Emyn Arnen: Eowyn and Faramir

Éowyn and Faramir: Why
I have always been loath to write this section, worried about just what words I would use to defend my favourite paring in literature. How could I give my reasons for loving this relationship when there were so many complex reasons? Éowyn/Faramir makes sense to me, intuitively. So how would I ever explain that? To me, the fact that their story rings true in my heart is the best argument for it, but that's not enough to win over the skeptics. So I shall try to enumerate and explicate the reasons why I 'ship Éowyn and Faramir...

As always, please DO NOT copy this information without my permission! These are my thoughts ergo my property and copying and pasting IS stealing!

Éowyn and Faramir both need something to live for, and they find that in each other. They begin a new life, with a better understanding of themselves and their hearts. Their love story is a great example of light overcoming dark, the morning at the end of the darkest night. Their love is something that demonstrates the hope that the War of the Ring is all about: the people that will survive the war, the life they are fighting for.

Of course, not all agree, and as with most 'ships, the debate pretty much boils down to 'agreeing to disagree.' Either the love story rings true for you or it doesn't. That being said, I'm going to explain (ad nauseam!) why I disagree with some of the biggest complaints about E/F.

Éowyn/Aragorn
Probably the best anti-E/F argument out there. Did Éowyn truly love Aragorn, simply settling for Faramir when she realized that Aragorn loved Arwen? Did Tolkien make a huge mistake by not putting these two together in the end?

First of all, I think that Aragorn/Éowyn is an important 'ship. For several reasons: first, it says and shows a lot about Éowyn, Aragorn and Faramir, second it teaches Éowyn a valuable lesson about her heart and third is reveals a very important part of the story: life after death, healing and rebirth. For these reasons I am not the kind of person who will go around bashing A/E shippers as 'not true fans' or any such tripe. Without A/E there could be no E/F. Why? Because Éowyn's love for Aragorn was the catalyst for all of her frustrations, disappointments and ambitions. If she had never loved Aragorn (and if he hadn't subsequently rejected her), I don't think Éowyn would have gone in disguise to the Pelennor. To understand why, we have to look deeper into Éowyn's motivations.

Éowyn is a 'daughter of kings,' and as such was born with a certain amount of pride, dignity and honour. As a Rohirrim, she finds these things in strength, courage and leadership. Growing up in Théoden's house, she would have seen all of these things being corrupted and degraded by the false counsel of Gríma Wormtongue. He used his words, and perhaps other methods, to keep the royal family under his control. The King fell into weakness and Rohan became an effete kingdom, susceptible to the will of Saruman and Orcs. All of this had an extreme effect on Éowyn, obviously: not only was she herself under the influence of Grìma's lies, but she had come to see her house fall into ruin, her king into dotage and herself pursued by the malevolent Wormtongue. "What is the House of Eorl but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek, and their brats roll on the floor among their dogs?" is what Saruman said of Rohan, and no doubt his servant repeated these same sentiments to Éowyn, planting discontent and shame in her mind. She began to feel that Rohan had been dishonoured, and she had to do something that would regain that honour. When Aragorn arrives on the scene, she immediately notices his kingly, honourable nature and singles him out as the instrument of her country's revival. If she were Queen of Gondor, her people would once again have pride, honour and dignity. With Aragorn's aid, the kingdom would once again be great. Did Éowyn love Aragorn? I think that she thought it was love. But what is important to remember here are the conditions she had been living in immediately prior to Aragorn's arrival. He filled her life suddenly with hope and a chance at greater things besides waiting on her King in the shadows of the throne while the world fell apart all around her. When he refuses her, she seeks that chance and hope in an honourable death on the battlefield that will win back the glory and renown of her people and kinsmen. When she is denied both these things (at least in her mind), she is left without the will to live.

That is when Faramir offers her the chance at a new life, and tells her that she has already won renown for her people by slaying the Witch King of Angmar. She has gained his respect, and as time goes by she sees that she has transcended the degradation of Wormtongue's sorcery and can finally follow (and recognize) the will of her heart. When she realizes that she loves Faramir, she has stopped worrying about winning honour (because she already has) and begins to listen to her heart.

Besides thinking that Éowyn did not truly 'love' Aragorn, I am convinced that the pairing would have never worked. Tolkien rejected the pair, saying that Aragorn was too "old and lordly and grim." Aragorn is 64 years older than the 24-year-old Éowyn, and I don't think that he could truly see eye to eye with her when so much time and wisdom separated them. Arwen, an immortal and elf (with all the unemotional indications that go with that race) is much better suited to his temperament and the task of ruling the Reunited Kingdom. For my views on this pairing in depth, see my AU story, Caged.

Faramir and Éowyn did not have to fall in love. The fact is that Tolkien wrote É/F for a reason: it is proof that there IS life after desperation and despair, there is light at the end of the darkness. After deciding against the marriage of Éowyn and Aragorn, Tolkien was going to have Éowyn die defending her kinsman. Instead he had her live: live to find out that there is something to live for (love) and there are certain things (love, understanding) that can bring us back from the darkness of war and despair.

Éowyn and Faramir's marriage is political: an alliance between Rohan and Gondor. -or- Tolkien just put them together to tie up loose ends.
I must admit, this one baffles me. After Aragorn fights in the Battle of the Hornburg with Éomer and Théoden, and the Rohirrim come to Gondor's aide on the Pelennor, how could the Kingdoms not be inextricably bound? Would the marriage of the sister of the King and the Steward (not even a RULING Steward) make this bond stronger? Perhaps, but I don't think it would do much to ingratiate the Gondorians to the Rohirrim and visa-versa. And if Tolkien just wanted to pair of Éowyn with a convenient male, why would he go to all the trouble of creating the conflict, angst and powerful meaning that is "The Steward and the King?" He could have easily let their marriage be an Éomer/Lothiriel affair and only mention it in the appendices. Speaking of the appendices, it does mention the Gondor/Rohan alliance. Éomer's dealings with Prince Imrahil and Aragorn in the War of the Ring had made then great friends and he frequently traveled to Gondor because of this. No mention of him being received by merit of his connection to the Steward. If Tolkien did just throw in this ship to have everything tie up nicely, he went to a lot of trouble to convince us otherwise: and it HAS convinced me, every time I read it.

Okay, but what about Faramir? What does the Éowyn/Faramir ship do for him?
Well, the Houses of Healing scenes are where, I think, Faramir truly shines. He finally stands up for himself and what he wants, speaking plainly of his love for Éowyn and with passion when she meets his advances with hesitation. "Éowyn, do you love me? Or will you not?" is a great moment for Faramir: he is finally saying what it is he wants, not just accepting that he will be second best to Aragorn. He offers Éowyn his superior understanding, she offers him the strength to recognize that he is a worthy man, and should not settle for being second best to anyone. In this way both he and Éowyn grow and change in the Houses of Healing, and their relationship brings them both to peace with themselves.

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