Disclaimer: Nothing is mine! All Tolkien's!

Author's Note: Sorry it's been so incredibly long since my last update. I've been so incredibly busy, and when I sat down to write, my computer kind of, um, exploded. So, basically, now that it's back in one piece, I can continue. Thanks for your patience! All your reviews help so much. And maybe, just maybe, I'll move a little faster next time if you review.... Pretty please? In any case, enjoy! This one, besides being stalled by computer troubles, was a bit difficult to write, so, I hope it turned out decently...

Chapter Eight: Come What May

"Rhean, move, now!" I demanded sharply, trying to push past the older woman. Still tough in her old age, she blocked the doorway with her stocky body. Her eyes caught mine momentarily, and I shuddered to see them filled with pleading.

"Lady, you do not know... you cannot go in there!" she said, making sure to keep herself between the doorknob and my hand at all times. "The healers cannot be disturbed, and you would only get in the way!"

"I'm a healer now too, or did you forget? You helped train me yourself! I can help, so MOVE!"

Pushed and prodded, the ancient matriarch refused to budge. "Lady Eowyn, you do not want to go in there," she said warningly. Her voice was sharp, her features hard.

"He's my husband, for God sakes, let me IN!" Despite my angry words, I felt helpless, trapped. Why couldn't I go in? What was the use of having a soldier, crying and upset, come to my chambers to inform me of Faramir's injuries if I couldn't even see him?

"That's precisely why you can't go in, Lady, he's your husband. He's too badly wounded for you to be in there now. You'd get upset, get faint, and in your condition," she said, pointing at my swollen belly, "being anything less than comfortable would be bad for the child!"

I threw back my hair and straightened my back, looking as haughty as I could. "I am a shieldmaiden of Rohan; I fear nothing! I will not swoon, nor will I panic. You will move now, Rhean, or I will have the guards do it for you!"

She sighed and looked down at the ground, slumping a little. "He's very badly hurt, Lady, but if you insist, I must let you." She turned her eyes up to me again. They glimmered with tears, and for a moment, my resolve crumbled. I had never seen Rhean as anything but the paragon of strength, and it just now occurred to me how bad Faramir's condition could be.

"Please, Rhean, I must see him. If I don't try to help, I will never forgive myself. I must do everything I can for him. It is as I said; I am a shieldmaiden, a daughter of kings, and I fear nothing. Please, come in with me, for we will need your skills."

She nodded, defeated, and turned to the door. Hand on the doorknob, she turned back to me for a moment. "His abdomen has been pierced, and there has been profuse bleeding. He is suffering from fever, and he cries out for his wife, his brother, his father, and mostly, his mother. As we understand, he was often sick as an infant, so she would be the natural person to call for. Be prepared, Eowyn, not for your husband, but for a soldier, badly wounded and in dire need of aid."

My throat was suddenly tight beyond all imagining, but I nodded. Of everyone he had asked for, I was all that was left. I could not fail him.

Rhean pushed open the door, and suddenly the metallic odor of blood greeted me. My stomach turned and I gulped for air to keep my food down. A crowd of five healers was gathered around a bed, bent over their work, crying out instructions, working as quickly as they could. I stepped in, quietly, now hesitant and unsure of my decision. One woman turned to me and her mouth opened a little. "Lady Eowyn, we did not think it wise that you should be here..."

"She's a strong girl, a good healer, and it's her duty as wife to care for her husband," Rhean snapped, slamming the door behind her. "How is he; has he changed?"

"He is doing a bit better, but since he was doing so poorly in the first place, it does not mean much," the woman, who was named Merrlyn, replied. "He is losing less blood, and I believe his pulse is more steady, but there is little more we can do."

"Every little bit helps, Merrlyn. We can reduce his fever, that'll help him more than anything now. Eowyn, get the herbs for the fever elixir... Eowyn?"

Merrlyn had moved aside and I found that I could see Faramir's face clearly. It was whiter than my own, lacking the usual golden glow of health and joy. His hair was matted, sticky with sweat. His lips were parted a little, and they moved slightly.

"He's talking; he's saying something!" I cried suddenly. "What is he trying to say? Rhean, what...?"

"Fever mumblings, child, nothing more. He isn't awake, and that's probably a good thing with how much pain he'd be in." The ancient healer grabbed my face and turned it to face hers. "You told me you'd be helpful, and you wouldn't panic. Now get me the herbs for the fever elixir."

I nodded dumbly, trying not to look over to the near- corpse that was my husband. My hands trembled as I reached for the kingsfoil; I forced them to stop. A sudden thought came to me, and I turned to Rhean.

"The king, we should send for the king! If nothing we do helps, he'll be able to! He's already saved him from the Black Breath; he can save him from a wound!"

Rhean nodded and touched my hand lightly. "They've thought of that, dear. As soon as the victory was won and they found the Prince like this, they sent someone to Minas Tirith in a hurry. It shouldn't be much longer before he arrives, if all goes well. We still need to help, Lady, so get that potion going!"

Once again I nodded, gathering the herbs at lightning speed. My mind tried to stray, but I could not let it. What if the king didn't get here in time? Of course he would. What if he couldn't help? He's the king, he would save him, no worry. What if Faramir died? That thought, most of all, had to be suppressed, but it still gnawed at my mind with a fierce hunger.

Once made, I tried to hand the elixir to Rhean, who was making a poultice beside me. She looked at me and sighed. "Take it to him, girl, maybe he'll know it's you and take it easier."

My hands began to tremble and my stomach turned again, but I muttered "Yes," all the same. I turned away from my table and walked slowly towards Faramir.

How lovely he had always seemed, even before I had allowed myself to fall in love with him. Even on his worst of days, he had a kind of glow that came from being kin to the highest race of men, and he always had a smile for me. His arms had always been strong and open, willing to hold and cherish. How I had found comfort in his eyes and in his embrace. Being close to him made me feel surrounded by some kind of shield of perfection, where nothing could harm us, not even time. And now, here he was, this beautiful creature wasted and wounded on a healer's bed. His arms looked weak, his eyes were shut tight, and his lips open as he silently mouthed names I could not discern. It was torture to stand there and see him, so close to death yet so close to me at the same time.

I reached out and stroked his cheek. I ran one finger over his lips and smiled softly when he moved. His eyes fluttered open and caught mine. I gave out a little cry of surprise, and all the healers looked up at me. They followed my stunned gaze downward, and gave a collective gasp when they saw him staring back at me.

"Eowyn..." he said softly, laboriously. His eyes darted frantically around my face, clouded with hurt. I remembered what Rhean had said about him being in pain, so I tilted his head so that he looked into my eyes.

"Faramir, I need you to drink this, it will help the pain. Please, try to drink it," I said, keeping my voice steady as possible. It was of no use; it still wavered.

He tilted his head against my cheek, and then looked back up at me, confused. "Mother...?" he said, trying to focus on my face.

I raised the vial to his lips and tilted it back. He took the medicine without question, though he swallowed with what seemed like great difficulty. The room was silent, and the healers watched in awe. "Yes Faramir," I said quietly, tears threatening to break free and stream down my face. "Yes, I'm here."

He smiled faintly, closing his eyes. Nuzzling his face against my hand, he let out a little sigh, and was quiet. The only sound in the room was that of his deep breaths. No one moved; no one spoke; no one took their eyes from the face of their beloved prince.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open and we all whirled, shaken from the moment. Elessar was there, looking as if he had rushed out of council and had ridden here in his regalia. His eyes went immediately to Faramir's face.

"Oh, great Steward and better friend, why has this tragedy befallen you?" he said, his voice filled with great sadness. He turned his eyes toward me, looking shocked. "Eowyn, perhaps you should not be here..."

"She gave him medicine; she touched him and he woke up for a moment," Rhean said. "She has helped revive him, if only for a bit."

Elessar kept his wide eyes on me. "He recognized you?" he inquired, sounding almost awed.

"I... I'm not sure. He called me Eowyn at first, then thought I was his mother," I said, holding my voice steady for the king.

"An understandable mistake. You look very much alike." Elessar took his eyes from me and focused on Faramir's wound. "Rhean, kingsfoil, and a hot blade to cauterize the wound. We will heal him yet."

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It had been an hour past dusk when I entered Faramir's room; it was now dawn. Elessar had cleaned and closed the wound, and the fever had subsided. The king now offered to escort me to my rooms. I refused, intent on staying near Faramir, but then he gave me a stern look and ordered me there.

"You are pregnant, Lady Eowyn, and while you may be capable of staying up all night and catching naps in a chair, your child needs a healthy, rested mother." I gave in, cradling my stomach gently, and giving Faramir one last tender stroke on the cheek. He had been given his own sickroom, overlooking a beautiful mountain vale. He was bandaged and tired looking, but better than when I had first seen him. Elessar turned away to lead me to my rooms and I gave my husband a quick kiss on the cheek before turning away, tears in my eyes.

"You've shown remarkable strength, Eowyn. There are few wives who could have stood seeing their husbands in such awful conditions," Elessar said with a slight smile.

"I could not have done nothing. He is my husband and I will care for him until I die." I thought a moment and added, "Which will be after him."

Elessar gave me a slightly puzzled look. "Eowyn, he is of the Numenorean race. He will live longer than you by many years. You cannot hope to outlive him."

"I do hope! I know I will, because I must! You heard him cry out, Elessar, you heard who he called for! His family- all dead! Must he have to live through my death too? Must he go on into old age knowing that there are none who still live to love him?"

"His people will love him. And I believe, Eowyn, that it would hurt him more to die first. He is a strong man of both mind and body. He could not stand to leave you alone; he believes that he could handle the grief better. It is not because you are a woman that he believes that, but it is because he has suffered so much loss already."

I gave the king a cold glare. "I have lost my mother, my father, my uncle, my cousin! I have lost as much as he has!"

"And he knows that. He wishes you to suffer no more loss."

"But I wish the same for him! This isn't fair, for one of us will have to win, and one will lose. There is no escaping it!" I stopped and turned my face away, tears of frustration in my eyes.

"It isn't a matter of winning or losing. When it comes down to it, neither of you can decide. What use is there in talking about death when there is soon to be life?"

I cradled my belly protectively. "Yes, life," I mused quietly. "If it weren't for you, he wouldn't have known a father. Thank you."

"It's my duty as a king and friend. Had Faramir died, I would have been most grieved."

I looked up at Elessar, a look of expectation stamped on my features. "Then he will live for certain?" I inquired.

He nodded slowly. "I am almost positive of it. However, if it's no trouble, I would like to stay until he comes around and is doing better."

"Of course, it is no problem at all. Rather, it is an honor. If you would like, you may send for the queen as well."

Elessar gave a small smile. "I think I will do that, right after I finish walking you to your rooms. Speaking of which, I believe we have arrived there." He stopped in front of the heavy oak doors and grinned. "Thank you, Eowyn, for being such a marvelous help. Faramir drew strength from you; your presence helped him survive."

"Thank you for knowing how to save him. I'm forever grateful to you." I turned and pushed open the door, then paused. "I... I don't know what I would have done, had he died."

"Neither would I. Goodnight, Eowyn, or should I say, good morning." He gave a small bow and took off down the hall, his footsteps echoing for ages.

A fire had been lit in the bedroom, and I warmed my hands near it gratefully. I moved to the bed and crawled under the covers. I lay on my back for what seemed like hours before my eyes felt heavy. Thoughts were spinning through my mind rapidly, about Faramir, about the baby, about my life. Suddenly, a memory popped into my head, something Faramir had said to me months ago.

"Come what may, Eowyn, we're going to have the best lives we could have ever hoped for. No matter what happens, I'm going to love you, care for you, and build you a perfect life."

"It has been perfect since the day you arrived in it," I had responded. "As long as you never leave, it will be all I could dream of."

Tears on my cheeks and soaking the pillow I responded to him in my mind. Come what may, I was going to make sure he was never hurt again. Come what may.