Chapter 10
A/N: This is kind of the last chapter, the ending/wrap-up-loose-ends chapter…the chapter where I have to put things right and make it…a happy(ish) sort of ending…read on!
Arwen gripped Éowyn's cold hands tightly. As she stared at the Lady of Rohan, she felt sympathy going out to her, and thought that it was dreadfully tragic that Haldir hadn't lived to see his child born and also pity for Éowyn for having to go through all this alone. Éowyn had her eyes squeezed shut tightly, and she cried out in pain and agony.
"Just a moment, milady," Éowyn obeyed meekly, holding on to the brink of consciousness and onto whatever hopes she had left. She gasped as another convulsion wracked her and she felt tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks and bit her tongue in fear. Of course, the ladies of the court had told her that childbirth was a long and painful process, but she had never expected it to be like this. As she felt the child begin to emerge, she felt as if she had exerted herself, soul and spirit. She felt like collapsing, but Arwen grabbed her again.
"Lady Éowyn, it's just a little more," she said worriedly. Éowyn closed her eyes and summoned whatever energy she had left, and pushed with all the might she could possibly give. Haldir ought to be here. I hope he's somewhere, and that he can see his child, she thought, crying even harder now. As she finally completed her exertions, she cradled the fruit of her labour close to her before she passed the child to Arwen, and fell unconscious.
"Lady Éowyn," Galadriel's voice floated to her from the depths of the world. She felt a rush of energy shoot through her, and she saw the beauty of the Golden Wood flood before her eyes.
"Lady Galadriel," she said, tears of love and appreciation flooding her eyes.
"My dearest child," Galadriel saidsoftly. "The Valar have granted you a temporary reprieve. Would you like to speak to Haldir for one last time?" Éowyn felt her heart leap for joy, but with wistful sadness as well. The very last time. She had always believed that he'd always be there, but still…it was better than none.
"Thank you, Lady Galadriel," she said to the sedate Lady of Lothlorien. As the image – soul? – of Haldir appeared before her, she felt bitter tears trickle down her cheeks. She felt ashamed – it seemed that the only thing she had been ding was crying and sobbing recently.
Haldir smiled at her, and she whispered, "Haldir, my dearest," she said affectionately. Haldir arched his eyebrows at her, and laughed softly.
"The Valar finally relented after long, repeated pleas," he said, a light note in his voice. Yet, most of it was still infused with sadness.
"Éowyn, remember that I am always here. Wipe those tears, for I am not gone in the literal sense of the word," he said to her gently.
"Haldir, it seemed so long since you were here," Éowyn sighed. "Without you, life reverts back to its original bleakness," she said sadly.
"Bleak only of the beauty that you do not see, my love. Darkness is inescapable, but do not sink into it," he said. Her heart rushed and she shook her read.
"Haldir…and as I dream and live you will be there for me…and the child?" Éowyn said softly.
"Yes, Éowyn. And the child…tell him about me, but not how I perished. Tell him only what he needs to know and what he should know, Éowyn. Life must go on for you both,"
As she leaned forwards, she realized that their hands met, followed by their lips in the slowest and sweetest of kisses. As the vision faded into the most memorable of silver strands entwining and immersing themselves wholly in Éowyn's memories, she awoke, a blissful smile on her face.
"Closure," she said to herself, smiling, knowing that she had finally achieved what Queen Arwen had told her to, and felt surprisingly at peace.
Faramir sat stonily at the dinner table again. It was getting incredibly hard to look anyone in the eye here after that incident with the Queen, and he realized that he could only sit and muse to himself in silence. Éowyn appeared for the fist time in days, looking slightly tired but otherwise all right. She cradled her child with one arm, and sat down next to him.
"Prince Faramir," she said coldly. "I know what happened between yourself, and the Queen the other day – and I have to tell you the truth: I witnessed it, so do not lie to me. However, you have the freedom of choice – tell the King, or would you rather not risk hurting an old friend's feelings?"
Faramir shook his head slightly. "I must tell you, Lady Éowyn, we were merely having a discussion over some issues and the Queen was giving some advice – and I don't think it was intentional," he said.
"I understand, but can you imagine the King's reaction if he finds out? 'Situation blown out of proportion' wouldn't even begin to describe it."
Faramir sighed again, this time out of exasperation and also weariness. "Please don't Lady Éowyn. Firstly, Queen Arwen would barely want that to happen we've been avoiding each other since then. And essentially, the very root of the matter, I was truly asking her for advice on what to do about you," he confessed, looking sheepish.
Éowyn sighed. Perhaps it would be best to resolve one matter before she went on with anything else.
"Look, Prince Faramir," she said, exasperated. "Put it this way, a friendship through time is worth much more than a romance," she said.
Faramir smiled. "Actually, I was considering being of some assistance, thaking the Queen's advice and just helping out when possible…" Éowyn laughed, but her demeanor turned deadly serious again.
"I'll be returning to Rohan shortly, seeing that the Grima Wormtongue problem has been resolved, so don't bother," she said. "But whatever remains, your problem with Arwen still remains, to you it may be momentary shock…but to Aragorn, it may be painful if he realizes," she said softly. "And…good luck, my friend," she said before standing up to leave.
Éomer and Aragorn sat in Aragorn's library.
"My sister and I will be leaving shortly for Rohan again. There is much we need to do, and we must return. Thank you all for the hospitability," he said, smiling at his friend gratefully. "And now, we know that we will be safe,"
Aragorn appeared deep in thought. "Has Arwen said anything to you in recent days?"
Éomer looked surprised. "The Queen? In face, I haven't spoken to her since she congratulated me on being an uncle, but no, we haven't spoken much at all," he said. He was slightly disconcerted. Why would the Queen speak to him, indeed? It was an odd notion.
"That sounds very suspicious," Aragorn said. "She's been avoiding me, and instead, chooses to spend time with the other ladies. Not that it would be unusual, but considering her disdain for their meaningless chatter…"
Éomer couldn't help but notice something else.
"Aragorn, do you notice that Prince Faramir has been acting…peculiar…lately? He's been sitting at one end of the table, just…thinking and thinking? He always seems to be deep in thought, he almost appears philosophical," Éomer said.
Aragorn frowned. "Éomer, do not poke fun at him. He does that a lot, and rather regularly too. Perhaps it's just habit," he said, but he was slightly thrown off kilter. Was it possible that Arwen and Faramir were in cahoots? As the improbability of the situation got to him, he burst into laughter, and chuckled as her picked up a piece of parchment, a quill, and began his daily record of the day's events.
As Arwen overheard the conversation, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. The situation had indeed been blown out of proportion. What a scandal there would be, she thought, if news got out. She hoped that Faramir would have the good sense not to say anything. Even so, she felt pangs of conscience biting at her. She sighed uneasily, and as Éomer exited the library, she entered and sat down next to Aragorn. She gave him a soft kiss on his forehead, and smiled at him.
"Arwen, my dear," he said to her.
She shuddered slightly, and as she clenched her fists tightly at her sides to calm down and to relax, she found herself blurting out, hoping to get the pain over with as soon as possible, she said in a rush, "Aragorn, I think I really ought to say this and it may come as a large shock…but I'm so sorry it had to happen. It's really terrible carrying the burden of unspoken secrets and I have to tell you now. I kissed Faramir," she said regretfully.
"So. It was as Éomer thought. That Faramir had been behaving more oddly than usual," Aragorn said mutinously, looking hurt and betrayed.
"It's not what you might think," Arwen said beseechingly. "He asked me for advice, and it just happened, in a manner of speaking. It was instinctive, and more of an intimate symbol of…friendship," she said.
Aragorn tightened his lips into a scowl. "And may I ask what might you be so delightfully speaking about?"
Arwen sighed. "You might have noticed – or perhaps not? – his awkward behaviour around Lady Éowyn? Well, he was trying to ask me well-meaning advice about her,"
"Oh," Aragorn said. He realized that there was no point in prolonging the situation and harbouring bitter thoughts. The royal couple gazed at each other, understanding and love passing between them with one single look. As they linked arms, they walked down to the entrance of the beautiful fortress of Minas Tirith, where Éomer and Éowyn were planning to leave for Rohan with the child, and Faramir was ready to return to Ithilien.
As Aragorn shot Faramir a knowing look, then a smile, Faramir knew that he knew – and that he was magnanimously forgiven nonetheless. He smiled back, and after a round of farewells, took his leave. Finally, as Éomer and Éowyn mounted their horses, with Éowyn cradling the baby in a makeshift sling, they exchanged warm wishes and with goodbyes ringing in the air, they rode off into the sunset, back to where Rohan stood silent and still, waiting…
THE END.
A/N: Oh wells. The story's ended. I know its disappointing, and all, but I am so so so so so sorry. I know it turned out terrible, but still…yes I am kind of proud of myself to some extent for completing it, but…I hope the ending is appropriate. Thank you for patiently reading and for reviewing and for putting up with whatever I decided to throw into the story…ahwells.
Will be working on something else next, a Phantom of the Opera fic, so…yes taking a little break from LOTR at the moment. Goodbye!
