Note: This is a slightly edited version of Chapter VIII, due to some comments in reviews I wished to address. Also, I was unhappy with this chapter in general, since I rushed it. It's better now, though! Expect Chapter IX soon!

Author's Note: Greetings, my loyal friends! I apologize for taking so very long to update this story, and now I have a very important announcement concerning 'Mending': I will be changing the title of this story very soon. The characters have clearly taken control of the story, and it has turned into something which I did not originally intend. This title no longer fits. The new title will be 'Into Shadow'. It makes much more sense, as I am sure you will see a little later in the story. ;)

This change will be enacted the next time I update, so please be sure to take notice! Once again, THIS STORY WILL BE CALLED 'INTO SHADOW' FROM MY NEXT UPDATE ONWARD. Thank you for your loyalty, mellyn nin! - Minyasta

Chapter VIII – 'He will always be my Steward.'

Legolas pulled back his hood and shook the rain out of his blonde hair. "I came as soon as I heard," he said breathlessly, moving to the other side of the cot. "How is he?"

Aragorn sighed and laid his hand upon Faramir's brow. "He is still very sick and weak from pain and blood loss, yet there is something more. After it happened last night, he seemed shaken but sound in mind. I thought he would recover swiftly. This morning, he deteriorated completely. The healers summoned me when they said they could not rouse him. I have been doing all that I can for him, but…" Aragorn shook his head and pushed a sweaty lock of his Steward's hair away from his face. "…he has not awakened…"

Legolas closed his eyes and placed two fingers upon Faramir's temples. "He is not with us," whispered the Elf. "Yet neither is he gone from this world… He is trapped within his mind."

"Yes," said Aragorn softly. "I know. It is much like his illness at the end of the War, when he fell beneath the Black Breath. Now, though… I have tried everything. Not even athelas wakes him. I search for his wandering mind, but though I call for him he does not answer…"

"Perhaps he cannot answer," said Legolas.

"Perhaps… Or perhaps he does not wish to answer…" Aragorn seemed to struggle with his words for a moment, and he bowed his head over Faramir's still form. "Oh, Legolas… I fear for him… If I am right in believing that he has been trapped within his mind by his subconscious, then he will not survive long."

Legolas paled. "What do you mean?"

"I have seen Faramir's dreams. Darker are they than any I have dreamt. They are full of blood and death and loved ones long gone. He is tormented by the sight of Éowyn's body, by the haunted sound of her voice. He sees them all, and he sees himself bleeding and gasping beneath the ashen clouds of an eternal battleground… Legolas, Faramir's dreams are too terrible for you to imagine. No man can sustain such a physiological strain for long without suffering severe injuries of the mind and body, and Faramir has already been forced to endure much. Legolas…" Aragorn stroked Faramir's brow again, but his Steward did not stir. "…he will die."

"We cannot allow that to happen," said Legolas. "There must be something we can do. I will summon my father, or even Lord Celeborn! Elladan or Elrohir! Anyone!"

"There is no time, Legolas. There is nothing we can do…"

"How did this happen?"

Aragorn sighed and wiped a hand across his weary eyes. "I do not know, but I believe that somehow…during the attempt on his life, Faramir was…damaged. I do not know how, but someone from the circles of the spiritual world came in contact with Faramir, and I believe that that someone was Éowyn."

"Is…is that possible?"

"Anything is possible in the chambers of our own minds…" Aragorn frowned deeply. "I think…I think that he is looking for her… I think he believes that he can bring her back. I have been going about this all the wrong way. I should have taught him how to control his emotions and his visions, not merely how to experience them. I have been teaching Faramir to open himself to his visions and dreams, to perceive things as broadly as he can so that he is not plagued by nightmares. This is result. Faramir has plunged himself so far into the world of his visions that reality has been blocked out completely. He does not know enough to protect himself there. If he loses himself in his mind…we may never get him back."

"So we know the state of his mind," said Legolas slowly. "What do we know of his physical health?"

Aragorn looked down upon his Steward with sadness. "It is deteriorating. It has been, ever since Éowyn's death… When he is not feverish, he suffers chills. He lost too much blood last night. His heartbeat is faint and irregular. He is not well."

"What you are saying is that his physical well-being is connected somehow to his mental or emotional condition," said Legolas.

"Yes. Faramir has always been so. When his heart suffers, so does his body."

"How can we get him back?"

Aragorn paused, as if considering the answer, then growled to himself. "I do not know! If I knew, I would have tried it by now! I do not know what to do!"

"Where is Elboron? Has he been to see his father since last night?"

"Yes, once. Now he has become obsessed with tracking down who was behind it. Much enmity has passed between father and son since Éowyn's passing, especially now that Faramir has surrendered his claim to the Stewardship, but Elboron would never wish his father dead. His thirst for vengeance upon his father's attacker is…intimidating."

"Are you sure we can rule out the single, self-motivated assassin theory?"

"Yes, I am sure," said Aragorn with certainty. "This was not the work of a single man, and there is no motivation for that man to try to kill Faramir. Everything points to someone having hired the assassin. Who and why are the questions which must now be answered."

"Will Faramir be charged for the man's death?"

"No. It was an act in self-defense. No one can charge him with murder."

"Technically there are no witnesses to prove—"

"Faramir is my Steward," snapped Aragorn. "I do not believe for an instant that Faramir is capable of murder! Do you?"

"No," said Legolas simply. "But the Council is not always satisfied without evidence, and you know that. I know that Faramir acted in self-defense, but do they? What if the man who hired that assassin is one of the lords on your Council? They would be all too eager to insist that Faramir be put on trial, would they not?"

"Faramir will not be tried for murder," said Aragorn, his voice dangerous. "I will never allow it." Suddenly Aragorn fell silent, stunned, realizing what Legolas had said. "Legolas…did you suggest that the man behind the attempt could be on my Council?"

"Yes, but I did not mean to suggest—"

"Glosfalath." Aragorn's hands clenched into fists, and he had to struggle to control his anger. "That rotten, conniving son of a Nazgul!"

"Aragorn, what are you talking about?"

"Glosfalath! He has coveted Faramir's position since the moment be succeeded his father as the lord of Anfalas! It was Faramir's suggestion that I appoint Elphir as the new Steward. Elphir was the obvious choice for the position, after all. I am willing to wager that Glosfalath thought he would get what he wanted if he just got Faramir and Elphir out of his way. Faramir was first, so that when Elphir is killed I cannot coerce Faramir into returning to his post…"

Aragorn rose swiftly and strode towards the door. "I must warn Elphir to return to Dol Amroth for a time, and somehow I must prove Glosfalath's guilt without violating the laws…"

"Estel," said Legolas, "are you sure of this? If you are wrong, you will face a serious questioning of your authority as King."

"I am not wrong," said Aragorn sternly.

"You are certain?"

"Yes."

Legolas frowned to himself, then nodded. "Then I will help you." He swept towards the door and joined Aragorn as they took long, quick steps down the long hallway. "Let us find Elboron and see what he can tell us first…"

"Wait." Aragorn stopped suddenly. "Who will stay with Faramir, then?"

Legolas paused. "You should stay with Faramir," he said quietly. "He needs you, mellon nin. You should be there when he awakens."

"Yes, you are right." Aragorn nodded. "When he awakens."

Legolas gave his friend a tight smile. "I will do what I can with Elboron. I believe there is more behind this mystery than anyone can detect. There is something here that runs deep, something that I cannot explain. It is…dangerous. If we dig too deeply…"

"Yet we must," said Aragorn. "The life of my Steward has been severely threatened."

"Do not forget," said Legolas sadly, "he is no longer your Steward. Elphir is the Steward now."

Aragorn smiled crookedly, looking more like a Ranger than he had in a while. "Legolas, no matter what happens, Faramir will always be my Steward." Legolas nodded in understanding and hurried down the hall, and Aragorn returned to Faramir's side. "No matter what happens, Faramir…" he whispered, "…you will always be my Steward."

mellon nin

(my friend)