I feel asleep outside in the orchard.

I'm sure the guards thought I was a disgrace and a wild wench.

A Lady of Ithilien does not fall asleep outside.

One of my handmaidens woke me up, and when she did, the dried tear stains stuck callously to my skin, and the cold reminiscent of the previous night's occurrences rang back in my head. . .

"And here I was. Always sure my sometimes crude comments and somewhat sadistic manner towards the courts people would
kill me first." I said dryly.

Faramir smiled at me, but didn't say anything.

I hated it when he did that.

It left me guessing, hypothesizing, and just plain wondering what was going through his mind.

Frustrated, I turned my gaze to the stone window and looked out on the distant mountains.

Faramir moved restlessly behind me.

"Are you angry with me, my lady?"

A bitter tear rolled down my cheek as I laughed. I turned to him, and he flinched when he saw the tear.

"I could never be angry with you, love."

He moved behind me, and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Time draws-"

"Time," I murmured. "is nor my foe nor my ally, Faramir. It passes like leaves on a tree in the fall."

"I will soon lose my battle with it, lady."

"Why you?"

"Why anyone?"

"That is the mortal doom. Be it bitter or sweet. It is not a choice."

Faramir gave me a grave look. "There was once a time, I too believed that. But alas, there is a choice."

"And you would take the latter?"

I gave him a desperate and imploring look, forcing the tears to retreat.

Faramir gave the question deep thought and then sighed by resting his head on my shoulder.

"The walls of this world are not restricted to the land of the living, Eowyn."

His reply sent the barricades of my will crumbling to the ground, and the tears fell.

He held me tighter, and tried to soothe my tears.

"I don't understand!" I murmured.

Again, he said nothing.

"Faramir, my lord and love, speak to me!" I sobbed.

"I have no comfort to give." he said softly.

"I do not ask for comfort, I ask for an answer."

He took my shoulders and turned me around so I was facing him.

"And an answer I will give you, Eowyn of Rohan. I will die tonight. I am sure of it. But the bond that exists between you and I,
the love and tenderness thou has returned to me will never die, will never fade. The limits of the mortal life are thin, but the
abilities and the purposes we serve on this earth, whether they be for good or ill, have their effects. Some are obvious and
others are insignificant. Your love is strong."

The tears rolled and I only understood little of what he said.

Faramir embraced me lovingly.

"Is that so hard to believe, Shield maiden?" he asked with a chuckle.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"An alias none have given me for a very long time."

He held me a moment longer, before taking my hand and leading me back to the bed.

Faramir laid down with a sigh, and I retreated next to him.

"So," he said, while I nestled my head on his chest and he put his own on top of it.

"One moment in time." he murmured.

"Pardon me?" I asked softly.

"If you could choose one moment in time to relive, White Lady of Rohan, one moment locked away in time to revisit, what
would you choose?"

The question was complex, and the intricate memories of my life came back to me as I fingered through each of them.

The answer came so swiftly, I felt suspicious.

"Midsummer's Day, ten years ago."

Faramir gave me an odd look. "My memory does not serve me well, would you refresh it?"

I paused.

"It was our anniversary. You stepped out into the orchard to get some relief from the celebration, and I followed you. You were
about to go back into the terrace, when I stopped you."

I choked.

"I asked you if. . . if you would wait for me. You smiled, and said you would always wait for me. And you did. You waited for
me the entire night."

I laughed.

"You were so tired when I found you there, but there you were, waiting for me."

I buried my head in his arm, and he patted it gently. This time I knew he didn't know what to say.

"Wait for me, Faramir?" I murmured in between sobs.

"I will always wait for you, Eowyn. As long as the sun rises, I will wait for you."

I fell asleep before he did. A regret I take to the grave, for when I awoke, he had passed.

Slowly, I rose from my position in his arms, and softly stroked his hair out of his face.

I stayed there for a few minutes, before I spoke to him.

"Winter has come."

The night had faded into a beautiful morning, though it would be several more hours before dawn, and I felt the walls of the fortress were bearing down on me, so I left.

I went into the orchard where he and I had spent many conversations together.

I laid down and rolled up in a fetal position.

And then my handmaiden roused me.

"My lady?" she asked uncertainly.

I sprang up immediately and my surroundings and trees engulfed the memories spent the night before.

"Are you ill, lady? Do you wish me to fetch the healer?"

"What is today?" I asked numbly.

She paused. "Why it's Midsummer's Day, my lady."

I smiled sadly.

"Of course." I murmured.

"My lady?" she inquired oddly.

I paused a moment longer, before my gaze turned to the east.

"Get me a horse." I said firmly.

"Pardon?" she asked.

I pulled myself up.

"A horse. Fetch me a horse. Any will do."

She went off, and a moment later, came back with one of Eomer's horses that he had given me on my wedding day.

"Might one ask where your destination lies?"

I gave her a deep look.

"To the sea. Where I shall find my peace, and keep my promise."

I gently nudged my horse forward, and that was the last I would see of Ithilien, as well as Middle-Earth