Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess
Author's Note:
This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)
~ LXXII: The next days ~
Minas Tirith, 3019 TA, March 30
Over the city of Gondor and beyond, a place of great promise stood. Each morning, pleasant weather and bright sun had appeared to be accompanied by ominous news. The Warden of the Houses of Healing refused to allow Éowyn to freely roam, despite the fact that Éowyn felt sufficiently rested. She wanted to be a member of the west's company and no longer be confined to the Houses of Healing.
"Sir! I am in great unrest, and I cannot lie longer in sloth." Éowyn stated as seated on her recovery bed. She continued to wear her long white robe, and her health had much improved.
"Lady," the Warden of the Houses of Healing answered, "you are not yet healed, and I was commanded to tend you with special care."
"I am healed... My body at least, save my left arm only, and that is at ease. But I shall sicken anew!" She answered.
"I cannot allow it, my Lady. You have to wait until you are fully healed." said the Warden.
The Warden examined Éowyn. She rose from her bed and strolled to the window, fixing her eyes on the outside. She stood tall, her eyes sparkling in her white face, her palm clutched as she observed the East. He heaved a sigh and shook his head.
"Is there no deed to do? Who commands in this City?" The lady of Rohan asked him with a clear voice.
"I do not rightly know, such things are not my care!" the Warden responded honestly. "Lord Faramir should be the Steward of the City, my Lady!"
"Where can I find him?" Éowyn commended with bitterness.
"In this house, lady. He was sorely hurt but is now set again on the way to health. As you are my Lady, Lord Faramir needed to rest and heal!" he explained gazing at her.
"Will you not bring me to him?" she asked kindly. The Warden of the Houses of Healing ended up agreeing to bring her to Faramir.
Faramir was wandering across the garden of the Houses of Healing, and the sunlight warmed him, and he felt life run new in his veins. The Warden spoke his name, and he turned and saw the Lady Éowyn. He stepped closer as he noticed that the lady was hurt.
"My lord, Lady Éowyn wishes to speak to the Steward of the City!" said the Warden.
"Do not misunderstand lord." suddenly the Lady of Rohan appeared and started speaking to him "It is not lack of care that grieves me. No houses could be fairer, for those who desire to be healed. But I cannot lie in sloth, idle, caged. I looked dead in battle. But I didn't die, and the battle still goes on."
"What would you have me do, my lady?" asked Faramir as the Warden bowed and retreated leaving him alone with Éowyn. "I am also a prisoner of the healers." He looked at her and being a man whom pity deeply stirred, it seemed to him that her loveliness amid her grief would pierce his heart. "What do you wish for me to do, fair Lady!" he said again. "If it lies in my power, I will do it."
"I would have you command this Warden, and bid him let me go," she said loudly and proudly, yet her heart faltered, and for the first time, she doubted herself.
"I myself am in the Warden's keeping. Nor have I yet taken up my authority in the City. But had I done so, I should still listen to his counsel, and should not cross his will in matters of his craft, unless in some great need." Faramir responded with a soft pitch.
"But I do not desire to heal! I wish to ride to war like my brother!" she uttered with more pride than before.
"It is too late, lady, to follow the Captains, even if you had the strength. But death in battle may come to us all yet, willing or unwilling. You will be better prepared to face it in your own manner, if while there is still time you do as the Healer commanded. You and I, must endure with patience the hours of waiting." said Faramir.
Éowyn did not answer, but as he looked at her it seemed to him that something in her softened. He smiled at her, feeling an odd connection with that fair lady. Because she was not only fair in beauty, but her words were proud and strong. Like a true Lady of Rohan.
"But the healers would have me lie abed seven days yet. And my window does not look eastward." She said with a voice that of a maiden young and sad.
Faramir smiled, as he stepped closer to her, his arm rested against her shoulder and he spoke "Your window does not look eastward? That can be amended. In this, I will command the Warden. If you will stay in this house in our care, lady, and take your rest, then you shall walk in this garden in the sun. And here you will find me, walking and waiting, and also looking east. It would ease my care if you would speak to me, or walk a while with me."
Next, her head was tilted and her eyes were pinned against him, with an honest worry on her face, she raised her head and looked him in the eyes "How should I ease your care, my lord? And I do not desire the speech of living men." she spoke softer this time.
"Would you have my plain answer?" the Captain of the White Tower asked.
"I would, my Lord!" she answered.
"Then, Lady of Rohan I will bold enough to say to you that you are beautiful. In the valleys of our hills there are flowers fair and bright, and maidens fairer still, but neither flower nor lady has I seen till now in Gondor so lovely, and so sorrowful. It may be that only a few days are left ere darkness falls upon our world, and when it comes I hope to face it steadily; but it would ease my heart if while the Sun yet shines, I could see you still. For you and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow, and the same hand drew us back." Faramir said to her with an earnest smile on his face.
"Not me, Lord! Look not to me for healing! I am a shield-maiden and my hand is ungentle. But I thank you for this, at least, that I need not keep to my chamber. I will walk abroad by the grace of the Steward of the City." Éowyn responded to his kind words, with her cheeks blushing a little.
Their conversation had stopped at that point, but they were both still curious about one other. Faramir contacted the Warden of the Healing Houses and inquired about the woman. The Warden provided as much information as he could. Éowyn wanted to ask him the same things, but it seemed improper for a woman to do so. But in the morning, when Faramir returned from the Houses, he spotted her standing on the walls; she was dressed entirely in white and glistened in the light. And he called to her, and she came down, and they strolled on the grass or sat under a green tree, sometimes in solitude and sometimes in conversation. And the day afterwards, they did the same.
Slowly, as that day after day before the arrival of the soldiers of the west, optimism took its place. These two conversed, with Faramir holding her hands and providing comfort. They gradually developed an affection for one another. Emotions that none of them ever expected to experience. They had been through a great deal. Sadness and anguish lingered inside them. Nevertheless, the little spark moved steadily toward their heart. And the lady and the lord were reunited. And as the days passed and they were cured, they were given the opportunity to assist at the House of Healing as the injured began to come.
The most unlucky place of Legolas' first concern after they won the battle of Morannon was Xena. Elladan found the Prince of Mirkwood placing his cloak on the shoulder of the human to cover her ripped armour. Thankfully, neither of them was seriously injured, with only a few cuts and scratches all over their bodies. However, Xena's armour was ripped in multi places, it was clear the leather armour could not be fixed. It felt that she had lost one more possession of her old world after her sword was broken. The men's joy seemed to mock her own grief, the fear that she would lose those few things that were given to her.
She barely noticed the cheers as the conquering army passed through the gates of Minas Tirith. It had been a stroke of luck that they had found their horses again, and managed to ride back to the white city. Everyone was exhausted after the fight and the long journey home. Even the surviving fellowships seemed oblivious to the celebrations, and emotional reunions.
They had seen a lot of darkness and had lost a lot through this war. The truth was that the war was won, but none of the seemed eager to cheer and celebrate. Everyone knew that now they had to face reality, they had to start a life for tomorrow. Because they were not dead, but much alive. The word victory had lost its meaning as they looked at each other trying to understand that all were now free from the darkness and from Sauron.
Aragorn laid a hand on Legolas' shoulder and steered him into the houses of healing. Many wounded soldiers had been gathered there, all the wounded. Éowyn and Faramir could be found aiding the healers as they both were doing better, and it seemed that the Lady of Rohan had already charmed the Captain and Faramir had charmed her. Soon the remaining fellowship joined them and started treating the wounded.
Those who had survived the war would attest to their entire mission in these lands. Many looked to the triumphant new King, but many also looked to the other members of the fellowship. Even though none of them cared about the triumph, they stayed modest in order to help the others. There will be a moment for celebration, but for now they had to collect the parts and attempt to repair the damage.
Gandalf had brought Frodo and Sam days earlier into the Houses of Healing. Both of the hobbits were given their own private chamber and Gandalf with Ioreth's aid treated their wounds. It was clear that both hobbits were through a lot, injured and broken. Gandalf knew the wounds in their bodies would heal, though he was unsure about the wound the darkness had left in their soul. And especially for Frodo, Middle Earth would not be the right place for him to remain.
It was after a long day and night when Aragorn and the rest finally left the House of Healing. Faramir guided the new King in his private chambers and every member of the Fellowship was offered a chamber, places to clean, and clothes to change. It was late evening when they dined and drank weary in silence. Then they retreated to the chamber and drifted asleep.
It was the morning of April 1st when the Fellowship was reunited at Frodo's healing champer. They had many stories to share, but Frodo and Sam were the ones who narrated them through their story of how they had managed to destroy the Ring of Power. And before everyone, left to let the hobbit rest, Frodo said "Gandalf, you were accurate; Gollum had his own role to play, and the ring could not have been undone without him."
The days that followed were bright, and in the fields of Gondor Spring and Summer celebrated together. And now, quick horsemen from Cair Andros brought word of everything that had been done, and the city prepared for the arrival of the king. Gandalf and Faramir were responsible for the politics and the protocol since there would be a new King crowned. Gimli and Éowyn were counselling Aragorn and trying to keep him informed and ready. Legolas and Xena rode to Rivendell on a secret quest, to deliver the Queen to her King.
((Upcoming Chapter Seventy-Three))
Thank you for taking the time to read this! Feel free to Review - Follow - Favorite!