A/N: This chapter took me a lot longer to write then I expected! But alas! It's done! Those of you familiar with the book, especially the chapter of "The Steward and the King" will recognize a lot of lines straight from the chapter.
Next chapter we will see what the two actually talked about during their healing period.
Thank you to all those who the reviewed! As for the idea of an Epilogue, I am seriously contemplating it, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. ;)
Day 3
Éowyn awoke early the next morning. She called for the maids tending to her to bring her raiment. Even though they protested and insisted she remain in bed, Éowyn would not be gainsaid. They provided Éowyn with a white frock that was only fit for the White Lady of Rohan. As the maids combed and braided her hair, Éowyn looked out the window and felt that the shining sun was deceiving her. If she was going to be kept in this House, she concluded that she wanted to, at least, be able to look towards the east.
As soon as the maids finish dressing her and put her injured arm into a sling of linen, she went to see the Warden of the Houses of Healing.
The Warden was surprised to see Lady Éowyn out of bed when she should have been resting for seven more days.
"Sir," she said, "I am in great unrest, and I cannot lie longer in sloth."
"Lady," he answered, "you are not yet healed, and I was commanded to tend you with especial care. You should not have risen from your bed for seven days yet, or so I was bidden. I beg you to go back."
"I am healed," she said, "healed at least in body, save my left arm only, and that is at ease. But I shall sicken anew, if there is naught that I can do. Are there no tidings of war? The women can tell me nothing."
"There are no tidings," said the Warden, "save the Lords have ridden to Morgul Vale; and men say that the new captain out of the North is their chief." Éowyn concluded that the 'chief' the Warden spoke of must have been Lord Aragorn. How she envied that they were out fighting, while she stood here frustrated and helpless.
The Warden looked at her. She stood there tall, her eyes bright in her white face, her hand clenched as she turned and gazed out of his window that opened to the East. After a pause she turned to him again.
"Who commands in this City?" she asked.
"I do not rightly know," he answered. "Such things are not my care. There is a marshal over the Riders of Rohan; and the Lord Húrin, I am told, commands the men of Gondor. But the Lord Faramir is by right the Steward of the City."
"Where can I find him?"
"In this house, lady. He was sorely hurt, but is now set again on the way to health. But I do not know—."
"Will you not bring me to him? Then you will know." Éowyn asked.
Faramir woke up early as he had in the past few days, and now walked alone in the gardens. His body was still aching, but his heart ached even more when he watched dark clouds of Mordor loom far into the east. The battle was still far from over. He prayed and hoped the Halflings would be able to destroy the One Ring in time.
As the sunlight warmed him, he heard a pair of footsteps approaching the garden. He assumed they belonged to other patients of the house, who have also become restless of their wards, and sought different surroundings; instead the Warden spoke his name.
"My lord Faramir," said the Warden, "here is the Lady Éowyn of Rohan. She rode with the king and was sorely hurt, and dwells now in my keeping. But she is not content, and she wishes to speak to the Steward of the City."
Faramir turned to face the Warden, and saw the Lady Éowyn of Rohan. He saw the beautiful lady clothed in white raiment and her long silky golden hair cascaded down her back. He remembered that this was the same lady he saw the previous morning. Only this morning, there was more color in her cheeks, and a hint fire in her sad blue eyes. Despite her injured arm, she stood before him tall and full of grace, but he also sense the strength of a warrior's heart from her presence, but as he continued to observe Lady Éowyn, his heart was moved to pity for the beautiful lady, for his clear sight perceived her sorrow and unrest.
At a sign from Faramir, the Warden bowed and departed. "What would you have me do, lady?" Faramir asked.
Éowyn had recognized the garden as the Warden lead her to the Steward of the City, but she did not expect that the Steward to be the raven-haired man she saw yesterday morning. She lowered her eyes again in coyness, when the Steward glanced at her and gave her a smile like the day before. But she quickly remembered her task at hand and spoke.
"Do not misunderstand him, lord," said Éowyn. "It is not lack of care that grieves me. No houses could be fairer, for those who desire to be healed. But I cannot lie in sloth, idle, caged. I looked for death in battle. But I have not died, and battle still goes on."
"Lady, I am also a prisoner of the healers. Even if I wished to aid you I could not." Éowyn lowered her eyes in disappointment. Faramir looked at her and saw that her grief only enhanced her loveliness.
She raised her eyes again to look at him and saw grave tenderness in his eyes, and she knew he was one whom no Rider of the Mark would outmatch in battle.
"What do you wish?" he asked again. "If it lies in my power, I will do it."
"I would have you command this Warden, and bid him let me go," she said with proud words, but her heart had betrayed her and she began now doubt herself.
"I myself am in the Warden's keeping," answered Faramir. "Nor have I yet taken up my authority in the City. But had I done so, I should still listen to his counsel, and should not cross his will in matters of his craft, unless in some great need."
"But I do not desire healing," she said. "I wish to ride to war like my brother, Éomer, or better like Théoden the king, for he died and has both honor and peace."
"It is too late, lady, to follow the Captains, even if you had the strength," said Faramir. "But death in battle may come to us all yet, willing or unwilling. But as for now, you and I, we must endure with patience of the hours of waiting."
Éowyn felt a tear slip from her eyes, and she lowered her head in defeat.
"But the healers would have me lie abed seven days yet, and my window does not look eastward," she said quietly. Her voice had lost its proud ness.
Faramir smiled, though his heart was filled with pity. "Your window does not look eastward?" He asked. "That can be amended. In this I will command the Warden. If you will stay in this house in our care, lady, and take your rest, then you shall walk in this garden in the sun, as you will; and you shall look east, whether all our hopes have gone. And here you will find me, walking and waiting, and also looking east. It would ease my care, if you would speak to me or walk at whiles with me," he said.
"How should I ease your care, my lord?" she asked.
"Would you have my plain answer?" he said.
"I would."
"Then, Éowyn of Rohan, I say to you that you are beautiful. In the valleys of our hills there are flowers fair and bright, and maidens fairer still; but neither flower nor lady have I seen till now in Gondor so lovely, and so sorrowful. It may be that only a few days are left ere darkness falls upon our world, and when it comes I hope to face it steadily; but it would ease my heart, if while the Sun yet shines, I could see you still. For you and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow, and the same hand drew us back."
Éowyn was surprised at Faramir's frankness and exclaimed, "Alas, not me, lord! Shadow lies on me still. Look not to me for healing! I am a shieldmaiden and my hand is ungentle. But I thank you for this at least, that I need not keep to my chamber. I will walk abroad by the grace of the Steward of the City." After thanking him she curtsied and walked back into the house, while Faramir watched her white silhouette disappear into the shadows of the house.
Faramir remained in the garden longer with thoughts on this Lady of Rohan, and when he finally returned to his chamber, he called for the Warden. The Warden came swiftly and remained with Faramir to do his bidding.
"Warden, the Lady Éowyn requests to have a room that has a window that looks out to the east. Can this be amended?"
"Yes, my lord. This can be easily be amended. I will see to it myself that the lady is settled into her new quarters," the Warden said with a slight bow.
"Thank you."
"Is there any other request you have, my lord?" the Warden asked before preparing to take his leave.
"Yes," Faramir thought for a moment, "what can you tell me of Lady Éowyn?"
"My lord, I do not know much of the lady, other then she rode with the king and was sorely hurt. But I doubt not, lord, that you would learn more from the Halfling that is with us; for he was in the riding of the king, and with the Lady at the end, they say."
"Can you please bring him to me?" The Warden bowed again as he received Faramir's request.
Faramir nodded and signed for the Warden to leave, and the Halfling was brought to him.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck, the king's esquire, I am honored to meet you," Faramir greeted the Halfling.
Merry bowed, "Thank you, my lord, but I have only done what is required of me to fight the evil of Mordor."
"You are too modest. I have heard much and admired the bravery the Halflings possess," Faramir said gesturing for Merry to sit on an empty chair next to him.
"Halfings? You've seen Pippin?"
"Yes, I have seen Peregrin Took, he was in service of my father, and I also came across the ring-bearer and his companion while I was at Ithilien."
"The Steward was your father?" Faramir nodded.
"You are Boromir's brother. I am sorry for you loss," Merry said as he lowered his head in memory of that fateful day at Amon Hen.
"We are all sorry, but we all have a part to play in defense of peace in Middle-Earth." Merry nodded gravely at the truth in Faramir's words.
"I heard that you did a great deed during the battle in the Pelennor fields," Faramir said.
"I only did what I deemed was needed in order to help Lady Éowyn," Merry said modestly.
"Can you tell me more about Lady Éowyn?" Faramir asked.
"The Lady Éowyn is a kind and pure lady who has suffered much. She lost both her parents when she was a child, from what I've heard, and was taken in by her uncle, King Théoden, who was for a time under the spell of Saruman," Merry began.
"She is a woman with much courage and bravery. For when the men of Rohan rode to the aid of Gondor, the king and her brother forbade her to join the battle, but she was strong-willed and disguised herself as a man and brought me with her into the battle, since I was also forbade to join for my own safety.
During our long rigorous ride here, Lady Éowyn never complained and rode hard and strong like all the other men, under the name of Dernhelm. For even I did not know she was my lady, until she revealed her identity on the battle field to the Black Captain."
Faramir listened intently to Merry's adventurous account with the lady, and his heart yearned for more knowledge of the lady and of her sorrows. He glanced towards his chamber window and hoped Éowyn would keep her promise and accompany him in the garden the next day.