Faramir and Éowyn grow stronger from their budding relationship, suggesting that love and care have physical, not just mental and emotional, benefits. Love in a time of war, Faramir realizes, is especially joyful and especially painful—joyful because it’s one of the only delights in such a dark time, and painful because the war’s hopelessness means there’s little chance that he’ll get to live a happy life with Éowyn. This passage also displays Faramir’s ability to look for hope and possibility, which acts as a foil for Éowyn’s stern, realistic outlook.