Fourth Month, 17th day
The Healer came this morning to beg me to eat. But, I kept badgering him about my message that he finally told me. Faramir is coming tomorrow! JOY! ECSTATIC JOY!!! Faramir was upset that no one had told him sooner my health was worsening, in fact he nearly strangled the Healer who brought the message. He cannot come tonight as it is too late, but he has canceled everything on his schedule tomorrow to come see me. I was so happy the Warden convinced me to eat something, even though it tasted horrible.
Fourth Month, 18th day
I am up very early, the sun has barely risen. It is the first time I have been out of bed in days. Is it not strange though, that Faramir should come to visit me on the very day I first met him? For it was a month ago today that I begged him to ride east. I realize now that this last month was the Valar's trial for me. He was testing me, to see my mettle. It has proved to me what I always suspected since I met him. I love Faramir. Not just as a friend, but as one would love a husband. There is no way around it. If I truly loved the Lord Aragorn, the way I thought I did, would I be dreaming of Faramir? Would I be blushing at his touch? Would I be fighting this so hard? Would I be starving myself for missing him? Would I be up at just after sunrise to ready myself for him? Alright, that was really sappy. I hate sappy stuff. I cannot seem to get around it though, I love him, period. End of discussion, I had simply been infatuated with Aragorn, nothing more, I know that now. I can only hope that Faramir shares my feelings......
Later.......
Faramir arrived just before breakfast. I was just about to sit down to it in fact, when I heard his hurried footsteps and angry voice. "Why did you healers not tell me before it got so bad? Do you not know that I am responsible for her to her brother? What were you thinking?!" At that, he threw open my door, and stood in shock seeing me there in the middle of the floor. He was dressed in mostly black, but he had the white tree embroidered in silver upon his breast. There was other intricate silver embroidery throughout his suit, and most notably, the ring of stewardship on his hand. He seemed much calmer than the angry menace he was in the hall, but the others quickly fled from what seemed to be their Steward's impending wrath. "Éowyn?" I rushed over to him as quickly as I could on my still weak legs. "Faramir!" I exclaim as I embrace him. "They said you were unwell." He said, his arms still about my waist. "I was until I heard you were coming." "They said you might die." "I would have if you had not come, I cannot stay alone here." "Come let us sit down, and discuss what has happened over breakfast." So we did, then I recommended we go out onto the walls again. He was originally against this saying I would be too cold. "Nay, my lord, I shall not be cold." I said reaching into my small closet and drawing out the cape he gave me. He smiled, "Let me help you with that, for it is rather bulky and hard to manage." I did so, and he helped me put on his mother's cloak, and I shivered a little beneath his touch. He still made me tingle. Oh well.....I'm not going there, yet. We went out, this time to the wall facing Dol Amroth and the sea. If you looked far enough he said you might find the sea. Then, he asked me why I did not go when Eomer asked me twice to go see him on Cormallorn, and even Merry asked me to. I answered, "Do you not know?" "Two reasons there may be, but which is true, I do not know." He replied. "I do not wish to play at riddles, speak plainer!" "Then if you would have it so, lady, you do not go because only your brother called you, and to look on Lord Aragorn, Elendil's heir, in his triumph would now bring you no joy. Or because I do not go, and you desire still to be near me. And maybe for both these reasons, and you yourself cannot choose between them. Éowyn, do you not love me, or will you not?" He was asking me to answer the very question I dreaded to do. I did not wish to lay my heart on the line, if he would only trample it, so I feigned. "I wished to be loved by another. But I desire no man's pity." It was not a total lie; at one point I did wish for Aragorn to love me. No longer did I wish it though. "That I know. You desired to have the love of the Lord Aragorn. Because he was high and puissant, and you wished to have renown and glory and to be lifted far above the mean things that crawl this earth. And as a great captain may be to a young soldier he seemed to you admirable. For so he is, a lord among men, the greatest that now is. But when he gave you only his understanding pity, then you desired nothing, unless a brave death in battle. Look at me Éowyn!" So I did, he had read me to the very last letter. Nothing had I hide from those deep, piercing elvish gray eyes. I loved him, yet he did not seem to love me. "Do not scorn the pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Éowyn!" he continued. "But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that will not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue to tell. And I love you. Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Éowyn, do you not love me?" He had just done what I feared not do. He had told me he loved me!!! HE LOVED ME! I was so happy I could have jumped for joy. I told him so. Then he said if it were my will he should marry me, and we would live in Ithilien. Then I decided to tease him, "Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor? And would you have your proud folk say of you: 'There goes a lord who tamed a wild sheildmaiden of the north.' Was there no woman of the race of Numenor to choose?" "I would." He said simply, and he kissed me on the walls of the city for all to see. I finally drew back for lack of air. I was smiling, "I love you Faramir, and you had me worried for a minute there that you did not want me." He drew me closer. "Not want you? On the contrary, how could I not? Lord Aragorn does not know what he is missing." "Why did you kiss me up here for all to see?" "Because," he said, "I do not care. I love you Éowyn, and the city might as well find out sooner rather than later." He kissed me again, reluctantly he drew back, "Come, we must go down, lest your brother Eomer and the king return to find me kissing you on the walls of the city." We grabbed hands as I said, "I can just imagine my brother about ready to kill you for doing this. He would turn very red and-" "Well, he has not caught us yet." Said Faramir before he kissed me lightly again. "No, not yet." I respond happily. Then we descended and he told the healer that I was healed, and veritably I was. The Healer then freed me and commended me to Faramir's guidance. (A/N: Changed this-I know) I accepted, and with a maid's help was able to pack up my things in less than an hour and then Faramir and I departed for the Tower of Ecthelion. Now, I abide here whilst we wait for the Kings' return which is to be any day now.
Even Later.........
Faramir did a strange thing, but then he is constantly surprising me with the things he does. He said he had to attend to some things, so he gave me a ring full of keys and told me to choose any room I liked in the Tower for my own. He said he hoped that I would not be offended if I did not see him until supper, for he was busy. I was disappointed, but I had no choice. So I wandered around for hours looking amongst the various rooms for one I should like. I finally found one that faced the sea, something that even though I have never seen I find I have a growing fascination with. It was a medium-sized room. Decorated with silver swans, trees and overall a bluish tint. Everything was decorated with this color scheme. I loved the room, of course though, it will need alterations for a Rohirric princess. And some gold and green, a few horses to balance out the swans, then I would feel at home. This room had been lived in, I could tell, but not for a very long time. I spoke to Faramir about it over our meal, and he seemed slightly startled when I mentioned it, and he wished me to show it to him. I went upstairs with him and opened it up after some fumbling with the keys. He looked about him in amazement, almost reverence. "I thought this room had been destroyed." "Why?" "It was my mother's." "Your mother's? Shall I choose a different room?" He began to shuffle through the drawers as if looking for something, and spoke as if he hadn't heard me. "I thought this room was destroyed after she died, but I suppose my father just locked it up and forbade anyone to go in. She said that she had left some things for us in one of her drawers....." "I hate to interrupt Faramir, but would you rather I stayed in a different room?" He stopped shuffling long enough to look up at me in utter surprise. "Whatever makes you think I wouldn't let you stay here? I said any room and I meant it. Do you still want to stay here?" "I-I don't really know. I think I would rather choose a different room. I think this room should be left in peace." "If that is what you wish, my lady, then it shall be done. I was just hoping to find what she had left my brother and me before we leave." He continued to search, but I stood in the middle of the floor. Unwilling to even sit down, as if doing so would disturb his mother's ghost. Crazy thoughts began to run through my head. What if she didn't approve of her son wanting to marry me? Wouldn't she have wanted someone from Gondor or Dol Amroth for him? What would she do that I had found her room after it had been locked up for so many years? It should have been one of her sons who unlocked it. Not some foreign and barbaric Princess. For that is what many thought of my nation in Gondor. I could tell from the strange looks they gave me. "Aha!" cried Faramir, "I've found it." He removed the drawer from its slot and laid it out on the bed. It had been divided into halves one for each son. Assorted trinkets filled it. Faramir reached for something on his side, a small package wrapped in thin blue cloth. He unwrapped it, and a note fluttered out. He bent to pick it off the ground, and read it. He then looked at me, and gave me the cloth with two rings that I marveled to see. "These are for my future wife." He said, "But, look at them Éowyn (For I had been in too much shock to do anything but stare at him), it is as if my mother knew I was going to marry you." He picked them up. "See, there are horses on both of these." I took the mithril one from him, and indeed there were tiny horses engraved onto it, the other ring was identical, only it was made of gold. He then placed the gold ring on my finger, "With this ring I make you my betrothed." He then kissed me softly. "This other ring is for our wedding day." He said taking it back from me. "Why do I wear the gold one now and not the other?" I asked puzzled, wondering if there was reasoning behind it. "Very simple, Éowyn, the gold one represents Rohan, which you belong to fully until our wedding day. The mithril one represents Gondor. When I give you this later, it means our two countries must share you. For you will still be a Princess in Rohan, but also Stewardess of Gondor, and Princess of Ithilien." "How did your mother know?" "Your guess is as good as mine." "I suppose then, that you must wear a ring too." He looked at me curiously, "It is the custom for men in Gondor only to wear wedding rings, not betrothal ones." "You are marrying into the Royal House of Rohan, which will make you a prince there; therefore you must obey our customs." "Then the men in your country wear both?" I nodded. "When my brother returns I shall have him get some made up for you." He walked over to me with a funny expression on his face. "That is strange for I have not seen any men wearing two such rings." "Well, my brother is neither married, nor engaged, you shall not find him wearing any. But, had you met my uncle, you would have seen the truth." "Your uncle rests amongst Gondor's dead kings at the moment, but it is not right to disturb the dead. I shall take your word for it at present." "My Lord Faramir, do you not trust me?" I ask in feigned anger. He laughs, "My Lady Éowyn, those who would trust you in such matters are fools." I was about to hit him for that, when he took me by surprise and kissed me. Needless to say, I forgot all about hitting him. Is it not strange that this man knows me better than I know myself? Even though he has known me but a month, and I have known myself over twenty years?
The Healer came this morning to beg me to eat. But, I kept badgering him about my message that he finally told me. Faramir is coming tomorrow! JOY! ECSTATIC JOY!!! Faramir was upset that no one had told him sooner my health was worsening, in fact he nearly strangled the Healer who brought the message. He cannot come tonight as it is too late, but he has canceled everything on his schedule tomorrow to come see me. I was so happy the Warden convinced me to eat something, even though it tasted horrible.
Fourth Month, 18th day
I am up very early, the sun has barely risen. It is the first time I have been out of bed in days. Is it not strange though, that Faramir should come to visit me on the very day I first met him? For it was a month ago today that I begged him to ride east. I realize now that this last month was the Valar's trial for me. He was testing me, to see my mettle. It has proved to me what I always suspected since I met him. I love Faramir. Not just as a friend, but as one would love a husband. There is no way around it. If I truly loved the Lord Aragorn, the way I thought I did, would I be dreaming of Faramir? Would I be blushing at his touch? Would I be fighting this so hard? Would I be starving myself for missing him? Would I be up at just after sunrise to ready myself for him? Alright, that was really sappy. I hate sappy stuff. I cannot seem to get around it though, I love him, period. End of discussion, I had simply been infatuated with Aragorn, nothing more, I know that now. I can only hope that Faramir shares my feelings......
Later.......
Faramir arrived just before breakfast. I was just about to sit down to it in fact, when I heard his hurried footsteps and angry voice. "Why did you healers not tell me before it got so bad? Do you not know that I am responsible for her to her brother? What were you thinking?!" At that, he threw open my door, and stood in shock seeing me there in the middle of the floor. He was dressed in mostly black, but he had the white tree embroidered in silver upon his breast. There was other intricate silver embroidery throughout his suit, and most notably, the ring of stewardship on his hand. He seemed much calmer than the angry menace he was in the hall, but the others quickly fled from what seemed to be their Steward's impending wrath. "Éowyn?" I rushed over to him as quickly as I could on my still weak legs. "Faramir!" I exclaim as I embrace him. "They said you were unwell." He said, his arms still about my waist. "I was until I heard you were coming." "They said you might die." "I would have if you had not come, I cannot stay alone here." "Come let us sit down, and discuss what has happened over breakfast." So we did, then I recommended we go out onto the walls again. He was originally against this saying I would be too cold. "Nay, my lord, I shall not be cold." I said reaching into my small closet and drawing out the cape he gave me. He smiled, "Let me help you with that, for it is rather bulky and hard to manage." I did so, and he helped me put on his mother's cloak, and I shivered a little beneath his touch. He still made me tingle. Oh well.....I'm not going there, yet. We went out, this time to the wall facing Dol Amroth and the sea. If you looked far enough he said you might find the sea. Then, he asked me why I did not go when Eomer asked me twice to go see him on Cormallorn, and even Merry asked me to. I answered, "Do you not know?" "Two reasons there may be, but which is true, I do not know." He replied. "I do not wish to play at riddles, speak plainer!" "Then if you would have it so, lady, you do not go because only your brother called you, and to look on Lord Aragorn, Elendil's heir, in his triumph would now bring you no joy. Or because I do not go, and you desire still to be near me. And maybe for both these reasons, and you yourself cannot choose between them. Éowyn, do you not love me, or will you not?" He was asking me to answer the very question I dreaded to do. I did not wish to lay my heart on the line, if he would only trample it, so I feigned. "I wished to be loved by another. But I desire no man's pity." It was not a total lie; at one point I did wish for Aragorn to love me. No longer did I wish it though. "That I know. You desired to have the love of the Lord Aragorn. Because he was high and puissant, and you wished to have renown and glory and to be lifted far above the mean things that crawl this earth. And as a great captain may be to a young soldier he seemed to you admirable. For so he is, a lord among men, the greatest that now is. But when he gave you only his understanding pity, then you desired nothing, unless a brave death in battle. Look at me Éowyn!" So I did, he had read me to the very last letter. Nothing had I hide from those deep, piercing elvish gray eyes. I loved him, yet he did not seem to love me. "Do not scorn the pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Éowyn!" he continued. "But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that will not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue to tell. And I love you. Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Éowyn, do you not love me?" He had just done what I feared not do. He had told me he loved me!!! HE LOVED ME! I was so happy I could have jumped for joy. I told him so. Then he said if it were my will he should marry me, and we would live in Ithilien. Then I decided to tease him, "Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor? And would you have your proud folk say of you: 'There goes a lord who tamed a wild sheildmaiden of the north.' Was there no woman of the race of Numenor to choose?" "I would." He said simply, and he kissed me on the walls of the city for all to see. I finally drew back for lack of air. I was smiling, "I love you Faramir, and you had me worried for a minute there that you did not want me." He drew me closer. "Not want you? On the contrary, how could I not? Lord Aragorn does not know what he is missing." "Why did you kiss me up here for all to see?" "Because," he said, "I do not care. I love you Éowyn, and the city might as well find out sooner rather than later." He kissed me again, reluctantly he drew back, "Come, we must go down, lest your brother Eomer and the king return to find me kissing you on the walls of the city." We grabbed hands as I said, "I can just imagine my brother about ready to kill you for doing this. He would turn very red and-" "Well, he has not caught us yet." Said Faramir before he kissed me lightly again. "No, not yet." I respond happily. Then we descended and he told the healer that I was healed, and veritably I was. The Healer then freed me and commended me to Faramir's guidance. (A/N: Changed this-I know) I accepted, and with a maid's help was able to pack up my things in less than an hour and then Faramir and I departed for the Tower of Ecthelion. Now, I abide here whilst we wait for the Kings' return which is to be any day now.
Even Later.........
Faramir did a strange thing, but then he is constantly surprising me with the things he does. He said he had to attend to some things, so he gave me a ring full of keys and told me to choose any room I liked in the Tower for my own. He said he hoped that I would not be offended if I did not see him until supper, for he was busy. I was disappointed, but I had no choice. So I wandered around for hours looking amongst the various rooms for one I should like. I finally found one that faced the sea, something that even though I have never seen I find I have a growing fascination with. It was a medium-sized room. Decorated with silver swans, trees and overall a bluish tint. Everything was decorated with this color scheme. I loved the room, of course though, it will need alterations for a Rohirric princess. And some gold and green, a few horses to balance out the swans, then I would feel at home. This room had been lived in, I could tell, but not for a very long time. I spoke to Faramir about it over our meal, and he seemed slightly startled when I mentioned it, and he wished me to show it to him. I went upstairs with him and opened it up after some fumbling with the keys. He looked about him in amazement, almost reverence. "I thought this room had been destroyed." "Why?" "It was my mother's." "Your mother's? Shall I choose a different room?" He began to shuffle through the drawers as if looking for something, and spoke as if he hadn't heard me. "I thought this room was destroyed after she died, but I suppose my father just locked it up and forbade anyone to go in. She said that she had left some things for us in one of her drawers....." "I hate to interrupt Faramir, but would you rather I stayed in a different room?" He stopped shuffling long enough to look up at me in utter surprise. "Whatever makes you think I wouldn't let you stay here? I said any room and I meant it. Do you still want to stay here?" "I-I don't really know. I think I would rather choose a different room. I think this room should be left in peace." "If that is what you wish, my lady, then it shall be done. I was just hoping to find what she had left my brother and me before we leave." He continued to search, but I stood in the middle of the floor. Unwilling to even sit down, as if doing so would disturb his mother's ghost. Crazy thoughts began to run through my head. What if she didn't approve of her son wanting to marry me? Wouldn't she have wanted someone from Gondor or Dol Amroth for him? What would she do that I had found her room after it had been locked up for so many years? It should have been one of her sons who unlocked it. Not some foreign and barbaric Princess. For that is what many thought of my nation in Gondor. I could tell from the strange looks they gave me. "Aha!" cried Faramir, "I've found it." He removed the drawer from its slot and laid it out on the bed. It had been divided into halves one for each son. Assorted trinkets filled it. Faramir reached for something on his side, a small package wrapped in thin blue cloth. He unwrapped it, and a note fluttered out. He bent to pick it off the ground, and read it. He then looked at me, and gave me the cloth with two rings that I marveled to see. "These are for my future wife." He said, "But, look at them Éowyn (For I had been in too much shock to do anything but stare at him), it is as if my mother knew I was going to marry you." He picked them up. "See, there are horses on both of these." I took the mithril one from him, and indeed there were tiny horses engraved onto it, the other ring was identical, only it was made of gold. He then placed the gold ring on my finger, "With this ring I make you my betrothed." He then kissed me softly. "This other ring is for our wedding day." He said taking it back from me. "Why do I wear the gold one now and not the other?" I asked puzzled, wondering if there was reasoning behind it. "Very simple, Éowyn, the gold one represents Rohan, which you belong to fully until our wedding day. The mithril one represents Gondor. When I give you this later, it means our two countries must share you. For you will still be a Princess in Rohan, but also Stewardess of Gondor, and Princess of Ithilien." "How did your mother know?" "Your guess is as good as mine." "I suppose then, that you must wear a ring too." He looked at me curiously, "It is the custom for men in Gondor only to wear wedding rings, not betrothal ones." "You are marrying into the Royal House of Rohan, which will make you a prince there; therefore you must obey our customs." "Then the men in your country wear both?" I nodded. "When my brother returns I shall have him get some made up for you." He walked over to me with a funny expression on his face. "That is strange for I have not seen any men wearing two such rings." "Well, my brother is neither married, nor engaged, you shall not find him wearing any. But, had you met my uncle, you would have seen the truth." "Your uncle rests amongst Gondor's dead kings at the moment, but it is not right to disturb the dead. I shall take your word for it at present." "My Lord Faramir, do you not trust me?" I ask in feigned anger. He laughs, "My Lady Éowyn, those who would trust you in such matters are fools." I was about to hit him for that, when he took me by surprise and kissed me. Needless to say, I forgot all about hitting him. Is it not strange that this man knows me better than I know myself? Even though he has known me but a month, and I have known myself over twenty years?