A/N: A thousand apologies for this late chapter. I've had a play, school, and my neck got thrown out of whack so I had to get that fixed. I'm sorry, but you have all been great! Thanks for everything!

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Chapter Ten

Time slowed to a crawl that day. Eowyn had mounted a horse and rode away into still of the heavy rain scented morning, and it was the last I saw of her for several days that may as well have been an eternity. Every agonized moment we were apart I felt the seams begin to loosen more and more. Eowyn's mood controlled the skies, my skies, and when she was hurting my sky was grey and the rain hammered down upon my upturned face with the grief of the world in its force. Not even the rain could catch my attention as I exited the guest suite of the Halflings.

"Faramir!" Frodo was at my side, eyes never leaving my face as my long strides took me out of the house. He was convinced the rain would be the death of me, but I had no desire to stay seated when there was something I could do to change my situation – there had to be something. I had to find her, but Frodo's cold fingers were digging through my sleeve, to my bone. He was pushing his heels down into the floor in an attempt to make his own body weight an anchor. "Please, don't leave now! It's pouring like never before, you will catch your death – "

"Frodo, I cannot stay," I said, not even giving him a look as I pulled him and myself along slowly but surely to the door. I knew that if I locked eyes with one of the most passionate hobbits in the North he would convince me to stay. Somehow. So to be safe I kept my eyes on the door. "There is something of great importance I must discuss with the Lady Eowyn."

"Did something happen?"

"No, no, I…" At that point I realized how hopeless my situation was, and that I would at one moment or the next have to explain myself to my friends. My arm fell limply at my side and Frodo, waiting a minute to see if I was trusty worthy not to bolt, gingerly released me. My chest felt tight, and my shoulders hung from their sockets as if I carried a great pack upon them, so I straightened and inhaled deeply. It felt good. "Eowyn and I quarreled this afternoon."

"But you were so eager to see Pippin."

Observant little fellows, these Halflings are. "Yes, well…I…wanted to know where he was." The answer was an obvious block, and I squeezed my eyes shut to stop myself from mouthing a curse that fought the walls of my throat. "And…"

"It would be easier to just tell me what Pippin has done, Faramir." Frodo said quietly so no one else in the house could hear, and as I found his eyes I felt very foolish. The hobbit pulled me slowly back away from where the rain rebounded off of the deck and into the open door. "Come, Faramir, if Pippin is in any trouble I think it is best that we know of it."

"I fought with Eowyn, Frodo…I wish I could tell you all at this moment, but I cannot." I gently freed myself from his hand and took a step away from him to be sure he would not seize me again. But Frodo nodded, watching me from where he stood, and I appreciated the sense of trust. "I promise I will make sense of all this."

"Good luck, Faramir." Frodo smiled and held a hand out. "I hope you make amends with Eowyn, and, well…"

"And well…?" I prompted with my own smile, knowing what Frodo was implying.

"Well everyone knows how you feel for her! I just hope that it all comes out in your favor." I clasped Frodo's hand and shook it roughly, grinning. Frodo laid his other hand on the back of mine and then gestured to the door. "Go on then."

"Good day, Frodo Baggins." My gratitude toward Frodo as I walked out the door and into the rain was something I will not soon forget. Though he knew nothing of the current situation, he knew it was something better left unsaid, and respected my need for silence.

--- --- ---

"Eowyn, have you spoken to Faramir lately?"  At the sound of the name that had brought her no pleasure on this dreary afternoon Eowyn looked up. She was leaning over the large table in the dining room with her chin on her forearms, dozing quietly and trying to put the earlier events out of her mind. Eomer had entered her suite noisily, without any warning, as is his way, but when he did not hear her respond he came into the dining room. "Sister?"

"What of Faramir?" she inquired huskily, and raised her head in mid yawn. Her blinks were uncaring and slow.

"I asked you if you had spoken to him lately." Eomer's voice was now concerned, and he pulled out the chair beside her and hastily sat down, trying to trail her eyes. "I met with Aragorn and Boromir on the street and they appeared to be browsing for dresses. A little out of character for them, as you know, which had me concerned…" he slowed, and finally stopped talking when Eowyn looked away. "I thought Faramir might know something about it."

"Oh, Faramir knows something of it, I will wager." Eowyn's head sank back down to rest on her arms. "He has been sneaking around so often it is circulating around the city, rumor upon rumor, and some of them are true. He admitted to it."

"Nothing serious, I should hope." Eomer hesitantly laid a hand on her thin shoulder. "Nothing that will tarnish his reputation?"

"Oh, just silly things. He considered them too silly to bring them to my attention." Eowyn glanced over at her brother with an affectionate smile, and covered his hand with hers. "You and are uncle are the only men I have ever truly been able to rely on."

"Eowyn, what has put you in this state?"

"Faramir."

Eomer immediately tensed and momentarily forgot that we had been friends for ten years, pounding a clenched fist on the table and even making Eowyn jump. "What did he do? Eowyn, if he has done anything to harm you, in heart or mind or body, I will make him suffer so – "

"Eomer, Faramir is your friend!"

The King of the Mark hesitated, then sat back and confidently folded his arms. "Then I'm certain he would understand. Where is he?" Eomer began to rise, but his sister seized his arm and pulled him down onto the chair with a nervous laugh.

"No, no, leave Faramir be, Eomer," Eowyn smoothed his damp hair away from his face, as if just noticing how wet he was. I certainly owe Eowyn a thank you for clearing that matter up – accepting a challenge from Eomer would not have gone well in my favor, even if by some miracle I had won the fight. "It is not worth violence, it was a simple disagreement…" Eowyn's voice was not as convincing as her words, and Eomer sensed it all too well.

"That ended in an array of hurtful words from Faramir."

"Well, yes – " Eomer shot to his feet as a commanded steed again, and the chair skidded backward on the floor, screeching, but Eowyn's hands shot out and she pulled him down. "But Eomer, I had my share of faults in the argument, now please, sit down! Everything will be mended, these things do not last forever."

Eomer snorted and took his seat, letting his elbows rest on the oak table. He regarded Eowyn with raised brows, and his sister averted her eyes, knowing what question would surface next. The room was silent, only filtering in the sound of pattering rain, and then Eomer spoke. "What did you quarrel about?"

"Would you mind so terribly if I told you after I found a resolution to all of this?" She inquired softly, running her thumb over the back of his hand gently and giving him a small smile. Eomer frowned, debating whether or not to force the truth out of his wild sister, and finally gave in. He sighed and nodded, waving her away. Eowyn grinned, and quickly came to her feet. She glided across the room to catch her cloak from the wall, and Eomer sat in bewilderment as she prepared to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"I wish to see one of my friends. She will know what to do." Eowyn told him from somewhere in the suite, and Eomer gave a ragged sigh, sinking into the chair and closing his eyes. Eowyn passed him, raking a casual gaze over his body, and then paused in her stride. She frowned, taking in the mud that spattered his tunic and caked his boots. "Eomer?"

"Mmm? Yes?"

"What happened to you?"

The King of the Mark glanced down, having forgotten his own state, and started. "Oh…oh! Of course. I had, eh…some trouble with a jittering horse. Had to chase it, I was dragged several feet. Yards. Yards, more than feet, I do not rightly remember. I suppose the weather startled it." Eowyn regarded him with furrowed brows, evaluating the level of truth that actually belonged to the statement.

"I see. Well, are you staying here while I go out?"

"Just for a little while." he assured her with a wink and a smile. Eowyn hesitated, nodding slowly, and then leaning down to plant a kiss on his forehead. "Goodbye, sister."

"Please do not get mud everywhere."

"I will stay in this seat the whole time, I promise."

"Of course," Eowyn gave his head a quick pat. "Of course you will."

--- --- ---

The rain was weighing my hair and my clothing down, and I was soon not even walking, I was trudging. Trudging aimlessly for the most part of an hour, until I decided that Eowyn would most likely be back at her suite.

Unfortunately I was wrong. At the very same time I trudged around Minas Tirith Eowyn had already arrived at the King's house, soaking wet. Only a few minutes after she had been showed in and announce did Arwen come out to meet her. The queen made her way with graceful speed down the staircase and across the floor.

"Eowyn, I have not seen you since the night of the banquet!" Arwen grasped the Eowyn's cold hands, and then pulled her into an embrace. "How have you been? Faramir told me you had been ill."

"I have not been feeling my best, I will admit," Eowyn returned the gesture. "Faramir and I have not been agreeing lately. Misunderstandings, you know the sort, leading to hurtful exchanges." Arwen watched Eowyn with eyes that had seen for over two thousand years, blue and cool and full of understanding.

"Has it anything to do with this Peregrin Took business?"

"Oh," Eowyn laughed half-heartedly and moved back a step. "More than you know, my friend."

Arwen waited a moment in silence before laying a gentle hand on Eowyn's still damp shoulder. She offered another smile. "Would you like to talk about it? Aragorn went with the Steward to see to business, so it will be a least an hour before they come stomping in here challenging one another." Laughter rippled through Eowyn's doubt. She knew Arwen spoke nothing but the truth.

"It is good to see them in such high spirits," Eowyn told the queen as they exited the room together. "But I feel the need to inquire…this 'business' you speak of would not involve dress shopping, would it?"

Arwen opened her mouth to speak, then decided against it.

Eowyn's suite was before me, silent and still in the middle of the pouring rain. I could not summon the courage to go and speak to her, and as I stood alone in the street I wondered why. All of our disagreements in the past I was able to face her afterward, apologize, and mean it, but now words came not to me even in thought. There was still so much explaining left to do!

I had to find that hobbit lass, Diamond of what-is-it-called, and have her talk to Pippin so that these rumors would stop spreading! I swore to myself that I would go mad if one more person glared at me, and on that note was my courage rekindled. I inhaled deeply and took a step forward, keeping my arms at my sides and my chin up, hardly noticing how the rain slowed around me as I strode. I balked when I came to the steps, however, and found it very difficult to continue.

Perhaps the next day would be better, I thought, and promptly began to turn, but my body jerked back to face the door. What if there was no next day?

I clenched a fist and rapped it against the door, then stepped back; waiting. The seconds between the time the door opened and my standing outside trying to keep my throat ready to spout apologies was torture.

Whatever Eowyn was doing in there it was certainly making a lot of noise, it sounded like she was jumping over furniture. I frowned and tried to listen better, but suddenly the door flew open. It was Eomer, muddy and scraped to the point of blood.

"Eomer…! What happened to…" I trailed off, leaning back to get a full view of my battered friend. He quirked a brow and looked down at himself. "What happened to you?"

"Um, we had some trouble earlier, nothing really," Eomer cleared his throat and leaned on the door frame, turning his eyes on me and surveying my own soaking, ragged appearance. "I suppose you are looking for my sister."

"Well, yes, considering I am at her suite."

Eomer nodded quietly, biting his lower lip in thought and turning his head to the side. He exhaled heavily. "Yes, well…you realize how upset she is with you, I assume."

"I came to apologize!" My voice came out all too quickly and eager. "There has been a great misunderstanding that I am working desperately to repair, you must understand that, Eomer! Is Eowyn here at all?" I was aware of how pathetic I sounded, but Eomer did not seem to be. He only glanced behind him, into the house and then back at me, but kept his eyes averted. By the expression on his dirt splotched face I saw that he did not want to injure me with his words, but also thought it better that I heed them.

"No. She will return in an hour or so, but I…think you should not come back to see her." Eomer straightened, and this time he looked me in the eyes. He seemed sympathetic. "Give her some time, Faramir. These things will mend, but for now…" he stepped back into the house. "I think you should leave."

My insides felt clenched, and my throat tightened and ached, but I did not let my disappointment be seen. Much. My neck no longer felt it necessary to support my head, and it drooped a bit. My chin hit my chest, and I immediately jerked it up with a forced, polite smile. I nodded, and when again I looked to my friend he was nodding with me. I slowly moved back a pace, and the deck creaked beneath me. "Will you tell her I came by, Eomer?"
"I will."

"Thank you." I remained with the offered smile, and good naturedly held my hands up to show I held no hard feelings towards him for any of this. But the door came slowly to a close, and I was left alone on the steps. How had it all come to this? One simple decision to watch the stars on a cloudless night, that was all it had been, but it had turned into so much more.

"Doesn't it feel wonderful?" I spun quickly at the new voice, knowing exactly who it was. Pippin stood at the bottom of the steps, little arms folded and his blue jacket sagging around his other soaked garments. His light brown hair was dripping around his expressionless pale face, uncaring for the cold the rain left. He studied me carefully. "Not even King Eomer wants you to talk to her."

Keep yourself calm, I thought silently, clenching my jaw and slowly lowering myself to his level. "Do you see what you have done to me?" I asked him, quietly, and Pippin did not seem at all threatened by my moving toward him. He even looked me right in the eye as I neared.

My looming height was now only a foot or so away from him, and I threw an arm out in a gesture toward the city. It was quiet but beginning to come back to life. "My city thinks that I have burned down the home of my brother, Peregrin, and Eowyn will not see me. A disaster is stirring, do you not see so?" I knelt this time, careful to keep my hands to myself. Tension rose in my arms, a sparking energy that wanted to be used. "You can stop this, Pippin!"

"Diamond will not see me, either."

"Pippin," This time I seized him by the biceps, gently, and moved my face so close to his my nose almost bumped his nose. "I know you did it…turn yourself in. Avoid humiliation and please," I sank further than to my knees, I was begging him, pleading with him. He only watched me in an almost curious fashion. "Please end this! Are we not still friends, you and I? Are we not still friends?"

"Tell me, Faramir," Pippin avoided my statement of his guilt and pried my fingers off his arms, smoothing the wrinkles from his drenched, heavy blue jacket. The eyes of the Took were hard and sharp as glass shards, cutting into my frustrated haze. "Does a friend steal the love of his friend's life? All he cares about, all that makes him happy, and all the while never lets him know that he is sinking his friend's ship? Are those the actions of a friend?"

"Actions of a friend…" I breathed in disbelief, dropping my hands so that my elbows balanced limply on my knees. My heart sank to my heels. I shook my head and reached out to snatch him by the elbows again, but he yanked away from me. The distrust in his eyes hurt, but I spoke on anyway, "Pippin, you think that I stole Diamond from you, it is not true! Why can you not see that?!"

"Because she left me for you," Pippin hissed with venom. "Why should I not believe her?! I have loved her since long before I came of age, and for a long time she loved me too…I knew it…" Pippin's eyes glittered with tears and he ran a sleeve across them, smearing them into the rain droplets. "But of you I had hoped for more – "

"Pippin, you have to believe me when I say I have no idea why your friend is acting this way!"

"Because of you!" Pippin snorted and took several steps back. "I am sorry for Boromir's home…I had thought it to be yours, so I threw a rock in the window." The hobbit folded his arms tightly and sniffled loudly, keeping his chin up. "But I never meant to start a fire then…now I'm not so sure – "

"Pippin, you started this whole thing!" I spouted, coming to my feet once more and again feeling a distant twang of admiration for this brave little fellow, though it was poisoned with my anger. I hovered my finger above his face as I spoke to him through gritted teeth, no more pleading, no more begging. "You have the power to end it…turn yourself in, or I will have you arrested! Please do not make me do such a thing!"

"You have no proof."

"Peregrin Took, I did not steal Diamond!" I bellowed, and heads began to turn around us. Curious eyes and inquiring faces. My own face heated with embarrassment and I lowered my voice to a hard whisper, but Pippin seemed unaffected. My knees hit the gravel as I knelt again, and I was sure I felt warm blood beginning to soak through my trousers, but I did not feel the pain. The thunder cracked over our heads, and rain began to gently sprinkle down upon us in a mist, but the clouds veiled the sun. "Do not place your anger all on me because Diamond's affections have transferred! I did not wish it, Peregrin, but this is my life you are – you are tarnishing!"

"I am going home," Pippin spat with finality, and spun on his heel to leave. He snapped loudly over his shoulder, "I am not tarnishing your life, you are."

"Peregrin!" I shouted, lunging forward to catch him and try to talk more sense into him, but he broke into a run, skidding across the streets and breaking through the raindrops with an amazing speed. I stopped, and the rain seemed to get harder. I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted after him, uncaring who stared at me.  People were skittering around to find shelter from the next wave of rain. "Peregrin, sort this out, but do not take it out on your friends! Peregrin, please!"

When he had disappeared without so much as a second glance I swore and kicked at the puddled ground, sending a spray of muddy water up into the rain sprinkled air. I had lost Eowyn, Peregrin would not believe me – or if he did, his anger blinded him to reason. I fisted my hair and shut my eyes tightly to gather my wits, but only emotions – anger, frustration, disappointment, were there to meet me.

And when I lifted my head to see my surroundings the streets were empty. I was alone.