Lost Without You By Adri Category Romance/Angst/Alternate Universe Pairing Faramir/Eowyn Summary When Eowyn is captured by Sauron, only the One Ring can save her. So was there another motive for Faramir holding Frodo at Osgiliath? Disclaimer Please refer to previous chapters, standard disclaimer applies. Notes/Questions Thank you to everyone who everyone who reviewed last time!! :) I'm sorry for the huge delay. Anyway, I've noticed there's a lot of confusion. Alternate Universe stories simply mean the story does not follow the storyline of the book and/or movie exactly, and some of it is made up by me. And second, I am basing a lot of this story off of the movie version because it serves my plot better. However, I am planning to insert the book excerpts too (Houses of Healing *wink*) And I know Faramir doesn't know Eowyn during Two Towers. But that's the way it has to be if I want to write this storyline because Faramir meets Frodo during the Two Towers not Return of the King. Anyway, I am really sorry for confusing you, I hope you're enjoying it anyway!

Chapter 3 Evening, near the mountains underneath Cirith Ungol *Faramir is dreaming* Panic gripped Faramir as he and his beloved Eowyn ran on an open plain across Mordor. The creature Gollum had betrayed him, and now every Orc in Mordor was chasing after them. It was raining and thunder sounded in the distance. There was nowhere to run or hide, and Faramir felt the constant watch of the great eye on his back.

"Ah!" Eowyn yelped as she fell over her dress into a puddle of water. Her dress was ragged and torn, and there were large spots of blood all over her body from where she'd been injured. Faramir quickly turned to help her up. "I can't...Faramir...my body is broken...it won't move."

Faramir's eyes began to fill with tears. "I won't leave you. Please you must try..."

Eowyn smiled sadly. "If only I could. I'm so sorry..."

"Eowyn..."

The lovers quickly turned their heads toward the rapidly approaching Orcs. Alarm flooded Eowyn's voice. "Please...go...I'm not afraid to die. You can still make it."

Faramir mustered half a smile. "I won't leave you. If I am to meet my end, there's no one I'd rather die beside." Bending down, Faramir kissed her passionately for the last time.

Parting, the couple turned their attention to the Orcs, who aimed with their bows and arrows. Looking into each other's eyes one last time, they both shed tears.

And fell to the ground, struck.

Faramir glanced weakly at Eowyn whose tears glistened by the light of lightning. But her eyes paled and held no light- only darkness. With his expiring breath, Faramir whispered "Eowyn I'm sorry...I failed you. I love you..." before submitting himself to death.

*End Faramir's dream* Screaming, Faramir woke up to the puzzled face of Sam, who was cooking something.

"Captain Faramir?" Sam asked with concern.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Faramir smiled at the hobbit's kindness. "It was only dream Master Gamgee."

"Are you sure sir? You look really pale."

Faramir nodded kindly. "All right if you're sure. But I'm still confused Captain Faramir...why would you want to go with us?"

Faramir sighed. "The...the one I love is being held captive by Sauron. I had hoped to use the Ring to save her. But my grief blinded me. Normally I wouldn't have picked up the Ring if it had been lying by the wayside. But the thought of her being in the hands of the most evil force in the world was too much to bear. Now I see the only way is to try and rescue her."

"Aye sir. I understand. I'm sure she's okay...and I'm sorry if I spoke harshly earlier."

"No harm done Master Gamgee. I must thank you. You're the one who gave me back my sanity."

"Glad to help." Sam replied smiling.

"Well Master Gamgee, I am going to take some time alone."

All right sir. Take care." - - - - - - - "Filthy sneaky little thieves. They stole it from us precious! Kill them we must. You know what to do..."

"But the fat one, he knows! And the tall one..."

"Yes the tall one is trouble precious. Kill him we must."

"But he's bigger than us precious! A shiny sword he has and much strength. Kill us he will- he's tried! He hates us!"

"You must drive him away precious. A threat to you he is. The woman is his weakness precious."

Yes, yes!! That's it precious! Gollum!" - - - - - - - The haunted city, on the vertical stairs

They were tired. Wearied by lack of sleep and constant worry of enemy encounter. The hobbits were especially scared for Faramir, who grew deathly pale and quiet from his despair.

"How are you Captain Faramir?"

Faramir looked at Sam, his eyes glittering with sadness, hauntingly enhanced by the eerie green glow of the haunted city. "I'm fine Master Gamgee."

"I'm begging your pardon sir but I don't think you are....ever since you woke from your nightmare you've been terribly distant."

"It's all right Sam. Really. Let's just get to Mordor..."

Sam nodded and looked around for Frodo, but he was no where to be found. "Mr. Frodo?!"

Turning, he quickly glanced behind Faramir to see Frodo heading the opposite direction- into the haunted city. "NO!"

For a moment, Gollum and Faramir looked confused but they too soon realized what was happening and ran straight for Frodo.

Faramir, having the most strength, attempted to hold the frightened hobbit back. Frodo began to panic. "It's calling to me..." In a great effort Faramir pulled the hobbit out of the Ring's gravitational pull back out of sight in the rocks. But suddenly, the company froze in fear- the doors were opening.

The Witch King had arrived.

Faramir's heart cried out with every dark emotion known to a living being. His eyes welled with tears for the sadness and worry he felt for Eowyn, and at the same time blazed with anger. This creature had ripped his heart from his chest and killed his people mercilessly. His destiny was a bunch of tangled threads, and the Witch King seemed to be the one weaving it.

Faramir turned toward Sam. "Sam, take good care of Frodo."

"Where are you going?!"

But before he could answer Faramir was already climbing the rocks near where the Witch King and his dragon creature were standing.

'The attack is starting...it won't be long now. I may not be able to defend my people...but I can give Frodo and Sam a chance to go by those Orcs unnoticed.'

There was no way to reach the Nazgul directly without getting caught- he would have to shoot with an arrow. Taking one out of his gear, he carefully aimed. But as he stared at the horrifying creature, he froze.

*Mordor Speech, Sauron's Voice* 'Admit it...you're just taking your revenge...no living man can defeat a Nazgul, you know this. Why not take the ring from the halfling?'

Faramir turned slowly back to where Frodo climbed up the stairs. It would be so easy...he was bigger and stronger than Frodo...why not take the ring?

'Because you know what would happen if you did. The world would fall...and you'd never see Eowyn again.'

*Mordor Speech, Sauron's Voice* 'You could rule this world...with a mere extension of your hand. I have your heart...you could be together forever...I could give you everlasting life...'

Despair flooded Faramir. He wanted nothing more than to spend a blissful eternity with his beloved. But he doubted he would find any bliss in Mordor, a place of fire, death, and despair. And he didn't to rule the world...he only wanted to save...his heart.

"Never." Faramir stated firmly to Sauron.

He aimed...'For Eowyn...and my people.'

The arrow flew right into the Nazgul's heart. Faramir smiled triumphantly, but only briefly, as he knew he couldn't kill the creature and probably only wounded it. Turning, he quickly climbed up the mountain, his elvish blood lending to his speed and agility. He left behind the piercing screams of an angry Nazgul and the deep roaring chant of hot tempered Orcs.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Sufficiently out of sight, Faramir stopped. He was probably ahead of the hobbits now because of his longer strides, so he would wait.

He looked up at the crystal clear sky, the deep midnight blue and silver stars twinkling in the distance. A sudden ache grasped Faramir's heart. Looking at the beautiful night skies, he fleetingly thought about the starry mantle he gave to Eowyn when she was cold and how amazingly beautiful she looked in it. Tears formed in his eyes and he allowed himself to mutter aloud, "Oh Eowyn...what are they doing to you?"

"Not good things, not good things at all." He heard a mocking voice behind him call. Faramir turned- it was Gollum.

"Torture her they will...hurt her, make her cry out in pain..." Gollum laughed. "Poor defenseless preciousss, there's nothing you can do."

"You miserable monster." Faramir growled, venom dripping from his words.

"It's true...and when the time comes you won't be able to stop them from killing her...poor poor big one, helpless as can be." Gollum laughed again, not bothering to hide his delight on how he was torturing the Man.

Unable to hold back his anger, Faramir threw himself at Gollum, his bare hands circling his neck.

"Stop it!" Frodo tried to pry Faramir off the wretched creature, but Faramir was too angry.

"Leave him alone!"

"Smeagol did nothing! Tall one ask question, Smeagol answer! Not Smeagol's fault tall one not like the answer!"

At last, Faramir released his hold on Gollum. "Yes and you did not bother to contain your excitement at the fact you were tormenting me!"

Gollum continued to act hurt, Frodo rushing to his side. "It's all right Smeagol..." Then Frodo stood up. "Tis sad really...I all ready had to send Sam away while we were waiting for you..." Tears welled up in Frodo's eyes at the thought of having to turn his best friend away. "He was accusing Smeagol of things untrue...and now you're trying to kill him...you and Sam have been against him from the start, never giving him a chance."

Faramir stared at Frodo incredulously. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Surely he didn't buy into the miserable creature's lies? But as he looked on at Gollum and saw the wicked sneers upon his face, he realized it wasn't Frodo's fault at all.

Frodo sighed sadly. "Captain Faramir...I'm sorry...but I think it's best if you leave us."

Faramir nodded his head. As Frodo turned away Faramir couldn't help but wonder.

Helplessly, he once again turned to the stars for comfort.

'Oh Valar...what do I do now?'

- - - - - - - I'm really sorry for the huge delay, I hope I made up for it with a huge action packed chapter :D I'm also thinking of taking this story to an awards competition sometime, maybe build a fanlisting for it (no I'm not shallow, just really proud of my story ;) ), what do you guys think? I really hope you're enjoying it, I promise the next update won't be nearly so long. Thanks for reading! - Adri