Hey, everyone! So, I know this is super short, but it's as long as I could make it. Hopefully it makes sense; I just got the idea for it from several quotes (I posted them at the end of the story) from the book version of The Return of the King. I don't usually write in second person, but that's just the way this story turned out.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, I'm just playing with the characters for a little bit.

Please, let me know what you think (but no flames though. Flames are for fireplaces, not fanfiction.)

The Manner of His Return

by Knowing Grace

You send Faramir out, unthanked, unblessed¹, angry that he lives while your Boromir has died. Your faithful jewel is no more, and you are left only with the adequate one. You send him out, knowing his mission is hopeless. There is no way that Osgiliath can be reclaimed—it is swarming with tens of thousands of Orcs. Even so, you send him out, ignoring the pleading look in his eyes; eyes that are so like Finduilas' that it makes you almost cringe to gaze into them, and so, as usual, you don't. You send him out...he goes with no complaint.

And when his broken body is borne back to you in the arms of your wife's brother, you realize just what it is you have done. You had two sons that you loved dearly, and now, by your will, they are no more. The House of the Stewards is ended. It it all your own fault.

A soldier passes you a note written in Faramir's bold script—the last words that your son will ever pen for even now he is dying before your very eyes. He wanders in a desperate fever²; burning...already burning³.

You unfold it and read its contents. The paper slips from your trembling fingers to land at your feet on the cold, marble floor. His final words burn into your mind, never to be forgotten:

Do you think better of me now, Father?*

~ Finis ~

Story Notes:

Boromir's name means "Faithful Jewel" while Faramir's means "Adequate Jewel".

¹ This quote comes from "book" Denethor: 'I sent my son forth, unthanked, unblessed, out into needless peril, and here he lies with poison in his veins.' ~ The Siege of Gondor, The Return of the King

² This quote comes from the book: During all this black day Faramir lay upon his bed in the chamber of the White Tower, wandering in a desperate fever; dying someone said, and soon 'dying' all men were saying upon the wall and in the streets. ~ The Siege of Gondor, The Return of the King

³This quote comes from Denethor: 'He lies within,' said Denethor, 'burning, already burning.' ~ The Pyre of Denethor, The Return of the King

*This adapted quote comes from the book: 'Then farewell!' said Faramir. 'But if I should return, think better of me!'

'That depends on the manner of your return,' said Denethor. ~ The Siege of Gondor, The Return of the King