Hi guys!
Thank you all so much for reviewing. 'starts sobbing' I love you guys so much!
Anyway, this is just a short chapter that I just had to write. It is almost pure fluff, so I hope you enjoy it. 'sigh' I live Faramir/eowyn fluff.
Just to clarify, when I saw pretty please with Faramir on top, I was being perfectly innocent. You have filthy minds the lot of you!
Hama: Yeah right. Sure you were.
ForeverFaramir: What? I was thinking completely pure, innocent thoughts about him. Honest.
Anborn: Oh come off it. We know you're hot for the captain.
ForeverFaramir: What? I was thinking nice thoughts about the ever gorgeous Daisy Wenham… of course I was… Oh shut up the pair of you. Go off and get drunk or something. And stop grinning like that! Anyway….
MelissaBlack13: Thank you. You're so sweet. I know it is very AU, but I think that they are sometimes the best ones, don't you? We get so much more Faramir in those ones….
Sidhe-ranma: Thanks. I thought that bit was funny too. I like it when people are doped up on pain medication in fics. They are so funny! Hope you like the chapter (and the sequel)
Susan W: Hey, I trust my characters to show up where they are supposed to be…. Oh alright. I got Elladan to look in on them. He managed to keep them mostly sober for that scene. Afterwards, they ran off and got drunk, especially Damrod… something about a vile concoction he was forced to drink…. I'm going to expand more on Grima in this and later chapters, so I hope you like it. I know! Men are just as bad as women, if not worse! All my male friends are always rolling their eyes at us when my female friends and I start talking about who is dating who or whatever, and then they turn around and do the same thin! But they are not "gossiping" they are 'discussing'. Apparently, there is a subtle difference. I don't see it, but they insist it is there. Jeez! Men! I wish that some parts that were in the book were in the movie, especially Faramir/Éowyn bits, but I love them both. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
EmilyMcKinnon: This is your favorite story? Thank you. You're so sweet. I'll try to keep it up to a good standard. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
Vor Tirla Laime: As long as you said 'too' it's ok. hehehe. They are lots of fun to write. I might actually write a fic with them in it. Maybe the chase across Rohan after the Uruk's. And there will be many sweet Faramir/Éowyn moments in this chapter. Enjoy!
Rebby-Éowyn: Yay! You signed up. This chapter was meant to be much longer, but I got busy. College work again! I'm ready to cry, you know that? I can't seem to concentrate anymore. Oh well, if I fail I can always get a job as a writer, cant I? Your English improves all the time. Don't rush yourself. You'll be perfect in no time. Especially if you write (hint hint) I hope you like the F/E fluffiness in this chapter. Enjoy!
Zirona: Thank you! You are so sweet. I hope you enjoy the rest of the Faramir/Éowyn fluffiness in this chapter. I'm striving for more cuteness. Let me know what you think.
ClapToSaveTheFaries: Hi. Sorry it took so long for me to update the last chapter. College just got so unbelievable crazy for a while there. It's still insane, but I'm writing this to give myself a break and to stop myself from loosing it. That nunnery is becoming more attractive by the minute. But wait? If I was a nun, could I drool over David Wenham? No? Oh well, guess that plan's scrapped then. Thank you for your kind comments. In promise you a sequel. It will be up straight after this one is done. Enjoy the chapter.
LinNicole: Isn't college such a pain in the ass sometimes? Oh well, only one more year to go. Thank you for your kind comments. I really had fun writing this chapter, even though it took so long for me to finish it and post it. I'm sorry, but Faramir is mine, and he's one thing that I can't chare. I can loan you Éomer or Haldir for a while if you want. How about Aragorn? Arwen is getting on his nerves, and is looking for a change.
Elenhin: Hi. In case I haven't emailed you back yet by the time I post this, thanks for the pics. I started giggling like a mad thing when I saw them. What the hell is our boy doing in a dress? I always wanted to have Éowyn fix Faramir up, and I had the dialogue written in my head literally since I started the fic. It was such fun to write, especially the part about the haircut and her sewing her name. I've seen Viggo in quote a few things now. Did you see him in 28 Days? He was fantastic in that. Apparently, in his movie Indian Running, he is jumping up and down on a bed, naked. Hmm, must get that from somewhere. (After I get all the Daisy movies, of course.) Isn't Sean Bean such a good Bad Guy? The accent really helps, I think. I can't believe you wrote a poem for me. You seriously rock, you know that? I hope you enjoy the update.
vivi04: Thanks for your kind comments. I think the nun plan is scrapped now. Just realised that I probably couldn't lust after Daisy Wenham like I do now if I did become one. Oh well. I hope you enjoy the new chapter.
RanaNique: 'grabs one of Faramir's arms and starts pulling until you let go.' Haha! He's mine now. I can loan you someone else if you want, but Faramir is mine alone. Selfish I know, but he's just so hot! I must look into that story when I get the time. I think you're on the wrong side though. What's the name of it? Glad you're enthusiastic about the sequel. I'm excited about it myself. Enjoy the chapter.
the bad speller: Thanks. You're so sweet. It's ok about the spelling. You should see my updates before spell check! Enjoy the chapter.
Flowerbee1: Your wish is my command. A sequel you shall have. Thanks for the kind words. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
RiverRatRogue: Hi! Welcome to the insane (but oh so Faramir filled) world of ForeverFaramir's writings. Thank you for your kind words. You seriously rock. I hope you enjoy the rest of the fic as much. And don't worry. I have plans for Endara. Big plans… 'starts cackling evilly' mwahahahahahah
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That night at dinner, Éowyn smiled and laughed more than she had in months. The presence of Faramir and three of his rangers brightened the dark mood of the hall considerably as they regaled her with stories from their travels. As she laughed at one particularly funny story of Anborn falling into a patch of poison ivy, Éowyn's mind flitted back to when she was eight, and Boromir and Faramir were first visiting Edoras.
It was in that same dining room fifteen years before that Faramir and his brother had lightened the mood of hall again, pulling Éowyn and her family out of their grief for a few short moments. Faramir always had a way of doing that for her, and she loved him for it.
Faramir sat back and watched as Éowyn laughed and talked with his friends. She was so alive and happy, and his heart squeezed in his chest. He loved her so much that it physically hurt not to tell her. He had a feeling that she felt the same way; that she had felt the love pass between them in the sickroom, but he was not sure.
He was snapped out of his reverie by the door opening loudly, and Grima slithering in. Faramir was still not over the shock of seeing the man so changed, nor the fact that Grima now saw him as an enemy. He slid up to Éowyn's elbow, and she flinched.
Faramir's hand went to the dagger attached to his belt. The rangers felt the mood shift, and became more alert themselves also. Anborn glanced at his captain, and saw his lips were drawn into a thin line as Grima placed a hand on the shoulder of the White Lady. She shook it off, and glared at the intruder.
"Why do you disturb our meal Wormtongue? What do you want?" she asked coldly, and all except Faramir flinched at the toe of her voice.
"I have come to inform you that the rooms you requested are ready. These rangers shall have beds for the night. " Grima practically spat the word rangers, and Faramir opened his mouth as if to speak. Éowyn laid a hand on his arm to silence him, and turned to Grima.
"Thank you," she told him, her voice like ice. "You are dismissed."
Grima's lip curled into a silent snarl, but he backed away nonetheless. He threw Faramir a look of pure hatred and closed the door, before he slithered back to the king. Éowyn shivered involuntarily and Faramir squeezed her hand.
"Are you ok?" he asked. Éowyn looked down and saw that her hand was still on his arm. A flush of pleasure swept through her at his touch, and she moved to clutch his hand in reassurance.
"I am fine," she told him. "Grima just makes me uneasy."
After Grima's interruption, the mood at the table was much subdued. Not half an hour later, the small party broke up.
"I will show you to your rooms," Éowyn told them as she led them through the hall. The king was no longer hunched in his throne, and Éowyn guessed that Grima had manoeuvred him into his bed for the night.
It was very late as they walked through the darkened hall. The meal had lasted for several hours, and the only people still up were the sentries on guard duty. The rangers were exhausted from the day, and were grateful beyond words for the use of bedchambers. They would have been perfectly content to bed down on the floor, but an actual bed… After so long in the wilds, a bed was pure bliss.
They gratefully went into the rooms that Éowyn showed them. Faramir was last, and he pulled Éowyn into a hug before he left her.
"Goodnight Blossom," he said and kissed her on her forehead, in the manner of his people.
"Goodnight Faramir," Éowyn replied, hugging him back. "Extra rooms will be made up for when the rest of your men are feeling better."
"I guess that Damrod will be up and about tomorrow, and possibly Mablung. They are not known for taking their time when it comes to healing."
"Well, there is no rush, my Lord. You are welcome here for as long as you wish to remain. Goodnight again."
She reached up and kissed him lightly on the cheek and walked away. Just before she passed out of his view around a corner, she glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him.
Faramir sighed as he closed the door behind him. He was fairly sure that she loved him in return. He felt it in her hug, heard it in her words. And that kiss on the cheek? It was the kiss of a friend, but her eyes promised more. Oh, Boromir had considered him dense when it came to women, and in one sense he was. But, he was so attuned to Éowyn's every movement and gesture that he could almost feel what she felt.
He sank into the bed, wincing slightly at the pain in his side. He lay back and closed his eyes in pure bliss. It had been months since he had felt a real feather pillow behind his head, and he intended to cherish the moment.
Before long, his gentle snores filled the air as he slept a dreamless sleep.
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Faramir awoke several hours later, and wasn't sure why. He listened for a sound; a movement; anything that could have woken him. But nothing broke the silence of the dead of night. He was just unused to such a soft bed. That was it. The same thing happened whenever he returned home to Minas Tirith after a stint in the wilderness. His surroundings felt too silent, and relaxed, and he had trouble sleeping.
Faramir knew from experience that he would get no more sleep that night. He silently got out of bed and dressed. He attached his dagger into his belt more from habit than need and slipped out of his room. He walked down the hall towards a nearby window, silent and indistinguishable as only a ranger could be.
The city was peaceful and quiet in the middle of the night. Here and there, a candle burned in the window of a cottage to keep the bad spirits away. Faramir smiled slightly at the tradition that had existed in Rohan since it had been gifted to Earl. If only it took a candle to keep the bad spirits away, then Sauron would be in big trouble if he ever attacked Edoras.
His thoughts drifted to Éowyn as they had so often since he had seen her again. He could think of nothing else, and he longed to speak with her in private. Across a dinner table, surrounded by others was no place to properly catch up. He wished to know news of Éomer and Théodred, and to ask how she really fared.
Blinking, Faramir noticed his surroundings for the first time. He was standing in the shadows next to the large window across for Éowyn's room. He started to move away, but his sharp ranger senses heard a noise down the corridor. Someone was walking, attempting to be quiet, but they were muttering to themselves.
Faramir shrank even further back into the shadows just as Grima Wormtongue turned a corner and came on to the corridor. He was creeping along as silently as he could, still dressed in his robes. Faramir was wondering if he ever changed them when Grima stopped outside Éowyn's room.
"I can't, I can't" Grima muttered. "She is sleeping, can't disturb her." He was silent again as if he was listening to someone answer. Then he spoke again.
"I can't go in. it's too dangerous. I know I've done it before, but now that boy from Gondor is here. Can't risk it."
Again, silence reigned as Grima listened to the voice only he could hear. What the voice said seemed to satisfy the advisor, and Grima nodded.
"Alright, just for a moment," he said, and reached out a hand to open the door to Éowyn's bedchamber.
"Remove your hand if you wish it to remain attached to your body," Faramir stated coldly, as he stepped out of the shadows to confront Grima. The dagger in his hand and dangerous glint in his eye convinced Grima that Faramir was serious, and he backed slowly away from the door. His eyes never left Faramir's face, and once he was back far enough, he pulled himself up.
"What are you doing here at this hour, son of Gondor?" he hissed at the ranger before him.
"The question is, what are you doing attempting to go where you have no right to go?"
"And I suppose you have the right?" Grima snapped.
"I do not," Faramir replied coldly. His eyes watched every movement Wormtongue made, in case he made to go for a weapon of some sort. "I would never dishonour the lady like that."
"Well, aren't we the noble one?" Grima sneered. His sneer turned into a look of panic when Faramir stepped forward, his grip on the dagger even tighter.
"Yes we are," Faramir replied, now just inches from the shrunken, pale Rider. "Take some advice from one whom you once considered a friend: stay away. If I find that you have attempted to enter her chamber uninvited again, I will kill you myself. Leave her alone, or you will answer to Éomer, Théodred or I. Do you understand me?"
"You cannot speak to me thus!" Grima protested. "I have the ear of the king…"
"I'll bet you do," Faramir cut him off mid-sentence. "And I do not care. Remember my words Wormtongue."
Grima was gulping madly now, his back against the wall. He looked around frantically for someone, anyone who could help him, but there was no-one.
"Go," Faramir ordered, and Grima fled down the corridor, no longer concerned with making noise.
Faramir re-sheathed his dagger and started to walk away, but the sound of a door opening stopped him. A sleepy-looking Éowyn wrapped in a robe entered the corridor.
"Faramir?" she asked, confused at his presence outside her chamber. "I heard noises. What is going on?"
Faramir inwardly cursed. Éowyn was a heavy sleeper, and he had wished for what passed between Grima and himself to go un-noticed. She must have heard Grima fleeing down the corridor.
"It is nothing Blossom," he told her. He hated lying to her, but she would never feel safe again in her own home if she knew the truth. "I just tripped on my way to the main hall."
"Some stealthy ranger you are," Éowyn teased good-naturedly.
Faramir smiled at her. "Go back to bed Éowyn. It is still several hours to daylight."
"Oh, I shall not be able to sleep now. Especially knowing that you are awake and alone." She closed her door behind her, and linked her arm through Faramir's. "I think I'll join you in the hall. We can catch up properly. As much as I like your rangers, we could not really talk with them there."
Faramir smiled down at her as they entered the hall. She looked so adorable wrapped up in a warm, fur robe. Adorable and delicate (though he valued his life too much to actually tell her that.)
It was cold in the hall, and Faramir quickly built up a small fire in the fireplace as Éowyn collected two goblets of wine to warm them up. They sat in comfortable silence in opposite chairs for a while, sipping wine.
"This is good," Faramir told her, indicating to the wine.
"Indeed. It is the finest in Rohan, but not often used. We are more ale-drinking folk."
Faramir grinned. "I know. I still remember the hangover I had when we came to celebrate Éomer's eighteenth birthday." Warmth spread through them both as they laughed at the memory. That had been one of the last times that they had seen each other before the incident at Minas Tirith, back in the days when the Meduseld was filled with laughter and joy. Now, it was just one of the many happy memories they had of their time together that they both clung to.
"Speaking of, how is Éomer? And Théodred?" Faramir asked her. Éowyn filled him in on everything that had happened since they had last met. My, Théodred and Éomer had been busy! Second and Third Marshal's at such a young age!
"… and now he is off scouting in the Eastfold, putting into practice those sword skills you and Boromir taught them over the years. How is your brother?" Éowyn asked him. Faramir's smile faded a little as he thought of Boromir.
"Faramir" Éowyn asked, concerned. "Have I said something wrong?" she asked him as Faramir stood and began to pace.
"You have done nothing wrong Blossom. I am just worried. I have not seen Boromir in many months."
He sat down again, is head in his hands. Éowyn stood and went to sit on the arm of the chair. She placed a soothing hand on his back, and began to rub. Their separation had to hurt. She knew how close they were, and she knew they missed each other dreadfully when they were apart. At least she saw Éomer and Théodred every few weeks. The sons of the Steward could go months without seeing each other.
"Where is he?" she asked Faramir, her voice gentle.
"Me and my stupid dreams," Faramir muttered.
"Pardon?" Éowyn was really confused now. "What to you mean?"
Faramir sighed.
"Éowyn, you know that the blood of Numenor runs through my veins?" Éowyn nodded. "Sometimes, I have these… dreams. Of thing that will come to pass. One night, several months ago, I had a dream. In that dream, I thought the Eastern sky grow dark and there was a growing thunder. But in the West, a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying:
Seek for the sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand." (1)
"Imladris?"
"Father told us that it was the name of the Lands of the Elves of the North. Boromir set out on the quest to this Imladris several months ago. I wished to go, but he insisted. You know Boromir."
Éowyn laughed a little at that. Indeed she did know Boromir. The man was loyal to the death, but he was also so stubborn one sometimes wished to hit him over the head with something heavy and hard.
"We have heard from him only once since then," Faramir continued. "Father received a short message to say that he had offered to go on a quest, and that it would take him far. That was the last we heard from him. I am worried about him Éowyn."
She could hear the tremor in his voice, and she hugged him. She knew he would be devastated if anything happened to Boromir. They stayed that way for a long time, just holding each other, letting their worry for their families, friends and countries overtake them for just a shirt while.
Eventually, Faramir pulled back and looked into Éowyn's eyes. What he saw there melted his heart. He saw love shining through those deep blue orbs, and could not stop himself as he leaned in and kissed her.
Her lips tasted of honey, and of heaven. He lost himself in the kiss, and Éowyn tightened her grip on his arms. She was shaken to the core, but would not have mover from where she was if her uncle, brother, cousin and the entire Ranger population of Gondor had walked in at that moment.
At last, they broke apart. Faramir ran a calloused hand across her cheek, and into her hair.
"Éowyn," he whispered. "My beautiful, sweet, brave shieldmaiden."
He kissed her again, and Éowyn felt herself slip from the arm of the chair into his lap. After an eternity, she pulled back and looked into his eyes.
"I love you," she told him simply. It was the bravest thing she had ever done in her life, and her heart nearly stopped as Faramir paused for a moment. Joy lit up Faramir's eyes at her words, and he kissed the tip of her nose.
"I love you too," he said, and Éowyn knew that no matter what, she could not lose the man in front of her.
The first rays of the dawn sun lit up the hall, and Éowyn reluctantly got up.
"I must go dress and see that the cooks start breakfast," she told him.
Faramir stood also. "Blossom, we do not wish to be a burden," he told her. "Please, allow us I to help out around the city."
"You'll be sorry you said that later on," Éowyn laughingly told him. "There is always work to be done. You will be running for the gates by dusk."
"Never," he promised her, kissing her hand.
Éowyn had not been gone five minutes when his rangers, Anborn, Deacat and Thoren entered the hall.
"Sleep well, did we?" Faramir laughed as he joined them. He had not seen his rangers looking so rested in a long time. It was amazing what a good nights sleep could do for morale.
"Very well sir," Anborn answered. "Have you been up long?"
"A while actually," Faramir answered. A shadow passed over his face as he remembered what had happened with Wormtongue earlier on. He had forgotten about it for a while, but now… now he had to do something.
Faramir looked around and spotted Gamling walking though the hall. He called him over to join the group. Here was one man (well, he and Hama both) that he could trust.
"Listen to me very carefully," he told the assembled group. "We must do something about the unwanted attention Wormtongue is showing Éowyn."
"My Lord, Lady Éowyn can handle herself," Gamling reminded him, a little insulted.
"I know this Gamling. Didn't I teach her myself? No, I am talking about when she is asleep."
"My Lord?" Gamling inquired worriedly.
"I could not sleep, and I was walking through the halls when I came upon Wormtongue. He was about to enter her bedchamber, and from the sound of what he was saying to himself, it was not the first time he had done so."
Gamling was shocked, and ashamed at the same time; ashamed that he had allowed this to happen.
"I am not blaming anyone Gamling," Faramir assured him. "However, he must not be allowed to do so again. I need you to place guards that you know you can trust, and that are not loyal to Wormtongue, at her door at night. But do not let Éowyn see them. I want her to feel safe."
"I will take the first shift myself," Gamling vowed. "I will not allow this to continue."
"I shall take a shift also," Anborn told Faramir.
"As shall we," Deacat and Thoren chorused. They liked the Lady Éowyn. She had shown them nothing but kindness, and the thought of that slime Wormtongue near her repulsed them as much as it did Faramir and Gamling.
Faramir smiled at his men. They were good people as well as soldiers. He could trust them with Éowyn's life.
"And I will take one also," Faramir told the group. "Good, I'm grateful."
"You confronted Wormtongue?" Gamling asked Faramir.
"I did. He was not going near Éowyn. I'd have killed him first.
"You know that he will do everything in his power to have you thrown out of Edoras now, don't you?" Gamling told him softly. The hall was starting to become busy, and Faramir spotted Grima slither towards the throne, supporting an aged Théoden on his arm.
"I know," Faramir told them softly. "And I will not let him."
They could see the conviction in his voice, and guessed (correctly) that it was more about Lady Éowyn than anything else.
The small group broke up, and Faramir went towards the king.
"My Lord," he said, kneeling before the monarch "In return for your kindness in allowing us stay, we offer you our services in the city."
Théoden made no reply, and Faramir stood to leave. He saw Grima cowering behind the throne, shooting hate-filled glares at him. He somehow resisted the urge to haul out the worm and make him pay for every hurt he had delivered on Éowyn. Instead, he and his rangers left the hall and went to the Houses of healing.
Damrod, Mablung and Demeth were still sleeping when they arrived, but Sigefolc was up and about, bustling around the store-room.
"Master Healer, may I speak with you?" Faramir asked, knocking lightly on the door.
"Ah, come in my boy," Sigefolc answered, and Faramir couldn't help but smile. It had been years since anyone had called him boy, but he didn't mind. The man was just so likable, even if he did sew up people for a living.
"Hmm, I think someone was in here," Sigefolc murmured. "I am missing some equipment."
"That would be Éowyn. She fixed me up last night," Faramir admitted sheepishly.
"You were injured and didn't fell me? Foolish boy," Sigefolc scolded, yet not unkindly. "I suppose you were worried about your men's reactions if they found out? Hmm?"
"I was," Faramir told him. "How are they?"
"Well, they had a peaceful night. They should be awake later."
"Thank the Valar," Faramir said, sending up a brief prayer. "Any clue when they will be out?"
"I think Damrod will be alright to leave today. Let me see. Today is the 8th. I think that Demeth and Mablung should be alright to leave by the 11th, as long as they do not overtax themselves."
"Ok, thanks," Faramir told him. He really was grateful to the healer. It could have been a lot worse.
Wait. Today was the 8th? That meant tomorrow was February 9th.
Éowyn's birthday.
Faramir smiled. He had the perfect present to give her.
She was going to love it.
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(1) The Fellowship of the Ring. Book Two. P 239-240
So, what do you think?
R&R please!
ForeverFaramir