Summary: An uncertain Faramir has some troubling thoughts on his wedding day.
Rating: K for no obvious adult themes.
A/N: Doesn't anyone ever wonder how Eowyn could possibly marry Faramir without a second thought about her first love? This is my second shot at an Eowyn story. Please read and review! By the way, Steelelf, I respect your review but I just want you to know that you can never love your second love the same way as your first! I know that from experience.
Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings and all of its characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien who is not me, meaning that I do not own anything.
Faramir's P.O.V:
Must I truly wear this terribly itchy collar? Oh, I must face it: these diversions aren't fooling myself. But how can one put my nerves or me to blame? I have not only a wedding vow to share with Eowyn but my whole life. After today, there is no going back. I remember how we used to be soat ease with each other, so many years ago; back when our lives were but threads, coiling up in one another and becoming stronger and stronger as the days past. We have gotten older since then, wiser, stronger, but thicker and harder to coil.
Flashback
Eowyn's P.O.V:
There he is: Lord Faramir of Ithilien. How can I expect to converse with my beloved friend without mentioning the wedding proposal that occurred the other day? I cannot afford to break his heart now and lose the only joy left in my world. Perhaps I should evade him entirely.
"Lady! Dear lady," he cries from our stables, bounding toward my hiding place in an instant. "I searched for you all day! Do you have any idea how fearful I was for your safety?" He grins boyishly as though all events prior to this one have no affect on him whatsoever.
"Ah, my Lord," I acknowledge him sheepishly. Even a dunce would recognize my poor attempts to hide. "Do you fare well this evening?"
"How could I fare well," Faramir replied, "Having agonized over your reply to my proposal all night and therefore having had no sleep?"
I blink at him stupidly, wishing in vain that he would shrug and change the subject. But everyone knows that Faramir is smarter than that.
"Do you have an answer to give me or must I agonize even longer?" I note with a pang how joyful he looks tonight, so full of hope.
"Yes," I say softly with guilt swimming through my head, "I do have an answer for you." There is silence between us and for a moment, all that can be heard is the distant clanging of plates as the maids prepare the supper.
Faramir continues to grin obliviously. "Shall I hear it or shall I snatch it out from your head to put into mine?" Suddenly my eyelids grow numb and they close as my whole life up to this point flashes before my eyes.
I love this man but as a brother, not as a lover. But he is so hopeful, so in love with me. Don't pretend to fear his feelings! All you fear is subduing to the unruly game of love. Yet I would have gladly subdued to King Elessar's will in a split second a few years ago. But Aragorn was different: Aragorn was unobtainable. Faramir is right there for the taking. Yes, I should seize this opportunity to gain a respectable husband and build a loving home and family. That is so amusing. You make excuses to settle for just that! Don't you see? Faramir loves you. Faramir was there beside you on your deathbed, though he was practically on his simultaneously. Faramir was your knight in shining armor who loved you when it felt like no one else did. Aragorn wasn't.
"My Lord," I tell him smiling, "I would like to be your Lady."
To be continued...