Stay
Fandom: LOTR
Pairing: Faramir x GN!Reader
Word count: 1.2k (Wow. Right on the dot!)
Warnings: None apply!
A/N: I'm still reading the books (currently on return of the king) and I couldn't help but fall in love with this man. Please have something extremely teeth-rotting and cliche, but it melts my heart.. I swear.
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The sun was bidding its farewell, and its once harsh light, now soft, shone through the windows, tinting the room a glowing shade of orange.
You glanced once at the scroll laid out before you and the sun was gone. Its light now replaced by the cool light of the stars. You walked to your window in search of the moon. You liked looking for her and welcoming her as one would a lifelong friend. She did not disappoint. She appeared quickly from behind a cloud almost as if she was as delighted as you were upon your reunion. It was a regular practice of yours to greet her upon her arrival and it gave you some peace to your mind.
It was short-lived, however, when a knock at your door startled you and you were faced with Faramir, captain of Gondor swaying on your doorway, half-covered in sweat, breathing heavily, you could assume, in pain.
“Y/N...”, he merely whispered your name before you instinctively reached out to hold him as his body tilted forward, out of his control.
“Captain Faramir, my lord, what brings you to this state?”
You led him to the bed at the corner of the room next to the desk with tonics and elixirs.
It was customary for soldiers to be tended to at the Houses of Healing but for Captain Faramir, one might guess he would have his treatment go to him in his chambers, much like the steward. Of course he had come here more than occasionally for several minor injuries. The reasons for that you couldn’t understand. You were now well acquainted with the captain and he with you. He trusted you and brought many of his men to your healing hands.
“I would tell you everything. Once you have given me something to relieve me.” He groaned and laid down on the bed, taking off his armour.
You stared at him in confused wonder for a few moments before springing into action: you bade him take off his shirt for you to inspect the damage while preparing a tonic for the pain. Unbeknownst to you, he was gazing at you with wonder as well. The way you worked so quickly but with resolve and calm. He welcomed the feeling of your gentle fingers on his skin, tending to his wounds. It was not by accident that he chose this door in the circle. He was accustomed to the path that led to your door all too much. He’d grown attached to you ever since he watched you save the life of one of his soldiers.
You pressed a cloth drenched in another elixir to his wound and he drew his breath sharply. As a reflex you put your hand on his head, hushing him softly. There was only the dressing of the wound left.
“Hold this to the wound, Captain.”
He begrudgingly did as you said and took from you the cloth. You swiftly tied up the wound and handed him a tumbler of water.
He moved to sit but you laid a hand on him once more, on his shoulder. “Please, Captain, lie down.”
He nodded and gulped down the water quickly. You turned to clear up the mess and opened another window.
“Thank you, Y/N. I feel as if I were being healed by Elvish medicine.”
You felt heat creep up your cheeks as you turned to meet his eyes. They were soft and sincere. His hair glowed almost silver in the moonlight. His features showed gratitude and something else you could not quite place.
“Elvish medicine is far superior to our practices, my lord.” You bowed your head, afraid that you would be encaptivated forever by his gaze if you suffered it any longer.
“And... I was only doing my duty. You needn’t thank me. It is a small token of appreciation for all you do for your people.”
You mustered a small smile directed at him and found him still staring at you with the same look in his eyes, speechless.
“If that will be all, my lord, I would bid you good night.”
You turned and all but ran to the door when he spoke again, softly, unsure of his own words.
“Will you not stay?” It came like an arrow and it pierced your walls. It did not cause you pain or grief but rather longing and doubt. ‘Stay?’ Stay with Captain Faramir through the night as he sleeps, watching over him? Perhaps even, holding him should he feel anymore pain? How could you possibly say no?
“I can call on one of the others for you, my lord. I’m afraid my shift comes to an end when the moon begins hers in the sky.”
You did not look at him for his answer. You waited, head bowed.
Faramir didn’t expect this. He thought he was certain about the feelings each of you held for the other. He thought you would always stay by his side and he by yours. But perhaps he was the sun and you were the moon, destined to travel the same road in the same sky but cursed to never meet because it wasn’t the way of the world.
“If that is your wish, I will not stop you. But do not trouble the others for me.” The words came out hesitantly, in disappointment.
“Then I shall take your leave, Captain. May you rest well.”
He watched you leave so quickly and felt his heart drop quicker. Suddenly, the pain in his side intensified and he groaned clutching at his wound. As he did so, he dropped his tumbler and it fell with a resounding echo in the empty room. Embarrassed beyond measure he let the tumbler be and just laid there staring at the ceiling.
He wished you would return and hold his hand, magically washing away his anguish. He could almost feel your touch again and the thought soothed him. He closed his eyes and held on to that thought. It made him blissfully drift away with the cool wind on his cheeks.
In that state between wakefulness and sleep he brought your imaginary hand to his lips and kissed it. But he found he did not kiss air but skin. Perhaps it was another illusion cast by his dreams. He then felt a hand part the hair on his face and a pair of lips on his forehead, unsure and almost trembling but sweet. He didn’t wake. He didn’t want to wake and destroy the moment. Content and relieved of his pain, he fell into a deep sleep. It was a good dream.
When he awoke to rays of sunlight prickling at his eyes, he found you fast asleep on your chair with your head on his bed. The tumbler had been placed on the table, full of water once more. He looked down to find your hand entwined with his. Was this also a dream? It could not be. For even his dreams could not conjure such a divine picture of you. Whatever it may be, he would not disturb this. No, he would lay here forever if it would make this feeling last as long.
