Death and relief was close, so close now. This is the end. Faramir was at the edge of the final precipice, ready to take the last step. All at once a tiny voice rang out, a child's voice.
Father Bird, Father Bird
Sitting in the tree,
Why do you cry so hard?
Come and play with me!
Faramir paused. "Who is there?" The child only giggled, though it sounded a bit exasperated, as if Faramir was supposed to do something that he wasn't. Thinking, Faramir answered the giggle with the next line of the rhyme. 'Perhaps that is what it wants.'
Oh Little Bird, Little Bird,
You do not understand.
My little heart just hurts so much,
I do not think I can.
But Father Bird, Father Bird,
With you I want to play!
The sun is shining, the grass is green,
Oh what a lovely day!
Faramir sighed sadly. 'If only. If only I could.'
My Little Bird, Little Bird,
I just do not know why.
Surely there is someone else,
Who is much better than I!
Though he could not see anyone, Faramir almost felt as if the child was smiling, puzzled.
But Father Bird, Father Bird,
Why do you not see?
I love you so, my Father Bird,
And want to play with thee!
Suddenly Faramir's mind cleared. He looked up from the precipice, towards the illumination that was life. He heard Éowyn crying for him, begging him to return. But what caught his attention was the figure sitting in the field far from the cliff he stood upon. A child, head crowned with golden hair, looked up and smiled at him, grey eyes shining. Though he knew it was impossible, there was no doubt in his mind. This was his child. The child that even now was growing in Éowyn's womb. The child he was abandoning by giving in to the darkness. The child who was grinning at him with a heart full of love. For him.
Laughing, Faramir returned the child's smile. This was worth living for. Éowyn was worth living for, his child was worth living for. He turned fully towards life, and walked to the child. Kneeling, Faramir looked into its grey eyes that mirrored his own.
My Little Bird, dear Little Bird
No longer am I sad,
I will come and play with you,
For your love has made me glad.
The child giggled again and reached out for Faramir. The Steward smiled and embraced the child… and returned to life.
Elrohir and Aragorn stopped their efforts to save their brother and stood back, hope lost. Tears freely flowed from Elrohir's eyes, but Aragorn just stood in shock. His brother was dead. Little Tir was dead. His eyes moved to Éowyn who still cradled Faramir's head, whispering his name. A widow after only two years of marriage.
Éowyn felt like she had died along with her husband. Never before could she understand why her mother had wasted away after Éomund's death. Now, in her own grief, she understood. Her hand rested on her husband's chest, on a heart that no longer beat. 'Why? Why did this happen?' "Faramir." Suddenly, Éowyn felt Faramir's chest move under her hand. Holding her breath she waited, knowing how likely it was that she was falsely hoping. Yet his chest moved again. Then again. He was breathing! "Faramir!"
Aragorn placed a hand on her shoulder, hating that she would not accept the truth. "Éowyn…" The king paused as he saw Faramir move. 'Was that…?' His grip tightened. It was! "Elrohir!" The elf looked sadly at his foster brother. "Elrohir, he is breathing!"
Elrohir's sharp eyes automatically moved to Faramir, then widened. He was breathing! Kneeling next to his youngest brother, the elf focused his healing power. The darkness was gone! "Thank the Valar." Elrohir looked up as Elladan, Lothiriel, and Éomer entered the room, having heard Aragorn's hopeful claim. "He is alive. Somehow, he is alive."
At first there was only silence. Then relief filled the room. Elladan hugged his twin, Aragorn sat down on the bed before he toppled over as the adrenaline left him, and Lothiriel threw her arms around Éomer's neck, crying tears of happiness. Éomer held her tightly, hardly believing that it was over.
Éowyn smiled as she laid her arm lightly across her husband's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart and the rise and fall of his breath. Moving her other hand to touch her stomach, Éowyn smiled. 'We will be a family. All three of us. The darkness has lost.'
Happy! But that is not the end.
