In This Embrace

Faramir, Steward of Gondor sat at his desk in the study, wearily looking through some papers that the king had asked him to see too.

Sighing tiredly, he leaned back in his chair. It was late at night and he knew he should be in bed, with Eowyn.

Eowyn, he thought, the light of my life, my love, I would do anything for her, give her anything she asked me for. She was his salvation, his lifeline; she gave him the love he had never received from his father or brother.

His father, he thought bitterly. Why, why could I not have his love, I did everything, everything he asked of me and it still wasn't enough, I was never enough.

Flashback

"You wish now that I had died and Boromir had lived?" He asked, fearing the answer.

" Yes, that is what I wish," Denethor replied.

End Flashback

He lowered his head to the desk, hiding his face in his hands.

"Why did I not deserve your love father?" he asked to the empty space.

" Why," he whimpered, before breaking down and sobbing into his hands.

Eowyn, White lady of Rohan, wandered down the hall to her husbands study, she had become restless, not being able to sleep without his gentle presence beside her.

She scowled when she saw the light emitting from the under the oak door. What was he doing that was so important that he couldn't leave it till the morrow?

She was just about to enter and demand to know why he was up so late when she heard soft sobs echoing into the corridor.

She entered quietly, not making a sound as she opened the door and slid into the room. The sight she saw devastated her. Her husband, the love of her life, was sobbing bitterly into his hands, she could feel her heart breaking for him.

"My love," she cried rushing to him and kneeling by his side, "Why do you weep,"

Faramer looked up in shock.

"E…..Eowyn," he whispered. His face full of pain and sorrow.

"What are you doing up this late Milady," he asked wiping away his tears and trying to compose himself.

"Looking for you, why do you cry my love?" she replied, her face full of tenderness and love.

She began to stroke his face gently, tracing the contours of his face.

" Tell me why you weep," she whispered.

He was being completely unraveled by her light and gentle touch upon his skin, his battered and bruised heart ached to tell her of his sorrow, he needed someone to tell him everything was going to be fine, he needed somebody to love him.

" Tell me," she whispered again, placing light kisses upon his skin.

His façade collapsed and he crumbled into her arms, long anguished sobs escaping from him as he buried his face in her hair, he had kept these feeling inside to long he needed to let it all out.

Eowyn leaned back, supporting herself against the wall. She cradled him in her arms and began to rock gently; softly singing a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her is she was ever afraid or upset.

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping.

" Why did I not deserve his love, I tried so hard but it was never enough," he whimpered brokenly into her hair.

"Hush my love, twas not your fault," she replied, still rocking him.

"It was ……….. I should have been better, tried harder, I shou," he was cut off by Eowyn.

" No my love, you have done your best as you have always done, any man would have been proud to have you as his son," she said.

He raised his head from her shoulder weakly " You really mean that," he asked, seeking reassurance.

"Yes," she replied, smiling at him, " You are a wonderful person Faramir, do not let anyone ever tell you different."

He smiled weakly and laid his head on her breast. Whilst she combed her hand through his hair soothing "I love you White Lady of Rohan."

"And I love you Faramir of Gondor."

Fin