Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR other people do.
A/N: Finally the Starry mantle makes its appearance! Sorry it took me a while to update. My muse was being evil and forced me to write fics for a different fandom, putting this aside for the moment. "hangs head in shame"
Day 6
Faramir spent the early morning searching through old trunks stored away to hid memories that had been forgotten.
Through his searching he found many things he had long forgotten from his innocence filled youth. He found embroideries and tapestries that his mother made and loved. She hung the tapestries within the halls, bringing life and color in to the stark surroundings. After her death, his father took all memory of her and hid them away to be locked in this dark room.
Faramir flipped open another trunk and found books of lore that his mother once read to him as a child. He remembered he searched everywhere for these books after his mother's death, but his father took them away from him. His father said he was wasting his mind my pouring over lore of dead kings and myths, instead he should have been training himself to be a great warrior like his brother would be one day.
He held the book in his hands, and flipped through the pages of beautifully written scripts and carefully drawn illustrations. He remembered Éowyn's intrigue in the stories he mentioned the day before and thought that he would give these to her to read as she spent her time in the House.
He placed the book down on the floor by the trunk and found the object that began his search. He felt the soft smooth but heavy material in his hand. With his other hand he lifted the candle to inspect the deep blue mantle before him. The candlelight reflected off the silvery stars causing the mantle to glisten and shimmer in his palm. The starry mantle was still as beautiful as he remembered so many years before.
Faramir placed the candle down and stood up to observe the full length of the mantle. As he shook the mantle of its dust, it looked as thought he had the night sky in his hands. He inspected the starry mantle one last time and concluded that this would be a fitting gift for the Lady of Rohan.
Éowyn arrived to an empty garden. She at first thought that she was early, and Faramir had not come yet. As she wandered around the garden and watched the day grow brighter, she wondered what might have delayed Faramir. She let out a sigh as her fingers absentmindedly played with a lock of her golden hair. Her grey eyes were drawn to the dark gloomy east again. She felt that the clouds of Mordor were spreading its evil talons out further over Middle-earth and she could do nothing but pray. She prayed that the Hosts of men and the Halflings would both succeed and return safely.
A shiver came over her as a cool wind blew past her, the raiment she wore was not suitable for the cool weather. She decided to wait a while longer for Faramir, before she returned inside to retrieve a warmer garment. She carefully wrapped her hand around her injured arm in an attempt to keep herself warmth, but the cold air was making her feel alone and vulnerable.
Faramir arrived at the garden to see Éowyn standing alone and shivering slightly from the cool spring weather. He quietly walked up behind her and draped the newly cleansed starry mantle over her shoulders.
Éowyn looked up surprised, but her surprised eased into a smile when she saw
Faramir.
"I thought you might be cold. The weather of late has been quite cool," Faramir
said.
Éowyn reached to pulled the mantle tighter around herself. "Thank you," she said, as she started to observe the beautiful mantle. When she noticed the glittering stars spread upon the mantle, she realized this was the starry mantle Faramir spoke of the day before.
"Is this the starry mantle that belonged to your mother?" Éowyn asked.
"You have a good memoryÉowyn. Yes, this is the starry mantle that I remember being draped over my mother's shoulder," he paused, "and I would like you to have it."
Éowyn looked at Faramir with wide eyes. "I can not accept this mantle. This mantle belonged to someone who was dear to you," she argued.
"And you are dear to me as well," Faramir replied. Éowyn looked away from Faramir. She was uncomfortable at Faramir's open feelings for her, but at the same time her heart leaped for joy, for she never thought she would hear words like these from any man.
"I am sorry if I have made you uncomfortable, but if you do not accept this mantle, this mantle would only return to the dark confines of an old trunk and be forgotten. Please accept this gift as a small token of my appreciation, for if it was not for your accompaniment, my days in the Houses of Healing would be much longer."
Éowyn turned and looked into Faramir's eyes. His words and gift touched her, and as she observed Faramir's eyes, she saw that he would not be swayed by his decision. "I will accept your gift, my lord, but I should be thanking you for bringing me out of my solitude."
Faramir smiled, but his smile faded as he saw Éowyn's gaze turns towards Mordor.
"The days grow colder, and the sun is slowly being blanketed by dark clouds," Éowyn sighed. "It has been five days since he set out, and still there is no word."
"The journey to Black Gates of Mordor is not near, for the Host of the West may yet still be on their journey there. With Mithrandir and Lord Aragorn leading, I believe there is still hope. For with news of Lord Aragorn's arrival, it has rekindled hope in many hearts of the men of Gondor." Faramir said.
Éowyn's thoughts strayed towards the day she had first set eyes upon Aragorn in the Golden Hall. When she first saw him, she knew he was a remarkable man, whose heart she would never have.
"Lord Aragorn is indeed a good man and leader, for many love him and are willing to follow him to the death if it need be," Éowyn said.
"Including yourself?" Faramir asked more as a statement then a question.
"I begged him to let me follow him when he sought the Paths of the Dead, but Aragorn refused my request, and asked me to remain at home since it was my duty." Éowyn lowered her head, for she felt guilt arise in her heart.
"Do you love him?" Faramir asked.
"I love him, as men love their benevolent kings and respected leaders, but as for another kind of love. From Lord Aragorn, I will never receive."
Faramir looked at Éowyn inquisitively, curious at the meaning of her words.
"When I asked him why he chose to travel the perilous route of the Paths of the Dead, Aragron promptly replied that he did not chose the path of peril, and if he were to go where his heart dwelled, he would be far in the North wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell," she explained. "I did not understand his words then, but now I know his heart lies to the North, because his fair love awaits for him there."
"Éowyn, where does your heart lie?" Faramir asked. Her grey eyes looked at up at Faramir. She had thought that her heart was lost to Aragorn. As she stood here with Faramir, she realized her heart was not lost to Aragorn, but to another.
"I fear that I do not know," she confessed.