Faramir too smiles as he approaches, his expression amused rather than rueful. "I am indeed," he agrees, taking a seat next to her on the stone bench. "And like to remain so. Gondor has not seen a coronation in generations; we scarely know how to begin. I fear if I start listing all the things that must be done, the list alone would fill all the hours between now and dawn!"

He sighs a little and leans back, looking up at the stars overhead. "And yet I welcome it. And the duties of the Steward may not be mine for so very long, after all, once the king is on his throne."

He has never sounded so lighthearted, and looks less careworn than he ever has, the lines on his face smoothed out by joy and relief.