Not mine... I own nothing...
The arrival of Prince Imrahil marked the first of several problems that morning. His arrival, while expected, came with far more violence that was expected.
When Imrahil arrived he bowed to the King who had been stoking the stove within his tent. "Well met my lord Imrahil, Please, come and sit."
"Thank you sire, there is much that must be discussed today."
"Indeed, the others should arrive within the hour. Would you like something to eat, the lord steward and I have just finished but there is plenty left."
Upon hearing the Kings words Imrahil rose from his camp chair and spun around expecting to see his nephew. What he saw however nearly knocked him flat, "Denethor! How…You…and he…but you…and the fire…and Faramir…he…You BASTARD!" Imrahil exploded. Punching Denethor square in the jaw he stood over the fallen man and screamed "You selfish, deranged, no good son of a bitch. You very nearly killed your son."
"Lord Imrahil!"
"Whirling around Imrahil sent a death glare at the king." With all due respect this has nothing to do with your majesty" turning back around Imrahil found himself nose to nose with the steward. "I have sat by all these years while you abused that boy. I kept my piece and tried to deflect your anger as much as I could. My sister, Eru rest her, would have died before she let you mistreat her baby so. If you were not the Steward I would run you through myself. If you EVER lay so much as a finger on one hair on that boys head again so help me I will, consequences be damned."
"My lord, please this is not the time" Aragorn attempted starting forward.
Whirling on the king Imrahil decided to say his piece to him as well since he had already gone so far. "And You! You saw what he has done to that child, you treated him, you heard the story and you saw the burns and scars. You treated the fresh whip marks on his back and the arrow wounds. You yourself expressed shock and horror at the thought of a father going so far as to harm his own child. And now you sit here with this man as though nothing has occurred. I suppose I should have expected nothing less from my brother-in-laws lap dog, Capitan Thorongill."
Aragorn stared at the prince in shock. "How did you know?"
"It was not that hard to guess. I remembered that the Capitan wore a Silver Star broach, the same that you wear now."
"You always were observant"
"Do Not patronize me."
"I did not mean to. I was merely making an observation of my own." Aragorn held his hands up trying to placate the enraged man. "Please let us all just calm down and discuss all this rationally like grown men."
Huffing Imrahil took a seat at the camp table while glaring daggers at the steward. Denethor then took a seat opposite his wife's brother, deciding that with the heavy table between them Imrahil was less likely to kill him.
"Thank you" Aragorn spoke as he too sat at the table. "Now, I understand your anger my lord as I too have had words with Thor regarding Faramir. And I have learned the whole truth of the matter which I will wager you know very little of."
"The TRUTH my lord is that that black hearted orc has spent the last twenty some years abusing his son. With no one to defend the boy accept a wizard that was rarely present and most recently your daughter. Who has shown far more loyalty than I have ever seen in one of the line of Elendil."
Flinching at the not so subtle accusation Aragorn once again attempted to explain the situation. "No Imrahil that is only half the truth."
"OH! And what pray tell is the other half? That it was all an act? That the scars and wounds were just part of the performance? Or perhaps you will tell me that…"
"ENOUGH" Denethor roared as he stood from his seat. "Berate me and condemn me all you want but you will NOT continue to speak thusly to our king."
A stunned Imrahil stared in shock at the man before him; never had he expected to hear Denethor actually acknowledge the northern rangers claim to the throne. Turning his eyes on the aforementioned king the prince of Dol Amroth realized the full extent of his actions. So angered was he at seeing Denethor that he had forgotten himself and proceeded to insult and lash out at not only the steward but the king as well. "I have spoken rather harshly but I will not apologize. What I have said is the truth as I see it."
Running a hand over his tired eyes Aragorn addressed the prince. "I can see how this looks from your perspective my lord and I for my part do not begrudge your actions here. Will you now listen and let us explain things?"
"Yes, I would like that very much"
