"Father?" unimpressed silver eyes meet his liquid brown in enquiry. His father does not mince words needlessly. Nervously, he entered the room with careful silent steps.
"What is it, child?" to those who know the Steward as intimately as his family, his deep voice does not always sound mocking and sure with deliberate precision as is often seen in the Citadel's eye. With Finduilas, it was softer and breathless somehow, and with Boromir it is always with patient amusement and pride.
"Look what I found, father," those same tiny hands revealed a bright blue butterfly, the edges of its wings framed with sooty black designs. "Mama's favourite."
It was at that particular time that a larger child ran into Denethor's office, a wooden sword in one hand and a distressed nanny in tow. He skidded to a halt, gave a soldier's salute, undoubtfully learned from the Citadel's Guards and jumped into what is known as 'Opening The Discipline,' a basic fighting stance.
"Boromir! Forgive me my lord for this intrusion," the nanny, named Brenna stuttered while bobbing a hasty curtsy. Ever since the Lady Finduilas's death, his temperamental moods are known to even the most insignificant of Gondor's citizens.
"Did I do it well, father?" the corners of the Steward's thin mouth tugged slightly upwards, an almost smile for the grim lord. Much to the surprise of the nearly fainting nanny, Lord Denethor strode from his chair and swept Boromir off his feet, swinging him around the room and with a loud whoop setting him gently down again, the child laughing.
"You will be the best of them, my boy!"
Quietly, the forgotten child placed the blue butterfly on his father's desk, and treaded as silently as he came to the refuge of the nursery, where he will remain for a few more years yet.
Boromir saw the insect on the desk and guessed its meaning, running yet again from his nanny's grasp to look for his brother.
"Faramir!"
Holding close a stuffed horse that has seen much wear, Faramir sat alone. With him, alas the Steward's voice is unyielding as steel, if he noticed him at all.
iI am not worth his love./i
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A/N : The Blue Butterfly referred to is Blue Morpho of the Nymphalidae family. I love its blue colour, and knowing Finduilas was from the sea, it seemed appropriate that it would be her favourite colour. An exploration of not being the favoured cub in the lion's den.