This story is a big project for both of me, Kat . TarEstil, and Posher10, we both hope you will enjoy it.
Full Summary: The day Faramir was born forged a bond that could never be broken with his brother Boromir. Follow their lives as the elder son protects the younger, and he returns the favor. Read of their adventures that they have as Captains of Gondor, as well as what Faramir is doing when Boromir is with the Fellowship. Watch scenes in which Boromir tells others about his brother and how Faramir reacts to his brother's death. But Boromir's not. He's alive and fighting to return to Minas Tirith and the Fellowship. See their reunion and what they do with the rest of their lives. (It basically just follows the story of the two sons of Denethor. Be prepared with angst mixed with weird bits of hilarity.) THIS IS AN AU. (Obviously. I mean, Boromir's alive.)
(The title is from the song 'Brother' by *Kodaline*)
This does not, in any way, belong to us. The world and characters all belong to Tolkien. We only own Kel and the rest of the OCs. We also do not own the cover image.
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter By: Kat . TarEstil
Minas Tirith, the 5 of Cerveth, in the year 2983 of the Third Age./p
The night has been unbelievably hot, and even though the sun was little past its rising point, it was already proving to be an even more unbelievably hot day. Yet the heat pouring down from the sky did nothing to dissuade the people of Minas Tirith from starting their days. Already Servants were rushing about in the Sixth Circle, just like the men, women, and children of the First, Second and Third Circles prepared themselves for the workday. But even the Citadel itself was busier than usual, for it was on this morning that the Lady Finduilas, wife of Steward Denethor II was to bear her second child.
Boromir, Denethor and Finduilas' young son, and already the pride of the whole of Gondor, sat outside his parent's chamber. He was leaning sleepily against his aunt Rosset, the wife of his mother's younger brother Imrahil. Boromir had been roused by a servant shortly before dawn, with the news that his mother was in labor, and that he was expected to attend.
Boromir had hurried to get ready for the long-awaited arrival of his new sibling. He was eager for the new baby, brother or sister. 'A brother would be nice,' he thought. 'then I might have someone to play with when I am older. Although a sister would not be a bad thing, a girl I could protect from harm.' Boromir was startled out of his thoughts by a scream for within his parents' room.
"Why is it taking so long!?" His uncle Imrahil exclaimed. He had been pacing up and down the hall for the last several hours. Unable to stand still while his sister was fighting to bring a new life into the world. "It was never this long with Boromir, that was only a few short hours! Not this madness!" Another scream from Finduilas resonated through the Citadel.
"Sit down. Imrahil," his aunt said. "You are only tiring yourself out, and unless my memory fails me, you were told by the healers to stay off that leg as much as possible until it was healed." Rosset's voice was calm, but there was a trimmer in her words, and she had placed a hand on her own belly.
Boromir looked up at his uncle, "What was my birth like?" He asked. He had heard the story for his mother, but never from anyone else. He wondered how much different his arrival into the world had been, for that of the sibling that was now on its way.
"Well," his uncle said, sitting down at last. "You were born in Dol Amroth, not here in Minas Tirith. That was the way your mother wanted it. She had come to stay for a few mounts, just as was planned. But right around the time you where expect, there was an attack on the city by the Corsairs of Umbar." Imrahil smiled at the memory. "I will never forget returning from the battle on the walls, and being asked by father, your grandfather Adrahil; how I liked not being the youngest member of the family. I must admit I was a bit started, and I asked what he meant. So he told me you had been born well I was out battling Corsairs on the walls! So then I ran to go find your mother, and when I did-"
Boromir introduced: "Mother says you had so much blood on you that she thought you were going to die."
Imrahil raised an eyebrow, "Did she, I don't know about that. In any case, I found your mother in her room. She was sitting up in bed, and she looked more tired than I had ever seen her look before. But there was a light about her, she looked tired yes, but also happy. I think that at that moment, she was the happiest woman on the earth." Imrahil's voice was full of emotion, as he continued. Boromir leaned forward, although his uncle had not lowered his voice.
"Fin, your mother put you in my arms... I don't know what to do, I looked at her and said, "What if I break it?" She looked at me, and then she said: "It is a him, and if you break my son, I will kill you, and let orcs eat your body!" I didn't know if she was joking or not, but now that I think back on it, I believe that she was not." His uncle shifted his weight back against the wall, and sighed, "So that Pîn Maethor (little warrior), is how you came into the world."
Boromir opened his mouth to thank his uncle for the story but was interrupted by an agonized scream. The cry was one of such pain and sorrow, that Boromir was shocked it could be made by a human. Just after, or even before the cry had faded into silence, another came. The second cry was that of a new life coming into the world, the cry of a baby.
Unable to remain seated after such a cry, especially one from his sister, Imrahil opened the door that led to Boromir's parents' room and entered. Boromir followed his uncle; he was badly frightened, but he knew that his parents would what him. 'I must be brave now,' he thought. 'Just like Mother is always telling me.' The room was hot, even hotter than the hallway, the salty smell of sweat, mixed with the copper of blood filled the room. It was like nothing Boromir had ever see before.
His mother, Lady Finduilas lay on the bed, her long black hair speed around her. She was wearing only a light shirt, which was already covered in blood. Her breath was coming in short gasps, and moisture covered her face. It looked as though she had been dunked in a lake, and then pulled out without being allowed to dry off.
His father was at her side, gently holding her hand. Boromir was also aware of his aunt Ivriniel, his mother's sister, she was holding a small bundle that Boromir guessed was his new sibling. But to him, the room was comprised of just his mother and father...
"Denethor," His mother's voice was barely audible, "Promise me you will look after our children; promise me you will love them enough for the both of us." She looked at him with pleading gray eyes. "Promise me you will be a good father for both of them."
"Finduilas" Father's voice was begging, "You can't die, not now, not when I need you so much, not when our children need you." Denethor was crying as he held his wife's hand. Boromir felt wetness on his cheeks and realized that he was also crying. "Mother" He whispered, his voice so low he could barely hear himself. "Mother, no." But it was too late for Finduilas to hear him, she gave a small sigh and then relaxed.
Boromir had not been exposed to death before, but he did know that his mother was gone and that he would not see her again while still on earth. He never remembered starting to sob, but he did remember that it was the steady hands of his aunt Rosset that guided him back to his own room. The last thing Boromir remembered before the door closed, was watching the light fade in his father's eyes.
