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Faramir & Eowyn (collaboration)
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Date Posted: 17:10:35 05/11/02 Sat
"What do you wish? If it lies within my power I will do it." A wry smile flicked across his lips as his mind flashed back to memories of earlier days. "Are you alright?" He let his hand run down her cheek, over her soft pale skin, her golden hair strewn over the pillows.
Eowyn's cold cheeks tingled beneath his touch. It seemed that the blood had began to flow properly and a light colour rose in her face. Her tired limbs loosened up a little and she clasped his hand with her's.
"Better now", she whispered. She raised her face and let her lips brush his, but she couldn't help noticing a slightly worn out, far away look in his eyes. "And what of you? For you are here in body, but I fear your mind is elsewhere. Tell me what troubles you?"
"Alas! A great trouble has befallen upon Minas Tirith. The Queen left the city some days ago, amidst many rumours. For it was also on that day which an assault was launched upon King Elessar. He was brought down with an arrow which was near fatal. It was after this she departed, but the reason is not apparent. Since then..." Faramir paused, uncomfortable, "Since then he has already take another to his bed, merely the night after. He seems so different. Like a different man. And now he's going to fight. Trial by combat. There's little hope for him I fear, and if anything were to happen, then I could never forgive myself. He has no heir, and the blood of Isildur would be spent. The end of the race of kings." He stopped, lines of distress breaking his face.
Eowyn was shocked. She found it hard to take in all this information, and for a moment she said nothing, trying to make sense of the events that had unfolded while she was away. "Assault?" She did not understand what she was hearing. "The queen has left? But..." she realised that Faramir didn't know. She shouldn't know herself, and if it was discovered that she had been eavesdropping outside the King's door, she would be in great trouble. Not only with the palace officials, but she didn't think she could cope with how Faramir would react.
It wasn't eavesdropping, she tried to reassure herself. You over-heard their voices, nothing more. Nothing more.
But the reminder of why she was outside the door in the first place made her shudder. What had she been thinking? She looked up into Faramir's face, her hands twisting nervously. He was waiting patiently, but at the same time she could see that he was desperate to know what she found so hard to say.
"There is an heir. The Queen carries his child, and he knows it. And he does nothing?"
The Queen carries his child. But the king did do nothing. Still, Elessar was to be a father. Now any doubt had been erased in Faramir's mind. His own words cutting his soul he agreed, "He has done nothing. It seems he does not care. Eowyn, you understand I cannot let him fight, not now." He turned, and rose, his travelling cloak still on his shoulders. After gently kissing her forehead, he made for the door.
"Where are you going?" Eowyn called. Her confusion had turned to fear. Fear for her King, fear for her husband. Faramir turned and looked at her, but he did not answer. He just held her gaze.
"Where are you going?" she asked again, her voice wavering. Still he did not answer her. He looked down, and then turned round, his back to her.
"Please!" She was desperate. "Please - look at me. You're heading off to danger, aren't you? Weak as I may be, there is strength in me yet. And I will follow you. Until my body gives out and I cannot walk another step, I will follow you. Do not think that I have lived all my life not being able to cleave a sword. If there is need for me to, then I will do it. And I will do it well. I wouldn't rather die then be left alone without you, and if death is what you seek, then go. But I will follow you."
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks and she was choked with emotion. Unable to say another word, her body shaked with silent sobs. Faramir was still, and the tension in the room was thick. But then the silence was broken. Not by Faramir, for he had not moved, and not by Eowyn, for she lay weakly under her sheets. By a loud, strong knock on the door.
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