Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, nor am I making any money from this.

Warnings: A rather unpleasant Denethor and a bit of violent behavour.

In A Name

By Corralero

Chapter One

The birth had been difficult and long. Long hours of sitting in a ante-chamber, listening to the cries and mummers and watching the servants go by. Had it been so with Boromir? Denethor did not think so, but then he reconsidered. It had been five year ago. He gritted his teeth in impatient frustration, striding across the room. As the door swung open he spun savagely, abruptly ejaculating, "At last!"

"Well, my lord," the physician replied smoothly, well used to the Steward's heir's ill temper, "You have a son. My congratulations."

Grunting his satisfaction, Denethor brushed past him into the birthing chamber, stopping short at the scene before him. Findulas, his beloved wife, lay there in the huge bed, utterly exhausted, but glowing with delight. But there, silent in her arms, lay his son. His son? Dear heavens, was that truly his child? This little scrap of life, compared to his bold Boromir, who came out, roaring lustily for food and life, not sleeping. Denethor sighed in disgust, but what else could one expect the second son to be, he reasoned internally. Still, it was a spare, it kept the council happy and Eru knows it kept Findulas amused.

She was smiling at him, expecting him to come and…do what? Rejoice in having a weakling for a son? Unlikely, thought Denethor coldly.

Findulas was soaring high despite the weariness as she held her new babe in her arms. He was different, so different to her Bori, but oh, she had had no concept that it was possible to love not only one but two children as much as she did. She had worried, fretted, that she may find that she could only love one as much as she desired, but now her fears seemed utterly laughable and the relief and joy left her light and glowing. She looked up to share her love with her lord, yet his gaze was cold. Her smile faltered, but swiftly she forced it back.

"Will you not see your new son, my lord?"

He moved with dubious reluctance to her side and stood glaring down at her child. Instinctively she pulled the babe closer to her chest, protectively, as despair began to seep around her. Something was going wrong, so terribly, terribly wrong, and she didn't know what to do.

"So…so does he please you, my love? I know he is smaller than Boromir was but…" Her voice shook despite her efforts to keep it steady. What was she doing, making excuses for their son? He was perfect as he was.

Finally her husband spoke, but his harsh words served to fuel her fear rather than alleviate them. "He has exhausted you" He snapped, "Boromir's birth was much easier."

Findulas frowned, "No, that is not right, Boromir's birth took hours…" Denethor's eyes flashed and she shrank back, she could not face an argument, not now. Tears pricked at her eyes and she swallowed, all sense of elation evaporated. It was not meant to be like this…with a great effort she changed the subject, "What would you name him, my lord?"

For instant terrible sarcasm flickered across his face before it became inscrutable. For a split second he hesitated, then "Faramir".

"Fara-mir"

She tested the name and smile, the ease returning to her soul. "A good name. The hunter's jewel."

Denethor's sneer was almost unnoticeable and his exhausted wife missed it.

"As you wish, my lady."

"Congratulations, my children!"

Findulas could not help but smile as the elderly steward Ecthelion entered the room. Denethor made his farewells to his father and wife and swiftly left the room.

"Well, if he isn't a handsome babe." The old steward's pleasure was evident, "come to Grandpapa, little one." He smiled gently at Findulas as he cradled the still sleeping Faramir in his arms. "You must be greatly proud to have such a fine second son."

Findulas felt her heart lighten as such praise. Denethor must have loved the child or else he would not have gifted him such a beautiful name, she reasoned.

"Denethor named him Faramir. The Hunter's Jewel." She said proudly. Findulas was spared Ecthelion's slight frown at the appearance of a small head peering around the doorway.

"Boromir," she called out gently, "Would you like to meet your new baby brother, Faramir?" Emboldened by her call the five year old entered, scrambled up onto the bed and hesitantly crawled his way up the blankets to Findulas as she retrieved Faramir from the Steward. His eyes widened in surprise, then in pleasure. "He came out!" Boromir, always impatient, had struggled for many months to understand exactly why his baby brother insisted on waiting inside his mother's stomach instead of coming out to play. He peered again at his slumbering, newly liberated brother, cautiously reaching out to touch the tiny curled fingers. Suddenly Faramir woke. Stretching and gazing sleepily around, his wandering gaze found Boromir. A contently gurgle arose and the tiny baby fingers happily grasped his brother's chubby five year old hand.

Boromir was enraptured. "He likes me!"

"And you, what of you? Do you like him?" Findulas tried hard to keep herself steady and rational, but Denethor's reaction had shook her badly. Boromir put his head to one side. "He looks like the mouser's new kittens, don't you puss?" His eyes met his mother's, filled with innocent adoration "I love him very much."

Findulas could not contain an exhausted giggle of relief. Anyone who knew Boromir knew that this was the highest seal of approval the toddler could give. Boromir had been captured by the new kittens and so would be by this one also.

"Come, my little soldier, let us leave your mama to her sleep and your "puss" to his and I do believe it is time for yours also." The Steward swept his grandson onto his hip as Boromir scowled while valiantly holding back a yawn. "Not tired." He protested.

"No, indeed?" Ecthelion snorted, "Well how about a story to place you in the right frame of mind, hmm?"

To Be Contiued

Author's Note: A brief foray into the world of Toklien. I hope you enjoy it! I'd love a bit of feed back on the speech and style I have used as it's a little different to the style I usualy write in (I think). Massive thankyous to those who reviewed A Conversation of Clowns. I was slightly staggered people liked it so much! Some of the things people said made me walk around with a big grin on my face for hours!