Over the next two months Éowyn found it extraordinarily difficult to even traverse the hallways of the castle. Though she certainly had no desire to go out into the frigid winter that had laid claim to Gondor, she detested being kept to her bed, even if it was near impossible for her to rise from it. Faramir did all he could to keep her spirits up, and in two months time he had told her more tales than she had ever thought possible. He began to think that maybe if he could teach her to read in a couple of languages they might have a lot more in common.
Time came and went and quickly as healers did to and from the Citadel. One day the Master healer came to Faramir and insisted that his wife be brought to the Houses on the 6th level before the day was out. He was certain that she would be delivered before the week was out. Suddenly it all caught up to Faramir and for the next three days solid, the young man did nothing but pace his study, his father's study, the Hall of Kings, the corridors, everywhere he could walk off his highly nervous energy.
On the fourth day, the old woman Ioreth came hobbling in insisting to see the King at once. She had come for Aragorn's assistance in Éowyn's delivery. As Aragorn rushed down to the Houses, he realized that Ioreth was one of the women who had been there on the days Boromir and Faramir were born.
"Adar," Faramir said in an anxious whisper, catching up to his father just before he entered the Houses. "Please take good care of her."
Aragorn smiled compassionately to his son. "She will receive no less care than the wife of the previous Steward received, ion-nín."
Though Aragorn's reassurance comforted Faramir greatly and he knew if anyone could ease his wife's suffering it was he, when he heard Éowyn's excruciating cries he shuddered deeply.
Inside the houses it was little better. Though Éowyn was a strong woman, her pregnancy had taken much toll on her strength and Aragorn and the midwives of the city had much difficulty keeping her going. With Finduilas it had been a simple matter of keeping the pain at bay. Whereas Éowyn could bear up with the pain, it seemed to being taking all of her energy and more. Aragorn was fraught not to let her faint, employing everything from Athelas to cold soaked sheets that the healers used to bring down severe fevers.
Aragorn scarcely took notice when his first grandchild finally came into the world, at that moment he was in total healer mode and it only registered to him that Éowyn was going to need all the more help with the second birth. It was another ten minutes before she had the strength to give life to her second child. She looked her twin child for just a moment, a beautiful smile lighting her face as she saw that her two children were the image of the man she married, then she allowed her overexertion to take her into a deep and restful sleep for a while.
As much as Aragorn wanted to fall into the nearest bed and sleep for a week, the first thing he did was to make sure that Éowyn was only in need of sleep before going out to his frantic son.
Faramir froze when the door opened and his saw his father looking terribly fatigued. Under Aragorn's tiredness, Faramir saw a vague smile which lit a spark in Faramir's heart. Aragorn laughed quietly. "Are you going to just stand here or will you come in and meet your son and daughter?" he teased his own son.
As Aragorn lead him to Éowyn's room, the first thing Faramir wanted to know was if they were all three well.
"Perfectly," Aragorn replied. "The mother is sound asleep and will be for a while. She had a rough time of it, but she is fine."
"I'm not sure i did not have the rougher time. I thought my heart had stopped several times," Faramir said with a relieved smile. Concern swept his features when he realized that he would either find himself to be a new father... or a new foster father. "Father...," he whispered, not really sure he wanted to know. "They... are they -?"
Aragorn said not a word though and merely gave Faramir a nudge into the room where mother, son, and daughter rested. The world changed the moment Faramir laid eyes upon his children resting in the arms of one of Éowyn's nurses. His son just began to open his eyes as his father lifted him from the woman's arms. Holding this child, he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that these children were of his own flesh and blood, and when he looked into his sleepy son's grey Dúnedain eyes he wept, feeling that he almost saw his brother looking back at him. "Elboron," Faramir whispered peacefully.
Aragorn held Elboron while Faramir took his daughter in his arms and dismissed the nurse. "Her eyes are as blue as the sea, his as grey as a spring rain cloud," Aragorn mused.
Faramir wept yet anew holding his daughter. Her hair was as golden as her mother's and her fair feature's took after Faramir's Dol Amroth side. Faramir laid a delicate kiss to his daughter's forehead as he whispered, "Findiel."
"They are as perfect as you were, Faramir," Aragorn said, putting an arm around his son. "Do not leave these children for one moment, my son." There was a soft knock at the door and Aragorn bid the newcomer to enter. He smiled to see his wife come to greet Gondor's latest arrivals. "Arwen," he said quietly, with a idyllic smile, "I want one of these of our own."
Arwen mirrored Aragorn's smile as she looked at the now sleeping Elboron and Findiel. There was a new, different sparkle in her eyes that Aragorn was sure had not been there before. "Soon enough, meleth-nín," she said in a peaceful whisper.
As Faramir gently held his children, one on each arm, he realized unquestionably that while the past might never die, the future had the power to defeat it. And without even knowing it, the two little wonders Faramir held with such love he never knew possible had at once vanquished every wound, physical, emotional, and psychological, that Faramir had ever taken.
The End.
ooo
This story has been brought to you by:
The Faramir Appreciation League: Faramir, Captain of Gondor, Jeweled Hunter of Ithilien. Wilt though join the good quest to shine the hallowed light on the deserving Faramir of Gondor? Go to to find "faramirappreciationleague."
End of story quiz: Can anyone tell me what the chapter titles of chapters 12 through 60 (with exception of 14 and 25) have in common? Whoever can gets a story dedication of their choice.
A translation i forgot from last chapter (Elvish is so usual to me, sometimes i forget to help others): Dartho Stay, hold.
And a very happy birthday to Voldie. Many happy returns of the day!
Many, many, many thanks to all my dear readers! I hope for lots of end-of-story reviews.
I will see you all again in fanfic land after the 18th. Watch for more updates to "Immortal Beloved", a Glorfindel-Erestor fic especially for AM (i am toying with the idea of mild slash since those two are so obvious they've almost broken my gaydar... would that be too offensive?), and a sequel to this story.
Love to you all! Tenna' ento lye omenta! (Until next we meet)
