Story Downloaded from Open Scrolls Archive (https://www.openscrolls.net)

Title: Battle Cries (#1038)
Author: saborice
Chapters: 7

Archive: Tolkien
Category: Lord of the Rings (Movieverse)
Description: Faramir dreams of Boromir's final battle before his death almost every night. He cannot bring himself to fully except his brother's death. What will become of him and Eowyn? What will become of him? NEW CHAPTERS! NOW COMPLETED! Please read and review.
Published: 19 Jun 2004
Updated: 01 Jul 2004
Warnings:
Type: General
Characters: Faramir;Eowyn;Other Characters


Chapter 1 - The Dream Again

The midnight playing of fireflies calmed Faramir as he waited for sleep. The night was clear and smelled of apple and cherry blossoms. Faramir turned over on his side. His grey eyes were like the sea after a storm. Soon, dreams flourished within his head and he could not fight sleep any longer....

The smoke cleared as the drumming of feet beat against the solid Earth. There were hundreds of corpses littered about the ground--and the seemingly soon hundred more flowed over the hillside. The smell of death presided over the forest as Faramir peered through the bushes. He watched attentively and carefully as two small hobbits ran past him followed by the Uruk-hai.

Faramir drew his sword in attempt to assist the wee creatures when he abruptly stopped. Down the hill, wielding broad shield and sword, was Boromir. Faramir could not move and was speechless. A single tear rolled down his face as he watched his brother come to the aid of the hobbits. Faramir smiled at his brother's success for only a moment. An arrow whistled by Faramir, causing his attention to turn to the leader of the enemy. He turned back and cried out in horror as Boromir was struck by the second and third arrow.

"Boromir!" he yelled and woke up.

It was the same dream that came to him every night. If not Boromir, then his father disgracing him over and over again.

A soft hand came to his shoulder.

"Faramir?" whispered Eowyn. "Are you all right, my love?"

He clasped his lovely wife in his arms and sighed. "Yes, I am fine."

"Was it the dream again?" she asked, curling her fingers in his fair hair. He did not answer. "Why won't you tell me of him? Why will you not speak to me of Boromir?"

"Let us not speak of this now," Faramir responded. "Soon."


Chapter 2 - Advice From An Old Friend

"I'm glad you could meet with me," Eowyn said as she sat beside Aragorn. She rested in her seat uneasily.

"Of course," he replied. "Anything for a friend."

And, they really had become good friends over the time they've known each other. Though Eowyn had once had feelings of being more to Aragorn, they had diminished to their great friendship. Eowyn pushed her auburn hair behind her right shoulder and perked herself upright.

"What troubles you, Eowyn?" Aragorn asked.

"I wish to ask something of you," she said timidly. "There's something I need to know."

Aragorn stroked his dark, finely combed beard with his forefingers. "Of course, what is it?"

"Remember when you told me you were there when Boromir.....when he died," Eowyn started.

"Yes," he answered.

"Well, I need to know what happened...the whole story," Eowyn added.

Aragorn sighed and folded his hands in his lap. "Is Faramir still having those night terrors?"

"Yes, and I don't know how to help him. Maybe if I knew what happened, I could," Eowyn finished.

Her eyes widened with the lust for knowledge. Aragorn engulfed the top of her small hand with his.

"Eowyn, it is not in my power to tell you this." he told.

She sighed. "I knew you would say this."

Aragorn sort of laughed.

"Eowyn, how long have we known each other?" he asked.

"Ages," she replied.

"And in all that time, how many times have I been as predictable as this?" he inquired.

"Many times, Aragorn," she answered.

"Then, if that is the case, everytime you ask for my advice you already know the answer," he said.

She tried not to smile as she playfully slapped Aragorn on the shoulder.

"So, what is your advice?" she asked clearing her throat.

"Faramir will tell you when he is ready, and not before then," Aragorn said. "Just be patient, my friend."

A small child with dark hair and the beauty of an elf ran into the room. Aragorn picked up the boy, threw him gently into the air, and kissed him on the nose. Eowyn smiled at the sight of Aragorn and his son, but still she longed for her and her husband's own happiness. She patted the boy's head and hugged her dear friend before exiting the room.


Chapter 3 - Close Call

Eowyn sat sprawled across the bed deep in thought when Faramir entered the room. She looked so insightful and beautiful in the candle light. He quielty shut the door behind his back as it did not break Eowyn's thought. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her chest, breaking her trance.

"Oh, Faramir," she whispered. "I didn't hear you come in."

"You looked so beautiful, I didn't want to disturb you," he answered.

She turned to face him as he sat next to her.

"What are you doing back so early? I thought you and Eomer were going out until dawn," she questioned.

"Well, would you like me to go? I can always leave...." he joked, bringing a glowing smile to his wife's face.

Eowyn wore a silver evening gown with sleeves that set just below her shoulders. Faramir stroked her golden mane of hair gently and placed a loose part behind her ear. She sort of blushed and smiled, as if it were their first meeting again. He leaned in and kissed her.

"So, what were you thinking about, darling?" he inquired.

She hugged his waist and back.

"Oh, nothing important right now," she replied casually. "Just being here with you....like this."

Faramir kissed Eowyn passionately again as the candle's flame blew out in the wind.


Faramir ran swiftly through the forest with weapons in hand. Only moments before had a rather organized battalion of Uruk-hai stormed the hillside. He halted slightly and listened. In the distance he could hear the horn of Gondor blowing. It was Boromir. Faramir lunged himself over a creek and into bushes. He stayed low as if he could be seen, and raced to his brother's calling for aid.

Faramir stopped and watched as two hobbits run before him. He bolted from where he was and stood before Boromir and the creatures. Faramir whipped around and searched for the leader of the enemy. He was no where in to be found.

An arrow whistled sharply through the air. Faramir rotated to see the arrow strike Boromir...and the second ....and the third.... Then, something softly shook his shoulder.

"No!!!" Faramir shouted. He awoke drawing his blade quickly to Eowyn's neck, nearly slicing her.

She panted calmly, but her eyes filled with sudden terror.

"Faramir, it's all right," she started. "It's me."

Realizing his mistake, Faramir's hand shook and he dropped the blade to the ground next to the bed. Faramir jumped from his place and stood half naked in the moonlight. He sifted his fingers through his hair. Eowyn stood by his side and laid her head on his arm.

"I'm sorry, my love," he said. He turned and his wife held him. She would hold him throughout the night.


Chapter 4 - Secluded Mind, Secluded Heart

Faramir took one last look upon his homestead before leaving for Minas Tirith. It seemed that Eowyn was not the only one who seeked advice with the King of Gondor. He went swiftly and by back roads. He did not want to be seen by Eowyn or anyone at the moment. For the sake of Valor, he could have harmed his own wife. He did not understand himself lately. He knew Aragorn could not understand what he couldn't, but Faramir decided that counsel would be sufficient.

Faramir stood on the steps of the castle before Minas Tirith and took in a deep breath of the morning air. His eyes of deep gray were weary as he had fought off sleep throughout the night. He had not slept or hardly eaten in days. Somehow he could not seem to stomach any substance much of late.
He shuffled his feet into the Great Hall and stopped abruptly.

"Legolas," he started. "This is a surprise indeed."

Legolas stood before Faramir dressed in blue leggings and tunic. His braided blond hair looked perfect and his face as fair as ever. He patted Faramir's shoulder as Faramir did the same to him.

"It is good to see you again, Faramir," Legolas said with a smile.

"Where is Aragorn?" Faramir wondered.

"He is away on business," Legolas answered. "What brings you to Minas Tirith?"

"I had some business to speak of with the King," Faramir said. "But, it can wait."

"I'm glad," Legolas said, putting his hand on Faramir's back. "Come."

Legolas folded his hands behind his back as he and Faramir continued along. Faramir's eyes were still distant as Legolas noticed this at once.

"What ails you, mellonamin?" Legolas pondered.

The two halted as they reached a balcony overlooking a glorious garden. It was some of Queen Arwen's handy work. The colors were so bright and pure that they almost were stinging to the eyes.

"Legolas, have you ever dreamt a dream so often that you could not come to accepting it to pass?" Faramir inquired fruitfully.

"In Mirkwood, no dreams of which you speak are heard of," Legolas replied.

Faramir nodded slightly. Legolas's crystal eyes looked upon him with grave concern.

"Have you spoken with anyone? To Lady Eowyn?" asked Legolas.

"I've tried...God I've tried. I can't," Faramir confessed.

"All of this, it will burn you up inside," Legolas noted. "You cannot just stay in seclusion."

"And what can I do?" Faramir stepped closer to Legolas. "I nearly harmed Eowyn."

He turned and took two steps back. Faramir turned his palms downward onto the rails.

Legolas was relentless. "You cannot faulter and be selfish now, Faramir. For Eowyn's sake, you cannot."

Faramir faced Legolas again and raised an eyebrow.

"What do you speak of?" Faramir asked sternly.

Legolas sighed. "You do not know? You can not tell from the look in her eyes and the tone of her voice?"

"What?" Faramir questioned.

Legolas paused a moment and answered with assertiveness. "She is with child."

"My God...." Faramir said. "How could I have been so blind?"

"Do not blame yourself," Legolas answered.

"Why would she not tell me this?" Faramir asked.

"Perhaps you are not the only one now with secrets," Legolas replied.

Suddenly, a young man around fourteen ran into the courtyards below. Faramir glanced down at him.

"My young Rydan, what troubles you?" Faramir called to him.

"My Lord Faramir, you must come at once!" he beckoned. "It is the Lady Eowyn."


Chapter 5 - Speaking Of Things

Faramir was both worried and confused, not that he wasn't already. He rode one of Gondor's fastest horses like the wind. He didn't know what had happened or what to expect when he reached home. He just knew that his heart was about to burst from his chest.

When Faramir arrived in the mid-afternoon, he was lead to Eowyn's room and met by her brother, Eomer. Eomer halted Faramir as his chocolate eyes were in as much dismay as Faramir's.

"Eomer, tell me what has happened," Faramir said, peeking through the door.

"She was out riding early last morning," replied Eomer. "The horse went mad as it seemed and threw her off."

Faramir snapped to attention.

"The baby?!" Faramir asked concerningly. "What of the child?"

Eomer lowered his head. "The horse stepped by her side, but we can only hope for the best."

Faramir left Eomer and rushed to his wife's side. Faramir's eyes welled with tears as he peered at his almost battered bride. She lay perfectly still almost in a death-like state. Her fair hair covered the pillow and encircled her face. He traced his hand over hers, which seemed so small to him. He touched her porcelain face, which seemed so fragile to him now.

Faramir knelt beside Eowyn and lifted the side of her gown slightly to reveal her wound. From Eowyn's left side to mid-stomach was all black and blue. Faramir's heart sank as he brushed his fingertips over Eowyn's eyes, lips, and cheeks.

Then, she stirred and opened her olive colored eyes. "Faramir."

"Eowyn," he said kissing her hand. A tear ran down his face as he lowered his head.

"Do not look from me, my love," Eowyn said, raising his chin with her slender fingers.

"I'm sorry, my wife," Faramir whispered under his breath. "I should have been with you."

"It could not of been helped either way. Do not blame yourself," she acknowledged.

"Thank the Valor for the others and Eomer," Faramir noted.

"Yes, I daresay he has hardly left my side," she said in almost a laugh.

Faramir placed his hand over Eowyn's stomach and caressed it softly and carefully.

"So, now you know," Eowyn said, surprised.

"What did you not tell me?" Faramir asked.

Eowyn paused. "Why do you not tell me of anything?"

"I had the right to know," Faramir assured.

"And do I not have the right to own the key to my husband's heart?" she asked in a firm voice.

Faramir lowered his voice. "Some things are better left unsaid."

"And some things are not," she contradicted.

She winced at a slight pain.

"Enough," Faramir pleaded. "You should rest."

"I will not rest when my husband will not," she turned her face from his.

Faramir sighed heavily as his tired eyes could hardly fight sleep anymore. He leaned over Eowyn's lap and rested his head. She turned back and twirled her fingers in his straggly curls. Soon, sleep found her as well.


Chapter 6 - Coming Clean

Days passed and Eowyn's wound began the process of healing. The wound between she and Faramir worsened. Weeks passed and Faramir still neglected to mention a word. Eowyn dropped the whole subject. Months passed and Eowyn's belly grew round. Still radiant in her beauty, Faramir saw the sight of her motherly glow. Soon, he would have a child. How could he carry his burden then?

The days grew shorter and the nights became longer. Winter was almost upon them. Though she still shared the same bed with him, Faramir could tell that his secrets kept troubled Eowyn to the day. The bed seemed cold and empty. Their intimitcy (or lack of) always reminded him of it. How could Faramir expect anything different from her?

Faramir drew his cover past his bare muscular chest and over his head slightly. Perhaps he could hide from the world? No...that would be selfish, cowardly, and stupid. He was none of those characteristics, he thought as he drifted off to sleep. It was time to face this constant reminder head on.


Faramir jolted through the bushes and replayed each event as he remembered it. The two hobbits passed him, pursuited closely by Boromir. Faramir watched to the North as some Uruk-hai fought and died before Boromir's feet. Then, he took in the other direction of the battle, searching for the leader with the bow and arrows.

He pivited in Boromir's direction as Boromir yelped out in pain. Faramir turned ghostly white, as he wanted to choke at the sudden lump in his throat. The second and third arrows struck Boromir in the chest. As he fell to his knees, the hobbits were carried off. He saw who stood before him with bow and arrows. Faramir looked upon a mirror image and then awoke.

Faramir coughed and choked before clearing his throat. The image in his dreams had finally become clear to him.

"Faramir, what?" asked Eowyn, rolling over.

The last candelight flickered in Faramir's eyes. He lowered his head.

"Do not look upon me, my love," Faramir answered humbly. "You look upon the face of a killer."

Eowyn immediately sat and lit another candle. She brushed her hair behind her shoulders and placed her hands on her stomach.

"Faramir, why, what has happened?" she demanded to know this time. "You are making no sense. Killer? Killer of what?"

Faramir met his eyes with hers. She gleamed in both worry and wonderment.

"My brother."

"You are delirious, my husband," Eowyn stated. "You were not even there."

Faramir's face flushed cherry red. "Well, I might as well have been. In my dreams, his death haunts me."

"Will you tell me now what happened?" Eowyn asked. "Will you speak to me of Boromir?"

Faramir paused for a moment and began. "You may call me selfish and even jealous. Well, maybe I was. Maybe I still am. Though the son of a Steward of Gondor, life was no easy task for me. My brother was the best at everything he did. I tried and I tried, but I could never surpreme over my brother. I couldn't even keep up with him. My father, he never truly looked at me as his son. To him, Boromir was his one son. There was no Faramir."

A tear ran down Faramir's rugged chin and Eowyn held his hand tightly. He continued:

"While growing up, I learned everything from Boromir. He was both my brother and my father. I guess I never really lost hope though, that someday I could earn my father's love. When Sauron declared war against Middle-Earth, it was sudden when Boromir said he was leaving. I tried to persuade him to stay and let me go to Lord Elrond's counsel, but he would not hear of it."

"He loved you so," Eowyn noted.

Faramir nodded. "After the news of Boromir's death, my father still cared more for Boromir. He cared more of his first born's death, then of his youngest son that lived still. The fact was simply this: my father wished the situation had been reversed....that I had died and Boromir had lived. In my dreams, I think maybe that's why I held the weapon that struck my brother dead. Pure hurt and pity. My father was right, I think; it should have been me."

"No," Eowyn said, placing her hands on her husband's face.

"How do you know?" Faramir asked hoarsely.

Eowyn placed his hand over her stomach and he felt the baby's kick. "Because of this."

Faramir arched his arm around his lovely wife, held her closely, and kissed her above her forehead.

"I love you, my wife."


Chapter 7 - A Bright Future

Pigeons and doves fluttered curiously by and past the window. Faramir dreams were so wonderful, he did not want awake to the sounds of the morning's call. He smiled contently when his eyes seemed to strain to open. It was a glorious morning as the sunlight streamed through the window, outlining a red rose on his pillow. Eowyn...he thought...so sweet.

He pulled his legs from under the blanket and shivered slightly as they met the icy floor. Cold...cold...cold....he said jumping onto the carpet. Faramir bent over a chair and reached for his pants. Slipping them on, he hopped over to another piece of furniture. He picked up his clean white shirt that Eowyn had laid out for him, and put it on, as well as his boots.

Faramir threw open the latched door and flew down the staircase. "Good morning!" he said as he passed two country women with raised eyebrows. Faramir felt as if his heart had been reborn in the night. He was running so fast, he tripped over a shorter man with a thick and coarse beard. Faramir plopped on his behind and fixed his eyes on the man, who was wrestling to get up.

"Gimli!" Faramir exclaimed, laughing.

"You young rascal!" Gimli gruffed as Faramir helped him to his feet. "Why don't you watch where you're going?"

"I'm sorry, old friend. What brings you here to my home?" asked Faramir, overexcited.

"Everyone has come. The lady is in labor at the hall," Gimli explained.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Faramir asked.

"Well, I was coming to get you when....." Faramir took off before Gimli could finish Gimli grunted, "Faramir!"

Faramir was not angry, but aggravated. Why was he always the last person to know these things? Faramir hurried as fast as his feet could carry him to the kingdom hall. Pushing through the small crowd of by-passers, Faramir made his way into the room where he heard Eowyn's cries. Then, as he was about to enter, the cries stopped. He paused, not knowing what to think, but then burst through the door.

"Eowyn?!" he shouted.

A group of people turned to him, but he could not see Eowyn. Then, one of the over-lookers came from the persons.

"Legolas," Faramir said. "Eowyn?"

Legolas smiled curtiously and rolled his elven eyes in the direction of the group. The group dispersed and only left were his close friends in the back, including Aragorn and Lady Arwen. In the middle of the room laid Eowyn, holding a wee baby wrapped in soft cloth.

"Eowyn," Faramir whispered as he rushed to her side. Faramir kissed her upon the forehead and gazed at his lovely child.

"Say hello to your son, Faramir," she said tiredly.

Faramir's eyes filled with tears of happiness and joy as he kissed his son with great care. The baby cooed quietly and it made Faramir laugh at the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

Aragorn, Lady Arwen, and Legolas were glad of their friend's happiness as they looked upon the three. Gimli, who had finally made it back down the two-hundred stairs, stopped about the doorway and caught his breath. The others left then, giving the new parents and their son their privacy.

Faramir caressed Eowyn's face with his hand gently and smiled at his gleaming and ever beautiful wife.

"This is our future," Eowyn said sweetly.

Faramir took his newborn son into his arms. "Welcome home, Boromir."
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