Title: Sticks and Stones
Summary: Faramir runs off in search of a better life.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters just the plot.
A/N: This fic is AU. In this fic I have made Faramir younger that he truly is in the book just for this fic. All reviews are welcome, All flames will be laughed at by my friends and then returned to you. This fic was written for Alex and I hope she likes it.
Chapter 1
Sunlight made everything seem to glow, everything that is but the one room; where alone, huddled in the corner sat the trembling child. The clothes of royalty he wore, yet the haunting look in his eyes spoke of a different life. There sat Faramir son of Denethor. He had never felt royal or regal, in fact he felt as if he were a servant, only around to humor his father. Never had he received love from him, only anger and bitterness.
He sat up from his spot on the floor when he heard the heavy footsteps coming down the hall. Those footsteps were what haunted his every waking hour. They belonged to his father, to him the cruelest man alive.
The door flung open almost hitting him and he scampered to his feet. "Where have you been. I have been searching for you for the entire afternoon. Someone said you refused to stand up to the captain's son. You disgrace me, how are you my son, for your brother Boromir would never have backed down."
Faramir cringed at his father's harsh words but he was not swift enough to deflect the fist that came towards him. He went reeling back to the floor much quicker than he had arose.
"Get up boy, you are to sit in this room for the remainder of the day. I do not wish for you to embarass me at dinner as we are having guests." With these words his father glared at him and slammed the door on his way out.
Faramir sat down on his bed rubbing his face. His father truly did not love him so why should he stay here. Faramir did not want to leave his brother, for Boromir had always tried to be a buffer between him and his father. Coming into his room late at night and consoling him when Denethor had been exceptionally harsh. He had told Faramir time and time again that it was not his fault; that his father was just that way. Faramir loved Boromir but not enough to stay here anymore. He had to get away, to find somewhere where that there was no one trying to harm him. With a sniffle he got up and packed a few things and with a last look he climbed out the window and away from the only home he had known.
All afternoon he walked until he came up a group of men riding the most beautifully adorned horses he had ever seen. They wore elegant clothes to just be out for a ride. Upon a closer look he noticed why; these were riders of Rohan the infamous Rohirrim. He had heard stories of them, but only stories as his father said King Theoden was a coward in the face of war.
"You there child. Who are you and speak swiftly."
Faramir was speechless. It was not that the man looked mean, it was the fact no one had ever spoken to him anything but harsh words; and he was afraid to say the wrong thing even now. He looked up at the man now and saw their was a boy with him around his age., but he didn't seem interested in Faramir at all. "I did not mean to tresspass" he stammered.
Theodred son of Theoden did not think he dangerous. He was but a child, and by the looks of him he was even younger than Eomer. "Come child the road here is no place for a child. The minions of Sauron are ever alert and around. We shall take you with us and figure out from there who you are."
Faramir to cold and to tired to argue gladly got atop the horse next to the kind man. No one spoke, but the boy his age did smile at him and that made Faramir sad; for he thought of his brother and how he missed him already. For a couple hours they rode and Faramir grew sleepier and sleepier. All he wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep and try to forget this day ever happened. As he was finally drifting off he was woken by the halting of the horses. He looked up and saw a man wearing a crown staring back. He tried to hide behind the rider in front of him but the man came up and pulled him from the horse.
Faramir winced as the bruises from his last encounter with his father had not yet healed, but he hid his pain and bowed deeply in front of the king. "I am sorry to have darkened your doorsteps in such a manner milord. Please forgive me and I beg of you to let me sleep the night and I shall be on my way."
"ON your way nonsense! How old are you child? You could not be more than eight years old."
Faramir was a little upset he was small for his age but he hated the fact that everyone thought him younger. "I am eleven milord."
"Well young man I believe you could do with a a bite to eat and perhaps a rest."
That would be excellent milord" Faramir said bowing again. He tried to make sure he did not incur the wrath of this man, as he was intruding on his hospitality. He also made sure not to say his name, as he could only imagine his father right now when he discovered he had diobeyed him.
They all walked into the house and through the great hall. Faramir gasped at the beauty of it since it was seldom he was in his father's own hall. Eomer looked at the boy and seemed amused. "Why do you gawk as if you have never been in a hall before? Surely you have."
"I am sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone." Faramir said already shrinking back from the boy.
"No worries, come before they eat all the food."
Each of them went into the dininghall and sat down. It was filled with a vast amount of food and Faramir didn't know what he wanted first. He filled his plate with a small amount of meat and a single piece of fruit and began to eat. His manners were impeccable and he tried not to make any noise as he ate. Theoden looked across the table at the child, and then to his own son and fosterson. They were snorting over their meal. Talking about their latest escapade. Faramir sat in his seat having finished the small amount of food on his plate and yet not getting up.
"You do know you may be excused" Theoden said looking at Faramir He saw the child seemed confused as if he was not used to being talked to. "I believe Eomer can show you the way to our guestroom."
Faramir shook his head and stood. "Thank you milord for your hospitality." With this he bowed and departed with Eomer.
Theodred turned to his father" Who is he and why does he seem as if we will turn on him like a pack of wargs at any moment."
"I do not know but I intend to find out." came the reply of his father.
Up the stairs Faramir followed Eomer until they came to a door. "Here is the guest room. You can freshen up if you like."
"Thank you" Faramir said and bowed again and went inside the door. Once inside he looked around. It was not as big as his room back home but it this was alot better. He didn't have to worry about his father's wrath here; or at least he hoped not. He began to take off his shirt and change clothes. What he did not see was Eomer standing with the door cracked open, towels in hand.
Eomer was shocked. What he saw made tears well up in his eyes. The child was covered in welt marks. Who could do that to someone so small. He cleared his throat and went inside. Faramir was dressed then and Eomer entered like he had not been standing there the whole time.
"So are you going to tell us who you are now or do we have to guess?"
Faramir looked at him not knowing if he really could trust him. He seemed like somebody who he could, so he began to talk.
"First who are you and how old are you?"
"I am Eomer and I am fourteen. Now that you know me, how about you tell me who you are."
Faramir sighed. "Alright but I do not know if I should. I am Faramir son of Denthor of Gondor. I left my home and my father does not know where I am. I would like to keep it this way."
Eomer gasped. "You are the stewards son!? Your father does not know where you are, but why?"
Faramir did not answer. He couldn't tell them about his father. He had never told anyone except his brother. They would only tell him he deserved it anyway. " I.......I can not answer that."
"I do not know why you will not answer the question, but know your secret is safe with me." Eomer smiled and said goodnight and closed the door.
Faramir breathed a sigh of relief and then began to look around. He was alone in a strange place. His brother was not here and he suddenly felt even smaller than his eleven years. He curled up on the bed and wished he had his brother or someone else to stay with him till he fell asleep. Soon however the peacefulness of the night lulled him into sleep.
Summary: Faramir runs off in search of a better life.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters just the plot.
A/N: This fic is AU. In this fic I have made Faramir younger that he truly is in the book just for this fic. All reviews are welcome, All flames will be laughed at by my friends and then returned to you. This fic was written for Alex and I hope she likes it.
Chapter 1
Sunlight made everything seem to glow, everything that is but the one room; where alone, huddled in the corner sat the trembling child. The clothes of royalty he wore, yet the haunting look in his eyes spoke of a different life. There sat Faramir son of Denethor. He had never felt royal or regal, in fact he felt as if he were a servant, only around to humor his father. Never had he received love from him, only anger and bitterness.
He sat up from his spot on the floor when he heard the heavy footsteps coming down the hall. Those footsteps were what haunted his every waking hour. They belonged to his father, to him the cruelest man alive.
The door flung open almost hitting him and he scampered to his feet. "Where have you been. I have been searching for you for the entire afternoon. Someone said you refused to stand up to the captain's son. You disgrace me, how are you my son, for your brother Boromir would never have backed down."
Faramir cringed at his father's harsh words but he was not swift enough to deflect the fist that came towards him. He went reeling back to the floor much quicker than he had arose.
"Get up boy, you are to sit in this room for the remainder of the day. I do not wish for you to embarass me at dinner as we are having guests." With these words his father glared at him and slammed the door on his way out.
Faramir sat down on his bed rubbing his face. His father truly did not love him so why should he stay here. Faramir did not want to leave his brother, for Boromir had always tried to be a buffer between him and his father. Coming into his room late at night and consoling him when Denethor had been exceptionally harsh. He had told Faramir time and time again that it was not his fault; that his father was just that way. Faramir loved Boromir but not enough to stay here anymore. He had to get away, to find somewhere where that there was no one trying to harm him. With a sniffle he got up and packed a few things and with a last look he climbed out the window and away from the only home he had known.
All afternoon he walked until he came up a group of men riding the most beautifully adorned horses he had ever seen. They wore elegant clothes to just be out for a ride. Upon a closer look he noticed why; these were riders of Rohan the infamous Rohirrim. He had heard stories of them, but only stories as his father said King Theoden was a coward in the face of war.
"You there child. Who are you and speak swiftly."
Faramir was speechless. It was not that the man looked mean, it was the fact no one had ever spoken to him anything but harsh words; and he was afraid to say the wrong thing even now. He looked up at the man now and saw their was a boy with him around his age., but he didn't seem interested in Faramir at all. "I did not mean to tresspass" he stammered.
Theodred son of Theoden did not think he dangerous. He was but a child, and by the looks of him he was even younger than Eomer. "Come child the road here is no place for a child. The minions of Sauron are ever alert and around. We shall take you with us and figure out from there who you are."
Faramir to cold and to tired to argue gladly got atop the horse next to the kind man. No one spoke, but the boy his age did smile at him and that made Faramir sad; for he thought of his brother and how he missed him already. For a couple hours they rode and Faramir grew sleepier and sleepier. All he wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep and try to forget this day ever happened. As he was finally drifting off he was woken by the halting of the horses. He looked up and saw a man wearing a crown staring back. He tried to hide behind the rider in front of him but the man came up and pulled him from the horse.
Faramir winced as the bruises from his last encounter with his father had not yet healed, but he hid his pain and bowed deeply in front of the king. "I am sorry to have darkened your doorsteps in such a manner milord. Please forgive me and I beg of you to let me sleep the night and I shall be on my way."
"ON your way nonsense! How old are you child? You could not be more than eight years old."
Faramir was a little upset he was small for his age but he hated the fact that everyone thought him younger. "I am eleven milord."
"Well young man I believe you could do with a a bite to eat and perhaps a rest."
That would be excellent milord" Faramir said bowing again. He tried to make sure he did not incur the wrath of this man, as he was intruding on his hospitality. He also made sure not to say his name, as he could only imagine his father right now when he discovered he had diobeyed him.
They all walked into the house and through the great hall. Faramir gasped at the beauty of it since it was seldom he was in his father's own hall. Eomer looked at the boy and seemed amused. "Why do you gawk as if you have never been in a hall before? Surely you have."
"I am sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone." Faramir said already shrinking back from the boy.
"No worries, come before they eat all the food."
Each of them went into the dininghall and sat down. It was filled with a vast amount of food and Faramir didn't know what he wanted first. He filled his plate with a small amount of meat and a single piece of fruit and began to eat. His manners were impeccable and he tried not to make any noise as he ate. Theoden looked across the table at the child, and then to his own son and fosterson. They were snorting over their meal. Talking about their latest escapade. Faramir sat in his seat having finished the small amount of food on his plate and yet not getting up.
"You do know you may be excused" Theoden said looking at Faramir He saw the child seemed confused as if he was not used to being talked to. "I believe Eomer can show you the way to our guestroom."
Faramir shook his head and stood. "Thank you milord for your hospitality." With this he bowed and departed with Eomer.
Theodred turned to his father" Who is he and why does he seem as if we will turn on him like a pack of wargs at any moment."
"I do not know but I intend to find out." came the reply of his father.
Up the stairs Faramir followed Eomer until they came to a door. "Here is the guest room. You can freshen up if you like."
"Thank you" Faramir said and bowed again and went inside the door. Once inside he looked around. It was not as big as his room back home but it this was alot better. He didn't have to worry about his father's wrath here; or at least he hoped not. He began to take off his shirt and change clothes. What he did not see was Eomer standing with the door cracked open, towels in hand.
Eomer was shocked. What he saw made tears well up in his eyes. The child was covered in welt marks. Who could do that to someone so small. He cleared his throat and went inside. Faramir was dressed then and Eomer entered like he had not been standing there the whole time.
"So are you going to tell us who you are now or do we have to guess?"
Faramir looked at him not knowing if he really could trust him. He seemed like somebody who he could, so he began to talk.
"First who are you and how old are you?"
"I am Eomer and I am fourteen. Now that you know me, how about you tell me who you are."
Faramir sighed. "Alright but I do not know if I should. I am Faramir son of Denthor of Gondor. I left my home and my father does not know where I am. I would like to keep it this way."
Eomer gasped. "You are the stewards son!? Your father does not know where you are, but why?"
Faramir did not answer. He couldn't tell them about his father. He had never told anyone except his brother. They would only tell him he deserved it anyway. " I.......I can not answer that."
"I do not know why you will not answer the question, but know your secret is safe with me." Eomer smiled and said goodnight and closed the door.
Faramir breathed a sigh of relief and then began to look around. He was alone in a strange place. His brother was not here and he suddenly felt even smaller than his eleven years. He curled up on the bed and wished he had his brother or someone else to stay with him till he fell asleep. Soon however the peacefulness of the night lulled him into sleep.