A/N: Apologies for the incredibly long wait for this chapter - university came a calling and I, poor student that I am, was bound to go and answer. But fear not - this story has not been forgotton nor have the kind and helpful reviews that have been submitted to it. Tank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, as always.

This chapter may seem a slight deviation from the previous ones although I hope that it does fit into place with the story as a whole. I felt that the story would have rushed to a conclusion without adding something to slow it down a little and this chapter managed to comfortably slow the pace and reintroduce a character of whom I am rather fond. Hope that you enjoy it and please R and R!

-Emeraldstargazer-

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of its characters (though I wish I did!); they all belong to Tolkien and, in the case of the movies, Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema. So please don't sue me

VII: The Remarkable Nature of Hobbits

The days that followed the Eagle's tidings were spent in flurry of activity for Faramir. Although he enjoyed seeing the revels of the Gondorians, he had little time to make merry himself with the imminent return of the King and his company to the city.

Though almost returned to full health, Faramir, although loath to admit it, found the preparations taxing to his system. All the papers that outlined Aragorn's right of succession had to be found and prepared from amidst the ravaged and unkempt library of Minas Tirith, which had taken a direct hit during the siege. The King's state rooms were being rapidly repaired and made ready for use and a coronation of sorts was being hastily arranged. The preparations led to the Steward spending many long days bent over an old oak table in the hall of the House of Healing, papers surrounding him, as Beregond fetched and carried his orders to the city guard and the craftsmen making ready for Aragorn's arrival.

On the third day swift riders arrived from Cair Andros, bringing with them tidings of the company and notes for both Merry and Éowyn, which Faramir could only guess were summons. Thus prepared he was therefore not surprised when Merry came later to ask for permission to leave the city. The young hobbit arrived just as Faramir had started working on the semi-burned papers that should have proved their new Kings relation to Élendil and the blood of Númenor; his friendly face, a welcome sight for the Steward's tired eyes.

"Are you busy my Lord?" Merry asked, "I can return later…"

Faramir shook his head quickly, "I am never too busy for a friend Merry. Please come in, sit down." He gestured to a chair on the opposite side of the table, near to the fire that burned softly in the grate, providing the Steward with the extra light he needed to work as the dark of night gathered outside.

The hobbit settled himself in the chair. "You look busy my Lord," he observed with a wry smile.

Faramir laughed dryly, "More than I would wish to be master Hobbit but alas it cannot be helped. I must prepare for the coming of the King and then, finally, my work will be done and my brief reign as Steward ended."

"You sound as if you do not envy Aragorn his destiny," Merry observed.

"I do not" Faramir admitted, "The King will have a hard task rebuilding the city and reuniting the world of Men. Many of the southlanders fought against us in the War of the Ring and it will not be easy to get them to strike a truce even without their Dark Lord."

"You seem to know much of the politics of the situation Faramir," Merry stated "Maybe Aragorn will wish for a Steward such as yourself."

Faramir grinned, "Maybe he will Merry, though I am not my father and would be just as happy to retire to a quiet life as I would to serve my King."

Merry smiled, "The Lady Éowyn said as much to me earlier."

Faramir could not help but raise his head from the paper he had been studying, eliciting a flicker of a smile from Merry.

"You have seen Éowyn?" Faramir asked, his voice filled with a calm he did not feel. He himself had not seen her except in passing since they had stood together on the wall on the day of Sauron's fall for the preparations and paperwork had kept him from her, and he had missed her company more than he cared to admit.

"I saw her briefly this morning for she received her summons from the riders when I received mine. Her brother sent word for her to come to the field of Cormallen to be with him," Merry explained.

With effort Faramir hid the sudden wave of disappointment that fell upon him at the thought of Éowyn's leaving though he had always known she would wish to see her brother as the company drew closer to Minas Tirith. Yet he could not help but feel somewhat disheartened at the thought of her riding towards the camp of Aragorn and further away from him. He still could not guess where Éowyn's heart truly lay.

"So I will lose not one, but two, of the guests of my City" Faramir mused, "I will be the lesser for your leaving."

"Then fear not my Lord Faramir for you are only to lose one house guest," Merry replied, smiling gently.

Faramir frowned in confusion at the Hobbit's words, "You do not go to Cair Andros Merry? I thought you would wish to be reunited with your kin."

Merry chuckled. "It is not I who shall be staying within this House my Lord. I come to beg leave of your hospitality so that I my go to my cousin and my friends. It is the Lady Éowyn who has decided to rest a while longer before heading to Cormallen. She feels that she is not yet well rested enough for the ride and will stay a few days longer."

"Éowyn…is staying here?" Faramir asked, unable to keep the smile from filtering across his face.

Merry smiled wryly again. "She is my Lord. At least until her brother is only a few days from the Citadel. Though I fear it will be lonely for her with nobody to talk to. I will have left her and she spoke of how busy you have been of late when I saw her earlier."

Faramir was astute enough to pick up the jesting tone of the Hobbit's voice and smiled wryly, the same note of jest creeping into his own tone as he replied, "As I said before, I am never too busy for a friend Merry. It is true that I have much work to do but not so much as to deny my guests company. I will make an effort to see the Lady Éowyn soon after you depart, since you inform me of my neglected duties as host."

"I am glad to hear it my Lord," Merry said, his grin widening, "as I may now beg your leave knowing that my Lady will be in the safest of hands."

Faramir returned the grin as Merry rose from the chair. "Go in peace Merry and send my good wishes to Sam and Frodo and the rest of the company."

"I will my Lord," Merry replied, bowing low to Faramir, who returned the gesture in kind. Merry turned to leave the hall, humming a gentle tune to himself. As he reached the door, Faramir called out to him.

"Thank you Merry."

The young Hobbit turned around grinning, "She is upon the Wall of the House my Lord, if you should wish to talk to her."

With a final grin, Merry left the room leaving Faramir to wonder again at the general remarkable nature of Hobbits.