Sitting together in Aragorn's study were his son, Legolas, Gimli, Erestor, and Eärramar. Aragorn chose to see about reappointing officers later that they might concentrate on the matter at hand. It was decided the on the morning after next Aragorn and Faramir would ride to Pelargir with a small host which would include Legolas and Gimli and a number of Ithilien Rangers. Glorfindel was also invited, if he so wished to join them. Naturally he accepted.

Erestor offered to remain to care for the office of the Steward again, whereas Eärramar would be returning to Dol Amroth to report this to Imrahil that they may raise their diligence in the south to guard against such things. Indeed, the adjutant had left the meeting at once to prepare.

Aragorn and Glorfindel were discussing minor details when Aragorn noticed Faramir had said nothing and was looking tired. "Ion-nín, go, take some rest. You have worked overmuch already this day. Go, and kiss my grandchildren for me," Aragorn said. Then suddenly the King jumped up. "Elbereth! I told Arwen i would be back before moonrise. We will discuss this on the morrow, i must go," he said hurrying away and praying his wife would be lenient.

Faramir, too, wasted little time in going to Éowyn and the children. He knocked upon the door and when Éowyn answered Faramir was glad that the nurse had gone for the night and for a few moments he simply relaxed by the fire. He knew Éowyn would not be likely to appreciate the news he had, but just as he started to tell her of what had transpired that evening, Findiel woke with a loud cry. Faramir smiled and went to hold his daughter. She really was a little bit of magic for him, and Faramir felt less tired and much more heartened than he was before, just to hold his beautiful little one and to look at his peacefully sleeping son.

Findiel had calmed down in her father's loving arms and Faramir again sat by the fire with Éowyn. "I shall be leaving to go to Pelargir with my father in two days," Faramir said simply, thinking it best to be straightforward.

"But i had thought you were going to Rivendell," Éowyn said surprised. "Is Pelargir not in the south of Gondor?"

"Aye, it is," Faramir said. "I have just learned this day of some trouble there. Atrocities is the word i should rather use." The Steward sounded disgusted. "Father and i will go with Gimli, Legolas, and Glorfindel, as well as a number of my former Rangers, to sort out this mess."

Faramir was right, Éowyn certainly did not appreciate the news. "Why must you go, Faramir, if so many others are going?"

"I go because i would see for myself that justice be done," he explained. "You did not mind that i would ride to Rivendell, why do you wish i stay now? Certainly you lack for nothing here."

"I did not mind you going to Rivendell because there was no danger in you going to Rivendell," Éowyn said with all of her typical fire. "What if something happens to you? And there is one thing that i and the children lack for quite often: your time."

Faramir sighed. Reasoning with his wife was never an easy task and he was already tired and longing for his bed which he knew he would only see for the next couple of nights. He held his daughter a little closer and noted that she was falling asleep. "I have lived through much worse than some trouble with soldiers. This is really more of a diplomatic situation than anything," Faramir said, staring into the fire.

Éowyn did not seem convinced though, and Faramir knew that she too had expected that there would be no call to ride off in such a way once the war was won. With his daughter in his arms and his wife beside him, Faramir felt for the first time in many years what it was like to be loath to leave someone. Putting his free arm around Éowyn's shoulders he looked into her eyes as he said, "Éowyn, i give you my word that things will be different when we move to Emyn Arnen. I will have a good deal less work to do there and i daresay i will be greatly more at ease there. You, too, should be more comfortable away from the most rigid of my society."

"Does that mean that there i might have someone to share my bed at night?" Éowyn questioned. "You can not know how weary i have grown of loneliness. So many nights i have wished only for your strong arms to hold me."

Faramir laughed softly. "If you desired strong arms, you should have known my brother." He leaned in to kiss his wife. "I, too, have longed for someone to hold me many a night. Perhaps we can set our own fashion in Emyn Arnen." It was then Éowyn's turn to steal a kiss from her husband. Faramir then rose and laid Findiel in her cradle and leaned in to kiss his sleeping son. "But tonight i must take my rest, meleth," he said to Éowyn, bidding her a good night and going back to his own chambers where he scarcely bothered to divest before crawling into bed and falling to sleep.

The next day passed by too quickly for the Steward. Faramir had decided instead of spending the majority of the day in his study that he would be happier to put his faith in Erestor as he had done in the past and rather spend the day with his children, giving their nurse the day off.

Faramir worked rather absently going over requisitions while Elboron and Findiel ones slept soundly in their nursery which adjoined Éowyn's bed chamber, every so often setting the paperwork aside to check on his little ones. He would miss them both dearly while he was away south and he hoped there would not be cause to stay away too long, though he had a feeling that Aragorn would probably not mind staying in the south until year's end.

Finishing with his work, Faramir picked up the book he had been reading, hoping to finish it before evening. He briefly wondered where Éowyn had been since morning, but he guessed that she was with her brother and left it at that. He was both right and wrong.

Éowyn had indeed been talking with Éomer, but at the moment she was on the way back to her chambers and enraged. Poor Faramir never saw it coming. When the front door slammed and nearly made his heart fail he guessed that Narn I Hîn Húrin would simply have to wait.

"Why was my brother not asked to join your party?" Éowyn demanded as a greeting.

For a moment Faramir just looked rather perplexed. 'Why would Éomer have been asked' was the better question. "Éowyn, the matter does not concern Rohan. Certainly we would not want to ask Éomer do more than is necessary. Your brother has already given Gondor more than we could repay."

Éowyn only stared. "Then what you are saying is that you do not want his help."

"Of course i am not saying that," Faramir said, trying his best nottobecome defensive or withdrawn. "I am only saying that enough of us are going to handle the situation. I rather think that we already have more going than we need. This is Gondor's matter to settle and your brother need not be involved. Moreover, i do not think my cousin would appreciate me pulling her new husband from her so soon."

"Really?" Éowyn said wryly. "I rather think that she might thank you for it. It seems ladies from Dol Amroth also prefer to keep their own chambers. I suppose it is so in all of this kingdom."

"Yes, it is so," Faramir stated. "And as for your brother, if he thinks he can change my cousin's behaviors...."

"I do not know why he should wish to. I am sure that my brother is quite comfortable having a wife who refuses to touch him!" Éowyn said heatedly.

"Would you kindly keep your voice down!" Faramir hissed. "The children are asleep, you know."

"The children? Suddenly you care, do you? All day you spend closed in your study, working at your desk, maybe you stop to see them twice a day for a few moments. But suddenly you want me to be silent around them?! Go, Faramir. Go to your rest, you shall need it ere you take the long road south. And tell them they can keep you, since you think more for them than you do us!"

"Éowyn!" Faramir fairly thundered. "Do not tell me what i think!" Faramir's shout woke Findiel and she replied with a shout of her own. Faramir softened immediately and rushed to hold his little girl. "I love my children more than anything in all Middle-earth and i care for you, whether you see it or not. I would die for the three of you."

"Oh you must not! For if you did, who would your books have to read them at night?" she replied coldly as she turned to go to her bed, locking the door to her chamber and waiting until Faramir left via the hallway.

Faramir stared after her, thinking that she and Boromir would have been a much better match. A tug on his hair dispelled all his unpleasant thoughts though. A small laugh even escaped his lips as he patiently disentangled his daughter's fist from his hair. "You are growing much like your brother, o little beautiful one," he said, putting her back into her cradle. "And you, my little Elboron... if it is the influence of my brother that prompts you to pull my hair...," he said in mock-chastisement. "Ah, do not grow too much in my absence, please, tithyn min." Faramir left then, picking up his book on the way out and remembering to be grateful for this time when his children could not yet talk back.

---

tithyn min - i improvised this from 'tithen min' (little one)to mean little ones, following the typical Tolkien pluralizing mode.

grumpy:It is most certainly something that they need to take care of right away. I wouldn't rule out a trip to Rivendell later on though. I think Faramir is going to need it, in fact.

linda: Glad you like it! I think it is coming along well so far.