Cassandra Anthemyst: Sophy dear, you have a dirty mind.

Gold Dragon of Egypt: The fic is over. OVER. No more screwing with these poor people. (pause) At least not until the sequal.

Asia: Good girl. :) And here at last is some evidence of nekkid action.

Gryphix: Was that a hint? Because if it was, I've already taken it. And if it wasn't, you're psychic.

Artemis-chan: Wow, I feel so loved!

A/N: Hurrah! Is FINALLY finished! Chapter has a double-dedication: to Artemis-chan for your undying devotion, and to asia for the constant reviews. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! The sequal will be started eventually. ::winkwink:: I might be encouraged to post it sooner…::winkwink::

Epilogue

I paced outside the doorway of the House of Healing, unable to rest or think. My king watched me go back and forth with an amused expression on his face. "Faramir, you are going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep doing that. You are not helping your lady by pacing."

"I know, but I cannot help it!" I took a deep breath and leaned against the wall. "I'm...nervous, I suppose, but mostly worried about her."

"As I was when Eldarion was born but you see all went well with him. I assume the midwives know what they are doing."

"Besides, Faramir," Boromir put in from where he was sprawled in the opposite bench, "your lady is healthy and strong, stronger then most. She will be fine." A moment later he added, "It's you I'm worried about."

"Do you think he'll have a heart attack?" my king asked, thoughtfully.

"Oh, no," Boromir said, clearly enjoying this, "I think he'll forget to breathe. I'll have to revive him."

"Perhaps he'll go straight through the floor if he keeps pacing like that."

"And knock his head on the rock below."

Well, there was no dealing with that. I ignored them and went back to pacing. My king rolled his eyes but thankfully did not comment, and my brother snickered.

It seemed like hours later (although according to my king it was but thirty minutes, if that) when a child wailed from inside the house. I whirled and stared at the door.

"He looks like a hopeful puppy, don't you think?" I made a mental note to get Boromir later.

The door opened and a midwife peered out. My king and my brother both got up, but she snapped, "Not either of you. My lord Steward, your lady is asking for you."

I could not resist throwing a triumphant look at Boromir, who stuck out his tongue in response, startling me into a laugh as I closed the door.

The midwife led me to a small room off the hall where my lady lay, her golden hair spread out on the pillow, damp with sweat. She smiled at me, and held out her hand, which I caught, kneeling beside her. "And how are you?" I asked, softly.

"Better then I have been in a long while." Éowyn pulled my hand to the small bundle she held in the crook of her arm. "She has your hair, and mouth."

The baby opened eyes as blue as my lady's to stare at me, a small shock of downy dark hair drying on her forehead. I touched her cheek, and she tried to bite my finger, twisting her head in vain as I pulled my hand away, laughing. "She has your spirit, my lady. What shall we name her?"

"What? You mean you have not already thought of a thousand names?" She was teasing me, laughter in her eyes.

"Well, I have," I admitted. "But I wanted to know what your choices were."

"Ithilawyn," she said, caressing our daughter's cheek. Our daughter...those words still sent a thrill through me, a thrill that covered any resentment I might have felt that she tried to bite me and not her mother.

"Ithilawyn," I repeated. "Moon-joy."

She only smiled.

"Well, I suppose I shall have to introduce her to Boromir and my king," I said, getting up and sitting on the side of the bed, absently caressing Éowyn's hair. "They were teasing me unmercifully about being worried."

"I should have been angry if you were not worried, my lord," she said, looking up at me. "Perhaps I should illustrate to your brother what an angry woman can do."

"Not my king?"

She heaved a dramatic sigh. "I'm sure Aragorn knows already." A smile broke out. "Here, take her."

I nearly dropped the baby when Éowyn shoved her into my arms. My lady made a tsking sound and rearranged my arms around the child. "Hold her like that, and support her head. There."

"Valar, she's tiny!"

"And so were you, once." She yawned, suddenly. "Go introduce your daughter to Aragorn and Boromir."

"Our daughter," I interrupted, beaming into her eyes.

"Yes, our daughter," she repeated, a soft smile curling her lips. "I think I need to sleep."

"Then sleep, beloved. I'll return in a little while." I kissed her forehead and stroked her hand, gently. She smiled at me one last time, then closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately.

I returned to the room where my king and Boromir waited, carefully cradling the small bundle that was my heir. Boromir was yelling about something but stopped dead when I came in. I couldn't stop smiling as they both came forward to peer at the baby.

"My lord Aragorn, Boromir, may I present my daughter, Ithilawyn?"