Author's Obligatory Note: Well, here it is. Everybody's FAVORITE E/F scene (well, it's mine anyway). I'll try to do justice to it. On a side note- my horoscope today said something really good would happen with my love life, and since I don't have a love life, I have great hopes. ;) Right.

Reviewers: I have never been so flattered in my entire life! I really don't think my writing is all that great, but thank you for saying so. :-)

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason is you.

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April 8

I woke this morning filled with restless confusion. I had dreamed that Aragorn returned to the city in rich splendor and smiled at me, but his happiness was in seeing me well, for I was healed. I stood at the gates of the city, and someone was beside me. I knew he was a noble and valiant man, and kind, but I could not turn to see his face. It is on the tip of my tongue who it was, for I knew him somehow, but the answer eludes me.

With my mind thus occupied, I fled my rooms to the high walls above Minas Tirith. The sun was rising in golden splendor, and it was warm. A gentle breeze blew, a far cry from the voracious winds of the weeks before. I was alone, and I felt at one with the dawn, so I cried out to the sky:

"What is it you want from me? What am I waiting for?"

Then I clutched the railing as if to crush it in my grip. But I was not alone for long. I heard footsteps approaching, and someone climbed the stairs to join me. I turned around and to my surprise, saw Faramir.

He was clad in finer garb than I had seen him wearing before, for he has taken up duty as the ruler of the city, til the King shall come. It occurred to me that black and white livery suited him.

Faramir approached me. My heart lightened strangely with his presence.

"Good morning, my Lady."

I inclined my head. "Lord Faramir." I studied the well-hidden emotions in his eyes. What was he thinking? "What brings you here at such an hour?"

"Eowyn, why do you tarry here, and do not go to the rejoicing in Cormallen beyond Cair Andros, where your brother awaits you?" Faramir was concerned for my health, but I did not wish to burden him again with my turmoil.

"Do you not know?" He knew what my feelings for Aragorn had been, he would assume that they held me back from leaving the city.

"Two reasons there may be, but which is true, I do not know."

"I do not wish to play at riddles. Speak plainer!"

` But the Steward of Gondor is no one's fool. He saw more clearly into my soul than I did, and for those precious moments on the wall, the curtain he shadowed his eyes with fled, and he allowed me to glimpse his heart.

"Then if you will have it so, lady, you do not go, because only your brother called you, and to look on the Lord Aragorn, Elendil's heir, in his triumph would now bring you no joy. Or because I do not go, and you desire still to be near me. And maybe for both these reasons, and you yourself cannot choose between them." He paused, and I could not look at him.

"Eowyn, do you not love me, or will you not?"

Doubts assailed my mind.

"I wished to be loved by another." I said quietly. "But I desire no man's pity."

"That I know," he said. "You desired to have the love of the Lord Aragorn. Because he was high and puissant, and you wished to have renown and glory and to be lifted far above the mean things that crawl on the earth. And as a great captain may to a young soldier he seemed to you admirable. For so he is, a lord among men, and greatest that now is. But when he gave you only understanding and pity, then you desired to have nothing, unless a brave death in battle. Look at me, Eowyn!"

Then I turned to him and was shaken to see such pained love, and such honesty in his eyes that I nearly cried. For he truly loved me, I could see, pitying my sorrow but loving also that I fought it, and loving what I would be, once I was healed. Faramir saw the person I have long kept locked behind chain mail and haughty pride.

"Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Eowyn! But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and you have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful, I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue to tell. And I love you. Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Eowyn do you not love me?"

With that he took my hand and held it in both of his, and his storm-gray eyes smote me, and I stood again at the abyss that haunted my sleep. But Faramir came up behind me, and clasped my shoulders, and called me back. And I was able to turn to him, to walk with relief away from the darkness, for I knew love awaited me.

"I stand in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun, and behold! The Shadow has departed! I will be a shieldmaiden no longer, nor view with the great Riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren." Then I smiled at Faramir.

"No longer do I desire to be a queen."

He laughed with joy at relief. It was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.

"That is well," He said lightly. "For I am not a king. Yet I will wed with the White Lady of Rohan, if it be her will. And if she will, then let us cross the River and in happier days let us dwell in fair Ithilien and there make a garden. All things will grow with joy there, if the White Lady comes."

Mischief rose to my eyes, and I felt the need to tease Faramir.

"Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor? And would you have your proud folk say of you: 'There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North! Was there no woman of the race of Numenor to choose?'"

But Faramir did not laugh, he was sober when he answered.

"I would." Then he touched my face and drew me close, and though we were high on the walls within easy view of the entire city, he kissed me for all to see. And with that kiss all thoughts of shadow and evil departed from my mind, and I knew I was healed.

We walked slowly hand in hand, talking and making plans for the future (and kissing often, I must in all honesty add) until we reached the Warden of the Houses of Healing. Faramir presented me to the old man.

"Here is the Lady Eowyn of Rohan, and now she is healed." He said, and smiled at me.

"Then I release her from my charge and bid her farewell, and may she suffer never hurt nor sickness again. I commend her to the care of the Steward of the City, until her brother returns," And the Warden smiled at us, and I knew that he had seen us on the Wall. When he smiled I realized how fortunate I had been, to have dwelt so long in a place of such caring and friendliness.

"Yet now that I have leave to depart, I would remain. For this House has become to me of all dwellings the most blessed." I smiled at the Warden, and at Faramir, for here I will remain until my brother arrives.

I know not how he did it, but Faramir somehow cleared his schedule of all things important and spent the day with me. We talked, or were silent, and I told him about my brother and my home, but without bitterness this time. Eomer will be returning soon. I wonder how he will take the news? He will like Faramir, I think.

Only time will tell, but I now look to the future with joy and expectation, for I am healed.

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