RivendellWriter: thank you for all your support. I can't believe this is almost over either.
DaughterofKings: Cool penname. Why don't you like Natalie? What's wrong with her? Thanks for reading my story. It seems like I had several invisible readers! :-)
Tari Faelivrin: Another invisible reader!
Telhyandowen: Definitely start writing! I'll read every single piece! Thank you for being a wonderful reviewer! I hope you like the ending because I don't think it is going to be quite what you are hoping for (cackles evilly).
Rebby: I actually have been planning on posting this for some time, I just haven't gotten around to it. Thanks for waking me up!
Ok, everybody, I changed my mind. There is going to be another chapter plus epilogue. For better or worse, it is true. Sorry it took so long, I was having trouble with the next chapter, and I wanted to be sure I got to a certain place in that one before I posted this one so that I could change anything if I had to. I hope you enjoy!
Also, any F/E fans, check out the photo gallery on Emyn Arnen. It has both a preview for the EE, and several pictures of HH. Also, check out the spy reports, which has even more new pics, and says what some people hear is going to be in the EE. I just found out that PJ actually shot Faramir and Eowyn's wedding! If he puts that in there, he might actually redeem himself in my eyes for leaving so much out! (and making Faramir a jerk in TT) Ok, I'll stop blabbering. ON WITH THE STORY!
Chapter Twenty-One
Eowyn smiled as her friends chattered gaily about their weddings. Lothiriel was sewing her gown, a white dress with emeralds and sapphires upon the neckline and waistling to signify her coming to Rohan and leaving Dol Amroth. Her veil was going to be silver, as it was a common color for each land. Arwen was working on the final touches to her own veil, adding flowers hither and thither.
Eowyn smiled, but her heart was not in it. Instead, she worried about other things. What could she do to persuade Faramir that she did not hate his people? It could ruin a lot if he was left to believe this lie. Eowyn looked down at her idle hands and the cloth that lay in them. She was supposed to be helping Lothiriel with the skirt, but she had failed miserably. If she could stay focused
Another burst of giggles emanated from Lothiriel's lips. Eowyn glanced over to the two women, and smiled again. Suddenly, a feeling of loneliness crept over her heart. No weddings for me, she thought ruefully. I was never good enough for something of that type. I never really cared. Mayhap that was why no one ever wanted me. Mayhap I waited to long, and now when I want love, I am to late. Alas, if one does not rush into love, is she doomed for life? Eowyn wondered. Aye, I fear she is. Faramir has surely forgotten any feelings he had for me at any time, as he believes I despise him.
"Eowyn, do you feel all right?" Arwen asked suddenly.
"Oh, aye. Just a little tired. I fear I did not sleep well last night."
Arwen nodded sympathetically. Lothiriel rose and crossed over to where Eowyn sat. She rested a long, pale hand on Eowyn's forehead and said, "Aye, she does have a bit of a fever. Perhaps you should lie down a bit." With that, Lothiriel gently removed the cloth that had been resting in Eowyn's palms for the last hour without an inch of stitching or embroidery upon it. Eowyn nodded and rose from her chair.
"Thank you, Arwen, for having the courtesy to invite me to sewing with you. It would have been a pleasure had I not felt ill. What a shame there is nothing to do in Minas Tirith but stitch. Thank you."
Arwen nodded regally, in a way that reminded Eowyn strongly of Aragorn. Aragorn. What a relief it was to be able to think his name without slipping into a daydream that she knew was outlandish and silly.
As Eowyn shut the door behind her, Arwen beckoned to Lothiriel.
"Listen, I believe Faramir is in the library right now. I want you to draw him from the library to Eowyn's room. Perhaps they will talk out their feelings, and all will be well. Now go!"
Lothiriel nodded and scurried to obey. As she was walking down the hall, she muttered to herself, "Why am I always the one who gets stuck in these positions? Lothiriel, dress up as a male elf. Lothiriel, drag Faramir to Eowyn's room. Lothiriel, Lothiriel! Oh, this better be worth it, and they better get going on something because I'm not doing this again. Lothiriel, Lothiriel, Lothiriel, Lothiriel! Why me?"
She was so wrapped up in this thought that she did not even notice people, including Eomer, staring at her like she was crazy. Of course, it was rather uncommon to hear someone muttering her own name.
Finally, Lothiriel reached the library. Sure enough, Faramir was there.
"Faramir, what are you doing here?" Lothiriel asked, pretending to be surprised.
Faramir glanced up from the book he was reading and then looked back down. "Where did you expect I would be, cousin?" he asked.
"O, I didn't even really think about that. What are you doing?"
"Reading."
"Yes, but what and why?"
Faramir sighed, exasperated. "I am reading a book on the history of Pre-Numenorean Speech because I want to, satisfied?"
"Well, I suppose. I'm sorry. I must get back to looking for this book. 'Tis very important."
Faramir nodded, understanding.
Ask me what I'm looking for you dolt! Lothiriel thought to herself.
"Oh, um, Thiri? If you see Aragorn, could you tell him that that meeting should work out fine?" Faramir asked.
Fine, if you won't ask me, then I'll have to work with what I've got, Lothiriel decided.
"I'm sorry, I can't right now. I'll tell him later though."
"Oh, okay.
"You see, Eowyn is somewhat ill, so I have to find some certain book for Arwen on medicine."
Faramir nodded.
Lothiriel just stared at him. Oh, great. He wasn't listening to me.
"Faramir? I need your help finding a book. One of my friends are ill, and Arwen needs this book."
Faramir walked over to her and knelt down on the ground to see the lower shelves.
"What is the name of the book?"
Lothiriel racked her brain. Why hadn't she thought of that before? "I...I don't know." She said finally.
Faramir sighed. "Well, what are the symptoms?" he asked.
"Uh, fever, lack of sleep, exhaustion, uh, inability to concentrate, weakness..."
Faramir nodded. "Insommia. Probably caused by stress. Here is your book. By the by, might I ask who this friend is? Her conditions seems distraughting."
FINALLY! Lothiriel thought. "You may. Her condition could be worse, fortunately, though I am worried. Arwen seems to know what she is doing. So I suppose she will be okay. Oh, it is Eowyn."
Faramir's eyes went wide, and his face went pale. Lothiriel could almost feel her cousin's mouth going dry, and his brain shutting off in shock. She could hear the two thoughts racing through his mind, battling over which one had priority. I bet she's been waiting all this time to tell me that, and Eowyn is that ill! I have to go see her! Lothiriel grinned to herself. She had succeeded.
"Well, I've got to bring this book to Arwen. If I see Aragorn, I'll tell him your message."
"My message? What message?" Faramir stuttered, confused. "Oh that message. Yes, thank you. Could you tell me where Eowyn is?"
"Of course she is in her room resting," Lothiriel insisted.
Faramir nodded. "Well, goodbye for now, Thiri."
"Goodbye for now, 'Mir."
(new scene)
"Do you know what Eowyn's doing?" Belegmir asked Natalie, rather cautiously.
Natalie shrugged. "No, what is she doing?" she asked.
Belegmir shook his head. "I was asking you remember?"
"Oh, I see, I thought you were trying to make me guess. No, I don't know what she is doing. Why?"
"I just noticed her going to her room; she looked unhappy."
Natalie pretended to frown in confusion. "Well, I don't really know what she might be doing, but I have a guess," she offered.
"Well?"
"Perhaps she is going to her room."
Belegmir rolled his eyes. Natalie was so hard to talk to sometimes!
"Natalie, to inform you, that wasn't helpful," Belegmir retorted.
"Neither is anything you say," Natalie returned.
"Well, at least I try to be helpful! You are just sarcastic!"
"And you're not."
"I'm no more sarcastic than that comment."
"Was that supposed to be a joke, or were you being sarcastic?"
"I wasn't sarcastic! I was serious!"
"I just assumed that you couldn't really mean that."
"Well I did!"
"Then I don't know whether I should laugh or cry."
"I would prefer the laughing option; it would make me feel much less guilty."
"Then I had better start crying."
"I just asked you to not cry!"
"Therefore, I should do the opposite."
"You're not just sarcastic, you're mean!"
"How would you know?"
"Do not fail to forget that I have known you as long as anyone else. I was the one who found you originally, if you do not fail to forget."
"Belegmir, that was years ago!"
"You were seven at the time, I was about twenty..."
Natalie went on as though she did not hear him. "Nearly a century!"
"Hmmm, is that a joke or are you being sarcastic?"
"BELEGMIR!!!"
"Yes?"
"Just shut up and leave me alone!"
Belegmir bowed and retreated from the deserted mess room. Natalie fumed silently. Her body shook more and more as she thought about the conversation, until at last she broke out screaming, "AARGGHH! He is so difficult!"
Suddenly, something occurred to her. If Faramir wasn't going to find Eowyn and talk to her, perhaps Eowyn should find Faramir and force him to talk to her. If she was in her room not doing anything, probably sulking, the best she could do was get out and do something about it. Natalie grinned. Though he did not know it, Belegmir had been good for something.
So Natalie went to Eowyn and knocked on her door.
"Eowyn? May I come in? 'Tis Natalie," she said through the door.
She heard a rustle of fabric, and the door latch slid open.
Eowyn's face was pale, and she appeared ill.
"Eowyn, are you all right?"
Eowyn merely shrugged, not really caring.
"I came to tell you that Faramir wanted to talk to you, and that he is in the library, but you don't seem to be very well..."
Eowyn shook her head firmly. "No, I'm fine. What did he want to talk about? Is everything all right?"
"I believe everything is fine. I think he just wanted to tell you something."
Eowyn nodded. "Perhaps I will go to him now..."
Natalie nodded. "Perhaps that would be a good idea."
She turned away ere Eowyn could see the grin forming on her face. Faramir knew that if he did not take action, she would, and he had failed. Therefore, he had left her with no choice. And Natalie's plan, unlike so many others', was working perfectly.
Or so she thought.