These characters all belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. This story was written for pleasure and not for financial gain
For I wondered that others, subject to death did live, since he whom I loved, as if he should never die, was dead; and I wondered yet more that myself, who was to him a second self, could live, he being dead. Well said one of his friend, "Thou half of my soul;" for I felt that my soul and his soul were "one soul in two bodies:" and therefore was my life a horror to me, because I would not live halved - St Augustine.
Faramir made his way first to the stables and handed Iavas' reins to a stable boy, telling him to rub down the exhausted mare.
Keeping his distance from the servants, he despatched a groom to the house to fetch him a complete change of clothing, telling him to speak to the Housekeeper rather than Lady Eowyn. He knew his wife would come rushing out and much as he yearned to see her, he dared not risk spreading the infection.
The man quickly returned, clutching a bundle of clothing. He then requested a pail of water and retired to a deserted stall, where he removed all his clothes, sponged himself down with the icy water, shivering as he did so. He then quickly donned the clean clothes, but not before, he had removed his brooch and pinned it to his tunic after rinsing it in the bucket.
He then went in search of Eowyn and the Queen, wondering however, he could find the words, to tell her that Aragorn was dead. It had always been hard enough to tell the wife or mother of one of his rangers that their kinsman was dead, but they were not Elves, liable to die of grief, neither were their loved ones men of the quality of Aragorn, nor had he loved them as father, brother and king.
Eowyn was outside tending her herb garden, when Faramir strode into sight and ran to meet him. From the expression on his face, she realised at once that something was wrong.
"Faramir, Whatever has happened?" she exclaimed, "I wondered if you might come for Arwen has sensed something was wrong and dark dreams have troubled her sleep all week."
"It is Aragorn," Faramir said bleakly, drawing her close.
Eowyn paled. "Has he caught the fever? Is he very ill? Maybe I could help him or the Queen could?"
Sadly, Faramir shook his head.
"No, he cannot be …" Eowyn could not bring herself to say the words.
Faramir nodded, biting back the lump that was forming in his throat.
Eowyn threw her arms around him and held him tightly .Faramir wept in the comfort of her loving embrace.
He gave way for a few moments before continuing, " I fear so, he is dead, his corpse was taken from the Anduin yesterday morning!" Faramir whispered, clinging to her desperately.
"No!" Eowyn gasped, "It can't be!"
Faramir nodded, too overcome to speak, " I fear it is true, I saw his body," he said at last, "He had been set upon by footpads and battered about the face and was hardly recognisable apart from his clothing and rings. That such a man should die like this! It was too cruel!"
It was Eowyn's turn to weep now. "If only I had recognised his true worth sooner and been nicer to him," she sobbed. "He was the noblest and greatest of men. Poor, poor Arwen!"
Just then, the Queen emerged from the house, carrying Eldarion in her arms.
Faramir reluctantly pulled away from Eowyn's embrace and struggled valiantly to compose himself. He swiftly fell on one knee before the beautiful Elf.
"What is wrong?" she asked, noting Faramir's reddened eyes and tear stained cheeks.
"My lady, my lord!" He kissed her hand and did the same to Eldarion's infant fingers," I think it best that we go inside if you will permit?"
Arwen shuddered at his tone and the formality of his address as she let the way indoors to Faramir and Eowyn's comfortably furnished sitting room. She settled herself on the couch, Eldarion on her lap, gesturing Faramir to do likewise but again he knelt before her.
"My lady, I fear I bring ill tidings which I scarcely know how to tell you."
"It concerns Estel does it not? He has been injured?"
"Far worse, I fear, my lady. It breaks my heart to tell you this, but he is dead."
Arwen turned pale and almost dropped Eldarion. Eowyn hastily caught the baby with one hand and steadied the Queen with the other. She then settled herself down beside her.
"No, I do not believe it!" Arwen protested.
"I fear it is the truth. I saw his body with my own eyes and bring these tokens for you to identify him by." Faramir placed the parcel containing Aragorn's clothes on a table in the centre of the room and unfastened the chain from his neck and placed Aragorn's rings and the Star of Elendil in her shaking hand. He then laid Anduril at her feet.
She turned the rings over hardly seeming to see them and gave a small cry, shaking her head. "No, despite this, it cannot be! He has been calling to me in my dreams. I was about to send a trusted man to Minas Tirith to find out what was wrong."
A shiver ran down Faramir's spine. "The same think had happed to me, my lady, I fear after such an untimely death, our poor lord cannot rest easy in the afterlife. I pledge myself to your service and Eldarion's as I did to his .If by my life or death I can serve you, I will."
Arwen placed her hand under Faramir's chin, jerking his head to meet her eyes. " I do not doubt your loyalty but tell me Faramir, the body you saw, are you certain it was Estel. Did you see his face clearly?"
Faramir swallowed hard, "No my Lady I did not, it pains me to tell you this, but his features were unrecognisable after being in the river .Master Aedred, from the Houses of Healing, told me he was battered about the face, most likely by footpads who robbed him. However, there was no doubt that it was Aragorn. Here are the clothes that he was wearing, he would never willingly surrender his rings to another and there is no sign of him anywhere!"
"Do you feel as if half of your soul has been torn away?" Arwen suddenly asked.
" No, which surprises me, but my heart is heavy with grief and after all you are his wife, maybe only you will know that sorrow?"
"And yet I do not!" Arwen gestured Faramir to rise, "You and he shared thoughts, as did he and I, and so we would both feel that torment if he were dead! You were thought bonded to him alone, were you not?"
"Yes, my lady, and I had never shared thoughts before Aragorn gave me that wonderful gift!"
"Then if he were dead, you most likely would be too!" Arwen retorted, "Unless
your protestations of devotion were nothing but a lie !"
"Indeed no, my lady, I loved him most dearly. He was as a father to me!" Faramir looked hurt by the accusation.
"You may sit down, Faramir, I tell you he is still alive!"
Faramir sat, shaking his head sadly, he had expected a terrible outpouring of grief from the Queen, or maybe that she would swoon, but not this stubborn refusal to face the truth, especially not from one of the Eldar.
"What happened? When did you last see him?" the Queen demanded.
He decided to tell her everything, hoping that would help her to understand what had happened.
"The King worked so hard to help the fever victims that he became exhausted and distressed at so much death, I fear that was how ruffians could overpower so great a warrior, if only I had insisted that he take a guard with him!" he began, "As you asked me to share his room, I tried as best I could to care for him." He glanced uneasily at Eowyn wondering if how vulnerable Aragorn had become should be for Arwen's ears alone.
She moved from her place beside the Queen and nodded to Faramir, " I just need to see if Elestelle needs feeding, as the nurse sometime neglects to call me until she becomes upset. I will be back in a moment," she said, quietly leaving the room.
Faramir continued "The last night of the King's life, I have never seen him so despondent. He had been unable to save a baby from the fever and was very distressed. He could hardly eat and was too weary to prepare for bed. I just sat with my arm around him, offering what comfort I could. Eventually he grew calmer and we sat there sharing thoughts before he fell asleep I begged him to rest all of the next day but he would not listen. He slept for a few hours in the afternoon and then seemed in good spirits when he left to tend the sick once more. I never saw him alive again. I know I should have come before, but I feared to carry the infection and kept hoping, that he had just gone to recuperate in the wilds. If only he could have been with you that last night, as I know he was missing you."
"I am glad he had your comfort before he was taken." Arwen replied, making Faramir hope that the dreadful truth had finally sunk in. "But you were that close in spirit so recently and do not feel your soul torn asunder? That cannot be unless he meant nothing to you at all? Do you not know why Aragorn waited so long before creating the Thought Bond with you, rather than offering it after your time at the Hunting Lodge? Because he knew you would most likely die before him, and hesitated to feel such pain as he did when Gilraen and Halbarad died. Only his bond with me then, saved his heart from breaking! He also knewshould you bond strongly ,that if he were to die first,it would destroy you !"
Arwen's eyes flashed and Faramir took a step backward uncertain how to react.
"My lady, I swear to you that I loved him and would gladly have given my own life to save his. I miss him more than any words can describe and every night I dream about him! I expect that my heart will break once the numbness and shock I feel now have decreased somewhat."
Arwen suddenly swept to her feet and Faramir realised how little he knew her. This was the first time he had even been alone with her for more than a brief moment. He had always liked and respected her and never quite lost his awe of her as one of the Eldar, yet he had regarded her merely as Aragorn's wife and his Queen, a beautiful, wise and gentle being but at times almost insipid in character, especially compared with Eowyn.
Now as she advanced towards him and placed her hands either side of his face, she seemed to suddenly grow taller .He was reminded that she was daughter and granddaughter to the most powerful Elves that had dwelt on Middle Earth.
He could feel her sifting through his thoughts, a painful and unpleasant sensation, which made his head throb, totally unlike the gentle and mutual thought sharing he had experienced with Aragorn .He felt as if she was literally tearing thoughts from his brain.
TBC
A/N A very big thank you to you all for your kind and much appreciated reviews and a warm welcome back to some readers I had missed.
My apologies that I am not very good at writing Faramir and Eowyn. I see them as an attraction of opposites, which does indeed often happen in real life.
I have tried to correct the mistakes in the previous chapter. I am always grateful when readers tell me of any errors I make.