brushes her thumb along his cheek
DARK HAVE THE DAYS BEEN ; shadows encroach, ever creeping upon the walls of the White City. oft, they reach as high and far as the Houses of Healing. despite the umbral persistence, a light dissipates their attempting grasp: it is her, the pallid beauty who is bright amidst the dim, that captures his attention. time after time, she guards the various blooms seeking the very sun she emits ; and time after time, he cannot help but watch from afar.
Such sorrow… it weighs her down ; heavy and somber, her shoulders sag beneath as he spies her lips part on a silent scream. a wild woman —no, a shieldarm— renowned for her valor and strength at slaying the Witch-King of Angmar, and yet…so horrendously pitiful. where, he cannot help but wonder, is the pride at her victory?
the gloom converges ; her former brilliance is dull, all but gone in the face of the black. unsure of what encourages him, Faramir steps forward – his curiosity demands answers ; his adoration demands acknowledgement.
________________________________
weeks pass ; the darkness that once threatened to overwhelm the lands of Middle Earth are but a shuddering memory. gone and away, with each day the sun rises in the East, any lingering shadows burn away beneath its shine.
and yet, the Steward of Gondor is pensive ; he stands alone, gray eyes cloudy with tumultuous emotion, as his gaze sweeps along the Pelennor fields. so enthralled is he with his thoughts, he is taken unawares by the simple, delicate touch along the curve of his jaw.
the storm building within his eyes sears away as he shifts to face her very radiance ; it blazes so bright. her warmth engulfs him. the beginnings of a smile curve along his lips. fingers alight upon her hand, curling about to draw her close. steadily, Faramir regards her with love —so intense, it may very well constrict each beat of his heart— but he hesitates for the briefest moments ; etiquette be damned, he places a hand at her waist.
a glance to his left and a glance to his right, he finds they are a solitary pair atop the guard post. All for the better.
gliding her hand away from his cheek, he guides her knuckles to his lips. oh so gently, he kisses her there, unspoken feeling in the brief touch.
