There Are Now But Two Ways Out
Night oft brings news to near kindred.
He sat out under the precipice of rock, a veil of water rushing off of it and
down in front of him, then falling on further downward into a pool of cold,
white foam as it dodged around the spearing stones in the bottom. From where he
sat above, chin on his knees, the mist only just brushed his face as he looked
out westward. The moonlight danced across the liquid curtain; not in a bright
flash as the sunset, but in an enchanting glow of white, flickering subtly.
He was a young man, and tall; of dark hair and cold grey eyes. He hid, he hid
something inside himself, but his eyes could only show so: for he sat as silent
as any woodland creature in the night, fletching a green-feathered arrow
subconsciously. His thoughts were upon many matters he had before thought might
come- or feared might come.
Gondor was no longer a strong city. He knew this well, and was trying his best
to contrive in despite of it. His father was dejected. His brother, dead. The
city without any hope to emerge from an imminent darkness. He wished there was
some way out of it all, some way to escape… and yet he knew he couldn't.
Abandoning and leaving the darkness to grow to too great a force to be stopped
would be unlike them- or him.
Without his brother, returning to the city would be painful. Very painful. He
couldn't face his father; he could not live up to be what his brother was. But
he could be something else. Similar they were, he and his brother, and yet
different. He knew he couldn't be like his brother. He didn't want to be like
his brother. And yet, he was starting to loose heart.
A choice.
His thoughts trailed on, and he had finished the arrow. Would he hide, or would
he go forward? Would he help or hinder? Would he go on forever along the path
that had a dim haze, or plunge into the darkness in hopes of a light at the
end?
"Faramir!" A voice called softly out to him from above. "I have seen something,
come hither." He stood up silently, and looked to the back of the dimly lit
stone chamber, and saw two small figures lying asleep, in ease, and yet also in
distress in their unconsciousness. He envied their determination, their surety
that the path they took was the right one, no matter how dark.
Darkness in search of day is better than to forever wander in the twilight.
He heeded the call and swiftly disappeared off a stone staircase, and though
still not certain of what to come, he would not hide from it. He would go on.
END