Disclaimer: I don't own "Lord of the Rings", obviously. It is the life's
work of J.R.R. Tolkien, and he is to be respected. I don't own any of the
characters in this story either, therefore I'm following the books in this
fic as best as I can.
Adequate Jewel
By: Dinosaur2
Faramir sat away from the rest of his company, a look of concern the only clue to his emotions. He always felt distraught when faced with the prospects of battle ahead of him, and the ruins of Osgiliath that surrounded him would not provide any protection for him, he realized, if the Dark Lord's forces were to attack.
Faramir sighed. It seemed to be a curse that he was good at something that he truly hated. The men of Gondor looked up to him, for he was the son of the Steward of Gondor, and when he put his heart into it he could defend himself nearly as well as his brother could defend himself. But Faramir's heart belonged in the lore and tales of old, where fathers loved all of their sons and there was usually a happy ending.
The warrior looked toward the sky and spotted a particularly bright star. It reminded him of Boromir, his brother, for it shone like a treasured jewel set in the sky, and as he stared at it Faramir felt new hope in him. Faramir knew he could never be like that star or his brother. The Lord Steward would be sure to remind him if he ever forgot.
Faramir heard footsteps coming towards him and silently reached for his sword. With one motion he stood up and pulled it out of its sheath and turned to face his unseen opponent.
"Your reaction time is getting better," said the man. "Father would be pleased."
Faramir relaxed and put away his sword. "I have you to thank for that, Boromir. You taught me everything I knew."
"Your watch has been over for some time," Boromir said. "Go get some rest. I don't want to see you perish in battle for lack of sleep."
"Only a failure would allow that to happen to him," Faramir said. Like myself, he added in his thoughts.
"No son of Denethor is a failure," Boromir said, as if reading his brother's mind. "Your time will come, Faramir. Soon there will be no more battles for us to fight together, and then you can study whatever tales of the Elder Days you wish."
Faramir smiled. "You've eased my mind, Boromir. I'll see you in the morning."
With that, he left his brother to watch over the company, and fell quickly into a peaceful slumber.
***
"In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying:
Seek for the Sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand." (Tolkien, "The Fellowship of the Ring", pg. 240)
***
Faramir awoke from his dream confused. He could not understand the riddle, but the thought of doom being near and counsels stronger than Morgul-spells worried him.
Boromir should have been the one to have the dream; after all, he was the future Steward of Gondor. Faramir was just the second son. But Boromir showed no signs of troubled sleep, so Faramir decided not to burden the captain with a simple dream when an army of orcs could be marching toward them at any minute.
The company marched triumphantly to the bridge that crossed the Anduin, the one place where the Enemy could reach their shore, and there they waited.
***
Battle came quicker than they intended. Many of the men that had been sent to Ithilien cam running back across the bridge with a look of terror in their eyes. Then Faramir saw the army of orcs.
It was a small army, considering the tales of old concerning the Nameless Enemy. Faramir could not understand why the men were so frightened. Then he saw the shadow.
It seemed like a rider cloaked in black on a black horse. Nothing could be seen under the cloak, not even a face. Faramir remembered reading about the terror of the Nazgul, but never in his deepest fears had he considered he might have to face one.
Many of the men in his company fled, but Faramir stood strong when he saw Boromir step forward to meet the enemy. At that moment, Faramir recalled the tale of Boromir I, the captain even the Witch-king feared. Faramir stepped forward to meet the Nazgul and smiled confidently.
Boromir glanced at Faramir and a look of horror came to his face. "Faramir, go back! They're about to destroy the bridge!"
"Then let the sons of Denethor face their fate together," said Faramir.
Boromir smiled and turned back toward the Nazgul and orcs.
Faramir felt trapped in some song of old as he slew the orcs that came. He noticed two other men had joined them, but did not take the time to note whom they were, since he was much more concerned about staying alive.
Then the bridge fell out from under them, and Faramir swam as quickly as he could to the other shore.
--- That's the end of Chapter 1. Please review and tell me what you think.
Adequate Jewel
By: Dinosaur2
Faramir sat away from the rest of his company, a look of concern the only clue to his emotions. He always felt distraught when faced with the prospects of battle ahead of him, and the ruins of Osgiliath that surrounded him would not provide any protection for him, he realized, if the Dark Lord's forces were to attack.
Faramir sighed. It seemed to be a curse that he was good at something that he truly hated. The men of Gondor looked up to him, for he was the son of the Steward of Gondor, and when he put his heart into it he could defend himself nearly as well as his brother could defend himself. But Faramir's heart belonged in the lore and tales of old, where fathers loved all of their sons and there was usually a happy ending.
The warrior looked toward the sky and spotted a particularly bright star. It reminded him of Boromir, his brother, for it shone like a treasured jewel set in the sky, and as he stared at it Faramir felt new hope in him. Faramir knew he could never be like that star or his brother. The Lord Steward would be sure to remind him if he ever forgot.
Faramir heard footsteps coming towards him and silently reached for his sword. With one motion he stood up and pulled it out of its sheath and turned to face his unseen opponent.
"Your reaction time is getting better," said the man. "Father would be pleased."
Faramir relaxed and put away his sword. "I have you to thank for that, Boromir. You taught me everything I knew."
"Your watch has been over for some time," Boromir said. "Go get some rest. I don't want to see you perish in battle for lack of sleep."
"Only a failure would allow that to happen to him," Faramir said. Like myself, he added in his thoughts.
"No son of Denethor is a failure," Boromir said, as if reading his brother's mind. "Your time will come, Faramir. Soon there will be no more battles for us to fight together, and then you can study whatever tales of the Elder Days you wish."
Faramir smiled. "You've eased my mind, Boromir. I'll see you in the morning."
With that, he left his brother to watch over the company, and fell quickly into a peaceful slumber.
***
"In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying:
Seek for the Sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand." (Tolkien, "The Fellowship of the Ring", pg. 240)
***
Faramir awoke from his dream confused. He could not understand the riddle, but the thought of doom being near and counsels stronger than Morgul-spells worried him.
Boromir should have been the one to have the dream; after all, he was the future Steward of Gondor. Faramir was just the second son. But Boromir showed no signs of troubled sleep, so Faramir decided not to burden the captain with a simple dream when an army of orcs could be marching toward them at any minute.
The company marched triumphantly to the bridge that crossed the Anduin, the one place where the Enemy could reach their shore, and there they waited.
***
Battle came quicker than they intended. Many of the men that had been sent to Ithilien cam running back across the bridge with a look of terror in their eyes. Then Faramir saw the army of orcs.
It was a small army, considering the tales of old concerning the Nameless Enemy. Faramir could not understand why the men were so frightened. Then he saw the shadow.
It seemed like a rider cloaked in black on a black horse. Nothing could be seen under the cloak, not even a face. Faramir remembered reading about the terror of the Nazgul, but never in his deepest fears had he considered he might have to face one.
Many of the men in his company fled, but Faramir stood strong when he saw Boromir step forward to meet the enemy. At that moment, Faramir recalled the tale of Boromir I, the captain even the Witch-king feared. Faramir stepped forward to meet the Nazgul and smiled confidently.
Boromir glanced at Faramir and a look of horror came to his face. "Faramir, go back! They're about to destroy the bridge!"
"Then let the sons of Denethor face their fate together," said Faramir.
Boromir smiled and turned back toward the Nazgul and orcs.
Faramir felt trapped in some song of old as he slew the orcs that came. He noticed two other men had joined them, but did not take the time to note whom they were, since he was much more concerned about staying alive.
Then the bridge fell out from under them, and Faramir swam as quickly as he could to the other shore.
--- That's the end of Chapter 1. Please review and tell me what you think.
