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Telhyandowen: Don't worry about taking so long, the important thing is that you reviewed. I'm glad you weren't disappointed with the last chapter, and you don't mind me dragging it out. Especially Ôcause this chapter is going to be the most like that! I'm really glad you like this. It makes me feel really happy to read your reviews!
Omara Eldu: Is my greatest fan still out there?
Chapter Eleven
Eowyn and Faramir bolted for the citadel together. They ran as fast as they could, laughing together at the ridiculousness of their plight. They darted past Aragorn, who had gone in search of them, without even noticing.
When he saw them running together in such a manner, his heart was lifted ten feet in the sky. He finally saw hope for the couple. There was finally a chance for them. Perhaps it was the 'wound of the seagull,' as it was now known, that changed Eowyn's heart finally, or perhaps it was before then, when she first reported the battle. He had seen her eyes. She wanted to talk to Faramir very much, but there just wasn't time.
What Aragorn didn't realize was that her heart had never changed exactly, her brain had come into a realization. Of course her heart had changed a while back, back in the Houses of Healing, but she didn't pay it heed.
When the two, closely followed by Aragorn, finally reached the dinning hall, Faramir stopped them.
"Eowyn, think you that 'tis possible to slip in without being noticed?"
Eowyn shook her head. "But we could always try," she added.
Faramir nodded and took a deep breath. Eowyn followed the suite. Gently, Faramir pushed the doors open. Noise besieged them. Faramir motioned for Eowyn to enter, and then followed her into the room.
Denethor sat up at the high table, overseeing everything. When Faramir entered the room, the steward's eyes were staring directly at him. Faramir winced under the glare, but he turned away quickly, and followed Eowyn to a table with some empty chairs.
But she passed a set of two chairs, and instead sat in a chair that was sandwiched between two other chairs. Faramir understood that she didn't want to sit with him, but he didn't understand why. He had thought that perhaps she was changing, and that there was some hope left for them. But he now knew that he had been mistaken. And the knowledge nearly killed him.
He took one of the two seats. It was then that he noticed Aragorn sitting down in the other one. He didn't want to talk to the man though, so he turned to the man on his other side.
The man wasn't looking at Faramir. Instead, he was looking down the table. All Faramir could see was the man's greasy golden hair, and heavy furs. He was like Denethor. He wore an excess of robes.
Faramir glanced down the table, trying to see what the man was looking at. He thought he figured it out. It was Eowyn.
"Um...Hello. My name is Faramir. What is your name?" Faramir said to the man.
The man turned to look at Faramir. He had ice blue eyes, very much like Eowyn's, but so very different. He was extremely pale, as if he had remained indoors for many months, or even years. Faramir looked at him closely, examining him. He had to admit that he didn't like this man.
"My name? I am Grima son of Galmod of Rohan. You say your name is Faramir? Where are you from?"
"My name is indeed Faramir. I am from Minas Tirith. My father is the current lord of Gondor, the steward. Aragorn is trying to settle things, but it is taking longer than he thought it would. He cannot become king until certain things are settled. But, as you are of Rohan, I suppose..." Faramir swallowed hard. He just realized where he had heard the name Grima before. That was the man of whom Eowyn was so afraid.
"I'm sorry, I just realized where I had heard of you before. You are the late King Theoden's old adviser are you not?"
Grima nodded distastefully. "I prefer not to recall those days. If you will excuse me?" Faramir nodded. Grima rose and left the hall.
Faramir looked down the table at Eowyn. She didn't even seem to notice. He hoped she didn't. He hoped that she didn't need to fear again. Hopefully, Grima would leave before she ever knew that he was there.
Someone cleared his throat behind Faramir. Faramir turned to see who it was. Elrond stood behind him.
"Greetings Milord. I did not realize that you yet lingered here," Faramir said warmly.
"I leave on the morrow. I wanted to speak to you first though. Is this seat filled?"
Faramir shook his head no.
"First, I wanted to say, I don't fully understand the prophesy about the seagull. I just know that things will come better now. I know that you have been wondering about it, so I wanted to mention that.
I also wanted to say, Grima, whom you just met, beware of him. He could cause your downfall if you are not careful. Your fate is now linked to Eowyn's, and Grima has ever been part of her fate. You must watch out for her, and for...For everyone else in your life at that time. Farewell, Faramir. For now anyways."
Faramir nodded. "Namarie," he said. Elrond looked surprised to see a mortal, other than Aragorn, who had taken the time to learn Elvish. But he just nodded in recognition. "Namarie." He returned.
(new scene)
I listened outside of Denethor's door. Once again, the old man was lecturing his son. Eru! Does that man do that every single day of his life? It is a wonder that Faramir has lived though all that! It is almost like Denethor does it for fun! And if that is the case, I'm sure that makes it ten times worse for Faramir.
Now I realize why Faramir is so quiet and never really believes in himself. That blasted father of his has taught him that he is "worthless, immature, disobedient, shameful," &c. I don't know what other people think, but he isn't all those things in my opinion. How terrible. I'm glad my father didn't do that to me.
I thought back to the time when I first met Natalie. It was outside of this very door. I thought Faramir was being ridiculous for being so hurt about his father lecturing him. But now I realize, it is more than lecturing, it is slaughter. Well, others might not call it that, but I'm sure that is one of the reasons that Faramir is so sad. I know from experience that despair and anger washed together can deteriorate the human soul. Oh Faramir. I don't want you to be so hurt!
Oh great. He is about to come out. The one problem with listening outside Denethor's door is that there is no place to hide. I've found this a problem on numerous occasions.
Faramir opened the door. I didn't see anything I could do but let him know I was there. I mean, it's not like I could throw myself over the edge of the balcony very well.
He shook his head at the sight of me. "Eowyn, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"I wanted to make sure that you didn't get in too much trouble. I'm sorry. I was worried about you," I responded. I didn't want him to be angry. And I would make sure that he wasn't.
Faramir seemed taken aback a little. "You were worried about me? Why?"
Oh. Good question. I guess I shouldn't say that I was worried what his father might do to him, he might take it as an insult.
"I was worried...that you would be hurt by what your father said to you. Sometimes, people can speak rashly, I'm sure that Denethor didn't mean it."
Faramir just laughed softly. "Eowyn? I have wanted to show you something for some time now. Could you come with me, or do you have somewhere else you have to go this evening?"
I smiled. "Of course I'll go with you."
(new scene)
Eowyn was delighted when Faramir played his fiddle. Her eyes shone the entire night as they sat together and talked. Then, Faramir persuaded her to sing, while he played.
The next morning, however, she was exhausted as a result.
The morning went well, besides the fact that she was exhausted. She spent her time in the practice courts, brushing up on her techniques. She had realized during the race with Faramir that she hadn't practiced with the one thing that used to be the most important thing to her, for a month at least.
It felt good to get back to the blade. She had missed it a lot. Slice, slice, block, block. The sword went back in forth, fighting an imaginary enemy.
It wasn't until after supper that she took a break. She walked through the gardens, thinking about home. She missed it dearly, so dearly that she was even tempted to go back. She wished that her brother hadn't left her here in Minas Tirith, while he rode back to Edoras. She knew it was necessary that someone stay, to keep Rohan in the ever-revolving politics, she just wished that it hadn't been she.
As she walked, she came across another figure walking through the gardens, daydreaming. Eowyn didn't see Lothliriel very often. In fact, the two had only met a few times in the entire course of five months.
It was hard to believe that it had been five months since she had met Faramir. Five whole months had passed, and this was where she was. Nowhere.
"Good afternoon, Lothliriel. How do you fare?" Eowyn asked the other lady.
Lothliriel seemed startled. Then she blushed when she saw Eowyn. "Oh, good afternoon to you White Lady. I am doing quite well, thank you, though I have been doing naught but daydreaming. And you?"
"I am well too. Pray, what were you dreaming of?" Eowyn asked, though she already knew the answer. She had not forgotten her conversation with Arwen those many weeks back.
As Eowyn expected, Lothliriel blushed. "Oh, many things really. I was just thinking about..." Lothliriel trailed off, embarrassed.
Eowyn nodded, grinning. "Somebody?" Lothliriel nodded in response. Then said, "Well, I think I shall continue on my way, good day, Lady Eowyn."
Eowyn continued to walk, smiling to herself. She was glad for Eomer. He had someone whom he loved, and who loved him in return. He was luckier than many.
She continued walking until she heard Arwen calling from her balcony. She dashed to the elf's room, and asked, "What is it, Arwen?"
Arwen smiled. "Aragorn set the date for our wedding today."
Eowyn smiled in return, relieved that she didn't care for Aragorn anymore. She asked for the dates, and Arwen gave them. Then Arwen asked her to help with the preparations. Eowyn agreed. Arwen also added that Lothliriel would be involved. Eowyn smiled. She would be delighted to talk to Lothliriel some more.
(new scene)
That night, Eowyn knocked on Faramir's door. "Come in!" He called.
She entered the room, to find that the candle was still lit, and Faramir was sitting in his window-seat, with his lyre in his hands. She smiled. He had been expecting her.
Faramir smiled at her, in a sad sort of way.
"Did you talk to your father again today?"
Faramir nodded. "But 'tis nothing. I'll tell you what I have to say after you say what you want to say," He responded.
Eowyn was about to demand how he knew that she wanted to talk, but then again, it was probably obvious.
So she told him about her meeting with Lothliriel, and she made him laugh. She told him about her conversation with Arwen, and she made him smile. But once she ceased to talk, he frowned.
"I have just received some news from my father. You know how important ties are now between this country and others. Arranged marriages are the best ways to get these ties. Therefore, he has decided that it is time that I help my country. 'For once,' as he says. I'm to be married. She is a woman of Gondor, but she was raised in Lorien. Her name is Niphredil, after the flower that grows in Lorien. She arrives in two weeks time."
(new scene)
I didn't know what to do when Faramir told me the news. All I thought about was that I had two weeks with Faramir, and then he was going to be engaged to another woman. I wasn't quick enough!
I bid my time because I thought there would be enough of it. I thought that I could think about it first, I wasn't ready to jump into it like that.
But time is precious. I didn't have the time. No. I know that isn't the way to think, I know that I did the right thing for myself, and, probably, for Faramir as well. What if I realized that I didn't love Faramir, just like I did with Aragorn? Then again, Aragorn was a little different. Faramir didn't make my heart leap at a thought of him, he didn't fill my dreams every night, he didn't make me, every time I saw him, wonder if my hair was still tidy. He just...was. And that was what my love for him was. It just was. It made me want to sing and dance every time he came near
But that was gone. All hope was gone. Or, so I thought.
I thought that way until I met Niphredil. I didn't like her one bit. And that wasn't a jealousy thing either. She was spoiled, selfish, annoying, and tiresome. Faramir couldn't marry someone like that! I had to help him!
So, what could I do, but go to Arwen. Of course, she helped me. She knew exactly what to do.
She went to Niphredil, and told her how terrible things were in Gondor. But it wasn't enough. She wouldn't give in. So, Arwen decided it was time to take a coarser line of action.