The Story of Faramir and Eowyn
�owyn of Rohan, the niece of King Th�oden, rode in secret to the Pelennor Fields in the War of the Ring. Along with the hobbit Merry, �owyn slew the Witch King of Angmar but was severely wounded in the process. She was taken to the Houses of Healing at the end of the battle.
Faramir of Gondor was badly during the retreat from Osgiliath to Minas Tirith. His father, Denethor, driven mad by the siege of Minas Tirith, the influence of the Palant�r, and what he perceived to be the loss of both his sons, prepared to burn both himself and the near dead Faramir on a pyre. In the end the hobbit Pippin, Beregond of Gondor and Gandalf the wizard saved Faramir from his father's pyre, but could not stop Denethor from burning himself in the flames. Faramir was taken the Houses of Healing and lay near death.
Aragorn, the future King of Gondor, used his healing powers to bring both back from the brink of death as they lay in the houses of healing. �owyn, because of the unrequited love she held for Aragorn, desired death in battle and had little will to live when he brought her back from under the black breath of the Nazg�l. Aragorn said
I have, maybe, the power to heal her body, and to recall her from the dark valley. But to what she will awake: hope, or forgetfulness, or despair, I do not know. And if to despair, the she will die, unless other healing comes which I cannot bring.
This other healing came in the form of Faramir, now the Steward of Gondor. When �owyn went to the Warden of the Houses to request to leave the Houses and seek out the battle, the Warden brought her to Faramir, who had command of the city. It was then that Faramir and �owyn first saw each other:
And coming, the Warden spoke his name, and he turned and saw the Lady �owyn of Rohan; and he was moved with pity, for he saw that she was hurt, and his clear sight perceived her sorrow and unrest... He looked at her, and being a man whom pity deeply stirred, it seemed to him that her loveliness amid her grief would pierce his heart.
And she looked at him and saw the grave tenderness in his eyes, and yet knew, for she was bred among men of war, that here was one whom no Rider of the Mark would outmatch in battle.
Faramir heard �owyn's requests but was unable to grant her leave. She, like he, had to wait and be patient for the coming of fate. When he said this to her
She did not answer, but as he looked at her it seemed to him that something in her softened, as though a bitter frost were yielding at the first faint presage of Spring. A tear sprang in her eye and fell down her cheek, like a glistening rain-drop.
�owyn then lamented that her window did not look eastward, which was where Mordor, and all the hopes of the race of men, lied. Faramir promised to remedy this situation.
'And here you will find me, walking and waiting, and also looking east. It would ease my care, if you would speak to me, or walk at whiles with me.'
Then she raised her head and looked at him in the eyes again; and a colour came in her pale face. 'How should I ease your care, my lord?' she said. 'And I do not desire the speech of living men.'
'Would you have my plain answer?' he said.
'I would.'
'Then, �owyn of Rohan, I say to you that you are beautiful. In the valleys of your hills there are flowers fair and bright, and maidens fairer still; but neither maiden nor lady have I seen till now in Gondor so lovely, and so sorrowful. It may be that only a few days are left ere darkness falls upon our world, and when it comes I hope to face it steadily; but it would ease my heart, if while the Sun yet shines, I could see you still. For you and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow, and the same hand drew us back.'
'Alas, not me, lord!' she said. 'Shadow lies on my still. Look not to me for healing! I am a shieldmaiden and my hand is ungentle.'
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