Chapter Six

Faramir felt slightly devious, and slightly bad. He had in fact lied to Eowyn. He was off duty the rest of the day, but there were more important matters to attend to.

He walked down the bustling streets of Minas Tirith, nodding to those he recognized. He came at last to a small shop, with a sign reading, "Authentic Elven Jewels," outside, written in the common tongue and in elvish. He stepped inside to find Arwen sitting there.

"How is it you are always one step ahead of me?" he asked.

"I know you," she replied simply. "And what you seek. And I thought I might lend my advice."

"I certainly need it. I had several custom made, because I could not decide on one. I was hoping after I saw them I might be able to choose better." Faramir walked up to the shopkeeper who had just gotten out three rings.

He eyed them again, and sighed. "I cannot decide, I like them all, and I know she'll like them all."

Arwen walked over to them and looked at each closely. "This one," she said, picking one up. It was wrought in gold, with two swords crossing at the center. The blades of the swords were roses.

"I thought a lot about this one, but it seemed kind of violent. I don't know if she'll want a violent engagement ring."

"She does not see it as violent," Arwen said, "She grew up around it, it will mean a lot to her than you thought to include something that was so important to her. She prides herself on her fighting."

"You're right," Faramir decided. "I'll take this one," he told the shopkeeper, and he handed over the proper amount of money. "She's going to bankrupt me, first the dress and now this."

"You love it," Arwen said with a smile.

"Yes, I do," Faramir said, smiling. "I'm going to go find where they've stashed my clothing for tonight....you wouldn't happen to know where that'd be, would you?"

"They put it in your quarters in the castle," Arwen said. "I told them to give them to Eowyn because you're over there more anyway, but sometimes sentries are terribly dense."

Faramir laughed at that, and the two headed back for the castle.

The sun was just beginning to set, and Eowyn decided she was ready. Though with difficulty, she had managed to get her dress on alone. She had elaborately braided her hair in tradition of the women of Rohan, as she always did – it made her stand apart from the women of Gondor. Now all there was to do was waiting.

She tapped her fingers impatiently on the table. She was not good at waiting.

A soft knock came at her door. "Come in," Eowyn said, wondering who it was. Faramir never knocked....

A rather sheepish face appeared in the crack of the door. "M'lady?"

"Merry!" Eowyn said with a laugh. "Do come in!"

"They told me to wait for the feast, but I just couldn't," he said, smiling. A pretty hobbit followed him, with bright red curly hair and emerald eyes. "This is Estella, my wife."

"It's an honor to meet someone who could tame such a hobbit," Eowyn said.

Estella laughed, a crystal like laugh that seemed to fill the room. "Well it took a lot, I must say."

"I bet it did," Eowyn laughed. "You're both looking exceptional this evening."

"Thanks," said Merry. "You're not looking too bad yerself. Are you....well I don't mean to be rude....but are you coming....to the feast with anyone?"

"Yes as a matter of fact," she said. "Faramir."

"You and Faramir....yes, you would make a good couple," Merry said wisely. "Well we'd best be heading over, Pip won't know what to do without me."

"Doesn't he have someone now?"

"Yes, he has Diamond, she's just as bad as he is," Merry said, smiling. "Her and Estella are like me an' Pip. We'll see you this evening."

"See you."

The two left. It was almost entirely dark now, where was Faramir....

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and in walked Faramir, dressed in his doublet with the White Tree of Gondor on the front. "You look amazing," he said immediately. "I'm sorry I wasn't earlier, I kept getting waylaid by random hobbits...."

"That's fine," Eowyn stood up and took his hand. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," he said, sounding a little worried.

"Something wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing...."

Eowyn shrugged and the two left her house to head for the dining hall in the palace. They walked together through the familiar corridors until the sounds of imminent celebration came to their ears.

Upon entering the dining hall, Eowyn's eyes were filled with familiar faces. Merry, Pippin, Samwise, Legolas, Gimli, and...."

"Eomer!" she cried, and ran to embrace her brother.

Eomer smiled. "Rohan has missed you."

"As I have missed it, but I am not ready to return," Eowyn said truthfully. "Someday I shall."

"I hope so," he said. "Oh? And is this who you have come with?"

Faramir walked over to them. "Yes, you know Faramir, of course."

Eomer nodded. "Have you been taking good care of her?"

"The best I can," Faramir replied. "Better care than I take of myself, I know that for certain."

At this point, a voice was heard above the gathering masses.

"As much as I know you'd all love to talk all night," said Aragorn from the head of the room., "I know you'd also love to feast, so with that in mind, let's start eating."

There was much cheering, especially from the section of the room where the halflings were standing. They all found seats, and Eowyn found herself between Eomer and Faramir, her two favorite men in the world. She smiled. It would be a good night.