A/N: I have in here that Eowyn has one of those things like Aragorn was sitting on when he had that flashback thing to Rivendell in the Two Towers. I don't really want to call it a couch, and sofa still sounds too modern....I can't think of a good word. I'm going to use sofa for the time being but a better word is much appreciated if anyone can think of one!!

Chapter Four

When Eowyn awoke again, it was dark outside. She sat up in her bed and saw Faramir sleeping on her elvish sofa. 'I guess he was serious about staying with me,' she thought. She stood up and walked over to a window. The stars were shining on the city, making it brighter than it already was. No one was outside, for no guards were posted near her house. She walked outside and sat on a bench next to her door.

The air was cool, but not so cool as to be uncomfortable. She sighed. Solitude was nice and all, but some moments needed to be shared with others. This was one of them. She had the brief thought of going to wake Faramir, but decided against it, as he probably needed the sleep. She knew the hours he had to work probably did not agree with him, and this was probably the most sleep he'd had in ages.

Eowyn began to hear soft footsteps coming from the direction of the palace. A figure with a long, elvish cloak approached her. She could be recognized from the distance, for Eowyn had seen enough elves to be able to spot them easily, and there was only one elf in Minas Tirith.

"Eowyn," Arwen said, "How are you feeling?" The beautiful elf-maiden sat down beside her.

She sighed. "A lot better, but I didn't feel horrible in the first place, so I guess that isn't saying much."

"Your injury is not of the body," Arwen pointed out, "It is of the heart. You feel you will never be whole again."

Eowyn was shocked at her grasp of the situation. "I'm sorry, I never meant to....you know I didn't know about you....for the longest time I thought...."

Arwen shook her head. "You have no need to apologize. One cannot just stop loving someone, no matter what they discover of that person. And Aragorn has not made the situation any better by the way he's acting."

"He does it for you," Eowyn said, on the brink of tears, "He cares for you and he does not wish to seem attached to me."

"I know," Arwen said with a small sigh. "And he is afraid of actually falling for you."

"I do not wish him to, anymore," said Eowyn. "You know that. I just wish to be his friend, but it's hard when he refuses to acknowledge my existence."

"He will come around," she assured her. "I've talked to him about this. He does care for you, Eowyn. You are his friend, and he is yours as well....we just must make sure he is not afraid to show that."

"I tried to tell him that and I came off a bit harsh," Eowyn admitted. "When you left today...."

"Do not worry about him at the moment. Spend your cares on someone who loves you back."

Eowyn was puzzled. "Someone who...."

"He loves you, Eowyn, and he is also a bit afraid to show it. He will not openly tell you for awhile, but make sure he knows that you feel for him as well....that is, considering you do feel that way."

It felt like her clouded mind was clearing, at that precise moment. "I do....I do feel that way."

Arwen smiled. "Which is why I do not fear you spending time with my husband, as your heart is given to another already."

A sheepish smile crept across Eowyn's face. "I don't know how I missed it before."

"Love clouds all of our better judgement sometimes," Arwen said, standing. "Faramir will wake soon. He's been asleep since a little after you fell asleep, and that means he's had double the amount of rest he usually gets. You could tell him your feelings....but I would suggest showing them instead, as that usually gets the point across better. Have a pleasant evening."

And with that, she walked off as quietly as she had come. No sooner had she gone out of sight, not even leaving Eowyn enough time to contemplate how she knew Faramir had fallen asleep, the Steward himself walked out the door.

"I take it you got your sleep in?" he asked, sitting beside her.

"As did you," Eowyn said with a smile. "Maybe now your judgement is cleared so you will not consider others to have gone insane."

"Did I ever say you had gone insane?"

"You implied it well enough," Eowyn said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "But that's okay, maybe I am insane."

"Oh? And why do you say that?"

Eowyn lifted her head and looked into Faramir's eyes. "Because....I keep having the strangest yearnings to do this." And then she kissed him deeply, losing herself in the moment.

When they parted, Faramir's eyes had widened and he looked quite amazed. "I must be insane too, because I have been having these selfsame yearnings."

"Well, we insane people must stick together."

Faramir nodded. "And stick together we shall." With that, he kissed the shieldmaiden, taking his arms around her and pulling her closer.

He pulled away slowly and looked deeply into Eowyn's eyes. "And so....you have not chosen the way of solitude?"

Eowyn shook her head. "I could not live alone....a very wise person told me that no one should have to, and I believed him."

"I'm very glad you did." He took Eowyn's hand and they retreated into her house together.

A/N: I may continue this, I'm not sure yet....