Far and Away
Chapter: 28
~*~*~*~
Eowyn woke the next morning later than usual. The dim sunlight shone through her open window and a chill breeze surrounded her being. She pulled the cover tightly around herself and stared out the window. She had had the dream again. She could still hear it ringing in her ears; the very air about her seemed to whisper it.
~*~
It didn't start from the beginning like it always had before. It had been a dreamless sleep before she had heard her mother's voice speaking to her.
"Daughter of Kings, weep not, and go not unto battle seeking the sword and death. There is one who loves you, yet you will not see it."
Eowyn had done something that she had never done before. She answered the dream.
"Mother, I did go unto the battlefield. I sought to die, but I didn't. And now I am here and lost."
"You are not lost, can you not clear your foolish head? Your pride has always gotten in your way, my love. Can't you see that what he offers is not pity, but love?"
"But Mother, who is he? The one I love does not return it."
"You love Aragorn."
"Of course."
"Why?"
Eowyn opened her mouth, but her mind was blank.
"My child, do you truly love him?"
Eowyn frowned. "Of course I do. He is a king."
"Is that why you claim to love him?"
Eowyn searched her brain for another reason. But there was no other reason. Was she really that shallow?
"Daughter, Isildur's heir already has a love. Your pride will not see it. You cannot stop his heart from loving another any more than you can make him love you."
Eowyn hung her head in shame. "Then what am I to do?"
"You are smart. Foolish at times, but smart enough. Eowyn, don't turn him away. See with your true heart. See through the growing shadow that is clouding your mind and soul. Valor has not gone. You will be honored for what you have done."
"Don't turn him away? Mother, I don't understand. Who?"
Theodwyn's eyes pierced Eowyn's. "You know who."
Eowyn lifted her eyes. Her heart pounded and she whispered his name. "Faramir."
Theodwyn smiled at her daughter. "See? That wasn't so hard was it?" She touched Eowyn's cheek. "Smile, my daughter, for the hour will be bright again one day. Do not stray for the truth. See through the shadow that is cast over your heart. He is waiting. Go to him."
~*~
Eowyn had woken after that. The whispered words still lingered in the wind.
"He is waiting. Go to him."
Faramir was waiting for her.
Eowyn slowly slide out of bed and pulled a coat over her dress. She pushed the heavy oak door open and silently walked to Faramir's room. She was about to knock when she heard footsteps coming toward her. She turned and saw Faramir coming around the corner. His head was down, as if he was deep in thought, but he seemed to catch her from the corner of his eye and he turned his gaze to rest on her.
"You came."
Eowyn looked at him. "What?"
Faramir blushed and looked away. "Hm- nothing." He looked back at Eowyn. "Where you waiting for me?"
This time it was Eowyn who blushed, but failed to hide it. "Y-yes." She could feel her cheeks burning. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Eowyn looked up at the young man in front of her. Some wind blew her hair across her cheek and Faramir reached out and softly brushed it from her face. For a moment his hand rested on Eowyn's cheek and her eyes looked directly into his dark ones.
~*~ Faramir's hand was upon her cheek, he was only inches from her. Her skin was so soft against his rough hand. Her deep pools of stormy blue gazed up at him as he lost himself in her eyes.
But Eowyn's eyes lowered and the young captain quickly took his hand back. "I-I am sorry. I didn't not mean to-"
"Its alright." Eowyn's soft answer stopped him. She faintly smiled at him and then nervously clasped her hands. "I wanted to speak with you."
Faramir's heart skipped a beat. "Really?"
Eowyn smiled. "Yes."
"About what?"
Eowyn looked at him. "About you." Eowyn immediately realized what she had said and blushed. "I mean, you and your family- and- and the city-... You know, I had never been outside Rohan before this."
Faramir nodded. "Yes, I know, your brother told me."
"What?"
Faramir looked at Eowyn. "Yes, a few years ago, your brother and cousin came to the city asking for help. Unfortunately, my father turned them away. I got to talk with them awhile before they left though. They are good men."
Eowyn nodded. "Yes."
Faramir looked at her. "Yes. Well, I saw Eomer right before they went to the Black Gates, but I don't believe that I saw Theodred. Wasn't he with the company?"
~*~
Eowyn looked away. How many times did she have to tell people about Theodred? About his horrible death? "He is no longer here." She looked up at Faramir, trying to hold back her tears.
Faramir stared at her for a moment. "I am so sorry Eowyn. Forgive me, I didn't know."
Tears came tumbling down her cheeks. She bit her lip, barely keeping herself from sobbing from the memory.
Faramir looked tenderly at her. "When?"
"About a month ago."
Faramir ran his fingers through his dark hair. His brow was furrowed, deep in thought. "How? Why?" he said in a hoarse voice.
"In an ambush, near the Isen River, by orcs." Eowyn broke then. Her heart was tearing itself in two because of the pain and hurt. She just bowed her head and wept. Deep sobs rose from her throat and she sank to the ground, holding her face in her hands.
As tears flowed through her fingers, a gentle hand grasped them and pulled them from her tear-stained face. Through her blurred vision, she saw Faramir kneeling in front of her, holding her hands. He tenderly wiped the tears from her cheeks and for a moment, he was cupping her head.
Eowyn's chest rose in a sob and she burst into tears again. Faramir was startled for a minute and then shifted so that his back rested on the wall. He caringly pulled her close to him. Eowyn turned into his embrace and cried.
Faramir softly stroked her hair and murmured old songs, attempting to sooth his love.
~*~ Eowyn woke several hours later. She found herself lying on a couch in Faramir's room. Looking quietly around, she saw the young man sitting at a desk writing something. She sat up and pulled a light blanket around her. She sat there for a few moments, taking in her surroundings- namely Faramir.
His hair was pulled back with a cord and he rested his forehead in his hand while he wrote with the other. He seemed very busy and Eowyn didn't want to disturb him.
She silently attempted to get up, but failed when her knees gave out on her and she fall back onto the couch with a loud thud. Faramir turned and looked at her, his eyes full of concern.
"Are you alright?"
Eowyn's head felt as if it were going to split as blood pounded in her ears. She gazed dizzily at Faramir as he knelt in front of her and gently supported her.
"Do you want me to get the Healer?"
"No!" Eowyn shook her head. "No, please. Don't- I don't want him to know. He doesn't need to. I just have a headache. That's all."
Faramir looked at her. He smiled and shook his head. "Alright, Eowyn. Whatever you say." He cupped her cheek for half a second as he rose, but then turned back to his work. Eowyn drew in a shaky breath, not sure of what was happening to her.
~Why is he this way to me? Why is he always so kind?~ Eowyn glanced over at Faramir who had again taken by his work again. ~Why do I feel this way when he's around? Its like there's butterflies in my stomach every time I look at him.~
Eowyn smiled to herself. She carefully supported herself and rose slowly with caution. Eowyn drew the blanket around her. She placed a timid hand on Faramir's back and said softly, "Thank you, my lord, for your kindness toward me. I think I'm going to go to my room now."
Faramir turned in his chair and glazed deep into her eyes. "Do you need me to help you?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you. I think I'll manage."
Faramir nodded and turned back to his work. "I hope you feel better."
Eowyn stood silently for a moment and then softly opened the door and walked back to her room. If she had looked back when she was shutting the door, she would have seen Faramir gazing after her.
~*~
Faramir couldn't go to sleep. Thoughts kept racing in and out of his head, preventing his from sleep. His body had been robbed of rest for days and his mind was tired. But there was something that kept him awake.
Faramir sighed, finally getting out of bed. He pulled a shirt on and, having decided to go for a walk, left his room. He walked the long halls of the House of Healing. Eventually, he found himself in his favorite spot, the small garden overlooking the city. It was so peaceful and calm, even through the bitterest of times. But when he entered, he saw that he was not alone.
~*~
Eowyn looked up and saw Faramir walking toward her. He had on a plain shirt that was a bit too big for him and old, worn pants. But the strangest thing was that he was barefoot. She smiled. It was funny to see a grown man walking around with no shoes on.
Faramir frowned. "What?!"
Eowyn just kept smiling. "You don't have any shoes on."
He looked down at his feet. "Oh- I-I guess I forgot to put some on." He looked up at Eowyn in embarrassment, his cheeks hinting a shade of red. "I'm just used to being in the forest I guess."
"The forest?"
Faramir nodded. "Yes, I was captain of a group of rangers. We were posted in the forest of Ithilien. Do you know where that is?"
Eowyn shook her head. "No. I've only been in Rohan my whole life and I never really studied old maps of the earth."
"I'll show it to you then." Faramir came right up next to Eowyn and turned her so that she was facing east. "Can you see the city next to the river?"
She looked hard and finally found where a small city was set on a silver moon lit river. "Yes, I see it."
"Alright, now point to it."
She extended her arm and pointed to the city. Faramir took her hand and moved it so that it was now pointing to the mountains that rose up behind the city.
"See the mountains?"
Eowyn nodded.
"Alright, now imagine going over the small part of the mountain and into a valley. It's caught up in between there. There is a forest there, one where Elves used to walk in."
"Elves?" Eowyn glanced back at Faramir. "Elves used to live there?"
"Yes. They were the first peoples to wake, you know. They used to roam the forests in those days." Faramir paused and looked out over the city. "And now what have those days become? Dark and bitter. The world is cold and dead, if Aragorn does not succeed."
Eowyn remain quiet. The air between them was even still.
Faramir sighed. "Forgive me, Eowyn."
"Its alright. Please, go on- what did Ithilien look like?"
Faramir smiled. "Ah, yes. Ithilien. Its forests run the length of the mountain. Its beautiful there."
Eowyn leaned back against the arch and just listened to Faramir, into the hours of the night.
Chapter: 28
~*~*~*~
Eowyn woke the next morning later than usual. The dim sunlight shone through her open window and a chill breeze surrounded her being. She pulled the cover tightly around herself and stared out the window. She had had the dream again. She could still hear it ringing in her ears; the very air about her seemed to whisper it.
~*~
It didn't start from the beginning like it always had before. It had been a dreamless sleep before she had heard her mother's voice speaking to her.
"Daughter of Kings, weep not, and go not unto battle seeking the sword and death. There is one who loves you, yet you will not see it."
Eowyn had done something that she had never done before. She answered the dream.
"Mother, I did go unto the battlefield. I sought to die, but I didn't. And now I am here and lost."
"You are not lost, can you not clear your foolish head? Your pride has always gotten in your way, my love. Can't you see that what he offers is not pity, but love?"
"But Mother, who is he? The one I love does not return it."
"You love Aragorn."
"Of course."
"Why?"
Eowyn opened her mouth, but her mind was blank.
"My child, do you truly love him?"
Eowyn frowned. "Of course I do. He is a king."
"Is that why you claim to love him?"
Eowyn searched her brain for another reason. But there was no other reason. Was she really that shallow?
"Daughter, Isildur's heir already has a love. Your pride will not see it. You cannot stop his heart from loving another any more than you can make him love you."
Eowyn hung her head in shame. "Then what am I to do?"
"You are smart. Foolish at times, but smart enough. Eowyn, don't turn him away. See with your true heart. See through the growing shadow that is clouding your mind and soul. Valor has not gone. You will be honored for what you have done."
"Don't turn him away? Mother, I don't understand. Who?"
Theodwyn's eyes pierced Eowyn's. "You know who."
Eowyn lifted her eyes. Her heart pounded and she whispered his name. "Faramir."
Theodwyn smiled at her daughter. "See? That wasn't so hard was it?" She touched Eowyn's cheek. "Smile, my daughter, for the hour will be bright again one day. Do not stray for the truth. See through the shadow that is cast over your heart. He is waiting. Go to him."
~*~
Eowyn had woken after that. The whispered words still lingered in the wind.
"He is waiting. Go to him."
Faramir was waiting for her.
Eowyn slowly slide out of bed and pulled a coat over her dress. She pushed the heavy oak door open and silently walked to Faramir's room. She was about to knock when she heard footsteps coming toward her. She turned and saw Faramir coming around the corner. His head was down, as if he was deep in thought, but he seemed to catch her from the corner of his eye and he turned his gaze to rest on her.
"You came."
Eowyn looked at him. "What?"
Faramir blushed and looked away. "Hm- nothing." He looked back at Eowyn. "Where you waiting for me?"
This time it was Eowyn who blushed, but failed to hide it. "Y-yes." She could feel her cheeks burning. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Eowyn looked up at the young man in front of her. Some wind blew her hair across her cheek and Faramir reached out and softly brushed it from her face. For a moment his hand rested on Eowyn's cheek and her eyes looked directly into his dark ones.
~*~ Faramir's hand was upon her cheek, he was only inches from her. Her skin was so soft against his rough hand. Her deep pools of stormy blue gazed up at him as he lost himself in her eyes.
But Eowyn's eyes lowered and the young captain quickly took his hand back. "I-I am sorry. I didn't not mean to-"
"Its alright." Eowyn's soft answer stopped him. She faintly smiled at him and then nervously clasped her hands. "I wanted to speak with you."
Faramir's heart skipped a beat. "Really?"
Eowyn smiled. "Yes."
"About what?"
Eowyn looked at him. "About you." Eowyn immediately realized what she had said and blushed. "I mean, you and your family- and- and the city-... You know, I had never been outside Rohan before this."
Faramir nodded. "Yes, I know, your brother told me."
"What?"
Faramir looked at Eowyn. "Yes, a few years ago, your brother and cousin came to the city asking for help. Unfortunately, my father turned them away. I got to talk with them awhile before they left though. They are good men."
Eowyn nodded. "Yes."
Faramir looked at her. "Yes. Well, I saw Eomer right before they went to the Black Gates, but I don't believe that I saw Theodred. Wasn't he with the company?"
~*~
Eowyn looked away. How many times did she have to tell people about Theodred? About his horrible death? "He is no longer here." She looked up at Faramir, trying to hold back her tears.
Faramir stared at her for a moment. "I am so sorry Eowyn. Forgive me, I didn't know."
Tears came tumbling down her cheeks. She bit her lip, barely keeping herself from sobbing from the memory.
Faramir looked tenderly at her. "When?"
"About a month ago."
Faramir ran his fingers through his dark hair. His brow was furrowed, deep in thought. "How? Why?" he said in a hoarse voice.
"In an ambush, near the Isen River, by orcs." Eowyn broke then. Her heart was tearing itself in two because of the pain and hurt. She just bowed her head and wept. Deep sobs rose from her throat and she sank to the ground, holding her face in her hands.
As tears flowed through her fingers, a gentle hand grasped them and pulled them from her tear-stained face. Through her blurred vision, she saw Faramir kneeling in front of her, holding her hands. He tenderly wiped the tears from her cheeks and for a moment, he was cupping her head.
Eowyn's chest rose in a sob and she burst into tears again. Faramir was startled for a minute and then shifted so that his back rested on the wall. He caringly pulled her close to him. Eowyn turned into his embrace and cried.
Faramir softly stroked her hair and murmured old songs, attempting to sooth his love.
~*~ Eowyn woke several hours later. She found herself lying on a couch in Faramir's room. Looking quietly around, she saw the young man sitting at a desk writing something. She sat up and pulled a light blanket around her. She sat there for a few moments, taking in her surroundings- namely Faramir.
His hair was pulled back with a cord and he rested his forehead in his hand while he wrote with the other. He seemed very busy and Eowyn didn't want to disturb him.
She silently attempted to get up, but failed when her knees gave out on her and she fall back onto the couch with a loud thud. Faramir turned and looked at her, his eyes full of concern.
"Are you alright?"
Eowyn's head felt as if it were going to split as blood pounded in her ears. She gazed dizzily at Faramir as he knelt in front of her and gently supported her.
"Do you want me to get the Healer?"
"No!" Eowyn shook her head. "No, please. Don't- I don't want him to know. He doesn't need to. I just have a headache. That's all."
Faramir looked at her. He smiled and shook his head. "Alright, Eowyn. Whatever you say." He cupped her cheek for half a second as he rose, but then turned back to his work. Eowyn drew in a shaky breath, not sure of what was happening to her.
~Why is he this way to me? Why is he always so kind?~ Eowyn glanced over at Faramir who had again taken by his work again. ~Why do I feel this way when he's around? Its like there's butterflies in my stomach every time I look at him.~
Eowyn smiled to herself. She carefully supported herself and rose slowly with caution. Eowyn drew the blanket around her. She placed a timid hand on Faramir's back and said softly, "Thank you, my lord, for your kindness toward me. I think I'm going to go to my room now."
Faramir turned in his chair and glazed deep into her eyes. "Do you need me to help you?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you. I think I'll manage."
Faramir nodded and turned back to his work. "I hope you feel better."
Eowyn stood silently for a moment and then softly opened the door and walked back to her room. If she had looked back when she was shutting the door, she would have seen Faramir gazing after her.
~*~
Faramir couldn't go to sleep. Thoughts kept racing in and out of his head, preventing his from sleep. His body had been robbed of rest for days and his mind was tired. But there was something that kept him awake.
Faramir sighed, finally getting out of bed. He pulled a shirt on and, having decided to go for a walk, left his room. He walked the long halls of the House of Healing. Eventually, he found himself in his favorite spot, the small garden overlooking the city. It was so peaceful and calm, even through the bitterest of times. But when he entered, he saw that he was not alone.
~*~
Eowyn looked up and saw Faramir walking toward her. He had on a plain shirt that was a bit too big for him and old, worn pants. But the strangest thing was that he was barefoot. She smiled. It was funny to see a grown man walking around with no shoes on.
Faramir frowned. "What?!"
Eowyn just kept smiling. "You don't have any shoes on."
He looked down at his feet. "Oh- I-I guess I forgot to put some on." He looked up at Eowyn in embarrassment, his cheeks hinting a shade of red. "I'm just used to being in the forest I guess."
"The forest?"
Faramir nodded. "Yes, I was captain of a group of rangers. We were posted in the forest of Ithilien. Do you know where that is?"
Eowyn shook her head. "No. I've only been in Rohan my whole life and I never really studied old maps of the earth."
"I'll show it to you then." Faramir came right up next to Eowyn and turned her so that she was facing east. "Can you see the city next to the river?"
She looked hard and finally found where a small city was set on a silver moon lit river. "Yes, I see it."
"Alright, now point to it."
She extended her arm and pointed to the city. Faramir took her hand and moved it so that it was now pointing to the mountains that rose up behind the city.
"See the mountains?"
Eowyn nodded.
"Alright, now imagine going over the small part of the mountain and into a valley. It's caught up in between there. There is a forest there, one where Elves used to walk in."
"Elves?" Eowyn glanced back at Faramir. "Elves used to live there?"
"Yes. They were the first peoples to wake, you know. They used to roam the forests in those days." Faramir paused and looked out over the city. "And now what have those days become? Dark and bitter. The world is cold and dead, if Aragorn does not succeed."
Eowyn remain quiet. The air between them was even still.
Faramir sighed. "Forgive me, Eowyn."
"Its alright. Please, go on- what did Ithilien look like?"
Faramir smiled. "Ah, yes. Ithilien. Its forests run the length of the mountain. Its beautiful there."
Eowyn leaned back against the arch and just listened to Faramir, into the hours of the night.