Faramir fought to open his eyes. Even after nearly a day of sleep, still his entire body felt exhausted. Nightmares haunted him, brought on by his invaded memories. Faramir could now barely remember the good times with his mind so forced to remember the bad. Even his beloved Éowyn's face was beginning to blur in his mind's eye, a fact that both grieved and frightened him.

Éomer was already awake and quickly knelt by Faramir's side, offering water. "How are you feeling?"

The Steward forced his eyes to focus on Éomer's concerned face. "Wonderful. Never better. In fact, I feel like going for a run around the city. Maybe even twice."

Éomer chuckled. "Your point is well taken." His face turned serious. "Hold on, Faramir. We will get out of this."

"I highly doubt that." The king of Rohan looked up and glared at Pelatarn, who just sneered. "Pathetic. Not even a sharp retort. I would bet you do not even believe yourself, your highness."

Faramir struggled to stand up, and succeeded only with Éomer's help. "Leave us alone. You have no power over us, you have lost."

The defiance in the Steward's eyes maddened Pelatarn. How could this pitiful child still resist his power so forcibly? Enraged, the necromancer did not even bother entering Faramir's mind, lifting his hand and unleashing his dark power on the unsuspecting Steward.

Light exploded before Faramir's eyes as his whole body erupted in pain. Dropping to the ground, he could only let out an agonized cry before the pain became his world, from which no escape was possible.

Éomer watched in horror as Faramir convulsed on the floor. Finally, the king could take no more. Falling limp, he was able to slip free from the soldiers that held him. Throwing himself forward, Éomer attacked Pelatarn who was startled into ending his torment of Faramir.

It did not take long for the necromancer to toss Éomer off with his dark magic. Pelatarn glared at the king of Rohan. "You fool! You dare try to challenge me? I shall show you how those who attack me are dealt with!" Éomer found himself thrown against the wall. An unseen hand closed around his throat and began suffocating him. As the king struggled to breathe, Pelatarn grinned, his red eyes glowing maniacally.

Éomer's eyesight dimmed as the need for air became too great. 'I'm dying. No! Faramir needs me, Éowyn needs me. Lothiriel' He felt his mind shut down. 'Lothiriel…'

"Pelatarn!" Mustayo stormed into the dungeon. "Pelatarn release him at once!"

The necromancer sneered at his ally. "Why should I?"

"He is mine for revenge. You have no right to him! Release him now."

Pelatarn's anger cooled and he released Éomer who greedily sucked in fresh air. "Very well. He is of no use to me." He calmly left the cell, followed by his soldiers.

Mustayo stood over the fallen Éomer and kicked him harshly in the stomach. "You are now in my debt, son of Éomund. Hah! That is almost more enjoyable than whipping you. Almost."


After Mustayo left, Éomer crawled over to Faramir. He winced as he saw that the wounds on the Steward's back had opened up further. The sweat that ran into them caused Faramir to groan as the salt burned into his skin. "Faramir."

Amazingly, the Steward opened his eyes. But Éomer's heart sunk, for the light in those gray eyes was fading. "Éomer," came Faramir's rasping voice. "Éomer, I am failing."

The king shook his head. "No."

"I cannot resist anymore. I do not have the strength to fight."

"No!" Éomer shouted vehemently. "No, just keep fighting…"

Faramir's pleading eyes stopped him. "I cannot. Éomer, do not let me fall to him." At first Éomer didn't comprehend what he was saying. Faramir weakly grabbed his arm. "I will not be his slave. Please, Éomer."

Understanding dawned on the king. Faramir would rather die than become a pawn for the necromancer. And only Éomer could make that happen. "Faramir, I cannot…I cannot kill you!" he hissed.

"You must."

"Even if I agreed, I would have no means."

Faramir smiled slightly. "Yes, you do." Though it obviously caused him great pain, the Steward moved his arm out from underneath his body. In his hand he clutched a dagger.

Éomer gapped at it. "How did you…?"

"The soldiers. With Pelatarn occupied with you, they had no purpose. They did not even notice me take it from them." Faramir's shaking hand dropped it on the stone floor. "If I fail, use it." His eyes closed as his body began falling unconscious.

Éomer shook his head again. "No! Faramir, please fight him! My sister needs you, fight for Éowyn!"

The king could barely make out Faramir's whispered words. "For Éowyn I will fight a little longer. For Éowyn."


Pelatarn paced the throneroom of Meduseld as his undead soldiers stood blanky by. 'How is he resisting? Those memories should be breaking him, not just weakening his shields.'

The ever-present darkness in his mind slithered into his thoughts, bringing evil counsel as it also replenished his power. He has made his peace with his father. You saw that with the memories of the elf-lord. Something different is needed.

'What? Those are the memories that cause him pain.'

He has grown used to that attack, the scenes you use. If you change your tactic, he will fall.

Pelatarn grinned as a plan formed in his mind. "Yes, he will fall."


Éowyn pulled her blanket under her chin and stared at the ceiling of Hild's house. The others were all asleep and, though exhausted, Éowyn's mind was too busy to allow her that comfort. The whole day had been tense for her, although she didn't know why. The shadow over the city seemed to darken and even the children had noticed, growing silent and frightened.

As always, Éowyn's thoughts centered on Faramir. It didn't seem possible that they had only known each other for three years. Their life together had had its fill of troubled times and arguments, yet she knew that she loved Faramir even more as the years passed. 'Why, then, must we always be separated like this? One worrying for the other, not knowing if we will ever see each other again.' She sighed as she thought of Lothiriel's troubled face and anxious agitation. Something was very, very wrong. 'Faramir, keep fighting. I don't know what is happening, but please keep fighting. I can't lose you.'