Disclaimer: I don't own anything, it's all Tolkien's, I swear!
Chapter Four- Headaches
Night had fallen on yet another day and still I was alone. The grand bed seemed even bigger when there was only my body there to fill it. I laid my head on the pillows furthest from the window and looked out sadly into the night. Were Faramir there, he would have been sitting on his edge of the bed, talking lightly of the days' events, and then moving on to speak of our new home in Emyn Arnen. It was there that he was now, helping to supervise the construction of the new House of the Stewards.
He had been gone for a week, and I actually wasn't expecting him for another few days, but this was the first time since our marriage that we had been apart. After those first couple weeks when we had basically lived off of each other, rarely even leaving our apartments, we decided that it would be best to start the building of our own house, outside of the city. Elessar had given him some the materials needed, promised to send more if the when arose, and Faramir was off.
He was not so far away, only a few hours' ride at most, but he had suggested I used our time apart to spend time with the Queen and start my apprenticeship in the Houses of Healing. I did just that, being more at ease with the latter than the former. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the Houses, for I knew that somewhere, sometime, knowing these skills could come in handy. Talking with Arwen had been a different matter altogether. It was intimidating enough, her being the queen and all, but as an elf, she was all the more foreign to me. She seemed so educated and wise, and in her presence I felt insignificant and ugly, like a peasant beside a prince.
Three days after Faramir's departure, I had finally gotten up the nerve to approach the Queen. I had been eating luncheon with her and Elessar every day, and we would talk of little things, such as our differing customs and the business of the Citadel. However, on this third day, Elessar excused himself early to attend to some matter concerning the guards, and Arwen and I were left alone. We sat in silence for a while, until I finally decided to speak up.
"My Lady, would you like to go through the gardens with me for a while?" I said quietly, nervously. "It has been dreadfully lonely without Faramir, and I am tired of walking by myself."
She had nodded and smiled. "Of course, that's a lovely idea. I have been inside with Elessar much in the past few days, and it would be nice to go out for air."
And so we had preceded out of the Citadel and into the gardens, making small talk the entire way. Eventually, she asked me to tell her something of her childhood and I obliged, telling her of Theoden and Eomer, and how my parents had died, and how lovely Edoras was in the spring. I told her of some adventure my brother and I had gotten into and I was surprised when she laughed aloud. She was even more beautiful then, and I felt silly, telling these stories to such a graceful and intelligent elf. I admitted this, rather hesitantly, and she laughed again.
"No, please, I would not have you stop. My own childhood was so concerned with learning lore and caring for my family after my mother's passing, that I had little time for merriment," she said, leaning over a rampart and looking down over the city.
"Oh, I did not know that your mother was dead. I never thought of Lord Elrond as having a wife," I said simply, not really knowing how to respond.
Arwen smiled softly and turned to me. "My mother is not dead, she has passed. I forgot that men use that term to refer to those who are no longer living. I meant that she has left, gone over the Sea to the Undying Lands, where all her hurt and pains shall be eased. That was many, many years ago, and always have I wanted to see her again. Alas, I gave up that chance when I fell in love and married Elessar. Now I am bound to these lands, and never shall I cross the Sea to join her." She placed a pale silken hand on my cheek and sighed. "You too know the pain of leaving your people behind. I suppose we have more in common than I had thought. Yes, we both have given up places of honor among our people to marry the men we love."
"I fear though, My Lady, that your loss is greater than mine," I said quietly. I had never thought of the Queen and I being similar before, and I thought it would be out of my place to acknowledge it now.
"Who can tell? All will be decided at the end of days, and all shall be reunited again. Now, I would like to turn to happier things again. Tell me more of yourself Eowyn, for I find your culture fascinating," Arwen said with a warm smile.
"My Queen, I find it hard to believe that you find my life so interesting, when it is you who is so much more intriguing. I am sorry, but I would ask that you tell me a little of yourself as well," I said boldly, hoping she did not think me too impudent.
She just laughed again, and I was reminded of the gentle trickle of water, soothing and light. "Why, my lady Eowyn, I admire your intrepid nature. I would be happy to return the favor: A story for a story!"
"Why thank you, my Queen. I do this in part for my Lord Faramir. He would not forgive me if I passed up a chance to learn of the elves straight from one of their own."
"Well, if I knew that Lord Faramir was so interested in our history, I would have told him anything he wished. He is not so bold as you in some aspects of life, and I am not surprised he did not ask. However, I do believe the both of you compliment each other very well, and it makes me happy to know that you are content."
We continued talking for most of the afternoon, and by the time that Elessar found us, just before dinner actually, we were on a first name basis, and I realized that she knew more of my past than my own husband.
I was reflecting on all of my conversations with the queen when I heard a clatter from the hall. It was distant, the bedchamber being located far from the main door, but it was still loud enough for me to hear the name "Faramir" amidst all the noise. Immediately I was up, pulling my night robe tightly about my bed clothes as I hurried through the apartment.
Flinging open the door, I was faced with a welcome sight. Faramir himself was standing there, with a young servant carrying his things. My husband smiled sheepishly at me and turned to the boy. "Put my things in this first room here, then leave us," he said kindly, gesturing towards the door.
"But, my Lord, your head." the boy began nervously.
"Nevermind that, just please do as I say," Faramir said, firmer this time. The boy nodded and I stepped aside as he dropped the bags carefully to the floor and departed. As he ran down the hall, Faramir stepped into the room, shut the door behind him, and turned to kiss me. I fell into his arms with relief and happiness, relishing in the pleasure he delivered to my senses. He smelled of musk and herbs, his kiss the flavor of light wine. It was with hesitancy that I let him pull his lips from mine and step from my embrace.
"You are early," I said, but I was not accusing, rather, I sounded enraptured. "Why are you home so soon?"
"The building goes well and I wanted to see you again," he said, stroking my cheek gently. "Is that a crime?"
"No, not at all, it is just strange. Especially since it is almost an hour past nightfall. And," I said, regarding him, "What was it that the boy was saying about your head?"
"Eowyn, my love, what is it I have done to earn your suspicions?" he said, sounding distressed. "Are you not glad to see me home?"
"Of course I am, Faramir, but. oh!"
"Oh, what?" he asked, but he already knew. He raised his hand to his temple, where a small trickle of blood had come from underneath his hair. He regarded his red fingertips casually and shrugged. "My horse was frightened by something in the dark, and she bucked. It did not hurt much, though everyone has fussed over it. Both the guards traveling with me, and then the servant boy, advised me to go to the Houses, but I wanted to come straight to you."
"But Faramir, you are bleeding! Come to the bedchambers and lay down, and let me look at it for you!" I ordered, pointing to the door.
He laughed and did as he was told. "I may assume, then, that you began your apprenticeship at the Houses?" he asked, sitting on the bed, looking bemused.
I sat beside him and brushed back his hair. Such lovely brownish red hair it was too, and for a moment, I envied my own husband. Then, I found the wound, right on his temple as I suspected, and stiffened. Indeed, it looked as if it had been bleeding for some time now, and I wondered if it was that deep.
"Fine, if you will not answer me, I will surely assume! Eowyn, really, it is not that bad!" he said, a touch of exasperation coming into his voice.
"I am sorry, Faramir, it is just that I wish no harm to come to you! Indeed I have been at the Houses, and have learned how dangerous small wounds can sometimes be!"
With a heavy sigh, Faramir pulled his head out of my grasp and laid back on the pillows. "I have been wounded many times before, my love, and this is not the worst! What my real illness is would be a lack of sleep! I found it hard to fall asleep without you there to keep me warm. It was the first time I ever had trouble taking my rest in Ithilien. I am very tired, and all I would like is to go to bed with you by my side." He looked up at me beseechingly. "Please, love, just lay here beside me for a while. I promise I'll even lay on one side so I don't get blood on the pillow."
His light hearted sarcasm, which would have normally made me laugh, instead made me burst into tears. Alarmed he sat up and cradled me in his arms. "What is it?" he asked, stroking my hair. "It is really not that bad! Tell me, Eowyn, what is wrong?"
"I do not like seeing people with head injuries!" I said through my tears. "It brings back painful memories, ones I do not want to recall. But they come back anyways!" I let my head fall onto his shoulder as another sob racked my body.
"It's okay, my dear, I understand that very well," he said softly. "The ones you would choose not to remember are the ones that burn themselves into you and are a part of you forever. Would you care to tell me, Eowyn, why this upsets you so?"
I pulled away from him and looked into his eyes. They were gray and full of understanding and sympathy. Had anyone else offered me this compassion, I may have rejected and scorned it, but from Faramir, it seemed right, and I could not deny him. He had experienced much that had hurt him as well, though he still chose to keep many things from me, locked behind doors without very good chains. Someday, I hoped I could destroy those chains and have him open himself to me, but I realized that I would have to let him do the same to me.
*****************
The sun was setting far off in the distance when Eowyn and Eomer first heard the calls. In the great hall of Meduseld, Eowyn found it hard to hear much of anything, what with the bustling of the people around her. It was too much for such a young girl. She much preferred being outside.
Her mother looked up in concern and frowned. "Theoden!" she called to her brother, the king. "Theoden, I did not expect the riders to be back so soon!"
"Neither did I," he said quietly, rising from the table, a look of puzzlement on his face. "I will return," he said simply, and left the hall.
Eowyn glanced over at her older brother. "What is happening, Eomer? Is Daddy home already?"
Both her mother and her sibling shot her withering looks. She sighed and returned to her soup, eating with all the gusto of a starved horse. She did not bother to notice how her family had stopped their own supper.
A crash of opening doors and the clamor of voices suddenly reached her ears. She looked over the top of the table (a great feat for one so small) and saw four men carrying another, wounded and bleeding, quickly through the hall. The man was bleeding profusely from the temple.
Eowyn was astounded. She had simply never seen so much blood in her whole life, let alone coming form a person! "Eomer, isn't that frightening? Eomer?"
Her brother had gone cold and stiff. As had her mother. Suddenly, the older women let out a great wail and leapt from her seat, following the wounded man's train into another room.
"What is wrong? Eomer, answer me!!! Eomer!" She was a girl of little patience and, exasperated, she punched her brother in the arm.
"Shut your mouth, Eowyn, are you blind? Or just stupid?" he hissed, finally turning to look at her.
"Neither, of course!" she snapped in her child's voice. "What is the problem? Men are wounded all the time, even though that poor man was bleeding an awful lot. Will he die, Eomer?"
Eomer's mouth dropped as he regarded his sister. Tears sprang into his eyes and he embraced her. "You had better hope not," he said, his voice strained.
Eowyn did not like being hugged, especially in public, so she beat her brother off. "Why? Why am I hoping that? Why are you crying?"
"Did you not see who that was?" he choked, turning pink with frustration and sadness.
"No!!! No, I didn't!! Stop playing with me and tell me." She had looked past Eomer to see her father's best friend standing beside the door they had taken the bleeding man into. The man who accompanied her father everywhere was standing beside the door and crying.
It was then that the little Eowyn knew, and with a wail, she announced her newfound understanding to the world.
*******************************
"He had been shot by orcs and fallen off of his horse. The arrow wound itself was not so dreadful, but he hit his head on a rock as he fell. He did not live to see the morning."
I had fallen so that my head was cradled in Faramir's lap and I was looking up at him. He had sat through my story at listened with great attentiveness, watching my eyes always. I felt strangely calm, even though I had just recounted my father's death for the very first time in my life.
"Do you understand now, why I did not like seeing you bleeding from the head like that?" I asked, blinking back a stray tear.
"Yes, I understand perfectly now. It took great courage for you to tell me that, Eowyn. It always takes courage to bring up the past," he said, stroking my cheek. "I am a great coward, then."
"You are not, my love, not at all. Your losses are more recent then mine, and you have been so caught up in everything that you have not had enough time to come to terms with them," I said softly.
"Yes, that could be it," he said quietly. "Would you like to bind my head, or at least clean it? Maybe it would make you feel better, to know that you can take care of me."
"Yes, of course, love," I said. I helped him to his feet and brought him into our bath chambers, where I used a little jug of fresh water to clean out the wound. He was silent through the whole thing, though he tensed each time I touched it. "Does it hurt much?" I asked, drying it off with a soft towel.
"Only when you touched it. It is to be expected," he said softly.
"Well, I'm finished now. You can go to bed now if you wish," I said, and he nodded. I put away the jug and hung up the towel as he went into the bedroom to change. As I crawled into bed, he finished pulling on his night shirt and sat beside me.
"Faramir?" I asked, watching him. His face looked more downcast than it had earlier, and I knew he was lost in thought once again.
"Yes, love?"
"Will you tell me your stories someday? I feel as if I know nothing about you," I said, reaching for his hand. It was dirty from his week in Ithilien, but still softer than most men's, and gentler.
"Yes, Eowyn, I promise, just. not tonight? Please?"
His voice rang with such unspoken pain that I could not press the matter further. I wanted to weep just listening to his pleading, but I did not. I just tugged his hand.
"No, not tonight. Whenever you wish. Now, love, come to bed. I have missed you much this week."
He smiled again. "Of course you did. Let me show you how much I have missed you as well."
Chapter Four- Headaches
Night had fallen on yet another day and still I was alone. The grand bed seemed even bigger when there was only my body there to fill it. I laid my head on the pillows furthest from the window and looked out sadly into the night. Were Faramir there, he would have been sitting on his edge of the bed, talking lightly of the days' events, and then moving on to speak of our new home in Emyn Arnen. It was there that he was now, helping to supervise the construction of the new House of the Stewards.
He had been gone for a week, and I actually wasn't expecting him for another few days, but this was the first time since our marriage that we had been apart. After those first couple weeks when we had basically lived off of each other, rarely even leaving our apartments, we decided that it would be best to start the building of our own house, outside of the city. Elessar had given him some the materials needed, promised to send more if the when arose, and Faramir was off.
He was not so far away, only a few hours' ride at most, but he had suggested I used our time apart to spend time with the Queen and start my apprenticeship in the Houses of Healing. I did just that, being more at ease with the latter than the former. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the Houses, for I knew that somewhere, sometime, knowing these skills could come in handy. Talking with Arwen had been a different matter altogether. It was intimidating enough, her being the queen and all, but as an elf, she was all the more foreign to me. She seemed so educated and wise, and in her presence I felt insignificant and ugly, like a peasant beside a prince.
Three days after Faramir's departure, I had finally gotten up the nerve to approach the Queen. I had been eating luncheon with her and Elessar every day, and we would talk of little things, such as our differing customs and the business of the Citadel. However, on this third day, Elessar excused himself early to attend to some matter concerning the guards, and Arwen and I were left alone. We sat in silence for a while, until I finally decided to speak up.
"My Lady, would you like to go through the gardens with me for a while?" I said quietly, nervously. "It has been dreadfully lonely without Faramir, and I am tired of walking by myself."
She had nodded and smiled. "Of course, that's a lovely idea. I have been inside with Elessar much in the past few days, and it would be nice to go out for air."
And so we had preceded out of the Citadel and into the gardens, making small talk the entire way. Eventually, she asked me to tell her something of her childhood and I obliged, telling her of Theoden and Eomer, and how my parents had died, and how lovely Edoras was in the spring. I told her of some adventure my brother and I had gotten into and I was surprised when she laughed aloud. She was even more beautiful then, and I felt silly, telling these stories to such a graceful and intelligent elf. I admitted this, rather hesitantly, and she laughed again.
"No, please, I would not have you stop. My own childhood was so concerned with learning lore and caring for my family after my mother's passing, that I had little time for merriment," she said, leaning over a rampart and looking down over the city.
"Oh, I did not know that your mother was dead. I never thought of Lord Elrond as having a wife," I said simply, not really knowing how to respond.
Arwen smiled softly and turned to me. "My mother is not dead, she has passed. I forgot that men use that term to refer to those who are no longer living. I meant that she has left, gone over the Sea to the Undying Lands, where all her hurt and pains shall be eased. That was many, many years ago, and always have I wanted to see her again. Alas, I gave up that chance when I fell in love and married Elessar. Now I am bound to these lands, and never shall I cross the Sea to join her." She placed a pale silken hand on my cheek and sighed. "You too know the pain of leaving your people behind. I suppose we have more in common than I had thought. Yes, we both have given up places of honor among our people to marry the men we love."
"I fear though, My Lady, that your loss is greater than mine," I said quietly. I had never thought of the Queen and I being similar before, and I thought it would be out of my place to acknowledge it now.
"Who can tell? All will be decided at the end of days, and all shall be reunited again. Now, I would like to turn to happier things again. Tell me more of yourself Eowyn, for I find your culture fascinating," Arwen said with a warm smile.
"My Queen, I find it hard to believe that you find my life so interesting, when it is you who is so much more intriguing. I am sorry, but I would ask that you tell me a little of yourself as well," I said boldly, hoping she did not think me too impudent.
She just laughed again, and I was reminded of the gentle trickle of water, soothing and light. "Why, my lady Eowyn, I admire your intrepid nature. I would be happy to return the favor: A story for a story!"
"Why thank you, my Queen. I do this in part for my Lord Faramir. He would not forgive me if I passed up a chance to learn of the elves straight from one of their own."
"Well, if I knew that Lord Faramir was so interested in our history, I would have told him anything he wished. He is not so bold as you in some aspects of life, and I am not surprised he did not ask. However, I do believe the both of you compliment each other very well, and it makes me happy to know that you are content."
We continued talking for most of the afternoon, and by the time that Elessar found us, just before dinner actually, we were on a first name basis, and I realized that she knew more of my past than my own husband.
I was reflecting on all of my conversations with the queen when I heard a clatter from the hall. It was distant, the bedchamber being located far from the main door, but it was still loud enough for me to hear the name "Faramir" amidst all the noise. Immediately I was up, pulling my night robe tightly about my bed clothes as I hurried through the apartment.
Flinging open the door, I was faced with a welcome sight. Faramir himself was standing there, with a young servant carrying his things. My husband smiled sheepishly at me and turned to the boy. "Put my things in this first room here, then leave us," he said kindly, gesturing towards the door.
"But, my Lord, your head." the boy began nervously.
"Nevermind that, just please do as I say," Faramir said, firmer this time. The boy nodded and I stepped aside as he dropped the bags carefully to the floor and departed. As he ran down the hall, Faramir stepped into the room, shut the door behind him, and turned to kiss me. I fell into his arms with relief and happiness, relishing in the pleasure he delivered to my senses. He smelled of musk and herbs, his kiss the flavor of light wine. It was with hesitancy that I let him pull his lips from mine and step from my embrace.
"You are early," I said, but I was not accusing, rather, I sounded enraptured. "Why are you home so soon?"
"The building goes well and I wanted to see you again," he said, stroking my cheek gently. "Is that a crime?"
"No, not at all, it is just strange. Especially since it is almost an hour past nightfall. And," I said, regarding him, "What was it that the boy was saying about your head?"
"Eowyn, my love, what is it I have done to earn your suspicions?" he said, sounding distressed. "Are you not glad to see me home?"
"Of course I am, Faramir, but. oh!"
"Oh, what?" he asked, but he already knew. He raised his hand to his temple, where a small trickle of blood had come from underneath his hair. He regarded his red fingertips casually and shrugged. "My horse was frightened by something in the dark, and she bucked. It did not hurt much, though everyone has fussed over it. Both the guards traveling with me, and then the servant boy, advised me to go to the Houses, but I wanted to come straight to you."
"But Faramir, you are bleeding! Come to the bedchambers and lay down, and let me look at it for you!" I ordered, pointing to the door.
He laughed and did as he was told. "I may assume, then, that you began your apprenticeship at the Houses?" he asked, sitting on the bed, looking bemused.
I sat beside him and brushed back his hair. Such lovely brownish red hair it was too, and for a moment, I envied my own husband. Then, I found the wound, right on his temple as I suspected, and stiffened. Indeed, it looked as if it had been bleeding for some time now, and I wondered if it was that deep.
"Fine, if you will not answer me, I will surely assume! Eowyn, really, it is not that bad!" he said, a touch of exasperation coming into his voice.
"I am sorry, Faramir, it is just that I wish no harm to come to you! Indeed I have been at the Houses, and have learned how dangerous small wounds can sometimes be!"
With a heavy sigh, Faramir pulled his head out of my grasp and laid back on the pillows. "I have been wounded many times before, my love, and this is not the worst! What my real illness is would be a lack of sleep! I found it hard to fall asleep without you there to keep me warm. It was the first time I ever had trouble taking my rest in Ithilien. I am very tired, and all I would like is to go to bed with you by my side." He looked up at me beseechingly. "Please, love, just lay here beside me for a while. I promise I'll even lay on one side so I don't get blood on the pillow."
His light hearted sarcasm, which would have normally made me laugh, instead made me burst into tears. Alarmed he sat up and cradled me in his arms. "What is it?" he asked, stroking my hair. "It is really not that bad! Tell me, Eowyn, what is wrong?"
"I do not like seeing people with head injuries!" I said through my tears. "It brings back painful memories, ones I do not want to recall. But they come back anyways!" I let my head fall onto his shoulder as another sob racked my body.
"It's okay, my dear, I understand that very well," he said softly. "The ones you would choose not to remember are the ones that burn themselves into you and are a part of you forever. Would you care to tell me, Eowyn, why this upsets you so?"
I pulled away from him and looked into his eyes. They were gray and full of understanding and sympathy. Had anyone else offered me this compassion, I may have rejected and scorned it, but from Faramir, it seemed right, and I could not deny him. He had experienced much that had hurt him as well, though he still chose to keep many things from me, locked behind doors without very good chains. Someday, I hoped I could destroy those chains and have him open himself to me, but I realized that I would have to let him do the same to me.
*****************
The sun was setting far off in the distance when Eowyn and Eomer first heard the calls. In the great hall of Meduseld, Eowyn found it hard to hear much of anything, what with the bustling of the people around her. It was too much for such a young girl. She much preferred being outside.
Her mother looked up in concern and frowned. "Theoden!" she called to her brother, the king. "Theoden, I did not expect the riders to be back so soon!"
"Neither did I," he said quietly, rising from the table, a look of puzzlement on his face. "I will return," he said simply, and left the hall.
Eowyn glanced over at her older brother. "What is happening, Eomer? Is Daddy home already?"
Both her mother and her sibling shot her withering looks. She sighed and returned to her soup, eating with all the gusto of a starved horse. She did not bother to notice how her family had stopped their own supper.
A crash of opening doors and the clamor of voices suddenly reached her ears. She looked over the top of the table (a great feat for one so small) and saw four men carrying another, wounded and bleeding, quickly through the hall. The man was bleeding profusely from the temple.
Eowyn was astounded. She had simply never seen so much blood in her whole life, let alone coming form a person! "Eomer, isn't that frightening? Eomer?"
Her brother had gone cold and stiff. As had her mother. Suddenly, the older women let out a great wail and leapt from her seat, following the wounded man's train into another room.
"What is wrong? Eomer, answer me!!! Eomer!" She was a girl of little patience and, exasperated, she punched her brother in the arm.
"Shut your mouth, Eowyn, are you blind? Or just stupid?" he hissed, finally turning to look at her.
"Neither, of course!" she snapped in her child's voice. "What is the problem? Men are wounded all the time, even though that poor man was bleeding an awful lot. Will he die, Eomer?"
Eomer's mouth dropped as he regarded his sister. Tears sprang into his eyes and he embraced her. "You had better hope not," he said, his voice strained.
Eowyn did not like being hugged, especially in public, so she beat her brother off. "Why? Why am I hoping that? Why are you crying?"
"Did you not see who that was?" he choked, turning pink with frustration and sadness.
"No!!! No, I didn't!! Stop playing with me and tell me." She had looked past Eomer to see her father's best friend standing beside the door they had taken the bleeding man into. The man who accompanied her father everywhere was standing beside the door and crying.
It was then that the little Eowyn knew, and with a wail, she announced her newfound understanding to the world.
*******************************
"He had been shot by orcs and fallen off of his horse. The arrow wound itself was not so dreadful, but he hit his head on a rock as he fell. He did not live to see the morning."
I had fallen so that my head was cradled in Faramir's lap and I was looking up at him. He had sat through my story at listened with great attentiveness, watching my eyes always. I felt strangely calm, even though I had just recounted my father's death for the very first time in my life.
"Do you understand now, why I did not like seeing you bleeding from the head like that?" I asked, blinking back a stray tear.
"Yes, I understand perfectly now. It took great courage for you to tell me that, Eowyn. It always takes courage to bring up the past," he said, stroking my cheek. "I am a great coward, then."
"You are not, my love, not at all. Your losses are more recent then mine, and you have been so caught up in everything that you have not had enough time to come to terms with them," I said softly.
"Yes, that could be it," he said quietly. "Would you like to bind my head, or at least clean it? Maybe it would make you feel better, to know that you can take care of me."
"Yes, of course, love," I said. I helped him to his feet and brought him into our bath chambers, where I used a little jug of fresh water to clean out the wound. He was silent through the whole thing, though he tensed each time I touched it. "Does it hurt much?" I asked, drying it off with a soft towel.
"Only when you touched it. It is to be expected," he said softly.
"Well, I'm finished now. You can go to bed now if you wish," I said, and he nodded. I put away the jug and hung up the towel as he went into the bedroom to change. As I crawled into bed, he finished pulling on his night shirt and sat beside me.
"Faramir?" I asked, watching him. His face looked more downcast than it had earlier, and I knew he was lost in thought once again.
"Yes, love?"
"Will you tell me your stories someday? I feel as if I know nothing about you," I said, reaching for his hand. It was dirty from his week in Ithilien, but still softer than most men's, and gentler.
"Yes, Eowyn, I promise, just. not tonight? Please?"
His voice rang with such unspoken pain that I could not press the matter further. I wanted to weep just listening to his pleading, but I did not. I just tugged his hand.
"No, not tonight. Whenever you wish. Now, love, come to bed. I have missed you much this week."
He smiled again. "Of course you did. Let me show you how much I have missed you as well."