Lothiriel makes sure that her clothes are in order before walking out of there, taking his arm as she smiles up at him. "Yes, most definitely, because I am starved."
"As am I!" He smiles and walks to the table. When he reaches it he pulls out her chair and then takes his seat beside her, looking around. Only Gandalf was present. "My we are a small group for dinner tonight." He smiles and nods to Gandalf. "Hello Gandalf. I must again thank you for helping with my sister."
Gandalf smiles and nods to Eomer, then raises a brow at Lothiriel. "Being gone just the little while I have seems to have me quite behind on things. But you are welcome, Eomer. I do what I can."
Lothiriel smiles at Gandalf's comment and leans over slightly. "Incase you are wondering, Eomer King and I and are engaged to be marred. He would like it to be a short but right now it is getting by, shorter then his sister's."
Eomer smiles and nods. "Yes. As it seems little Eowyn is dragging her feet. As is Faramir." He shakes his head. "They want to be married but they would rather ease into it I think." He looks at Gandalf. "How was your trip, Gandalf? And how are my four little friends?"
Gandalf smiles and shakes his head. "Faramir is patient. Now if it were Boromir, the wedding would be tomorrow." He chuckles and then begins to eat as the food is placed in front of the three of them. It was obvious that the others weren't going to be joining them. "Ah. Merry and Pippin are just fine. Sam is courting a young hobbit maiden. And Frodo is well....Frodo."
"I think that they are dragging their feet because she is here and he is there. That they would marry sooner if they were going to be together. But since she is working here." Lothiriel shrugs. "Now I am not returning with them tomorrow, I am instead sending for my father." She starts to cut into her meat. "When my family has arrived, we will be married." She glances at Eomer. He had wanted to marry soon, but she wanted her family there. So that was the quickest she could think of."
Eomer smiles and nods, happy she wasn't returning to Gondor. "Yes. I would have gone there, but Rohan still needs her King. As for Eowyn staying here, well perhaps once I have my Queen, I will not need my Sister to help me anymore." He smiles at Lothiriel. "I think the people would be happy to have a Queen." He looks at Gandalf. "I am truly glad to hear they are all doing well."
Gandalf smirks just a little. "Your father and all four brothers? My Eomer, you are a brave man." He sees the look Eomer gives Lothiriel and can't help but laugh as she tells him they are not that bad, just her brothers were slightly over protective of their young sister. "Yes yes. Slightly. Do not worry, Eomer. I am sure they will approve of you. Though they will test you. I have seen them with a likely suitor for Lothiriel. Though she does not know I am sure. But that was the reason why she is yet not married. Her brothers chased all her suitors away." He smiles kindly at Lothiriel. "But it will be good, to have them here. For other than your father and oldest brother, they have not been to Rohan."
Lothiriel shakes her head, smiling kindly at Eomer. "They are not that bad, they won't hurt you or anything like that." Then she looks at Gandalf. "You are going to chase Eomer away in a minute with tales of my brothers. And I do know of one, because I got to meet him one time before my brothers found out. I did not know there were more before or after, I just remember the one. I was told he decided to join the army instead." She laughs, smiling shyly at Eomer. "You already rule an army, so I am sure they won't try to get you to join one and leave me here."
Eomer looks at Lothiriel and raises a brow. "Four brothers?" He sees her nod and smiles, shaking his head. "If they do try to intimidate me, I will just have to lock them in the dungeon for going against the wishes of a King." He grins at her, then looks at Gandalf. "They will not be harsh with a king will they?"
Gandalf smiles at Eomer. "They will not see you as a King but as another young man looking to take their sister away from them. Unless they deem you the right man for her, you will have to endure them."
She looks at him in shock, putting down her fork. "You will not, and I mean NOT lock them away, Eomer! Or I will not marry you." She looks away from him, her head held high, a very stubborn look on it. She wouldn't have her brothers treated that way, even if they were going to grill him. "They won't physically hurt you, only question you. If you can not take that, then maybe we need to think about this again."
Gandalf smiles, keeping his laughter to himself though he wanted to laugh badly. Lothiriel looked so funny. As did Eomer. They would make a good couple.
Eomer looks at Lothiriel innocently. "I can take questioning but if they try to harm me physically then they will be confined to a room."
"A room is better then the dungeon, Eomer." She points a fork at him. "They will not harm you physically. They just love me, remember that when they question you."
"Yes well I love you as well, Lothiriel. They have nothing to fear from me." He looks over at Gandalf, seeing the look on his face. "I see you find this all amusing, Gandalf."
She looks over at Gandalf and frowns. "You are not going to stay? You are leaving with the group? Well if you can not stay, then let my father know when you see him that I miss him and can hardly wait for him to arrive."
Gandalf smiles at Lothiriel. "No. I am sorry but I must get back to Aragorn in Gondor. But I will come back for your wedding. As I am sure Aragorn and his lovely bride Arwen will as well."
Eomer smiles. "Ah yes. We should start inviting people, Lothiriel. Like King Elessar and Queen Arwen."
She sighs at Gandalf, finishing her meal and handing her plate to a servant that was collecting them. "Well when you men are done, I think that we should check in on Faramir and see how he is doing." She glances at Eomer. "We will send the invitations with Faramir and Boromir then, send one of your couriers or something. Whatever you send for that. Or have the same man that is collecting my family tell him." She shrugs slightly.
Gandalf finishes his dinner as well, smiling. "I would be happy to deliver any letters or messages you have. And yes. I would like to check in on Faramir."
Eomer too was finished with his dinner so he nods. "Sounds like a good idea. About sending the invitations." He nods and stands. "Let us go check on him now. I'm sure he is awake and probably having his dinner."
She stands up and walks over to Eomer, holding out her hand. "Come on, let's go see how your sister is doing. And make sure that she is eating as well as Faramir."
Eowyn wakes up suddenly as if she had heard someone come into the room, but there was no one. Just her and Faramir laying on the bed but the window was open and she bet that that was what she had heard. Something from outside.
She sighs and kisses the top of Faramir's head, whispering, "Oh Baby, I wish you would just do what Gandalf says to do. Then we would be free of this forever." She rubs her cheek lightly across his head and tightens her hold on him.
Faramir moans softly, coming awake when she speaks. He yawns and stretches a little. He opens his eyes, then turns his head to look at her. "You do not know what you ask, Eowyn." He pulls out of her arms, wincing a little as dull pain throbs in his head. But at least it was bearable. He gets up out of the bed and walks slowly over to the basin of water in his room. He splashes the cold water on his face and then runs the wet cloth over the back of his neck before he turns and looks at her. "Oh Eowyn. Please do not look at me that way. You do not know what you ask."
She sits up straighter and looks at him. "Yes, Faramir. I am asking you to love me more then you love yourself. Because if you love me you would do everything in your power to stay with me the rest of your life. That includes chancing loosing it. Can you do that? Or will you just spend your days and nights in pain, for what little time you have left, alone. Because I will not stick around and watch you die." She would, but she had to chance it and lie to him, and hope he couldn't tell, or at least see that she was lying only for his good and know that the lie was from desperation.
Eomer stands up and nods, smiling at his beloved as he offers his arm for her to take. Then he leaves the hall with her and Gandalf. "I am sure they are."
Gandalf smiles and follows after them. When he hears voices in the room he stops Eomer from knocking, indicating they should wait. He had a sneaking suspicion Faramir and Eowyn were talking of something of great importance.
Faramir smiles at her. "No you would not, Eowyn. You would do everything in your power to stay by my side at all times." He sighs. "But you do not understand, Eowyn." He walks over and sits down beside her on the bed, facing her. "To do....to do what you wish me to do would make me like the man you yourself are famous for killing." He sees the confused look on her face, then understanding. He nods. "If I do this, my death will be just that. Death. Though I will still walk middle earth, I will be nothing like you know me now. I will be him. And you more than likely will have to kill me."
Lothiriel stops outside the door with the rest of them. "Should we wait?" she whispers to Gandalf. "Go for a walk?" She could hear the raised voices but they weren't in anger.
Eowyn still shakes her head. "Gandalf said that that MIGHT happen. But you could fight it and get through it. You resisted the pull of the ring, you can resist this. " She stands up taking his hands and imploring him. "I will be there the whole time, I promise you that I will not go anywhere. So, you knew I was lying, so then you know that I am not lying now. Faramir, I will be there with you and I will not leave your side the whole time. But you have GOT to do this. I know you are strong enough. YOU have to do this, Faramir, or you will die. Do you really think that I will be happy watching you die?"
Eomer speaks before Gandalf. "Come, Darling. Let us go for a ride together. Your cousin sounds fine." He takes Lothiriel's hand before she can react and pulls her towards a side door. "Do not worry. They need to speak alone."
Gandalf stands and waits outside Faramir's door, listening for when he could go in.
Faramir frowns. "Eowyn, what if I am not strong enough? What if I do fall under the evil? What if I can not be saved by Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel? I could become...." He sighs deeply. "Eowyn, Love, I am afraid. I did not resist the rings pull. I almost took it from Frodo. I was going to take it but then my Ranger distracted me. I was going to kill Frodo and take it."
Eowyn moves over to him and takes his hands in hers and holds them tight. "You ARE stronger, Faramir! You are so much stronger then you think! PLEASE! Listen to me! Do this for me! You can do it and in the end we will have a life! If you do not do this, then you won't have a life, there will be no time for us, because you will be encompassed with your illness, and soon you won't even remember me. Are you really willing to do that?"
Gandalf takes that moment to enter the room. "She is quite correct, Faramir. It's either face your fear or waste away." He taps his staff against the floor lightly. "Yes you did want to kill Frodo. But you did not. Your ranger was not the one who stopped you Faramir. For if it was the ring's will, a mere ranger giving you a message would not have stopped you. You resisted the ring because deep down you knew it would not bring you your father's love. It would merely make your relationship with him worse. It would take from him his honor and dignity. And it would destroy Gondor." He sighs and shakes his head. "You are not weak. You are strong and wise. And Frodo was saved from the black death. You can be as well, Faramir. And then you will no longer have to worry about dying. Not for a very long time that is."
Faramir listens to Eowyn, then Gandalf, and finally he frowns. He looks back at Eowyn. "You will promise to not leave my side through all of this? And if I do fall to it....will you promise as well to drive your sword through me? For I do not wish to become the next dark lord."
She looks at Gandalf and then at Faramir, seeing the fear there, she nods, she would do it. "I will not only stay by your side the whole time, but should you not make it, I will be the one to set you free." It was plain in her eyes, even for Gandalf to see, she would do it, if that were the fate of her dear Faramir. "But unlike you, I do not believe that will be your fate. I believe we did not go through all of this only for you to die. No, I believe that you will have sons of your own and daughters to turn your hair gray before it's time." She kisses the hands she held so tight, smiling. "I know you will make it, Faramir. I know you will."
Faramir smiles at her and kisses her hands softly. "Then with you by my side, I shall do this one last thing." He turns and looks at Gandalf. "When shall it be done? I would like it done as soon as possible." He looks at Eowyn, smiling softly. "Unless you wish to be married first."
Gandalf smiles as Faramir finally relents. "As soon as possible. I will send word to Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel as soon as possible. Then you and Lady Eowyn will have to journey to Rivendell or Lothlorien."
She hugs him tight to her, smiling. "Thank you, Faramir. Thank you." Then kisses him soundly. Pulling back she shakes her head. "No, I do not want to be married. I want this done now. No more waiting." She looks over at Gandalf and nods. "Then let us start out tomorrow. We were to go to Gondor. Instead, let us go to Rivendell. Let us be there when they arrive so that it can be done as soon as possible. I want to have him healthy and both of us back for Eomer's wedding." She kisses Faramir again. "You will not regret this."
Gandalf smiles at the two, giving Eowyn and smile that said he was grateful for her help. He truly did think of Faramir as his son. Which was why he had tried to stop him when he went on his suicide mission to retake Osgiliath. And it was why he got so upset at the way Denethor treated Faramir and why he didn't care when Denethor died. "Then tomorrow we will take a trip to Rivendell. I am also going to ask that your brother come as well. I think Lord Elrond's son might be able to help him with his arm."
Faramir nods to Eowyn, smiling at her. "No. I do not think I will regret this. Not with my beloved Shieldmaiden by my side." He leans down and kisses her, then looks at Gandalf, smiling and nodding. "Yes. I have been told the healers can find nothing wrong with his arm, but he still can not move it. And his knees are bad, and his eye." He sighs, looking at Eowyn and smiling slightly. "I have noticed something...I think my brother fancies your handmaiden, Love."
She didn't dare tell him about the kiss while he was sleeping, so instead she just looks at him curiously. "I had not noticed that. Are you sure?" She certainly didn't think that he would be kissing her and then running off to the handmaiden. But then the kiss hadn't been that great of a kiss either. For her it had only cemented just how much she loved her fiancé and not his brother. Maybe it had done the same to his brother. She hoped so. "My handmaiden? Well that will be interesting since I believe that she is very much in love with him. There was a little outburst that happened while you were sleeping. It was just your brother and I and Monica in here and there was something she said that got me to thinking. It will be interesting to see what would happen should he too care for her."
Gandalf smiles as he hears Faramir. "Oh I would have to agree with young Faramir. His brother does seem to have an eye for the young handmaiden." He shakes his head. "If you will excuse me I must send a rider to Rivendell to inform Lord Elrond of our arrival. I will also have food prepared for the journey and anything else we will need." He nods his head and bows slightly before leaving the room, feeling much better now that Faramir was going to go through with the treatment. He had no doubt the boy was strong enough to resist the pull. If Frodo could, Faramir definitely could.
Faramir nods to Gandalf, smiling and then he looks at Eowyn, his smile faltering. "Eowyn...you do mean it? That if I do not survive you will set me free? For I do not believe anyone else could."
When Gandalf leaves she turns to Faramir, nodding to his question, her eyes locking with his so that he can see the truth in them. "Yes, Faramir, I swear to you that I will do it. I will do it . I will do it quick so that you will not even know it happened." She reaches up and captures his head in her hands. "But I do not believe I will have to." She kisses him softly. "I know I will not have to do it, because I believe in you and I believe in our love. I know in my heart that nothing will happen to part us. You WILL make it through this, Faramir. We both will." Then she kisses him passionately.
Faramir smiles and returns her passionate kiss with one of his own, holding her tight to him. When he pulls back he smiles down at her. "Yes. I believe we will." He is silent then, just looking at her with love. That is before his stomach growls and interrupts them. Ah he had forgotten how hungry he was. "Perhaps some food would be good. I am sure you worked up an appetite....Eowyn....I am truly sorry for keeping this from you. I was.....scared. Scared you would not wish to be with me." He looks away from her, then back at her, giving her a small smile. "I am a fool. I know. Boromir tells me enough."
"Boromir and Gandalf. Yes, Faramir, you are a fool." She keeps her eyes locked with his. "I need a promise from you, Love. I need you to promise me that you will never do something like this again. That you will tell me when things like this happen. I will return the favor if you do. I will not keep anything from you, especially something like this. But only if you promise me to never keep anything from me no matter what you think the outcome. It is keeping it from me that would part us, not telling me. You kept something important from me, something that could mean life or death because you thought that I would not wish to be with you." This brings a great sadness to her eyes as her whole face falls. "Do you think so little of my love?"
He frowns and shakes his head. "No. It is just something I fear. I fear I will upset you or do something that will drive you from me." He lifts her hands and kisses them softly. "But I will not fear anymore. I will tell you anything important and anything you wish to know from me. No more secrets." He smiles at her, the truth of his words showing in his eyes. He knew now he could tell her anything and she would not leave him. Again his stomach growls, breaking the spell. "I will call for dinner. If you'd like me to that is."
She laughs, shaking her head. "You go sit down. I will go get our dinner brought to the dining room. Unless you wish to have it here in your room? Or in the garden? It is light enough. And the air may do you some good." She untangles herself from his arms, trying to get away from him and to the door.
He smiles. "Outside perhaps would be nice. The fresh night air would help my headache." He takes her hands and kisses them lightly. "Go. Get the food. Oh perhaps could I request one thing." He waits for her to ask what and he smiles. "Fresh bread and jam if you have it." He sees her look and smiles. "It helps me relax. That and some wine would be nice as well." He laughs as she huffs and asks if there was anything else. "No my Love. That is it. And the dinner. I will meet you in the garden." He walks over to the bed and sits down, grabbing his boots.
"As am I!" He smiles and walks to the table. When he reaches it he pulls out her chair and then takes his seat beside her, looking around. Only Gandalf was present. "My we are a small group for dinner tonight." He smiles and nods to Gandalf. "Hello Gandalf. I must again thank you for helping with my sister."
Gandalf smiles and nods to Eomer, then raises a brow at Lothiriel. "Being gone just the little while I have seems to have me quite behind on things. But you are welcome, Eomer. I do what I can."
Lothiriel smiles at Gandalf's comment and leans over slightly. "Incase you are wondering, Eomer King and I and are engaged to be marred. He would like it to be a short but right now it is getting by, shorter then his sister's."
Eomer smiles and nods. "Yes. As it seems little Eowyn is dragging her feet. As is Faramir." He shakes his head. "They want to be married but they would rather ease into it I think." He looks at Gandalf. "How was your trip, Gandalf? And how are my four little friends?"
Gandalf smiles and shakes his head. "Faramir is patient. Now if it were Boromir, the wedding would be tomorrow." He chuckles and then begins to eat as the food is placed in front of the three of them. It was obvious that the others weren't going to be joining them. "Ah. Merry and Pippin are just fine. Sam is courting a young hobbit maiden. And Frodo is well....Frodo."
"I think that they are dragging their feet because she is here and he is there. That they would marry sooner if they were going to be together. But since she is working here." Lothiriel shrugs. "Now I am not returning with them tomorrow, I am instead sending for my father." She starts to cut into her meat. "When my family has arrived, we will be married." She glances at Eomer. He had wanted to marry soon, but she wanted her family there. So that was the quickest she could think of."
Eomer smiles and nods, happy she wasn't returning to Gondor. "Yes. I would have gone there, but Rohan still needs her King. As for Eowyn staying here, well perhaps once I have my Queen, I will not need my Sister to help me anymore." He smiles at Lothiriel. "I think the people would be happy to have a Queen." He looks at Gandalf. "I am truly glad to hear they are all doing well."
Gandalf smirks just a little. "Your father and all four brothers? My Eomer, you are a brave man." He sees the look Eomer gives Lothiriel and can't help but laugh as she tells him they are not that bad, just her brothers were slightly over protective of their young sister. "Yes yes. Slightly. Do not worry, Eomer. I am sure they will approve of you. Though they will test you. I have seen them with a likely suitor for Lothiriel. Though she does not know I am sure. But that was the reason why she is yet not married. Her brothers chased all her suitors away." He smiles kindly at Lothiriel. "But it will be good, to have them here. For other than your father and oldest brother, they have not been to Rohan."
Lothiriel shakes her head, smiling kindly at Eomer. "They are not that bad, they won't hurt you or anything like that." Then she looks at Gandalf. "You are going to chase Eomer away in a minute with tales of my brothers. And I do know of one, because I got to meet him one time before my brothers found out. I did not know there were more before or after, I just remember the one. I was told he decided to join the army instead." She laughs, smiling shyly at Eomer. "You already rule an army, so I am sure they won't try to get you to join one and leave me here."
Eomer looks at Lothiriel and raises a brow. "Four brothers?" He sees her nod and smiles, shaking his head. "If they do try to intimidate me, I will just have to lock them in the dungeon for going against the wishes of a King." He grins at her, then looks at Gandalf. "They will not be harsh with a king will they?"
Gandalf smiles at Eomer. "They will not see you as a King but as another young man looking to take their sister away from them. Unless they deem you the right man for her, you will have to endure them."
She looks at him in shock, putting down her fork. "You will not, and I mean NOT lock them away, Eomer! Or I will not marry you." She looks away from him, her head held high, a very stubborn look on it. She wouldn't have her brothers treated that way, even if they were going to grill him. "They won't physically hurt you, only question you. If you can not take that, then maybe we need to think about this again."
Gandalf smiles, keeping his laughter to himself though he wanted to laugh badly. Lothiriel looked so funny. As did Eomer. They would make a good couple.
Eomer looks at Lothiriel innocently. "I can take questioning but if they try to harm me physically then they will be confined to a room."
"A room is better then the dungeon, Eomer." She points a fork at him. "They will not harm you physically. They just love me, remember that when they question you."
"Yes well I love you as well, Lothiriel. They have nothing to fear from me." He looks over at Gandalf, seeing the look on his face. "I see you find this all amusing, Gandalf."
She looks over at Gandalf and frowns. "You are not going to stay? You are leaving with the group? Well if you can not stay, then let my father know when you see him that I miss him and can hardly wait for him to arrive."
Gandalf smiles at Lothiriel. "No. I am sorry but I must get back to Aragorn in Gondor. But I will come back for your wedding. As I am sure Aragorn and his lovely bride Arwen will as well."
Eomer smiles. "Ah yes. We should start inviting people, Lothiriel. Like King Elessar and Queen Arwen."
She sighs at Gandalf, finishing her meal and handing her plate to a servant that was collecting them. "Well when you men are done, I think that we should check in on Faramir and see how he is doing." She glances at Eomer. "We will send the invitations with Faramir and Boromir then, send one of your couriers or something. Whatever you send for that. Or have the same man that is collecting my family tell him." She shrugs slightly.
Gandalf finishes his dinner as well, smiling. "I would be happy to deliver any letters or messages you have. And yes. I would like to check in on Faramir."
Eomer too was finished with his dinner so he nods. "Sounds like a good idea. About sending the invitations." He nods and stands. "Let us go check on him now. I'm sure he is awake and probably having his dinner."
She stands up and walks over to Eomer, holding out her hand. "Come on, let's go see how your sister is doing. And make sure that she is eating as well as Faramir."
Eowyn wakes up suddenly as if she had heard someone come into the room, but there was no one. Just her and Faramir laying on the bed but the window was open and she bet that that was what she had heard. Something from outside.
She sighs and kisses the top of Faramir's head, whispering, "Oh Baby, I wish you would just do what Gandalf says to do. Then we would be free of this forever." She rubs her cheek lightly across his head and tightens her hold on him.
Faramir moans softly, coming awake when she speaks. He yawns and stretches a little. He opens his eyes, then turns his head to look at her. "You do not know what you ask, Eowyn." He pulls out of her arms, wincing a little as dull pain throbs in his head. But at least it was bearable. He gets up out of the bed and walks slowly over to the basin of water in his room. He splashes the cold water on his face and then runs the wet cloth over the back of his neck before he turns and looks at her. "Oh Eowyn. Please do not look at me that way. You do not know what you ask."
She sits up straighter and looks at him. "Yes, Faramir. I am asking you to love me more then you love yourself. Because if you love me you would do everything in your power to stay with me the rest of your life. That includes chancing loosing it. Can you do that? Or will you just spend your days and nights in pain, for what little time you have left, alone. Because I will not stick around and watch you die." She would, but she had to chance it and lie to him, and hope he couldn't tell, or at least see that she was lying only for his good and know that the lie was from desperation.
Eomer stands up and nods, smiling at his beloved as he offers his arm for her to take. Then he leaves the hall with her and Gandalf. "I am sure they are."
Gandalf smiles and follows after them. When he hears voices in the room he stops Eomer from knocking, indicating they should wait. He had a sneaking suspicion Faramir and Eowyn were talking of something of great importance.
Faramir smiles at her. "No you would not, Eowyn. You would do everything in your power to stay by my side at all times." He sighs. "But you do not understand, Eowyn." He walks over and sits down beside her on the bed, facing her. "To do....to do what you wish me to do would make me like the man you yourself are famous for killing." He sees the confused look on her face, then understanding. He nods. "If I do this, my death will be just that. Death. Though I will still walk middle earth, I will be nothing like you know me now. I will be him. And you more than likely will have to kill me."
Lothiriel stops outside the door with the rest of them. "Should we wait?" she whispers to Gandalf. "Go for a walk?" She could hear the raised voices but they weren't in anger.
Eowyn still shakes her head. "Gandalf said that that MIGHT happen. But you could fight it and get through it. You resisted the pull of the ring, you can resist this. " She stands up taking his hands and imploring him. "I will be there the whole time, I promise you that I will not go anywhere. So, you knew I was lying, so then you know that I am not lying now. Faramir, I will be there with you and I will not leave your side the whole time. But you have GOT to do this. I know you are strong enough. YOU have to do this, Faramir, or you will die. Do you really think that I will be happy watching you die?"
Eomer speaks before Gandalf. "Come, Darling. Let us go for a ride together. Your cousin sounds fine." He takes Lothiriel's hand before she can react and pulls her towards a side door. "Do not worry. They need to speak alone."
Gandalf stands and waits outside Faramir's door, listening for when he could go in.
Faramir frowns. "Eowyn, what if I am not strong enough? What if I do fall under the evil? What if I can not be saved by Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel? I could become...." He sighs deeply. "Eowyn, Love, I am afraid. I did not resist the rings pull. I almost took it from Frodo. I was going to take it but then my Ranger distracted me. I was going to kill Frodo and take it."
Eowyn moves over to him and takes his hands in hers and holds them tight. "You ARE stronger, Faramir! You are so much stronger then you think! PLEASE! Listen to me! Do this for me! You can do it and in the end we will have a life! If you do not do this, then you won't have a life, there will be no time for us, because you will be encompassed with your illness, and soon you won't even remember me. Are you really willing to do that?"
Gandalf takes that moment to enter the room. "She is quite correct, Faramir. It's either face your fear or waste away." He taps his staff against the floor lightly. "Yes you did want to kill Frodo. But you did not. Your ranger was not the one who stopped you Faramir. For if it was the ring's will, a mere ranger giving you a message would not have stopped you. You resisted the ring because deep down you knew it would not bring you your father's love. It would merely make your relationship with him worse. It would take from him his honor and dignity. And it would destroy Gondor." He sighs and shakes his head. "You are not weak. You are strong and wise. And Frodo was saved from the black death. You can be as well, Faramir. And then you will no longer have to worry about dying. Not for a very long time that is."
Faramir listens to Eowyn, then Gandalf, and finally he frowns. He looks back at Eowyn. "You will promise to not leave my side through all of this? And if I do fall to it....will you promise as well to drive your sword through me? For I do not wish to become the next dark lord."
She looks at Gandalf and then at Faramir, seeing the fear there, she nods, she would do it. "I will not only stay by your side the whole time, but should you not make it, I will be the one to set you free." It was plain in her eyes, even for Gandalf to see, she would do it, if that were the fate of her dear Faramir. "But unlike you, I do not believe that will be your fate. I believe we did not go through all of this only for you to die. No, I believe that you will have sons of your own and daughters to turn your hair gray before it's time." She kisses the hands she held so tight, smiling. "I know you will make it, Faramir. I know you will."
Faramir smiles at her and kisses her hands softly. "Then with you by my side, I shall do this one last thing." He turns and looks at Gandalf. "When shall it be done? I would like it done as soon as possible." He looks at Eowyn, smiling softly. "Unless you wish to be married first."
Gandalf smiles as Faramir finally relents. "As soon as possible. I will send word to Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel as soon as possible. Then you and Lady Eowyn will have to journey to Rivendell or Lothlorien."
She hugs him tight to her, smiling. "Thank you, Faramir. Thank you." Then kisses him soundly. Pulling back she shakes her head. "No, I do not want to be married. I want this done now. No more waiting." She looks over at Gandalf and nods. "Then let us start out tomorrow. We were to go to Gondor. Instead, let us go to Rivendell. Let us be there when they arrive so that it can be done as soon as possible. I want to have him healthy and both of us back for Eomer's wedding." She kisses Faramir again. "You will not regret this."
Gandalf smiles at the two, giving Eowyn and smile that said he was grateful for her help. He truly did think of Faramir as his son. Which was why he had tried to stop him when he went on his suicide mission to retake Osgiliath. And it was why he got so upset at the way Denethor treated Faramir and why he didn't care when Denethor died. "Then tomorrow we will take a trip to Rivendell. I am also going to ask that your brother come as well. I think Lord Elrond's son might be able to help him with his arm."
Faramir nods to Eowyn, smiling at her. "No. I do not think I will regret this. Not with my beloved Shieldmaiden by my side." He leans down and kisses her, then looks at Gandalf, smiling and nodding. "Yes. I have been told the healers can find nothing wrong with his arm, but he still can not move it. And his knees are bad, and his eye." He sighs, looking at Eowyn and smiling slightly. "I have noticed something...I think my brother fancies your handmaiden, Love."
She didn't dare tell him about the kiss while he was sleeping, so instead she just looks at him curiously. "I had not noticed that. Are you sure?" She certainly didn't think that he would be kissing her and then running off to the handmaiden. But then the kiss hadn't been that great of a kiss either. For her it had only cemented just how much she loved her fiancé and not his brother. Maybe it had done the same to his brother. She hoped so. "My handmaiden? Well that will be interesting since I believe that she is very much in love with him. There was a little outburst that happened while you were sleeping. It was just your brother and I and Monica in here and there was something she said that got me to thinking. It will be interesting to see what would happen should he too care for her."
Gandalf smiles as he hears Faramir. "Oh I would have to agree with young Faramir. His brother does seem to have an eye for the young handmaiden." He shakes his head. "If you will excuse me I must send a rider to Rivendell to inform Lord Elrond of our arrival. I will also have food prepared for the journey and anything else we will need." He nods his head and bows slightly before leaving the room, feeling much better now that Faramir was going to go through with the treatment. He had no doubt the boy was strong enough to resist the pull. If Frodo could, Faramir definitely could.
Faramir nods to Gandalf, smiling and then he looks at Eowyn, his smile faltering. "Eowyn...you do mean it? That if I do not survive you will set me free? For I do not believe anyone else could."
When Gandalf leaves she turns to Faramir, nodding to his question, her eyes locking with his so that he can see the truth in them. "Yes, Faramir, I swear to you that I will do it. I will do it . I will do it quick so that you will not even know it happened." She reaches up and captures his head in her hands. "But I do not believe I will have to." She kisses him softly. "I know I will not have to do it, because I believe in you and I believe in our love. I know in my heart that nothing will happen to part us. You WILL make it through this, Faramir. We both will." Then she kisses him passionately.
Faramir smiles and returns her passionate kiss with one of his own, holding her tight to him. When he pulls back he smiles down at her. "Yes. I believe we will." He is silent then, just looking at her with love. That is before his stomach growls and interrupts them. Ah he had forgotten how hungry he was. "Perhaps some food would be good. I am sure you worked up an appetite....Eowyn....I am truly sorry for keeping this from you. I was.....scared. Scared you would not wish to be with me." He looks away from her, then back at her, giving her a small smile. "I am a fool. I know. Boromir tells me enough."
"Boromir and Gandalf. Yes, Faramir, you are a fool." She keeps her eyes locked with his. "I need a promise from you, Love. I need you to promise me that you will never do something like this again. That you will tell me when things like this happen. I will return the favor if you do. I will not keep anything from you, especially something like this. But only if you promise me to never keep anything from me no matter what you think the outcome. It is keeping it from me that would part us, not telling me. You kept something important from me, something that could mean life or death because you thought that I would not wish to be with you." This brings a great sadness to her eyes as her whole face falls. "Do you think so little of my love?"
He frowns and shakes his head. "No. It is just something I fear. I fear I will upset you or do something that will drive you from me." He lifts her hands and kisses them softly. "But I will not fear anymore. I will tell you anything important and anything you wish to know from me. No more secrets." He smiles at her, the truth of his words showing in his eyes. He knew now he could tell her anything and she would not leave him. Again his stomach growls, breaking the spell. "I will call for dinner. If you'd like me to that is."
She laughs, shaking her head. "You go sit down. I will go get our dinner brought to the dining room. Unless you wish to have it here in your room? Or in the garden? It is light enough. And the air may do you some good." She untangles herself from his arms, trying to get away from him and to the door.
He smiles. "Outside perhaps would be nice. The fresh night air would help my headache." He takes her hands and kisses them lightly. "Go. Get the food. Oh perhaps could I request one thing." He waits for her to ask what and he smiles. "Fresh bread and jam if you have it." He sees her look and smiles. "It helps me relax. That and some wine would be nice as well." He laughs as she huffs and asks if there was anything else. "No my Love. That is it. And the dinner. I will meet you in the garden." He walks over to the bed and sits down, grabbing his boots.