Streak of Hope – Chapter 2

A/N: Thank you Adriane-enairdA for sending me that review! I am forever in your debt! I should buy you a pony instead! P.S. sorry about the long delay, I got caught up in writing other things…

Anyways, the person mentioned above sent me a rather desperate review asking me to write more on my story 'Streak of Hope,' and offering to buy me a pony if I updated it. So I decided to attempt at a second chapter. Hope you like it!
Thanks to all my reviewers!

Kymir – Thank you! That was the objective.
Adriane-enairdA – Thank you! Your review inspired me to write this second chapter! Though the pony won't be necessary…

Kaelarana1000 – Yes, the blanket giver, Pip. Thanks for the review and you could try to pick up the romance department! I think you'd be good at it…evil smirk

Steel elf – What have I to say but…thank you!

Rebby-Eowyn – Yes, it was a bit short, but it was my first attempt at an Eowyn/Faramir fic.

Anargil – Friend, it is fine that you used my profile to review my story, though it may look a bit strange. Thanks for the comment about the language.

Streak of Hope

That afternoon, Eowyn went out to the terrace once again. She was surprised but pleased to see Faramir already there. Walking up to him, she noticed something was wrong. "Lord Faramir?" she asked curiously.

He jumped and turned to look at her, smiling when he saw her. But the smile was half-hearted, and his eyes showed that his thoughts were far away. "Lady Eowyn," he said, nodding at her in greeting. Then he turned back and continued to stare out over the landscape visible from the terrace.

Eowyn walked around him so that she was beside him. She watched him, hoping he would enlighten her of his thoughts that were disquieting him so. But he did not speak, and finally she could stand it no longer. "What troubles you, my Lord?" she asked gently.

He paused, and then began to speak. "I was thinking about my brother, Boromir," he said softly. "He was a great warrior. If he were here, he would most likely be riding off to battle at the Black Gate right now with Lord Aragorn and the others."

"Where is he?" Eowyn asked.

The bitterness in Faramir's voice startled her. "He is dead."

Eowyn closed her eyes for a moment in sympathy, then opened them and thought for a second. "Your description of Boromir reminds me of my cousin, Theodred," she said. "He was always eager to fight, and if there was a battle he would be sure to be in it. He was killed at the Fords of Isen, doing the thing he was best at – in battle, fighting."

Faramir looked toward her gratefully, knowing he was not alone in his grief. "How long ago was this?" he asked.

"Only a few weeks," Eowyn said, tears threatening to overcome her. She hadn't really had time to think of Theodred's death. Things had been happening so fast since then.

"It was the same with my brother," Faramir said. "He died defending young Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. You are acquainted with them, correct?"

Eowyn thought of riding into war with Merry, and how brave he had been, and then meeting his younger cousin, Pippin and being just as endeared. "Yes, I am acquainted with them," she said.

"Boromir was Father's favorite," Faramir said bitterly. "My father, Lord Denethor, always berated me for things I did wrong, and then he would comfort and console Boromir when he made the same mistake. Father would call me a weak wizard's pupil because I liked to follow Mithrandir around when I was a child and ask him questions about everything. He called Boromir a strong warrior because he neglected his studies to practice swordplay, but when I neglected my studies and began to practice swordplay to see if it would please my father better, he called me young and foolish." Faramir paused, overwhelmed with unhappy memories.

"I don't remember my father very well," Eowyn said. "His name was Eomund. He was killed by orcs when I was about seven years old. After my father was brought back, my mother, Theodwyn, yielded to her grief and lost her will to live. My uncle Théoden, the King of Rohan, took me in. He is now dead as well, killed by the Witch-king on the Pelennor fields. My only surviving family is my brother, Eomer," she said, the impact of this hitting her as well as Faramir. Her eyes filled with tears, and Faramir pulled her into an embrace as sobs shook her.

Tears filled Faramir's eyes as he realized that her losses were not unlike his. He had lost his mother when he was very young, and he had just lost his father during the battle of the Pelennor fields, though not on the battlefield. His brother, Boromir had been killed around the same time as her close cousin, Theodred, had been slain.

After a short time, Eowyn collected herself and raised her head from where it had lain on Faramir's chest. "I apologize," she said. "I've soaked your bandages."

"That is perfectly all right, my Lady," he said. "Eowyn," he added, producing a smile from her. Eowyn thought that somehow, she and Faramir could support each other. They had had such similar losses, each knew how the other felt. A new fire kindled in Eowyn's spirit, a fire of new beginning.

IF I GET ENCOURAGEMENT, THERE JUST MIGHT BE ANOTHER CHAPTER…