Eowyn was confused and worried. She had arrived in Rohan for more than a week already but did not hear from Faramir and he promised he would write.. She wondered why he did not write yet. Therefore, despite being very occupied with state affairs herself, she sat down to write to her beloved.  

Dear Faramir,

My love, it has been more than a week since I've seen you and I am thinking about you. Are you faring better? Are you resting at night? Are the nightmares subsiding? I am concerned for you. Please let me know how you are faring, truthfully.

We rode fast back to Rohan but the ride was smooth. It is better now since the War is over. I’ve been very occupied with planning the King’s funeral and setting matters right for Rohan since my brother and I have been gone so long and now, we have an incoming King that requires transition time.

We are planning for you to say a few words when you are here in Rohan about your betrothal plans. I am very glad that we are soon to be together. I wish you well always, my Lord.

Please write back soon and my love to you always.

Love,

Eowyn

Eowyn gave to the fastest messenger to bring the letter to Gondor. She wanted Red Arrow speed. Red arrow speed still took a couple days. She was worried before leaving Gondor before and she was still worried even now. She could not explain it.  Hopefully she will get a reply soon. She looked out towards the plains of Rohan and could only believe that she left her heart in Gondor. She hoped to see Faramir as soon as possible again. She felt his absence keenly, and she felt lonely.

Aragorn could not sleep that night. He had felt guilty he was not there from the beginning though he saw the signs that Faramir was not as well as everyone perceived. It was his responsibility to make sure the younger man opened up and recovered as soon as he could. Aragorn left his quarters and went back to Faramir’s room.

It seemed like the Steward was sleeping normally, but Aragorn felt Faramir’s forehead. It was unnaturally warm.. Faramir was restless, tossing in bed, his cheeks were flushed and his breathing a bit labored. 

Faramir woke suddenly, breathing hard in fear.

“Calm, you are not alone. You’re safe.  Is it another dream?” Aragorn helped Faramir to sitting position.

“I…don’t …know. Just …fire,” Faramir shivered in recollection. He felt too warm but sometimes too cool. Beads of sweat accumulated on his forehead.  A different kind of headache had taken hold. He took off the covers but then he felt cold again.

“It is all right. Here, I will prepare some willow bark tea–a fever has developed for some unknown reason. Please let me know about any dark dreams,” said Aragorn as he used the water to brew some willow bark with honey.

Once it cooled, he gave a mug to Faramir who sipped it without question. 

“I”m sorry to impede upon your sleep, my King,” said Faramir but he was somewhat glad he had company in the night.

“No apologies are necessary. I will also bring more blankets and cooling cloth.  I will return.”

When Aragorn returned, he also gave a stronger sleeping draught so that Faramir could rest without interruption. 

“Sleep and fear no darkness,” he instructs, smoothing the athelas laced fabric over Faramir's brow.

Fortunately, Faramir settled back to sleep and did not stir until late morning.

…

Aragorn stayed in Faramir’s room till sunrise but was met with some unexpected company. Pippin had arrived.

“What is a hobbit doing up at sunrise?” asked Aragorn.

“Isn’t it part of my duty to serve the Steward and the King?” Pippin asked back.

“Why yes, you are quite astute to know I need your services. Please brew some more water; I need to prepare some more healing teas. Thank you Pippin.”

Pippin wordlessly went to fetch the supplies. When he returned, he asked Aragorn, “What happened? Is Faramir worse than before?”

“Just a bit of a fever which I do not know the cause of.” Aragorn put a cooling cloth on Faramir’s forehead as precaution. “Most likely lack of sleep has affected his immunity.” The Steward was still warm. However, his shoulder wound was not cold so he hoped that the Black Breath had lessened its hold.

“You look worried, Strider,”

“Yes, quite worried. It took a while to draw him back from the wound in the Houses of Healing. This last time also took too long . We need to solve the problem soon. It will take enormous effort from Faramir and I do not know if we are getting across to him the importance of opening up.  He spoke in his sleep last night. Snatches of Boromir, directing his Rangers, his father. And only time can really solve many problems and the right amount of support.”

“We will help,” said Pippin determinedly. “Do you think we need to let him know about Boromir’s sacrifice? How important of a role his brother was in our Fellowship of the Ring? I am not sure if we spoke of it to him.  Would that help?”

“That is a fair point. Part of healing is to know the last steps and actions of Boromir. It was one of the hardest deaths to handle,” Aragorn sighed. “I was too late myself to rescue Boromir. I wished I was with him, helping him with slaying the orcs.  Maybe you getting captured would have also been avoided.”

Pippin laid his hand on Aragorn’s shoulder since he was sitting. “Did we say not to blame ourselves?”

“When did Peregrin Took become so wise?”

“Since I became a Knight of Gondor,” said Pippin smugly. Being sworn in to service makes me a super hobbit of sorts. And I am also a Troll-slayer, if I must remind you.”

Aragorn grinned. He didn't sleep much that night but he was glad for Pippin’s company.  “You do not have to remind me of your deeds. I believe Ioreth has already said you’re the Prince of Halflings. How are you feeling, Prince? You are well recovered from your wounds, I hope?”

“No, that would be Frodo- I prefer to be the Knight,” said Pippin with a smile.  “And yes, I am well healed from the troll crushing down on me, thank you to you master Healer and King. Merry can be the joker of Gondor since he already has serious responsibilities in Rohan.”

“We will see how he fits into Gondor,” said Aragorn with a chuckle.  Then Aragorn yawned.

“Do you need to take a rest- i can make sure Faramir is all right from now,” said Pippin seriously. “Merry said he’ll stop by after first breakfast and bring me some too.”

“Do you know which tea is for what? There is one for headache, one for sleeplessness. And willow bark for fever if it returns.  I think he will wake in a couple of hours and I did give him a stronger sleeping draught when he was up last about three hours ago. He needs no more unless he is unwell and I hope he is fine when he wakes.”

“Yes, my King,” said Pippin with a bow. “I will remember and become Healer Took while you’re gone.”

Aragorn could not help but be amused though it was a dark situation. He smiled at the hobbit, “All right, I'll trust you with my patient. I will be back after sending some messages to the Council that meetings are postponed till tomorrow and send some messages to any that the Steward had planned. Thank you Pippin.”

Aragorn was not gone for long but returned three hours before noon. Pippin was still at watch and Merry had joined him. The Steward was still sleeping.

“How is our patient, Healer Took?” 

“I don't think there’s any change. I think the latest sleeping draught really worked.”

Faramir did seem to be sleeping peacefully but a slight fever remained and despite the warming compress on his shoulder, it still felt cold. Aragorn was puzzled . He was running out of athelas and had to send someone to ride out to retrieve some. Faramir talked in his sleep even though he seemed to be asleep . Aragorn wondered at that.  The Black Breath had to be defeated but only the person having it can overcome it.

…

Faramir was running in the woodlands in Ithilien. They had to defend against the Haradrim and Southrons and they were relying on stealth and speed. However, the woods did not seem familiar to him. He had lost complete direction of where he was.

Suddenly, he did not see where his soldiers went, but the footsteps of the Enemy drew nearer.

“Mablung!” 

“Anborn!”

How could he direct the attack if he had lost his men? What kind of captain loses his men? Where were his most trusted Rangers? They had to get into position and they were nowhere to be found.

A sense of dread enveloped him. Then suddenly, the field opened up and he only saw lifeless bodies on the floor of his fellow soldiers who went to defend Osgiliath in the last ride.

Was this a trick of the Enemy? But he did not even ride out to the last stance yet. He was successful in Ithilien.

Faramir ran the other direction but there was an impenetrable darkness which swallowed up the forest.

“No!”

Faramir awoke in tears but saw the concerned eyes of Aragorn and Pippin peering down at him and he was placed in a sitting position. Athelas permeated the air. They gave him a mug of sweet and bitter tea.

“Just a dream- “ started Aragorn.

“I…I am all right –just a dream.” Faramir was glad to wake up. He felt weary still but better despite the vivid dream. 

“First, how do you feel? You had a fever just several hours ago but you have since cooled down.” Aragorn started checking Faramir’s vitals and shoulder. The shoulder was still cool to the touch. Faramir looked tired but his eyes were clearer but not entirely clear from fever.

“I am feeling better, thank you.” Faramir wondered at the dream. Was it fever induced or from the Black Breath? He still felt very weary, sore from the constant battle with the conscious and now he did feel his body aching.  He involuntarily shivered.  

Aragorn placed his hand on Faramir’s forehead, assessing that there was still a low grade fever remaining. “I am trying to see if your dream is the result of fever or Black Breath- what do you believe? And do you have a headache?”

“No I don't believe that there was a dark element to it and …no I  am not sure,” Faramir shivered. “It is an outcome that did not happen.”

“Please do not be careless in assessment. You need to try to change the outcome in the dream to battle the Black Breath. I advise you to rest today and let me know if the dreams get strange again,” Aragorn said. “You are to use a special sleeping draught before your nap for more restful sleep and more willow bark after your meal. For the dreams, you need to tell us about them.”

Faramir wondered what else he could do. “All right. I’ll try to be aware. I am fine to go to the dining hall myself,” he stood up gingerly.  

“I know your favorites- so I will gladly bring you a tray, Steward! You should stay put,” said PIppin as he ran out the door.

 Faramir sat down again and was thinking of his meetings he was missing, especially the one he had scheduled with Belegion and other soldiers. “My King, did you postpone my personal meetings too for today?” Faramir asked Aragorn.

“Yes, I did that early this morning. I told your assistant to clear your schedule for today and tomorrow, most likely for the following day too. It is almost noon now.” The King opened the curtains. It was a downcast day but not raining. There were many clouds, but the temperature was still above normal for May.

“I thank you for your care,” Faramir looked down. “I will not recover by tomorrow?” He wondered at the remaining dreams and wondered if he could fall asleep dreamless again. He was determined to not fall into darkness. He had more to do for Gondor, felt indebted to the King for him to keep calling him back. He closed his eyes to try to feel calm and to organize his thoughts. He opened them again and saw Aragorn looking straight into his eyes.

“There is nothing to thank me for,” Aragorn said as he felt Faramir’s forehead for fever. “I do not anticipate you coming back to work tomorrow yet. You are still ill, and we do not want to be careless especially when the Black Breath and now fever are involved. We will take it day by day. I am sorry I did not catch this earlier. Do not feel blame for your father’s demise nor think you’re not doing enough. You have been instrumental to Gondor’s recovery and I anticipate more good projects from you. Recover well and don’t hesitate to let me know how I can help, truly.”

Faramir bowed his head, “Thank you my King, I appreciate the kindness and confidence.  I”ll also be more mindful of the Black Breath.” He had not heard anyone give him this level or respect before. No one in the Council, nor Denethor had appreciated what he did for Gondor and he felt touched to have some recognition.

Suddenly, Merry and Pippin appeared in Faramir’s room in good spirits. 

Pippin said, “I found the best meal for you,” and indeed the tray smelled really good.

“And look what came in the mail,” said Merry with a grin. “A letter from Éowyn!”

Faramir smiled, “A letter from Éowyn?” He was so glad for this. He felt sorry he didn’t write to Éowyn yet but he promised himself he would do so today.

He felt in better spirits after a good meal and more willow bark. He felt heartened and less alone by being with the hobbits and the King.

TBC