It is long since we had any hope
At the end of that first bout, lying on his back in the dirt, Faramir thought, I am a tired old fool. Éomer, pulling him to his feet, whispered, "You are amongst the bravest men I know."
By the second week, not everything hurt all the time. He thought: There is no other man in the whole world I would trust with this.
By the third week, he was quicker – and slyer. Their families cheered as he sent his brother crashing to the ground. "For Gondor!"
In the last week, Rohan brought Gondor to check – then lost in four moves.
