that grips her heart at the thought of him leaving her, forever. Instead she blames him for putting that pain there for letting her fall in love with him. What kind of man knows he is dying and courts a woman? If he was trying to actively find a cure, that is one thing. But from the sound of it he had given up totally and had no intention of being alive much longer. Could she really ever forgive him for doing that to her?

She keeps riding hard, till finally an hour later she notices that her horse was tiring from the long hard ride. She slows to a trot for awhile and then a slow walk as she cools it off, leaning over to pat it's neck. "You did good, Crystal. You did good."

"But I believe Shadowfax did good as well." He smiles when Eowyn turns to look at him, then he frowns at the pain and tears. Even though she was happy to see him he could see something troubled her. He had already guessed as much anyway. "Eowyn? What troubles you, Child? Perhaps an old wizard can help." He smiles kindly at her, wondering what could have happened to make her look like she was in so much pain.

She can't help it, she turns away, afraid of what she saw in his eyes, afraid of what she had to say. "You knew he was dying, didn't you? That is why he keeps drinking those herbs you gave him. Yet you didn't tell me." She doesn't say it accusingly, instead her voice is dead.

He looks at her, then suddenly realizes what she was getting at. So she had finally found out had she. With a deep frown he nods. "I knew. I did not tell you because it is Faramir's place to tell you. And I had assumed he told you before now. The fool. I should have known better. He has the habit of keeping things to himself. Illness being the main one. Yet another thing to thank Denethor for. Though I will admit, when Faramir was but a young boy and stricken with fever, Denethor did seem to care. Not as much as poor Boromir, but he still would inquire about his younger son's health from his oldest." He looks around, then looks back at Eowyn. "So he is in Edoras? What has he told you?" He waits for her answer and shakes his head. "He is correct to think there is no other way. The final solution would in itself be death. Oh he may not die. But it is a very good chance he would." He sees her confused look and explains. "He could be healed, Child. He could but it would mean possibly facing his death sooner as well. I believe he has not chosen this way because he would much rather deal with his pain and stay longer with you than to die tomorrow." He had tears in his eyes, for his heart ached to think of his beloved pupil as dying. That was the reason for the herbs. Oh they would not help him, but they would prolong his life, which would in turn prolong his suffering as well. It was a wicked double-edged knife indeed.

When asked she tells him everything she knows, though she doesn't tell him why he was here, that could be for another time. When he ends saying that there was another way but it may mean death sooner she looks at him curiously. "What do you mean there is another way? If there is another way, then he has to take it! He can't just do this and lay there dieing! I won't have it! If there is a way, I will make him do it!" She stomps her foot, her face cast in iron as she glares at him defiantly. She sees the tears and her face falls, softening as she gets off her horse and walks over to Gandolf's. "Gandolf," she says, looking small and fragile for the first time since this all started. "Do not cry, please. I have done enough crying for both of us. He has broken my heart thinking what? That he was doing this for me? It wasn't for me. It was for him. If he was thinking about me, then he would try everything in his power to live."

Eomer puts his saddle on his horse, talking quietly with the creature as he gets it ready to go out riding. He was going to take a few guards with him. He wasn't going to chance getting killed just to find his sister. Though he would if he had to. With a deep sigh he shakes his head, petting his horse's nose. "I do not even know what is the problem."

Gandalf climbs off Shadowfax, smiling sadly to her. "Though I do not know for sure, I am sure he has tried everything in his power. He does not mean to hurt you, Eowyn. He simply does not know how to share his pain with anyone other than Boromir. And even then it is rare. Come let us sit and give our horses a rest. I will tell you of how I first came to know the man we both love." He walks over and sits down on the grass, waiting till she sits down before he produces a wrapped package from under his coat. "Oh. My apologies. This is for you. It is from Merry. Pippin has sent something for Faramir as well. But this is for you." He holds the package out to her. It was a small carving, very well done, of Theoden at the battle on the Pellenor. When Rohan came to Gondor's aid. "Now. Would you believe the man you love now used to be a skinny little runt when he was a child? Strange how even though he is not as broad in shoulders as Boromir, he is taller." He chuckles and shakes his head. "He always had his love for books though. Even at the age of 7. Where his brother was constantly practicing with his sword. I will never forgot the first time I met young Faramir. He was running down a hall, not watching where he was going, for his nose was in a book. And he was late for archery practice. He ran right into me and knocked me down." He chuckles, shaking his head.

Eowyn sits there listening to him, holding the craving of her Uncle in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks unchecked, dropping to hit the wood, causing the light to shine off it more. They all died, everyone she loved died. Her parents, her fiancé, they all died. She vows then and there to never love again. To harden her heart and never ever love a single person again. It was the only way to keep them alive, the only way to keep them safe.

Her shoulders stiffen and she lifts her head up, clutching the carving to her breast as she looks at Gandalf, nodding at the right spots. She loved hearing him talk about Faramir, especially since it was probably going to be the last time anyone would speak to her like this. But she can't muster a smile, her heart hardening even more as she realizes what she was giving up. But she keeps telling herself it was to keep him safe.

Then a thought crosses her mind about Eomer. She better stop loving him too, or Lothiriel will loose him as well.

She doesn't have time to think of that though, brought back to the here and now she looks at Gandalf and nods. "You can see that in him, even now. Rather then watch me sparing with Boromir today," she suddenly chokes up and has to take several deep breaths before she can go on. "His nose was in a book. He wasn't watching me, he was looking at his book. That was the beginning of this. That was what started this. All jokes, all fun.... now this." She stiffens again, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. "He will do it, he will do whatever it is that you say since he will not have the reason that he is trying to stay with me."

Eomer gets onto his horse and with the guards riding behind him he leaves the city and heads off towards where he thinks Eowyn went. He sighs deeply, shaking his head. This was such a mess. But he was not going to let them leave without fixing it. He knew Eowyn and Faramir needed each other far too much.

Gandalf catches onto what she is saying and frowns. Reaching out he takes her hand in his. "Do not throw your love for him away so easily, Eowyn. He needs you now more than ever. And he does love you. I see it in the way he looks at you. Or how he speaks of you. Do not think he does not love you. He does. Deeply. As you love him. Eowyn....perhaps....perhaps if you were there to help him, perhaps he would go through this last treatment. Perhaps if he knows you were there, even if it were the end, he would try it."

Eowyn looks at him skeptically. "He did not even tell me until now. What makes you think that he will want me there for that? He did not want me around when he died." She said her words with hurt in her voice, hurt and tears that she holds back. She would not cry, she refused to cry.

Eomer continues looking for his sister, shaking his head as he follows the tracks but notices two sets. This might not be good. She was being followed. He urges his men on, then stops at the top of a hill. Ah so now he understood. He calls his men quietly to a stop and waits at the top of the hill, watching. Eowyn was with Gandalf. Good. Maybe he could set her straight.

Gandalf snorts. "He is a fool, yes. But he is a fool who went through most of his life alone to save others from being hurt, Boromir especially. Ask Boromir the next time you meet him why it is Faramir set his own bones. I am sure he will be just as surprised as you were." He sighs sadly and reaches out to touch the young woman's cheek. "Do not throw his love away so easily because of a simple mistake that sprouts from habit. He was trying to protect you. And you must remember, Faramir does not have very much experience with love. And he is only human. As are you." He gives her a kind smile. "I think you two were made for each other. He needs you just as much as you need him. He needs you to teach him how to act. You need him to love you unconditionally. Which I assure you, he does."

She listens to him openly, taking it all in. Maybe he was right, maybe Faramir just didn't know how to open up to her. But they were supposed to be married! She paces now, her arms crossed over her chest, not having seen her brother her mind totally on Faramir and Gandalf. "Maybe he does need someone to teach him how to act, but he sure doesn't seem to want it to me," she mumbles. She keeps pacing, thinking about it. She loved him, she loved him more then she had ever loved Aragorn. And so what was it that she felt for Boromir? They were just friends, really close friends. They had gone through something terrible together and that would bind them for life. But that didn't mean that they were in love. She didn't feel the love she felt for Faramir, did she?

She sighs, rubbing her hand on her forehead in frustration. Her head was hurting from all this thinking. And why was she thinking, a voice asks her, she knew the answer. She looks up at Gandalf and nods. "Okay, I will go talk to him. I owe him that much at least." She owed herself that much too.

Eomer continues to wait with his men, watching the exchange between Gandalf and Eowyn. He smiles as he sees them get back onto their horses. "Good. She is coming back."

Gandalf smiles at her as he gets up. "Good. Maybe then we both can convince him to try this last step." He walks with her back over to their horses and climbs back up onto Shadowfax's back. He then looks over at Eowyn. "May I ask you something, My Lady?" He waits for her nod. "I have heard some rumors while traveling from the Shire. I have heard Boromir of Gondor is alive and in Edoras. Is this true?"

When Eowyn is finally up and on her horse she nods to Gandalf. It then dawns on her when he asks that he hadn't been to the city yet. "You followed me from the gates?" She smiles and starts to ride up the hill. "Yes, he is there. I was kidnapped by Wormtongue and Saluman and he was their prisoner. We spent a couple days together in a cell before finally escaping. He has been at Edoras since then." It is then she notices her brother and she sighs. "It looks like not only you but my brother was worried. Though you came for other reasons." She motions to the men with him. "He came prepared to save me once again from anything that might have found me alone." She lets a long breath out slowly. "I am sure he will have a few words for me. I didn't even bring my sword when I took off this time."
Boromir walks into the room with Beregond and sees Faramir trying to get up again. He could tell he was in pain. He always could tell when his little brother was in pain. He rushes over to the bed, shooing the guard away as he sits down beside Faramir and takes his head. "She does not hate you, Faramir. Calm down, little brother. You are in pain and this is just making it worse." He frowns when Faramir grips his hand. "It hurts that badly?" He looks at Lothiriel, then leans in and whispers to her. "Would you find a healer and bring them back here. I do not think his medicine is working. He will need to be sedated I am sure." He turns back to his brother, speaking loud enough for Faramir to hear now. "Calm, Faramir. I am here, Little One. I will not leave your side." He then gets an idea. Monica had helped him....he turns and looks at the guard in the room. "Would you please find Monica for me and bring her back here? I wish for her help." He smiles as the guard nods, then leaves. He turns back to Faramir, seeing he was trying to stay calm. "Good boy. Just breathe deeply. In through your nose, out through your mouth. See. It does help a little does it not?" He sees the slight nod and smiles at his little brother. He could be so strong at times.

Lothiriel pushes him down as he tries to get up, glad when Boromir shows. "Listen to your brother, you need to stay down. Do not worry so, Eowyn will be back, everything will be okay. Eomer has gone to get her, she is in good hands." She frowns and gets up. "In fact, I will go check." She was just using it as an excuse to go get the healer Boromir had requested. Standing up, she leans over the bed to kiss his forehead. "Do not worry, she will be back." Then she leaves, hoping she can find a healer fast enough to help with his pain.

Monica was on her way to her room when the guard stops her and tells her that Lord Boromir would like her to come to Lord Faramir's room. Nodding she goes back with him, entering without knocking as she was expected. She walks over to the bed and puts on a pleasant smile. "You asked for me?" she asks Lord Boromir, waiting to find out why she had been called.

Boromir smiles at his brother, shaking his head at him. "You should have told her, Faramir. You silly little fool. She is to be your wife. She should know everything." He sighs as his own words hit home with him. Eowyn was going to marry Faramir. Well maybe. She was quite upset when she left. He looks up as Monica enters the room. He smiles at her and nods. "He is in much pain...and you help me when I am in pain...so perhaps...you could help him?"

Faramir was gritting his teeth against the pain. The herbs were doing nothing now. Nothing at all. As much as he tried not to, as much as he wished to be strong, the pain was just too much and tears were running from the corners of his eyes. He was trying to breath as Boromir had told him to but it wasn't doing much to help the pain in his head. But Boromir's hand holding his and his voice was soothing. Although he wished Eowyn was there as well.

Monica sadly shakes her head. "You had a specific pain I was able to help with. He has all over pain. I don't know if I can help him." She doesn't like the look Boromir gives her, and so she moves over to the bed. "Lift him up." When he does she slips behind Faramir and lays his head in her lap. Then she smiles down at him. "It will not be as good as Lady Eowyn's, but this should help keep your mind off the other pain." She then grasps his head in her hands and starts to slowly massage it, hitting the points that Eowyn had taught her for when she had a headache. Maybe it would help him a little.

Lothiriel moves quickly through the castle looking for the healers, knowing she would need to find at least one to help him.

Boromir smiles when Monica finally agrees to help. He gently lifts Faramir up, then lays him back down. "My poor Faramir. Monica will help." He leans in and whispers to his brother. "She is very good." He leans back and holds his brother's hand again, wincing each time he grips his hand. It didn't so much hurt him as he knew Faramir was in great pain. But at least his presence was keeping his little brother calm. He smiles, feeling better for some reason about his relationship with Faramir. If his brother had called for him, then that meant he still needed him in some way. Maybe he should return to Gondor with Faramir. He had been thinking about it.

Faramir starts to breathe more deeply when Monica starts to work on his head. The pain lessened slightly. But it still hurt. "It is helping...a little." He grips his brother's hand again, frowning slightly. "She will come, won't she? I must apologize, make her understand." He frowns when Boromir tells him not to speak. He does as he is told. Speaking did hurt his head. He does whisper softly after a moment. "Thank you, Brother." He meant for being with him. He did need someone he trusted right now. And if not Eowyn, then it had to be Boromir.

Monica smiles down at him, nodding slightly. "I am glad that it is helping. Lady Eowyn taught me this. So you can thank her when she comes." She knew what they were talking about, Faramir always talked about her there would be no other that she knew of. "Do not worry, she will be back." She repositions her hands more towards the back of his head, connecting with a different pressure point.
Lothiriel finally finds one of the healers. "Lord Boromir needs you to take care of Lord Faramir."

"Is it the same as before," the old lady asks quietly.

She nods sadly. "This time the herbs he carries are not working. We fear he will have to be sedated till this passes."

The old woman nods sadly. "I will have to get them. You return and let them know that I am on my way."

Lothiriel nods and quickly heads back towards the room as the old healer heads for her rooms to get the herbs.
Boromir looks to the guard, nodding when he asks if he could leave. He should be getting back to his post now that Lord Faramir was safe. When the guard leaves he looks at Monica, watching her. She reminded him of Eowyn, except where Eowyn had golden hair, Monica's was dark, something rare in Rohan. And Monica seemed less wild. Before he would have found that annoying. But with Monica…he liked it. It just seemed to make her all the more special. He looks away, frowning. Why was he thinking about Monica like this? He was in love with Eowyn...wasn't he? He sighs softly. If he was in love with Eowyn...then why was he afraid to leave not her but Monica behind?

Faramir starts to breathe deeper, Monica hitting just the right spot to cause some of the pain to go away. Enough so that he could slip into a light sleep. Something he desperately needed right about now. So there he lays, with his head on Monica's lap, sleeping lightly. But then she stops massaging he whimpers softly, the pain coming right back.

When he goes to sleep Monica stops, expecting to crawl out from under him, but when he starts to whimper she instantly starts to massage him again, glancing up at Boromir. "I am sorry that I can't do more." She frowns slightly, feeling like she let him down, so she looks down at Faramir to avoid seeing the disappointment in Boromir's eyes.

Lothiriel hurries back into the room, nodding to the guard outside the door as he opens it for her. She takes a deep breath and puts on a smile before walking into the room and over to the bed. "They are coming, just incase." She then takes a seat by the bed and looks at Boromir. "How is he doing?"

Boromir smiles at Monica. "You are helping enough, Monica. I thank you for that." He looks up as Lothiriel comes in. He smiles at her, nodding. "Good." He looks back at Faramir. "He is...sleeping. Well not really. He is resting. But only if Monica continues to do what she is doing. She is helping very much." He sighs and shakes his head. "He suffers so much, Lothiriel, more than I, and yet he still does not complain." He sighs and looks up as an old woman walks into the room. He knew this woman. She healed his wounds when he was first brought in. "He needs to sleep but the pain will not let him." He nods as the healer asks Monica to get a cup of warm water from the kitchens. He watches as Monica leaves, his eyes instantly going back to Faramir when he stiffens and whimpers. He leans down close to his brother, kissing his forehead gently. "Shhhhhh, soon you will sleep, Brother. And when you awake it will all be gone." He rubs Faramir's hand, then looks up as the door opens and Monica enters again, carrying a cup of warm water. He watches as the healer places some herbs into the water, then stirs them around before asking Monica to hold Faramir up again.

When Monica helps Faramir sit up he opens his eyes, wincing at the pain that shoots through his head. He sees the healer and the cup and frowns. "No....no....do not...put me to sleep.....I must speak with...Eowyn." It hurt to talk. "Please.....I need to explain." He looks at Boromir as his brother tells him he could explain after he slept. He frowns and shakes his head. "No. Not yet. I just want her to know, I do not hate her. Please? Just till she arrives. I can deal with the pain." He frowns when Boromir still shakes his head. He starts to get angry, the pain in his head just getting worse. "You can not order me, Boromir!" He was starting to shake and he was becoming pale. He was fighting the pain but it just was getting worse. "I want Eowyn." He didn't care how childish he sounded, he just wanted Eowyn. He sighs as Boromir finally gives in and stops the healer. He lays back against Monica, sighing when she once again starts to massage that particular spot. He knew Eowyn could do better but for now, Monica was doing fine. He hears the healer argue a little with Boromir, but his brother stays strong and says that if Faramir didn't want to take the medicine just yet then they would wait.

Monica is glad when he settles down, not liking how volatile he had gotten at the thought of sleeping. "He needs to sleep, Boromir. I know that he wants to see her, but the longer he is awake, the worse this is going to get." She keeps working on the pressure points along the side and back of his head, wishing she could do more.

Lothiriel leans over and takes his hand from Boromir, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Faramir, I am sure that Eomer has talked to her and told her. We do not know how far she got before he was able to catch up with her. Sleeping now would do you some good, and by the time you woke she would be back. Please, it hurts me and your brother to see you in such pain and be unable to do anything for you. You have told us what you feel, we can tell her when she arrives. She will understand and when you wake she will be here. Please, please drink." Her eyes implore him to listen to her reasoning.

Boromir sighs as Faramir shakes his head at what Lothiriel says. No. Of course even that would not make him change his mind. He does have to smile though. "You are quite stubborn, little brother. No wonder you did not give up on Father when he gave up on you." He rubs his hand against his brother's arm, then looks at Monica. He gives her another smile, trying to thank her for what she was doing.
Gandalf smiles and nods. "You nearly ran your horse into Shadowfax. Good thing he is quick on his feet." He listens to her tale about Wormtongue and Saluman and sighs. "Aragorn should have let your Uncle destroy Grima when he had the chance." He shakes his head and then smiles. "Ah so you have already done something that will hold you dear to Faramir's heart. You have given him back his family." He rides up to Eomer, smiling at him as he bows his head. "Eomer King. I do believe I have caught something of yours. And I would like to see this surprise you are keeping in Edoras so let us be going."

Eomer smiles as he sees his sister coming up. When she gets close enough he leans over and hugs her. "I told you not to do that again, Eowyn." He leans back and gives her a stern look, though his eyes betray how relieved he is that she was all right. "We must talk, Sister." He turns and looks at Gandalf. "The guards will take you back. I wish to speak with my sister on the return to Edoras." When the old wizard nods and leaves with the guards he turns back to Eowyn. "You two both run from your problems, Eowyn. I had to knock out your fiancé to keep him in Edoras. He truly believes you hate him. And he accepts it, Eowyn! I do not understand him! He accepts things that are not true." He sighs and shakes his head. "Come and fix it, Eowyn. You may be mad at him, as am I, but you should let him explain and then you may make him beg for your forgiveness, Sister." He smiles at her. "We men will do anything for the woman we, Love. Especially if that woman is angry with them."

Eowyn watches as Gandalf takes off and then listens silently to her brother, not looking at him until the end. "I don't hate him, Eomer. I love him, I always have. It is just he frustrates me so much. But do not worry, I am going to go talk to him. I had a nice talk with Gandalf. He did not even know about Boromir, but the tales have reached the Shire about him." She looks ahead, then gets a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Come on, Brother Dear. Since are on the same level, then let us see who can make it back first."

Eomer smiles at his sister, giving her a cocky look. "You think your horse can beat mine, Eowyn? You forget, mine is a Rohirrim horse. Yours is from Gondor." Though he did not know that her horse was descended from some of the great war horses that had been gifted to Gondor from Rohan a long time ago, as was Faramir's. So when she just laughs and starts off he shakes his head and urges his horse to race after hers.

Eowyn smirks, knowing how fast she could get Crystal to go, having had her at full tilt on the way out. So she prods her horse and leans forward, trying to concentrate on getting back. She had challenged him to the race only so that she could get back faster to Faramir. She had come a ways away from the safety of the walls of Endros, she needed to return to them not only for the safety but for Faramir. She had seen how stubborn he was and she envisioned him pacing the room her brother had him locked into fuming. She would go talk to him, and maybe if they talked instead of fought, then they would be able to get through this.

She makes it through the gate first, unable to stop the smirk even though he was right behind her, she had still made it through first. She headed towards the stables, dismounting the moment she was through the doors and handing the reins to a stable hand. She turns as her brother enters, the smirk gone as she was back worrying about Faramir. "Where did you put him?
Faramir shakes his head. "No, Lothiriel. I must wait and tell her myself." He had his eyes closed again. But sleep wouldn't come. The pain was far too much to let that happen without help. But what Monica was doing was helping. So he was grateful for that. He feels Boromir take his free hand and he sighs. "I have to wait for her. I owe her that much and more."

Gandalf steps into the room and sighs deeply. "You are a fool, Faramir of Gondor. And you, Boromir, should not let him stay awake." He comes forward, shaking his head and raising his hand. "No. Stay." He walks over and places his hand gently against Faramir's head. When the young man starts to protest he shakes his head. "Quiet, Young One. It will not hurt any to sleep." He uses his powers to bring Faramir to a state where the herbal tea could be administered. He turns to the healer and nods, watching as she gets Faramir to drink the tea. He then nods to the healer. "You may go. But I would ask that you find these herbs for me and mix them as I have indicated on the parchment." He hands the old healer a list, waits for her nod and then looks back at Faramir as the healer leaves the room. He sighs deeply, laying his hand against Faramir's forehead again as he notices him starting to fight the medicine. He closes his eyes and is silent for a moment before he opens his eyes and pulls his hand back. "He will rest now." He looks at Boromir, then reaches out and ruffles his hair. "And I see you have done what no other man, save myself, has been able to do. Survive death." He looks at the man fondly. True they had not gotten along before but he still cared about Boromir just as much as Faramir. "And you will have to tell me how it was you survived and came to be here. And you will have to send a letter to Merry and Pippin, as well as Frodo and Sam. The rumors of your survival has reached the Shire."

Eomer shakes his head, handing the reigns for his horse to a stable-hand. "You did not inform me she was a descendent of Grandfather's gift horses to Gondor." He shakes his head again, then sees her frown. "Come. I will show you. He is most likely trying to escape his room as we speak. He did not seem to wish to go. Hence why I had to knock him senseless." He hears her gasp and sighs, shaking his head as they walk into the Golden Hall and towards Faramir's room. "No no. He is fine. It was not hard. Just enough to keep him from hurting my men." He stops outside the door and opens it for her.

Monica notices the smile and blushes slightly, looking down and doing as she is told to, lifting him when needed till he finally is resting. She doesn't stop what she is doing though, wanting to keep helping him until he is fully asleep.

Lothiriel looks up as Gandalf comes in and smiles. "He is being so stubborn, he refuses to sleep until she gets here." Her eyes go to the door when it is opened again and in walks Eowyn. "Thank be, you are finally here. Come, sit, he is almost asleep. So be quick about it, just tell him you understand and will be here, then he will stop fighting sleep." She gets up and moves away.

Eowyn shrugs at her brother, smiling. "I didn't know that they were descendants, that is something only you would know." She rushes after him to the rooms, gasping when he mentions beating him. "You said you knocked him out, not beat him up!" She hurries into the room. The sight that greets her angers her actually. Because Monica had his head in her lap, her hands all over him, she is angered at the sight, but she doesn't realize it until she almost spouts out something from that anger. But she catches herself in time, nodding to Lothiriel and motioning to Monica. "Move." She says it a little clipped, so she smiles to lessen the harshness. "Please." She takes her place and leans down and kisses Faramir's forehead. "I am here, Darling. I am no longer mad. You sleep and we will talk when you awaken, okay?" She starts to rub the back of his neck, her hands heating up his skin as she does, smiling sweetly down at him.

Boromir smiles when Eowyn comes in. "Yes. Thank the Valar you are here. Now he will rest." He looks over at Gandalf, smiling and nodding to him. "Thank you, Gandalf. I will tell you everything. But for now I wish to sit with my brother and make sure he will be fine." He nods as Gandalf says he would then leave them be, that he wanted to get something to eat and maybe a rest. He nods to Gandalf, thanking him before he leaves the room. Then he looks at Monica and smiles, thanking her again with his eyes.

The moment Faramir hears Eowyn's voice he instantly relaxes. "Eowyn......" He sighs out her name, a soft smile on his lips. "I am sorry...Eowyn." She was helping with his pain, the warmth was working on the tense muscles. And that coupled with the herbs soon has him asleep. But not before he moves his hand from Boromir's and up to grip Eowyn's thigh lightly.

Eomer walks into the room, sighing. He hadn't beat up Faramir. He'd simply knocked him out. He walks over and leans down to kiss Lothiriel gently. "Hello Darling. How is he?"

Monica nods to Boromir and looks humbly at Eowyn. "Is there something else you need of me?" She needed to get back to her room and think about all this.

Lothiriel gets up, linking her arm through his. "He will be okay. Come on, let's leave them alone." She nods to the group and leads her soon to be husband out of the room. "You and I have things to talk about on our own, do you not think?" She smiles softly up at him, rubbing his arm as they walk down the hall.

Eowyn sighs when he holds her thigh, leaning down to kiss his forehead again. "Sleep, Faramir." She whips her head around when Monica speaks. "I think you have done enough." She doesn't know what possessed her to snap at the girl, she had been doing nothing wrong. And she instantly regrets it. It does finally dawn on her what it really was, it was that Monica had been holding Faramir. She had never felt this way when she would come in and see her holding onto Boromir. As she looks down at Faramir's face she realizes that she really did love him, more then she could ever love Boromir. She had never felt the like breaking Monica's hands when she would come in and find her tending to Boromir. No, but she had with Faramir. "I am sorry, Monica. No, there is nothing more needed. You may leave." She was rubbing his temples with her thumbs, watching his face, finally calm with no signs of pain pinching the corners of his eyes.

Monica feels like Eowyn had slapped her and tears come to her eyes. She would have tried to take Faramir from her. Even though she says she is sorry, Monica speaks from the pain Eowyn's words caused her. "I would never try to take him, Lady Eowyn. He loves you and you love him. He isn't who I want, though with that one I have you to compete with." Her eyes go to Boromir, hurt and resolve both reflected in her eyes. Suddenly she realizes what she just said and she turns quickly, but keeps her head held high as she hurries from the room. She would not let them know just how emotional she was. It isn't until she is out of the room that she breaks into a run, rushing down the halls towards her rooms. Oh she would have to leave now! Especially after that speech.

Eowyn looks up at Monica in shock, unable to speak at first and then she was gone. "What is she talking about?" she whispers, her eyes going to Boromir questioningly. "What does she mean she has to compete with..." But then it hits her. Maybe Boromir had told Monica something about how he felt, IF he felt something for her. And if so, just what was it?

Faramir sighs softly when she tells him to sleep, having heard her but not really registered it since he was pretty much asleep now. He felt safe and cared for with Eowyn. With Eowyn he felt he could do anything. And her hands were working wonders to take away his pain. So he slips into a comfortable sleep, no longer feeling the pain.

Boromir watches Monica, frowning when she speaks and then leaves the room. Had he just heard what he thought he did. That Monica felt more for him than just friendship. If so, why did that make him feel....strange. Happy. He looks at Eowyn when she speaks, frowning a little. No no. He was suppose to be with Eowyn. She was the type of woman he always wanted....wasn't she? So then why did he feel guilty when he thought of his feelings for Eowyn? And why was he no longer jealous of her relationship with his little brother. He was so confused it wasn't funny. Suddenly he gets an idea. He leans down and whispers to Faramir. "Forgive me, Brother." He then lifts his head and kisses Eowyn with as much passion as he can, testing to see if he felt the kind of love for her that he was starting to think he felt for Monica.

Eowyn frowns when she hears him speaking to Faramir and she looks at him questioningly. She opens her mouth to ask him what he was doing when he suddenly leaves over and kisses her.

Her body stiffens instantly, not even reacting as she thought she would had he ever kissed her. But she had just come to grips with whom she loved and Boromir kissing her only cemented it. She doesn't respond at all to his kiss and when he finally pulls back she is looking at him in shock. "I don't know what you think you are doing," she whispers harshly. "But I am going to pretend you did not do that." She hears Faramir moan and instantly she is moving her hands over the back of his head where they had become still when she was kissed. She frowns, leans down and kisses his forehead as if to get the impression of Boromir's lips off her. Then she looks up at him about ready to scold him when she sees something in his eyes. Something like she felt towards Crystal. There was tenderness but also friendship. For some reason she knew that he finally got it, got what she already knew but that kiss had sealed.

She removes one hand from Faramir's head and reaches out to caress Boromir's cheek. "I love your brother, Boromir. You and I went through something traumatic. Something that will bond us for life. But not like that. We will always be special to the other person in one way, but not like that. You have to realize that now? Do you not?" Faramir shifts and she places her hand on his chest, starting in a circular motion, the motions leaving a trail of heat behind it. But she wasn't thinking of that, she was thinking of Boromir, her attention on him as well. "I do not know what you are thinking, but I will admit I have had my doubts since we were locked up together. Even after Faramir returned. But today, when I say Monica touching him, I wanted to break her hands off." She gives him a lopsided smile. "I have to admit that I never felt that need when I would come in and she was tending to you. That settled it for me. That and that kiss." She shakes her head. "I am sorry, Boromir, but I do not love you and I do not think you love me." She looks at him questioningly as she waits for his answer.

When her hands stop the pain comes back, not as badly as before but it was still there so Faramir groans softly. He quiets as soon as her hands start working on him again. He shifts in his sleep a few minutes later, trying to get more comfortable, but stops when Eowyn puts her hand on his chest. He is soothed into a deeper sleep, one that will let him rest without anymore pain till he wakes up.

Boromir pulls back from the kiss and frowns. Nothing. He had felt....nothing. Well it was nice but it didn't make him feel like he had when Monica had kissed him before while trying to comfort him. But then again, that hadn't been much of a kiss. He looks at Eowyn when she touches his cheek, nodding when she tells him she didn't love him. "No. I do not. Not like Faramir does. I may love you but more....a friend." He sighs deeply. "I do not know what to do, Eowyn. I am....a burden. And she is young. I am old enough to be her father. Yes I know. Age does not matter. My father and mother are proof. As are many others. But I do not....I....oh I just do not know what to do." He snorts and glares at his brother. "He picks a fine time to sleep. I could very much use his knowledge at this moment."

She frowns at Boromir. He wasn't serious, was he? She realizes he was and she laughs, shaking her head. "Boromir, Faramir did not even tell me he was sick, do you really think he would know what to do in a situation like this? You need the advice of another woman." She pauses to see if he was going to object. When he doesn't she goes on. "First off you have to realize that you are not a burden, especially to her. She was asked at first to help out while I was sleeping, but then later when I was awake and caring for you, she made sure she was there all the times that I was not. And that she was not paying for, nor asking her to do it. It was totally volunteer on her part. Secondly, yes, you are older and yes, look at your folks. But rather then that, look at something that had a more pleasant ending, Aragorn King for one. He may be old, but Arawen is much older." She can't help the smile that creeps across her face. "Anyway, that isn't the point, the point is that age does not matter as you well know. You want to know what to do? Go to her, Boromir. As I had to come back to Faramir to assure him I still loved him, you need to go to her and tell her how you feel about her. It was obvious after that little outburst that she has feelings for you. Just be careful when you confront her, do not scare her off, remember she is indeed a child in many ways, at least in some emotional ones."

She is happy when Faramir finally goes into a deep sleep and doesn't moan anymore. She had started to worry about him.

Boromir looks down at his brother, sighing and shaking his head. "What if she....I mean what if there is nothing between us? I am getting too old to continue this." He looks up at Eowyn. "I will go to here.....but I do not know where her room is." He smiles slightly and shrugs when she laughs and tells him. Then he leans over and kisses his brother on the forehead
Faramir shifts again, but this time onto his side with his head still on her lap. He shivers a bit, until she pulls the blanket up over them. He now had his arms wrapped around her leg, though he didn't really know it. He was just finally sleeping peacefully, his headache passing.

Once he is gone she starts to sing softly to Faramir, the same tune she had sung to him before, the same one she knew calmed him when he was having a hard time sleeping. Granted it was a lullaby, but he definitely seemed to react in a good way to it. So she keeps working her hands across his chest and shoulders and y along his back, not wanting to lift him that much.