“I do not believe that any darkness will endure!” – Faramir and Éowyn at the Walls


<sub>“And as they stood so, their hands met and clasped, though they did not know it. And still they waited for they knew not what. Then presently it seemed to them that above the ridges of the distant mountains another vast mountain of darkness rose, towering up like a wave that should engulf the world, and about it lightnings flickered; and then a tremor ran through the earth, and they felt the walls of the City quiver. A sound like a sigh went up from all the lands about them; and their hearts beat suddenly again.

‘It reminds me of Númenor,’ said Faramir, and wondered to hear himself speak.
‘Of Númenor?’ said Éowyn.
‘Yes,’ said Faramir, ‘of the land of Westernesse that foundered, and of the great dark wave climbing over the green lands and above the hills, and coming on, darkness unescapable. I often dream of it.’
‘Then you think that the Darkness is coming?’ said Éowyn. ‘Darkness Unescapable?’ And suddenly she drew close to him.

‘No,’ said Faramir, looking into her face. ‘It was but a picture in the mind. I do not know what is happening. The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen and we stand at the end of days. But my heart says nay; and all my limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to me that no reason can deny. Éowyn, Éowyn, White Lady of Rohan, in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!’ And he stooped and kissed her brow.

And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden, streamed out mingling in the air.’ ”

-- J. R. R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings, Book 6</sub>


Here’s something I’ve had pretty much finished since around Easter, but I didn’t want to post it until I had also done a coloured version. Well, then I got so busy I never got started on one.. perhaps at some later time. Here it is in sepia, anyway.

I like the tale of Éowyn and Faramir, and I’ve had the idea of drawing this scene for.. ever, I suppose, and I’ve made many sketches for it. This one was a long-time WIP, started already sometime in mid-November, but progress was slow.. probably because I liked the sketch and was afraid I might ruin it with poorly executed clothing (so I went ahead and ruined it with poorly executed anatomy instead, as usual.. ).

the clothing didn’t turn out that great either.. Tolkien described them wearing “warm raiment and heavy cloaks” and I wanted Éowyn’s “starry mantle” to be bigger and heavier somehow, but I didn’t want to wrap them in cloth completely. And I just didn’t come up with any clever ideas for warmer clothes, so they look pretty much the same as everyone else’s in more or less all of my earlier drawings. I guess I’m just that unimaginative when it comes to fashion.. Hhmph. Since they were both still "patients" at the time, I decided to draw Faramir unarmed and without any formal tokens that would indicate his position as a ruling steward.

HB/2B/5B pencil on A4 copy paper with the standard PS treatment.


detail closeup