Battle Cries

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."