Hey y'all! The day I posted the second chapter of Streak of Hope up, I got a very nice review from Rebby-Eowyn, asking for another chapter. So here is the third chapter of the story that started as a one-shot attempt (now how did that happen? Who knows? ). And just BTW, this story is kind of a mix between book and movie, just in case people get confused by seeing events from the book and the movie thrown together.

Rebby-Eowyn – This time it was you who encouraged me to write another chapter. Thank you for the kind words!
Claptosavethefairies – Thanks much! I hope you are enjoying this, no strings or ponies attached.

LilmissBrandybuck – Here's the new chapter! You don't need to give me a cookie, however. It seems that everybody thinks that I'll only write another chapter if they give me something! Quite amusing, really. Thanks for the kind words. ArawynStryker – Well, you're right, maybe it was a little out of character, but that was because Eowyn is going through a very hard time at the point in time when this story takes place. Her uncle Théoden has just died, she's just killed the Witch-king, and now everyone is off at yet another battle. But I will take your comment into consideration and you can expect to see a less weepy Eowyn. Thank you!

Notes for Chapter 3 – Sorry about there not being much of Eowyn in this chapter. We're talking about her great deeds instead. But she'll be back next chapter! Promise!

And this chapter references my story 'What happened in Rivendell' Chapter 9, 'The Discovery.'

Streak of Hope – Chapter 3

Faramir watched as Eowyn went back through the door toward her room. He turned back around to face out over the landscape once again. It was remarkable, really, that his losses and that of the Lady Eowyn were so similar.

He heard the pat of bare feet farther on along the terrace. Turning his head to see who it was, he was surprised to see the halfling ('Hobbit,' he reminded himself, smiling) walking along the terrace. He had seen this halfling from afar before, but hadn't properly introduced himself.

Looking closer, he realized that the halfling was wearing a sling on his right arm. This being extremely similar to Eowyn's injury, he wondered at the similarity, but kept silent.

As the hobbit approached, Faramir frantically tried to figure out how to introduce himself and ask the hobbit's name without sounding strange, but he had no need to. The hobbit stopped and looked up at Faramir. "Are you Lord Faramir?" he asked politely.

"I am," Faramir replied, surprised at the hobbits directness. "But I apologize, I do not know your name."

"Meriadoc Brandybuck, at your service and your family's," the hobbit said, bowing low. "I thank you for your kindness to my cousin, Frodo, and his companion, Samwise."

Faramir was puzzled. "Might I ask how you knew about that?"

"I heard it from my cousin, Pippin, who heard it from you," Merry explained.

Faramir smiled. "You are cousin to young Pippin?"

"Yes, cousin and best friend. We have known each other since Pip was born," Merry said, his eyes smiling and the corners of his mouth twitching upward, obviously remembering happier times with Pippin.

"I am honored to meet you Meriadoc," Faramir said.

Merry grimaced slightly. "Just 'Merry,' please," he said earnestly. "I'm only called Meriadoc when I'm in trouble over something."

Faramir laughed. "Does that happen often?"

Unexpectedly, tears sprang to Merry's eyes. Faramir's eyebrows drew down in confusion. He hadn't said something wrong, had he?

Merry dashed the tears away with his good hand. "Boromir said the same exact thing when I told him that," he said after a pause. "I told him to call me Merry because I only got called Meriadoc when I was in trouble, and he laughed and asked me if that happened often…" Merry's voice trailed off into silence.

Faramir found tears springing to his own eyes. Were he and his brother so alike? Why, then, did Denethor love Boromir so much and berate Faramir just as much? Still unable to figure it out, he sought to change the subject. "What injury do you have that you be here in the Houses of Healing?" he asked, finding a reasonable question.

"My arm," Merry said. "I stabbed the…the Witch-king… in the back of the knee. My arm went cold, and I think I was feeling something similar to how Frodo's arm felt after the same Ringwraith stabbed him. Of course, I only distracted the Witch-king," he added hurriedly, seeking to not bestow praise upon himself. "It was Eowyn who really killed that evil creature."

It took Merry's words a moment to register in Faramir's mind. "Eowyn slew the Witch-king?" he asked incredulously.

"Why, yes! Didn't you know?" Merry said, equally as incredulous. "That's why she was borne into the Houses of Healing so grandly!"

Faramir shook his head in wonder. " I thought that was only because she was of high status in her country and was wounded."

"It was partly because of that," Merry agreed, "but mostly because she stuck down the Witch-king of Angmar."

Faramir couldn't believe it. He had been treating Eowyn like just a noblewoman wounded in battle, when he should have been treating her as a hero that struck down a great evil. Her deeds were far greater than his. "I had no idea," he murmured softly. Then, louder, he said, " I am amazed at your bravery in the face of such evil."

"I'm not brave," Merry said. "I didn't even look the creature in the face. Eowyn is the brave one. If I were a knight of Rohan, and had done many great deeds before, I might consider myself brave. But I'm just a hobbit. I can't make a real difference in this war."

"Funny, I would have thought differently," Faramir mused. Merry looked up at him curiously. "When I learned what Frodo and Sam intended to do, I was amazed at the sheer bravery of hobbits. Their deed, if they succeeded, would make the biggest difference in the war. But here I am being educated by a hobbit, that hobbits aren't brave at all, and can't make a real difference."

Merry grinned sheepishly.

"Well, Master Merry," Faramir said, "the army that went to the Black Gate will be back in a few days, and perhaps Frodo and Sam will be with them. I hope that Pippin returns safely."

"As do I, Faramir," Merry said as Faramir headed back down the hallway to his room. "As do I."

I'VE GOT MORE CHAPTER IDEAS, IF THE CHAPTERS ARE WANTED…