Genre: General
Rating: PG
Summary: Faramir is wondering about his brother who has been meeting a lady quite often lately. Could Boromir have fallen in love? What actually is love?
Brothers' conversation about love.
Featuring: Boromir, Faramir
Disclaimer: Nothing's mine, everything's Tolkien's.

Author's Note: Story has been written for the Brothers of Gondor Zines of wwwmenofgondordotcom. (obviously FFnet doesn't like the link) Complete zines can be read there.
These two pieces are my first attempts in English that I've been published online, so I have to thank Lilan and Cressida for helping me with their corrections on it. I hope you all like it and the language is acceptable.

Love

A tall man entered the room that was lit by the fire's warm shine and sank into a chair near the fireplace.
The person sitting in another dark-red armchair let a worn-looking book drop onto his lap and watched his brother, who had closed his eyes for an instant.

"Reading again?", Boromir asked casually.

A faint smile appeared on Faramir's face. "Ever, you know."
He paused and they sat quietly for some time, neither of them saying anything. They both watched the flames flickering within their man-made home until Faramir spoke again.

"And where have you been the whole evening?"

"In the gardens," Boromir slowly answered.

The younger one lifted his head looking into his brother's tired face. "Alone?"

"No," came the not very detailed answer.

"You have been out not alone quite often lately," Faramir remarked.

"Quick noticing you are, dear brother." There was the hint of a laugh in Boromir's voice.

"But I am right, am I not?", Faramir wouldn't give up.

"Yes, certainly, you are right."

"Then you are still not tired of meeting her?"

"Of course not," Boromir said defensively.

"Well, I asummed that," Faramir returned smiling.

"Aye, and why are you grinning in such a foolish manner now? Is there something wrong?"

"Oh, no, I just wondered what was so special about this woman making you not wish to meet other women but her anymore. I remember you being ever very eager to spend time with more women than just one." Faramir kept smiling with a knowing look in his eyes.

Boromir looked annoyedly at him. "Maybe, but what is the matter with it?", he snapped.

"Do not get angry, brother. Remember it is me, you do not have to justify or to hide anything from me," Faramir said softly.

Boromir was already about to give a heated answer, but then he changed his mind and closed his mouth again. He glanced at Faramir, then watched his own hands.

"All right, all right, you are right. I have been meeting her quite often lately. I have wondered myself about it, but I do not know what's happening either. It is just – I feel good with her. I like meeting her. Like it very much." He stopped, searching for some reaction in his brother's face.

The latter now looked more serious as he spoke again. "You like her very much, do you not?"

"I do. She is really special. So very gentle-hearted, though passionate too. And she listens to what I say. She is truly interested in it. She does not just listen to be polite. And she can be very amusing, you know. You should have seen her talking about that – " He broke up at the look in Faramir's eyes.

"What is it?", Faramir asked.

Boromir hesitated. "Nothing – you just looked at me in a somehow strange way…"

"Did I? Well, I was just considering if … if you might have fallen in love with her …," he said in a low voice.

His brother looked at him in surprise. "You think that?"

"Well, yes, indeed. It is the way you are talking about her. You seem to be relaxed when you are telling what she is like and how she acts. And happy somehow."

"You are the first to notice that," Boromir was obviously irritated by his brother's statement for he seemed not to know what to say.

"Maybe I simply know you better than others do. I am your brother. So – what do you say? Have you fallen in love with her?"

"I – I do not know. Love … that is a strange thing, is it not?", Boromir was slightly absent-minded.

"You may be right. It is something very vague."

"Indeed. And no one can tell you how it has to feel … "

"I know," Faramir said understandingly. "Listen, if you want to know what I think about it, I can tell you that I have loved few people in my life – you are one of those of course, father as well. I think I have been loving mother too." His eyes darkened though the fire's light was reflected in them. "Therefore I may not be the ideal person to ask, but although these experiences are so few, there is one thing I know. Love is a great word that is used for many kinds of affection, but what is behind is, is definitively greater. And it does not help to think much about it – it just has to be there. And my opinion is that you will know when it is there."

Boromir had eyed his brother closely.

"Why are you so wise sometimes, Faramir? I would really like to know where you have these thoughts from."

"That is not important now, is it?"

"It is. What should I do without a brother like you giving me wise advice?"

"Well, I am sure you would find another solution." Faramir's smiling expression turned serious again. "Now – is it there? Do you know if there is something there for her?"

Boromir remained silent for a few moments, then said in a stronger voice. "I have the feeling there is something, yes. I cannot really define what it is, but something is there, something good. Maybe I should try to find out what it is exactly."

Faramir smiled again. "Do it. I am sure she can call herself a lucky woman if she is able to cause you these feelings, although they are still undefinited."

"Thank you, brother." Now Boromir smiled too. " I would really not know what to do if I had not you to talk about such things. And I shall tell you one thing, I really believe that the person who is able to cause you such feelings is even luckier. I am sure you will find this person soon too."

"And until that day there are you and Father," Faramir added.

"Of course we are there. And we shall be there still when you have found someone, I hope."