Author's notes: I really don't have any more ideas for this story, as it is really all fluff. There is only so much fluff you can write on any particular character. So this chapter is going to speed up a bit.

HOWEVER! If anybody feels there is something missing from this story and would like to write a chapter themselves (anywhere in the story, between chapters one and two, or two and three, or three and four, or at the end, even before, wherever) email it to me at and I will read it. If I like it (which there is a ninety-nine percent probability that I will), I will post it up in the correct spot. And whoever writes it get full credit, obviously. Like for instance, (and here I'm going to pick on you, Rebby, sorry) if Rebby-Eowyn wrote a chapter, it would say at the top of the chapter, and in the story summary. Example: New chapter three up, written by Rebby-Eowyn! So any ideas, type 'em up and you can be part of this story!

Rebby-Eowyn – Hey, sorry for picking on you in my author's notes. But that's what comes of being my most faithful reviewer for this story! Thank you for all the lovely reviews!
Catwraith – Thank you for the kind review, and sorry, but unless anyone takes advantage of my suggestion above in the author's notes, there will be no more chapters. Sorry!
Forensic Photographer711 –Well, here's the chapter you so desperately requested. It'll be the last, though, unless my suggestion in the author's notes is take advantage of.

Streak of Hope

A week passed. The soldiers from the Black Gate returned and Eowyn's heart was glad at the joy in Merry and Pippin's faces as Pippin arrived back. Young Peregrin's leg was injured, but it was not too bad and Merry was happy just so see his cousin back.

The other two hobbits, Frodo and Sam, were a different matter altogether. Merry had told Eowyn of strong-willed Frodo and steady, reliable Sam, but she had no idea that this Frodo was so strong-willed that he would be able to carry it all the way to Mordor and then at the brink of his destination, have it forcefully taken from him and still live, still have his sanity intact. According to Mithrandir, the halfling…hobbit…was fine, and would wake after they treated his injuries.

Currently, Merry was leading Eowyn down the hallway to Pippin's room. Young Meriadoc had insisted that the Lady Eowyn dine with them. Eowyn wondered why, but she obediently followed Merry to Pippin's room.

Reaching the doorway, Merry opened it and led Eowyn inside. As she entered the chamber, she gasped and her eyes widened. There, seated at the table, in front of a delectable looking dinner, was Faramir.

However, Faramir also seemed surprised. "What is going on, you two?" he confusedly asked of Merry and Pippin.

Pippin looked up guiltily, but Merry stared Faramir straight in the eye, completely unabashed. "Myself and Pippin here realized that you two have been acting much too sad and unhappy lately."

"Yes," Pippin chimed in, reassured by Merry's surety. "So we decided to give you two a dinner to cheer you up and - " he was silenced by a meaningful look from Merry.

"Well, we'll be going now," Merry said briskly, helping Pippin off the bed. He and Pippin walked out and the door closed, leaving Eowyn and Faramir there, both looking quite befuddled. Suddenly Faramir laughed.

"I'd say we've just been outsmarted by two hobbits," he said, smiling.

Eowyn shook her head, smiling at herself and Faramir's foolishness. She didn't think that she had been too obvious in her fondness of Faramir, but clearly they had been found out.

Surprisingly, Faramir was thinking the same thing. He was very fond of Eowyn at this point. He thought she was an intelligent woman with a rebellious spirit, and he found that attractive. "Well, I suppose we mustn't insult the hobbits," he said. He stood and pulled out the other chair for her. She sat, and he went and sat back down in the other chair.

Eowyn lifted her fork and took a bite of the food in front of her. It was delicious, and she marveled at the cooking ability of hobbits. Though she noticed that the meal contained a lot of mushrooms.

The two ate the dinner, talking about this and that, and afterwards decided to go out on the terrace, where a beautiful full moon was shining. Eowyn looked up at the moon. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Faramir watching her.

A cold gust of wind blew suddenly, and she began to shiver. Faramir gently put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him, glad for the warmth.

Seeking a subject to talk about, Faramir thought about their dinner. "I never knew hobbits liked mushrooms so much," he said. "I think every dish in that supper had something mushroom related in it."

"Merry told me that hobbits love mushrooms, but I never knew just how much," Eowyn agreed, nodding her head slightly. The wind blew sharply again and Faramir drew her in closer, wrapping his other arm around her. Then, boldly, he bent down and kissed the top of her head.

Eowyn's eyes widened. Faramir was fond of her as well? She smiled, glad that her fancying of the steward was not just some childish dream that would never amount to anything.

All the time, through all the battles of the War of the Ring, she had felt trapped. Caged. Now, with Faramir's arms around her, she silently reveled in the feeling of freedom. And then she realized that freedom wasn't the only thing she had wanted. She had needed love, not just family care from Théoden and Eomer, but love from someone else. Like Faramir.

End.

Well? How'd you like it? Leave a review and if you want to write a chapter, just type it up and email it to me and we can make this story a group effort. Anyone who wants to can!