A/N: And we're tying up all the loose ends here and now.

Chapter Seven

After all of them had eaten more than was exactly good for them, they all sat back in their dinner chairs, talking of adventures of the past. The servers had begun to bring out more champagne in beautifully crafted elven glasses. After a good half-hour of reminiscing, Aragorn stood up with his glass.

"I have something to say that I have needed to say for a long time," he said to the crowd. They fell silent. "I have been slightly ill to a dear friend of mine as of late, and I would like to apologize for that." His eyes landed on Eowyn. "I am sorry I mistook your intentions. I see now you have a love whom you care for deeply. I am truly happy for you. My friends, to Eowyn!"

There was massive cheering and everyone drank deeply. Eowyn was stunned. She had not expected that, in fact, she had almost forgotten she was at odds with him. It would be impossible to make things more perfect right now....

Then Merry stood, and proposed a toast to Eomer, and then Pippin to Faramir, and Gimli to Legolas, and vice versa. Things were about to get out of hand, when....

Faramir stood. "I do not have a toast, but I do have something I must express." He pushed his chair aside and knelt beside Eowyn. "I would not be able to continue living if I did not think I could be yours forever. Eowyn, my dear Lady of Rohan, would you be my wife?" And then he held out a beautiful ring, with swords as roses, and looked to her hopefully.

"I will."

The official betrothal ceremony was held the next day in the courtyard of Minas Tirith. Eomer was to speak, as customary, as she had no father to do as such for her.

"Hear all my guests, fair folk of many realms, such as that have never been before gathered together," he began. "Faramir, Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien, asks that Eowyn, Lady of Rohan should be his wife, and she grants it full willing. Therefore they shall be shown before you all!"

And Faramir and Eowyn stood forth and set hand in hand, and all rejoiced and were glad.

"Thus," said Eomer, "Is the friendship of the Mark and of Gondor bound with a new bond, and the more do I rejoice."

"Thou are not greedy, Eomer," said Aragorn, "to give Gondor the fairest thing in your realm."

Eowyn looked in Aragorn's eyes. "Wish me joy, my liege-lord and healer."

"I have wished thee joy since first I saw thee. It heals my heart to see thee now in bliss," he replied.

The wedding was small and held only a few days later, so the hobbits could attend. Samwise could not afford to stay gone long, as he was mayor of the Shire. Eowyn wore a simple white dress, and Faramir wore his steward's uniform. Aragorn, as King, officiated, and the only guests were those at the feast previously.

"My friends," Aragorn said. "This ceremony matters naught, for we know that these two love each other already, and already behave as thus married, for that is how they feel in their hearts. And so with this, I ask, do you, Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien, take the Lady of Rohan to be yours?"

And Faramir replied, "I do."

"And does the Lady of Rohan consent to this?"

"I do," Eowyn replied.

"Then as King of Gondor I pronounce the union of these two individuals, a symbol of friendship between the Mark and Gondor, as thus it may be."

There was cheering....but Eowyn did not hear it. She kissed Faramir, and drank in the glory of the moment.

Then the heart of Eowyn changed, or else at last she understood it. And suddenly her winter passed, and the sun shone on her. –J.R.R. Tolkien, Return of the King