Hello, sorry for the long wait. I have had no time to do anything recently, I'm just glad I already have this and the next sequel written. I soooo can't wait until December! ROTK EE comes out! Yay!!!! Has anyone else seen the picks for the Houses of Healing? So sweet! I can't wait!
Reviewer Responses
IceAngel7- Thanks for your input! I love hearing back about my characterizations since I really want them to be believable. Hope you like this chapter as well.
TheDaughterOfKings- Faramir knowing Elrond is in the first story of this series 'Faramir's story'. If you don't want to read that (it's quite long), there's a synopsis in front of 'Fell Wound'. Thanks for reviewing!
Alia G.L.- Here's your post! I hope you like this as much as the others, I wrote it pretty fast.
the evil witch queen- I'm glad you liked the last line, I was worried it was too OOC. Yah, I feel bad for Estel too and for Faramir. And as for Danny, he gets to meet the wrath of Faramir in this chapter.
Faramir tried to keep his frustration and worry to himself as he impatiently waited for Elladan to track Éowyn and the kidnapper's steps. Luckily the signs were obvious, so the brothers wasted no time in their tracking. At last they reached the hills Naicalle had mentioned. An ominous cave opened up into the hills, its black maw taunting Faramir with the prize it bragged to hold. He looked at the twins, motioning that he would go first and that they should keep a good distance, just in case.
...
Éowyn shuddered in the darkness and winced. Moradanur had thrown her against the walls of the cave and she was sure she would have a few bruises soon. Midway from the entrance Moradanur was pouring some sort of liquid on the floor. Though the shieldmaiden didn't know exactly what he was doing, she knew it couldn't be good. She desperately wanted to get away, wiggling against her bonds and praying that Faramir was far away in Minas Tirith where he was safe from this trap. 'Please don't come. Please don't come, my love. Send Beregond, Aragorn, Arwen, just don't come yourself. Oh why is it that I wish he were no where near here and yet I want him here with me?' Éowyn leaned her head against the cold stone of the cave wall. 'I promise I will come back to you, Faramir, if it is the last thing I do. I am not going to leave this world without giving you at least one more kiss.'
...
The former Steward stepped silently and uneasily towards the cave, his practiced eyes taking in his surroundings. He hadn't counted out an ambush of men that the ruffians might have forgotten to mention, so he warily kept his eyes and ears trained for noticing any unwanted company.
"Looking for me?" Faramir drew his gaze sharply to the mouth of the cave. A man dressed like the kidnappers they had just left was standing part way in the opening. "I believe I 'ave someone you want. Do not worry, though. She 'asn't been 'urt that badly." Faramir's blood boiled in rage. Letting out a battle-cry, he drew his sword and charged the man. Moradanur quickly whirled around and retreated into the cave, drawing the former Steward into the trap.
…
Faramir refused to heed his brothers' calls, his heart intent on doing a great deal of harm to the man before him. A good distance in, Moradanur stopped and turned to face Faramir. The ruffian grinned, leaned down, and removed a lit candle from beneath its hiding place. Confused, Faramir cocked his head slightly. A slight aroma, hauntingly familiar, reached his nose. 'Oil!' Looking down Faramir saw to his horror that the floor he was standing on was drenched in flammable oil. In that instant he knew exactly was Moradanur was planning. As the ruffian threw the candle forward, Faramir leapt and tackled him to the dry portion of the floor.
The cave blew up behind them, an inferno of flame. Faramir scrambled to his feet, but his eyes stayed transfixed on the fire. Memories of another blaze flashed through his mind. 'Oil, flame. Burning, already burning.' A muffled scream from Éowyn pulled his thoughts away from the past to the sweltering present. Faramir managed to bring his sword up in time to block Moradanur's blow. He staggered back at the force behind the swing. 'Valar, he is strong.'
Back and forth, the two fought, all the while coughing from the harsh smoke. At one point Faramir landed a blow to Moradanur's collarbone, stunning the man. While Moradanur stumbled dangerously close to the flames, Faramir rushed to Éowyn's side. He pulled the gag from her mouth just in time for her to yell, "Faramir, behind you!"
Faramir whirled and blocked a now weaker blow from Moradanur. The ruffian was tiring quickly, but not quickly enough. The fire was eating the small supply of oxygen in the cave and Faramir knew the battle couldn't last much longer if they wanted to survive. Thinking quickly, Faramir ducked under Moradanur's sword and it swung harmlessly over the former Steward's head, leaving time for Faramir to shove his own sword into the ruffian's side.
Moradanur dropped his sword in shock and sank to his knees. As he held the gaping wound in his stomach, Faramir grabbed his shoulders. "How were you going to escape? After you set the fire, how were you going to escape?"
The ruffian looked wearily at Faramir. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He was only going to kill the Steward, then escape with Éowyn and let her free. He just wanted to protect his sister, his people. "My sister…" he fell into a coughing fit.
"Your sister and your men have already been given refuge by the lord of Imladris. How do we escape this place?"
Moradanur coughed again. "A river…runs under the cave. It is…just over there." He pointed to his right, toward the back of the cave.
Faramir quickly freed Éowyn's feet and hands. They ran to where the river ran through the cave, kicking off their boots which would only be a hindrance. After Faramir helped Éowyn into the cold water, he paused before turning back and running towards Moradanur. Faramir knelt by the man and reach for his arms. "Come, we must hurry."
Moradanur looked at the former Steward, astonished. "After all I 'ave done?"
Faramir's face was grim. "No one deserves to die like this."
"But die I will. I cannot survive the swim and I will not die like that either. Tell Naicalle I love 'er." Before Faramir could stop him Moradanur took his dagger and slit his own throat.
...
Faramir closed his eyes before turning and running back to Éowyn who was holding onto the side of the riverbank. Jumping in next to her, Faramir grabbed her hand. The air was getting dangerously filled with smoke. "Come on."
"Faramir!" He looked at Éowyn, surprised at the fear in her eyes. He quickly realized why she was scared. "Faramir, I do not know how to swim."
'Oh, not good.' Thinking fast, Faramir turned his back to her. "Hold on to me, and do not struggle." Éowyn did as he said without question, wrapping her arms around his neck. Faramir made sure she was settled before plunging into the raging current.
…
They were quickly swept down the river and Faramir could barely keep their heads above the water. All at once, he saw the end of the space above them. "Éowyn, breathe deeply!" he yelled before following his own advice. The current dragged them underneath the rock and Faramir fought to keep them steady. Then the river slowed down and Faramir began swimming as fast as he could. His lungs burned from lack of air, but there was no room to catch a breath. His vision was beginning to blacken when suddenly they were out of the dark of the caves. Bursting to the surface, Faramir greedily sucked in the fresh air. Behind him, Éowyn gasped for breath, incredibly happy that that was over.
Faramir willed his aching arms to tow them to the shore. The couple pulled themselves onto dry land, laying there exhausted and breathless. After a moment, Faramir noticed that Éowyn was shivering uncontrollably. He drew her into his arms, noting her pale, nearly blue skin. "Éowyn, are you well?"
Éowyn looked into his silver eyes and smiled. "Yes, now that you are here. I told Naicalle you would come."
Faramir returned the smile and kissed her gently. "No force in Arda could stop me."
Éowyn cocked her head, her eyes worried. "You are shivering."
That was when Faramir noticed how cold he really was. They were both dripping wet in the middle of November. "You are shivering as well, my love. I believe we should go find the twins. I am sure they are worried, if not hysterical." Éowyn laughed at the thought of the sons of Elrond hysterical and Faramir thought it was the most wonderful sound in the world. Helping Éowyn to her feet, Faramir put his arm around her waist. "Are you sure you are well? You were not hurt by the kidnappers?"
Éowyn shook her head as they started walking. "They were quite kind to me, especially Naicalle. I wish we could have saved her brother."
Faramir sighed, trying not to picture how he saw Moradanur last. "So do I."
...
Daendil scowled silently as he heard yet another patrol run by the abandoned house he was in. 'Curse that Fuingon, he must have betrayed me!'
"It is you who have betrayed me, Daendil." Daendil whirled, his eyes widening in terror at the dark man before him. "Your lust for power was first in your heart. You betrayed my plan."
Daendil stepped back until his back was to a wall. "My lord, the plan is on schedule. The Steward fell straight for the trap."
The dark man's red eyes gleamed malevolently. "The trap failed. You have failed. I will not stand for failure." The man raised his hand, dark tendrils racing out of his fingertips.
Lord Daendil clutched his chest, pain coursing through his body. "No." Then everything went black.
Hehe. I guess Faramir doesn't get to go after Daendil after all. The dark man will also play an important part in the third sequel.