Disclaimer: See Chapter One

(In my little AU, Rohan and Gondor are on better terms than they are in the movies, at least at the moment. They are not so estranged, but not full allies.)

Minas Tirith, 2999

Éowyn peeked out the window of the carriage from the safety of her mother's lap as they swept through the white city towards the highest circle. The four year old had never seen sights such as these in her life, and she knew her brother hadn't either, no matter how much he tried to hide his excitement.

Éomer and Théodred sat talking in hushed tones, taking furtive glances out the windows and making their plans. Now eight and nine respectively, the boys were a bundle of energy, and Théoden was glad to have a few days of quiet to himself in Edoras, as more often than not, they were causing mayhem.

Théoden was sending Éomund to meet with Denethor of Gondor to speak of a treaty that would be beneficial to both. He knew that Denethor was reluctant to ally himself with a foreign power, but he felt it best to try. Théoden chose Éomund for the task, and when Éomund had offered to take Théodred along also, Théoden had jumped at the few days of peace.

Éomund now sat in the corner of the carriage, looking on the two boys with amusement.

"I don't think you will have time for all the mischief you have planned" he told the pair. "We are only going to be here for three days," he reminded them. He was met with such innocent faces that he knew they were practiced.

"What mischief Father?" Éomer asked innocently.

Even Éowyn giggled at that. She was only four, yet she knew her brother well. Together, he and Théodred caused many a grey hair in their parents head, but Éowyn loved them anyway.

Ever since she could remember, those two had been her protectors; her guides in life. They taught her to ride and how to fight, and they loved her dearly, for Éowyn was strong and swift, but kind and sweet also.

The carriage pulled to a stop and the entire party descended. They walked up the steps and into a courtyard of white stone. A white tree, withered and aged, stood in the middle of the courtyard. It was guarded by several men in ceremonial garb, and Éowyn would have loved nothing more than to go over to talk to them and ask what they were doing. However, she found her hand firmly grasped in her mothers as they walked along.

A tall man with graying hair stood on the steps to welcome them.

"Welcome, sons and daughters of Rohan," he began.

"My thanks to you, Lord Denethor," Éomund answered. "May I introduce my wife, the Lady Theodwyn, my children, Éomer and Éowyn and my nephew Théodred, Prince of Rohan?"

Denethor bowed his head respectfully at the group.

"I too have children," he told Éomund as they walked inside. "Boromir, my eldest, is away from the city at the moment. He is in the army, but I am expecting him back some day soon. Faramir is around here… somewhere." Denethor waved his hand to imply that he did not know where he was. "He probably has his head stuck in a book somewhere."

Éomund frowned inwardly at the change that occurred in Denethor's voice as he spoke of his youngest son, but kept his silence. He glanced at his wife, and saw that she had noticed it also. He sighed inwardly. He was sure this was going to be one of the more difficult assignments of his career.

X X X X X

Éowyn sighed in frustration as she looked out the window of the women's solar in the white tower. Her mother sat chatting with the ladies of the city, and Éowyn was stuck there with her.

How she longed to be outside with her brother and cousin! But, her parents had decreed her too young to be out in an unfamiliar city without an adult, so she was trapped inside while Éomer and Théodred had fun without her.

She was not used to staying indoors! Every day in Edoras, she rode with her brother and cousin, or practiced with the wooden sword her brother had made for her for her birthday (much to her mother's dismay) But here, she sat all day. She huffed her way over to the corner and her mother swallowed a smile. Her little girl was not happy, but she was adorable sitting there, pouting.

A servant arrived then with a tray of tea and sweet cakes, and Theodwyn did not notice her youngest slip out the open door and into the empty corridor.

Éowyn tried not to giggle as she ran silently though the corridor. She was free! She wandered around the tower until she came to a door that led to the garden.

It was a beautiful garden. The flowers were in bloom and the scent of lavender hung in the air. Éowyn skipped along, thinking of what to do next when she saw a man sitting under a tree. He was leaning against the trunk, a large book balanced on his knees. He was so immersed in the world of the book that he didn't see her until she was practically beside him.

(A/N To a four year old, anyone over twelve is a man. Someone sixteen, like Faramir, would be really old!!)

"Oh, hello there," Faramir said as he heard a noise beside him. He turned to see a small child, perhaps four of five staring up at him with wide eyes. She had a halo of golden hair, a cherubic face and an infectious smile. Her clothes were made from finely woven cloth, even of they were a little plain, and Faramir reasoned that she was the daughter of one of the ladies that often visited the tower.

She scrutinized his features in her innocent way, and obviously decided that she liked him, because she smiled and dropped a curtsey.

"I am the Lady Éowyn of Rohan. Pleased to meet you," she told him. Faramir seemed a little surprised, but decided to play along with her game, at least until her mother came along. He stood and bowed deeply.

"I am Lord Faramir, son of Denethor. The honour is mine," he told her, and she giggled.

"Whatcha' reading?" she asked him when he sat back down again. She scrambled to sit next to him and he smiled at her.

"It is a book on flowers and herbs, and their healing properties," he told her, not really expecting her to understand. He was very surprised when she nodded in understanding.

"What does it say about the athelas plant?" she asked him, surprising him even more.

So, Faramir spent the next half hour showing her the pictures in the book, and telling her about the plants. In between pages Éowyn told him all about her family, her home and most importantly… her horse He was amazed at her, for one so young she had a quick mind.

"Oh, that's pretty!" she exclaimed as she pointed to the flower depicted on the page.

"Aye, it is," he answered. "It is the Larada plant. The blossoms release a scent when crushed that relax a person and so aid sleep if a person is ill."

He stood and walked over to a nearby bush. Éowyn saw that the pretty flowers in the book were on the bush. Faramir picked one and handed it to her.

"Here," he told her. "For you."

Éowyn giggled. "You can't pick that!" she protested.

"Don't worry," he told her. "This was my mother's garden. She would want you to have some of the flower that you admire so much."

Éowyn giggled and raised her arms for Faramir to lift her up. After a moments hesitation, he did. Éowyn planted a noisy kiss of his cheek, causing Faramir to laugh.

"Come, let us find your mother," he said as he held her in his arms. "I confess we should have done so before, but I was enjoying your company, little one."

Éowyn giggled and rested her head on Faramir's shoulder. He picked up the book in one hand and headed indoors.

He started up the stairs to the Ladies solar, guessing that was where Éowyn's mother would be. He had just reached the top floor when he heard a rustle of voices.

"Where can she be?"

"Oh my! We have checked every room on the floor above…"

"She ever wanders, but she doesn't know the city…"

The last voice obviously belonged to Éowyn's as the child giggled quietly. Faramir rounded the corner and saw several women opening doors and peering inside in search of the child.

"Excuse me Ladies," he called. "I assume you are looking for this?" he indicated to the child in his arms, who was now giggling madly.

"Éowyn!" One woman cried, rushing forward. "Where have you been? Oh, my child!" She took Éowyn from Faramir's hands and hugged her tightly.

"My thanks to you," she told Faramir. "I am Theodwyn, wife of Éomund of Rohan. This is my daughter Éowyn. She was bored in the solar, so she decided to wander off. Tell me, where did you find her?"

"She came upon me as I was sitting in the garden," Faramir told her.

Theodwyn closed her eyes for a moment, and held her child close. She had made it outside! God knows what would have happened to her if she had wandered further than the garden.

"Thank you again. The Valar knows what might have happened to her if you had not kept her with you."

"I confess she was good company," Faramir admitted. "Your daughter has a sharp mind."

"That she has. And a sharp tongue to match when her brother or cousin cross her," Theodwyn smiled. "Pray young man, what is your name?"

"I am Faramir, son of Denethor," Faramir told her. "And now, unfortunately, I must go. Fare well Lady Theodwyn. Farewell Lady Éowyn," he said causing Éowyn to giggle again.

He turned the corner from their sight, and Theodwyn turned to her daughter. She was cradling something in her hands.

"What do you have there child?" she asked.

"It's a Larada blossom. Faramir gave it to me because it was pretty like the one in the book."

Theodwyn looked down the corridor that Faramir had just walked. What a nice young man, she thought.

X X X X X

At mid-day the next day, the small party from Rohan left the White Tower and headed towards the waiting carriage. The meetings with Denethor had not gone as well as Éomund and Théoden had hoped, but it was a start. They were almost to the carriage when Éowyn spotted a familiar figure. He was standing next to a man and a horse. The man had blonde hair and was very tall. She pulled her hand from her mother's grasp and ran towards them before anyone could stop her.

"Faramir!!" she called, skidding to a stop in front of them. She put her hands up as a sign to Faramir to lift her, and he complied, smiling.

"Hello my Lady," he said, causing her to giggle. "How are you today?"

"I'm alright."

"No more wandering off?"

"Not since yesterday."

"Care to introduce me to this fine lady?" the older man asked, his voice alive with humour.

"Certainly. Éowyn, this is my brother, Boromir. He is in the army, and has returned home on leave today. "Boromir, this is the Lady Éowyn, daughter of Éomund of Rohan."

Boromir bowed deeply, causing Éowyn to giggle. He was grinning also at the sight of his brother with a small child in his arms.

"Tell me, how did you meet my brother, Éowyn?" Boromir asked her.

"He gave me a flower!!" she gleefully told him.

"Really?" Boromir laughed. "Isn't she a little young for you at the moment, Brother?" he asked Faramir, causing Faramir to blush and glare at his sibling.

"She was admiring the Larada plant, so I gave her one of the blossoms from Mother's garden, that's all. Do you still have it?" he asked her. Éowyn nodded eagerly.

"My mother helped me press it, so it will keep," she told him.

At this point Éomund had made his way over to the trio.

"My apologies to you both," he said.

"It is no bother," Boromir told him. "You're little girl here is charming."

"I thank you. Now Éowyn, we must be getting along. Say goodbye."

"Goodbye Faramir!" she said, kissing him loudly on the cheek. Boromir laughed until she leaned over and did the same to him. "Goodbye Boromir!" she said. She happily went to her father's arms now, waving until they disappeared from her view.

"What an interesting child," Boromir commented as he turned to walk inside with his brother.

"I agree. Very intelligent too."

"Just like someone else I know," Boromir said. Suddenly, he lunged forward and grabbed his brother in a headlock. "Now, who could that be?"

Both brothers laughed as Boromir pulled Faramir inside out of the hot sun.

X X X X

SO, what do you think? Come on, I can take it. Good? Bad? Any feedback is appreciated.