Disclaimer: ...do I really need to put this? I mean, it's the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Of course I don't own it.
A/N: Okay, I guess that this fic is movie-based, sort of. That is, I personally think that my Denethor fits his portrayal in the film better, and I use a few little details from the film (I think the grand total is three. Ooh! Try to find them all!) However, it's close enough that, unless you are a book purist, it is a general type fic. Again with the however, I do play with Beregond a little bit, my Faramir is too perfectly honorable to be Filmamir, and despite the utter coolness of Denethor jumping off the castle while still ablaze...sorry, he just dies on the pyre.
My sons are dead. My line is dead.
I am dead.
My Boromir...I have failed you. Forgive me. Pride was always your downfall, my eldest son. I should have known. I should have known you better. I should have known your weaknesses. I should not have been so blind, so absorbed in my Gondor!
My Faramir...I love you. I thought that you knew this, but perhaps I was wrong. Of course I was wrong; I became wrong the moment my Finduilas died. No, it was when my father died, when the Steward of Gondor was no longer Ecthelion II, but Denethor II. Was that the moment, was that the time? Confound it, my son, I have done it once more! But no more, no more shall I neglect you for other thoughts, other loves. My gentle boy...my pure, innocent child...how have I wronged you over these years? How has my eldest son's weakness blinded me to my youngest son's strengths?
Can they not see? Can they not see that my life is over? Can they not see that I am dead, as dead as you are, my children? They speak of madness. What madness is my love, my devotion? They spoke of my cruelty before, my Faramir, they spoke of my coldness. They now speak of my adoration equally disdainfully. I see not the error in my current actions. Rather, I see this as the first thing I have done right in so long. They do not see; one death, one suicide begets another.
No, more wood, more oil! Can he not see what I am doing? Why can he not understand, why can no one understand? Can he not understand this honor, this one small act of honor I do for you, who has done so many for me? Can he not grasp the fact that you would do this twenty times over for me, my loyal, devoted child?
What? 'Tis Mithrandir and that Hobbit, Peregrin. Of what do they speak? Can they not see, you are dead, my beloved, you are gone, I have killed you; now I shall kill myself, do they not know?
No! The Hobbit takes you away, he takes away my last chance, my only chance at redemption. Can he not see? I have never been with you, been one with you in life; I must be one with you in death. It may be my only bond with you, my Faramir, but 'tis a bond nonetheless. How can he take you away, now, in the hour of our death, my death, our death?
What? Can it be? Can it be you, my son? Can it be that you live, that you draw breath, that your eyes open once more? How is it that I have missed this, how can I have been so neglectful...no! No, it cannot be, I would know, my love, I would know! I would know if you remained, I felt you fall into the abyss! You must have died, you must have!
I see now. You heard my lament, you heard it, you comprehended, you answered my plea. You came back for me, you obeyed me one last time. You could not die, not when I called you back. I called you; you came. You join me in life by sheer force of will, my dear, dear son. You would join me in life, while I can only join you in death. You are the stronger man by far.
And now
my Boromir
my Faramir
my children
I ask one last time
for the final time
before my end
Ahh! It burns, it burns, it hurts!
I deserve it!
But finally
my loves
forgive me?
A/N: Well, that was nothing but a 616 word ramble. Sorry for wasting your time. Can I waste a little bit more of it and get a review?