Chapter 23
Letters
12 April 4015
My dearest Eowyn
It is only hours since you kissed me goodbye but already my lips feel it has been years. I miss you my darling.
The army moves slowly with all of us travelling only at the speed of the slowest supply wagon. Cirion, as you can imagine, is finding it difficult to control his patience. He regularly requests leave to gallop to the front of the line, which I, of course, refuse. He must learn that war is not the exciting escapade that he thinks it is. In an effort to imbue some responsibility into his carefree bones, I have asked him to look after E. I fear I should have learnt from the ale episode at the party and Ciri will lead the prince astray once more. Elboron watches them from afar, quite the noble and restrained Steward, I pray he will forestall the trouble when, as it always does with your second son, it strikes!
So we march onward, away from all we love towards who knows what. I think of you constantly, you are the strength behind my sword arm, my reason to fight, my love.
Look on the fair Ithilien moon and think of me.
All my love always,
Faramir
15 April 4015
My love,
Faramir, I miss you.
All is well here and we long for the day that you march back to us. Melethron is cutting more teeth and is as grumpy as a dwarf in a wood! His screws up his red, little face and balls out his lungs. Celairiel has asked to sleep with the horses as they are quieter and of course I promised her the foal of Blizzard. It will be any time now and she does not wish to miss the birth.
Look after Cirion, he is very young and acts before he thinks. Keep him away from my brother, for I fear those two together will create more mischief than you, dour Gondorian Lord, can handle!
We all send our love. The Ithilien moon begins to wan but my heart remains strong with love for you, my dearest.
I kiss you
Eowyn
21 April 4015
Dearest Eowyn
The journey lumbers on, the road before us long and dusty and nothing of note at its end. We have left the shade of the woods and now the scorching sun burns our backs. But still the men are cheered and morale is good.
King Eomer and some of his men went hunting and brought back much game before we left the woods behind. It was a good exercise since as we travel further it appears we will find very little food from the barren land. I pray we have enough to feed an army this size for the time we need. The King is optimistic.
Every one else is well although Arrow threw a shoe and Cirion too in the process. Luckily the furrier has repaired the damage to the horse, Cirion landed on his hardest feature – his head, so suffered no injury of note.
I remember Melethron's cries from his last tooth. I fancy I may have heard them even here last night. He surely takes after me my love – I am sorry he has not the resilience of the Rohirrim. And is my lovely princess, Celairiel, now the owner of her new pony?
Ciri and E are firm friends. They spar constantly and E is developing good skill. Tell his mother to be proud and not to fear, his strength grows with every day.
I send my love by the light of the still clear moon, my brave Lady, please tell me how you and the babe fare.
With all my love, always
Faramir
30 April 4015
My Love
I send you all the love you have ever had and more besides.
Blizzard dropped her foal and Celairiel is overjoyed, although she asked me to point out to you it is a horse not a pony! Really, Faramir have you learnt nothing being married to the White Lady of Rohan all these years? It is the cutest black mare with a little white star – funny how they always look like the sire although he has so little to do with the process! She has named her Star, original I know!
We are well. The babe within me is kicking healthily and I am feeling most relaxed. Melethron's tooth is through and he is sleeping well again. Aldor shot a chicken with his bow, he was not aiming for it but I was impressed never-the-less, which is more than can be said for the chicken! I fear you may need to work on his technique when you come home.
The new stable building is all but complete, twice the size of the old too. I know that good will come from ill eventually and now I have new stables to prove it.
As you will no doubt know it was Eirien's fourth birthday yesterday and so we have all the children to her party. We missed you of course but what a squealing, raucous time was had by all and we laughed! It was a relief to give the little ones back to their parents in the end. The Queen and I sank into bed almost immediately. Eirien won the archery contest; she had the look of Legolas with her bow. Aldor was not happy but at least no chickens were injured this time.
Three days past we took the Queen to Henneth Annun to see its beauty, she was most impressed. I know I should keep it a secret but the Queen will not tell and all should witness such beauty. I passed your kind words on to her. I think she was much relieved. You are such a considerate man, Faramir, so much more than I deserve.
The road sounds awful but it will lead you home to me eventually so cannot be all bad. Is Cirion's head all right really?
Come home to me soon. I send you all my love encased in this letter, feel it Faramir, for it is strong and alive and it will keep you safe.
I kiss you my love
Eowyn
11 May 4015
Dearest Eowyn
But a quick note to catch the galloper before he leaves.
Know that we are well and making good time on this seemingly endless road. King Elessar has called a meeting this evening so I must go. Elboron will accompany me; he is blossoming into a capable leader of men.
I fear you cannot be resting in bed if you are off to Henneth Annun! Look after yourself and the babe I pray, my Lady.
I love you and I miss you
All my love always,
Faramir
23 May 4015
My Love
I worry when but a few lines come back to me. My heart did lurch in my chest but then I told myself that you are a Prince, a proud captain of men and that they must come first before letters to your wife. Still write me as soon as you can, so I may know all is well.
Our bed is so cold without you here but luckily you have left me with plenty of beautiful children to fill it. They are all here now helping me write this to you, so I will miss naught out.
Another tooth comes for Melethron and so more wailing this night! Aldor wants to tell you he hit the centre of the target today in bow practise. Celairiel is practicing her harp, she has perfected that lay you asked her to play and cannot wait for you to return to hear it. Eirien and the little princesses built a damn in the shallow part of the brook at the bottom of the garden today – how very unladylike. They emerged covered in mud but squealing with happiness!
And I and the little one? We are fine. I have but little over a month to wait now, sooner if he decides to come early as Cirion did. I pray you will be home to meet him very soon.
Oh how I miss you….. but I have promised not to burden you with such nonsense; already you have enough to bear. I tell you only that I love you and live for the day that you return to me.
Give my love to Bron, who I know is a honourable warrior and to Cirion who I know one day will become one. And make sure Ciri wears his helmet, although his head is hard, it is too precious to go to war unguarded.
The Ithilien moon is melancholy tonight but I remain strong, my hope and my heart ride with you my darling.
I kiss you
Eowyn
8 June 4015
Dearest Eowyn
I apologise for not writing sooner and for my pathetic attempt last time.
I have been a soldier for a very long time but never have I had to write a letter such as this. When I battled in Ithilien all those years ago, there was no one waiting for me at home, no one for me to write to. And now I am faced with the prospect, it will amaze you to know I am lost! The much vaunted and praised scholar who cannot even find the words to say how he feels! Forgive me, Eowyn.
Instead I shall tell you simply we have arrived. The Easterling army stretches out before us and we will engage in the morning. It has been a long time coming but now I wish the road could have been even longer.
We have had a few skirmishes with the enemy over the past few days but do not fear, casualties were few and at least it told us we were drawing near, which was a blessing for the men are all tired of marching now.
What sort of a father am I? How could I forget my own daughter's birth date? Give her my love and a big kiss – I will have to make it up to her somehow! In truth the days blur into each other and it seems so long since we set off, since I tasted your sweet lips.
I pray our hearts will hold strong and we will overcome, with a leader such as King Elessar to guide is there is no reason why this should not be. He is truly the hope of us all.
Kiss all of the children for me.
Know that I will love you always; you are my light and my life.
Good night my sweet,
Faramir