Ch. 1 - A New World

Late April 3019

Éowyn looked out over the city.  She still kept up residence in the Houses of Healing, not because she needed to but because it now felt like home.  She was still working to care for the sick.  Not at the feverish pace she had set for herself when she was using it to avoid thinking of her own unhappiness.  That had passed.  She had found herself here.  She had found happiness and purpose.  And here was where she also learned to accept Faramir’s love.  She was only amazed that it had taken her so long to see it.  But so much had happened.  So much sadness and tragedy.  But they had come through it all and now it was time to live for those who would not live to see the new age; who had sacrificed so that it could become a reality.  She felt a responsibility to make good with the chance they had been given.  If they did not, then what was it all for. 

“There you are! I thought you had gone to catch a nap and when I went to change my apron I found you nowhere!”

Éowyn turned to her roommate and fellow healer.  No, she stopped herself.  Alyrin was more than that.  She was a friend and the one who had shown her the path to healing.  She owed so much to so many in the Houses.  She felt compelled to give back. “I just needed air and perspective much more than a nap!”  She took a deep breath, “Do you feel it, Alyrin.  There is a change in the air.  Not only Spring but…”

Alyrin finished the sentence, “Hope?” she supplied.  She looked at her friend and her heart filled with happiness at the change that had been wrought upon her.  Éowyn was brought to the Houses nearly dead after the battle had raged on the fields of the Pelannor.  Those first days of recovery Alyrin had become acquainted with the Lady Éowyn, as she then knew her as, and she did not speak of hope.  She had only thoughts of regret that she had not died on the battlefield.  So much had happened since then.

“Aye!  That is the word.”  Éowyn broke into Alyrin’s with the small phrase. She smiled, “We had best get back to it.  Tis almost time for afternoon rounds,”

~*~*~*~*~

Éowyn was headed to the Master Healer’s study.  She needed to discuss treatment options for a girl who had been caught under a cart when a wheel had collapsed.  Alyrin would usually have been the one to come but she had been called away by a new arrival on a stretcher. 

She was about to knock on the wooden door when it suddenly opened and she was met by a pair of grey eyes that still managed to take her breath away, this time only in embarrassment and shame. “My Lord Aragorn!”  she stumbled out completely stunned by his presence to recall whatever proper form of address that was now due to him.  She dropped as full a curtsy as her uncertain knees would allow; the last words spoken to Aragorn coursing unbidden through her mind. 

“My Lady…”  Aragorn looked at Éowyn and all the regret and pain of their last parting ripping through his memory. “Please…No,” as he lifted her from the slight curtsy.

She looked at the Master Healer, “I will come back,  Alyrin has a question, please see her.” She added before she fled.  Her footsteps lead her to the one place that always brought her solace, the balcony gardens.  She stood at the balustrade, her heart pounding.  She had fled.  Shame flowed over her.  She had never run from anything in her life and yet she had run.  She refused to let the tears that scalded her eyes to flow.  That would be the final indignity.

“Éowyn…” A voice filled with regret sounded.  Her back went ramrod straight at the sound. “Please…” the supplicant voice was closer.

“What is your will, my lord.”  Éowyn spoke formally as she had always to keep Grima at bay.  The thought stuck in her head.  This was not Grima with all his foulness.  This was Aragorn.  He did not deserve the treatment she gave to that noisome little man when he had acted in a way that frightened and disturbed her.  She swallowed and tried to let the embarrassment melt away.  It was stubbornly resistant.  She turned to find a sorrowful look of regret on that stern earnest face.

Aragorn stepped to the balustrade not two feet from her, a respectful distance, and looked into her eyes.  He took a breath and then, “Allow me to apologise to you for my treatment of you that day we left Edoras.  I am so sorry.  My harm upon you has weighed heavily on my heart since,”  he stopped, at a loss.  “Can I ask your forgiveness?”

Éowyn looked stunned, “My forgiveness?!  When it was I who forced the issue, When it was I who begged.”  She stubbornly added.  She needed to own her behavior which had placed him in the awkward position in the first place.  Her own embarrassment admitted, she looked into earnest grey eyes that no longer held the allure they once did.  The awe and grandeur had been replaced by the warm, accepting love she had found in Faramir.  She smiled, “I can forgive you, if you will forgive me?  I was lost, drowning in duty and regret and I saw in you what I did not have.  But be happy for me.  I am no longer lost and a gentle heart has won me.”  Looking into Éowyn’s eyes Aragorn could see joy residing.  He felt a heaviness lifting and happiness for her flowed in behind it.  Éowyn looked beyond Aragorn and saw Faramir standing at the archway that bordered the gardens with a look of love indelibly written across his face.  Éowyn left the balustrade and walked towards Faramir who then walked forward and met her in the middle of the garden.  They clasped hands and then kissed.  

Faramir had come to seek Éowyn, having spoken to the Master Warden and knew of her upset at having unexpectedly met Aragorn.  The thoughts that ran through his head tormented him even knowing of the hurt she had sustained from Aragorn.  The old doubts crept in, “Now that Aragorn has returned, she’ll have him and you will once again be alone.” He whispered, “No!” to ward off the negative voice whispering in his ear.  He reached the archway at first to listen, the negative voices having weakened his belief in Éowyn ever-so-slightly that he needed to hear confirmation or denial.  He stood still.  Then he saw her smile and the words, ending with “I am no longer lost and a gentle heart has won me,” allowed his heart to start beating again and silence the negative voices.  She did love him and was affirming this to Aragorn.  He should never have doubted, but he had.  Éowyn caught his eye and he ventured forth ending the short journey in a kiss.

Aragorn saw this and his joy multiplied for he could not think of two more worthy people to have found each other.  As Aragorn was departing Faramir asked, “Pardon my liege, a question.  What are you doing here?  My last missive received stated that your company would be arriving two days hence.” Éowyn looked at him up and down and realised that he was clad as the Ranger she had first met, not dressed in the armor of Gondor as he had been when departing for the Black Gates.

Aragorn sighed, “I wanted to visit the City unannounced before all the Pomp and Glory that will attend the Coronation,”  He finished with longing and resignation.  The ranger within was uncomfortable with ceremony.  He had wished to be among his people and to hear their unguarded tongues.  He needed it.  He had no wish to impose his will upon the City.  It needed to accord with the people’s will.

Faramir looked at his liege lord, one for whom he would most willingly give up the title of Ruling Steward.  “It must be difficult, for this is not a life that you have ever been accustomed to.”

Aragorn looked at Faramir, having only formerly met him within the chaos of the Battle of the Pelannor Fields and most intimately while captive within the horrors of the Black Breath.  He had seen the younger man’s torment and he knew his heart.  What he did not know was Faramir’s innate ability for empathy and compassion which had frequently set him at odds with his father.  “No, it is not.” Aragorn held the look long enough for Faramir to break the gaze.

“Forgive me, my liege.” Faramir stated, his eyes downcast, “For speaking out of turn.  ‘Tis a fault of mine that my father ever tried to correct.”  He so respected this man and did not wish to fall foul of him.  Faramir felt Aragorn’s hand lift his chin to meet eyes, man to man.

“Pardon, but that was wrong of your father.  Do not ever be afraid to speak your mind to me.  It is a quality that I most respect.”

Faramir was moved by the sincerity he saw in Aragorn’s eyes.  He cleared his throat and stated in a strong voice, “I shall, my liege.”

Aragorn had come to see how the more severely injured, those still in residence in the Houses of Healing, were faring.  He looked at Éowyn, “You are no longer ailing, how comes it that you still reside in the Houses.”

Éowyn smiled at his puzzlement and stated, “I have found place and purpose here, My lord.  Master Healer asked if I could help with the wounded and I have been apprenticing with Alyrin, one of the healers who kept me on the path to healing after you of course.  I have been learning so much.”

Aragorn noticed that her shoulders were thrown back and she had an air of confident ease about her.  “It is so wonderful to see, My Lady.  You were on your way to discuss the treatment of a patient, was it not?  When I interrupted you.”

“Aye, it was!  If you will pardon me.  I must return to my rounds!  I have tarried too long.” She nodded her head to Aragorn and caressed Faramir’s bearded cheek.  She hurriedly left the gardens. Aragorn watched Faramir as the younger man followed her with his eyes.  “I am very happy that you have found each other.”

Faramir looked to his liege lord, “She is more than I deserve.”

“Nonsense!” Aragorn declared forcefully.  It was wrong to speak ill of the dead, but Denethor had so much to answer in his treatment of his second son. “You have both had trials and you both deserve happiness.  Never again say you are unworthy for I will fight you every time.  Swords, if needs be.”

“Yes, My Liege.”  Faramir conceded the point.

Aragorn sighed, “I must return to my retinue lest they worry,”  He placed his hood upon his head, gave the younger man a chagrined smile and was gone.

Faramir stared after him pondering his words.  His brow furrowed, but his lips contained a small smile.  It was very odd, but it was a change that he could most definitely become accustomed to.  He walked to the balustrade and looked out onto the city and took a deep breath.  It was indeed a new world.