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Here is the Second Chapter of 'When I Return'. If your still reading this thanks for sticking around and make sure you continue to because things will be getting more interesting from here. I love you guys and thanks for reading!
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As they walked down once again, Boromir put a hand on Faramir's shoulder, stopping him from going any further, "Faramir, wait." Faramir stopped and turned facing his older brother. "Our father is very unfair to you; he does not see that you try your hardest to please him. Do not take his words to harshly in your heart; you understand that his mind hasn't been the same after our mother..." Boromir stopped abruptly and sighed, at a sudden loss for words.
"Nay, brother. I would not take our father's words to heart. It is not my intent to displease him in anyway. Do not fear, I would not hate our father, even if he sent me from this city." Faramir said softly, his gray-green eyes looking beyond the walls of Minas Tirith. "Father would never send you away, Faramir. He might not show it, but he loves you. But, come, tonight is our night for celebrating and drinking! We mustn't let these thoughts spoil our fun." Boromir clapped Faramir over the shoulder and the two of them grinned and headed for their individual chambers to rest in silence before they were to appear before the people of Minas Tirith.
Lord Boromir's second in command, Captain Lorel, watched as his young daughter, Lorien, moved about the room, gathering empty plates and cups, her face radiant with joy. He had been gone from Minas Tirith for two weeks and had left Lorien alone with only a few servants to watch over her. The captain dreaded the weeks he was away from his daughter, for he seldom knew when he would see her face again, if ever.
War was cruel, it was tearing Gondor apart and it was staining the pure white walls of Minas Tirith with the blood of the men who fought for it. Captain Lorel found little comfort on the nights where his mind wandered upon the event of his death; what would become of Lorien if he died? Who would care for her then?
Lorel breathed in heavily and forced a smile upon his face for Lorien, "I felt as if I hadn't eaten in days, Lorien! That meal was delicious, as always, daughter." Lorien frowned and said, "But, father, you haven't eaten in days. The soldiers bleed for Gondor; yet, the Lord Boromir would not allow his men but a modest meal in a timely fashion?" Lorien's frown deepened as she handed the last of the utensils to the servants. Lorel chuckled merrily at his daughter's argument and said, "The Lord Boromir does feed us, Lorien. We eat when we get the chance. Food will do your stomach no good in the midst of a battle if an orc decides to gut your belly." Lorien gasped and clapped an astonished hand over her mouth, "Father! How could you say such horrid things? For my peace of mind, father, I beg of you to refrain from speaking such dark words." Captain Lorel smiled softly and said, "I apologize, daughter. I know how you worry when I am away. I will never speak of such things from hereafter." Lorel watched as his daughter's dark blue eyes looked into his for another moment before he quickly said, "But these worries are not yours, Lorien. You are young and have many days ahead of you. Why don't you let your father rest his weary bones and go the feast the Lord Denethor has held in honor of our victory in Ithilien? I know that you have been caged indoors for two weeks, it will be a good opportunity for you to venture outside." Lorien stopped and thought about what her father had just said, "Father, your worries will always be mine to bear. It does not do me harm to stay home and tend to you." Lorel shook his head, "No, daughter. You have done much and I would request that you attend the feast on my behalf." Lorien smiled and curtsied, "As you wish, father."
By the time Faramir and Boromir arrived at the great hall for the victory feast, the place was already thrumming with activity. Soldiers, delirious with joy, laughed loudly clutching large pints of ale. Already three full barrels had been emptied by the soldiers while more were being rolled out to replace them. Noblemen, jesters, and some women of the court were also present, paying respect to the Steward's celebration. They sat slightly farther from the rambunctious soldiers, these gentle folks. Faramir looked about the hall with a smile on his face, hair neatly groomed and garbed in a spectacular black tunic with silver embroidery which bore the insignia of the tree of Gondor. "Boromir, do you think that there is a barrel of ale that is reserved for us? For I fear that we have arrived too late for drinking." Boromir laughed loudly and said, "Of course, little brother! It is our feast after all! Come! Let us find our ale before it's too late." Grinning happily at the half drunken soldiers that loitered about the hall, the two brothers walked through the crowd with hails of 'long live Gondor' echoing through the hall.
Lorien heard the sudden commotion in the great hall and looked up from her conversation to find Lord Boromir and Lord Faramir walking through the crowd, smiling gallantly at the adoring people. The Steward of Gondor, Lord Denethor rose from his dais and his face broke into a true smile as he proclaimed, "People of Gondor, welcome our sons home with great praise for they have taken back our city of Ithilien!" The crowd cheered at this and even Lorien's face broke into a smile at the unusual bright mood of Lord Denethor.
The steward sat down once again and the merrymaking continued, while Lorien's close friend, Aewyn pulled at her sleeve. "It's most unnatural for the Lord Denethor to be so merry; would you not say so, Lorien?" Lorien shook her head at Aewyn, almost as if she were chastising her, "Quiet yourself, Aewyn! There are many people about who would gladly tell their lord of your comment. I would hate for you to be locked away in some dark corner of Minas Tirith, for I have come to enjoy your company, friend." The two girls burst out laughing just as their familiar group of ladies joined them. Lorien and the rest of the ladies talked and laughed while the celebration continued to flourish around them.
It was surprise to Lorien when she felt a gentle tap upon her shoulder. She turned around to find herself face to face with Faramir. "Good evening...Enjoying yourself, my lady?" Lorien grinned hearing Faramir's mocking tone as he said 'my lady'. She lightly slapped his hand and said, "Faramir, when did we become so mannerly? My, our Ranger has finally grown." Faramir couldn't resist a smile as Lorien continued, "I must say, you haven't changed the slightest from the little boy I knew." "I could say the same for you, Lorien. Although I must say, you do grow more beautiful day by day. It will be only a matter of time before some of my fine soldiers come calling upon you." Faramir said, grinning mischievously at Lorien's surprise. "Why, Faramir, I know plenty on fine ladies who are quite taken by you, if my lord is interested." Lorien retorted, watching Faramir's face with bemusement. Faramir squirmed at Lorien's suggestion and said, "It is heartening to hear that there are women in Gondor who care for a ranger, but I have rather become accustomed to being alone. That is why we will find you a fine soldier first." Lorien laughed and said, "No soldier for me, Faramir. I suppose we will still be debating about this when we are old and gray?" "If we both keep denying suitors, then I suppose we will be." Faramir said with a wink. At that moment, Aewyn took Lorien's hand and said, "Lorien! Come; let us have some wine with the ladies." Lorien nodded and Faramir bowed slightly and murmured, "Until next time then, Lorien." "Until next time..."
Faramir ambled over to Boromir, who was staring at something across the room, his eyes glazed over with inattentiveness. Faramir stopped, hands on his hips and said, "Brother...Boromir!" Faramir shook his head and clapped Boromir hard on the shoulder, jolting Boromir awake from his revere. "Faramir, there you are. I was just looking for you." Boromir stammered, blinking furiously. He shook his fair hair from his eyes and took a drought of his ale. "Of course you were. Now, would you care to explain what was so incredibly interesting over there?" Faramir said nodding his head across the room.
Boromir stared at Faramir for a long time and Faramir wondered if Boromir had gone back into his trance. Suddenly Boromir spoke, "Faramir, who was that girl you were talking to, but a few moments ago. The girl in the blue dress." "Oh, that was merely Lor..." Faramir stopped suddenly as realization dawned upon his face. It all made sense to him now; Boromir's glazed over expression, his sudden loss for words. Faramir thought this to be quite amusing so he asked slyly, "What girl? Why does the Captain of the White Tower, who denies all women, suddenly interested in one across the room?"
Boromir stared at Faramir looking agonized, "Now is not the time to goad me, little brother. You know quite well of which girl I speak of. What is her name?" Boromir advanced upon his little brother while he leaned against the wall, looking smug, "Oh...I see. That girl. That's Lady Lorien. Why does she concern you, brother?" Boromir suddenly grinned and said triumphantly, "Because, Faramir, I have never seen her in Minas Tirith and I would like to meet her."
Faramir watched, surprised, as his older brother took another drink of his ale, eyes trained on Lorien. His older brother was a man of war and unlike many men; he welcomed battle and encountered it head on. Faramir respected and loved his older brother dearly but the thought of Boromir pursuing Lorien troubled him.
Tearing his eyes away from Lorien, Boromir did a double take at Faramir's frowning face, lined with worry, "Faramir? Why the long face, brother? Will you not congratulate me? Do you think she...?" Boromir trailed off suddenly and looked more carefully at Faramir's frown. Then Boromir's heart was filled with a sudden heaviness as he looked upon Faramir, "Speak truthfully, Faramir. Are you courting Lady Lorien and have her affection? If this is the instance than I beg of your forgiveness and take back any comments that have dishonored Lorien."
Boromir rubbed a great hand over his face in frustration. How many times had he taken away something that belonged to Faramir? Boromir knew that his father favored him over Faramir and this over affection lead Faramir to feel neglected and sometimes unloved by their father. Boromir was about to turn away in disgust at his ignorance when Faramir grabbed his shoulder and held him in place.
"No, Boromir, you misunderstand me. Lorien and I are very dear friends and I have no intention to court her. You see, as children, Lorien and I spent much of our time together, while you were away soldering." Faramir grinned lightly and watched as Boromir's face went from dejected to joyous with each sentence that came from his lips. "Gods, Faramir! I immediately thought that you and Lorien..." Boromir trailed off again and then questioned, "Then if you have no interest in Lorien, then what troubles you? Do you disapprove of my decision to court her?" Faramir sighed heavily, looking down at the floor, carefully choosing his next words, "Boromir, you are an honorable man and Lorien is an equally honorable woman. Lorien is a very dear friend of mine, I consider like a sister, and I would not have to treat her like any other wench in Minas Tirith, brother. I warn you, I will not see you dishonor her by likening her to a common wench and merely using her to warm your bed."
Looking evenly into Boromir's eyes, Faramir gazed sternly up at his older brother while Boromir watched him with rapt attention. "I see that you care for Lorien dearly and I would assure you, brother that I plan to court her honorably." Boromir had never seen Faramir look as serious and fierce as he did now and Boromir marveled at how great the friendship between Lorien and Faramir was for it to provoke such emotion from Faramir.
After carefully analyzing Boromir's face for a few more moments, the younger brother relaxed again and said, "Good. It's just that I would not see her hurt, Boromir. I know that you will treat her with respect. I have warned you, and now I will retire from this celebration, for I need sleep desperately." Boromir grinned and said, "You're sure you don't love her, Faramir? I would never forgive myself if I took her away from you." The younger brother smiled happily and said, "I leave her to you, Boromir. We always did argue too much over little things." Boromir laughed and said, "If I had known that my little brother was spending time with beautiful ladies then I would have never left to do my soldering."
Grinning, Faramir drank the last of his ale and said, "I suggest you try to talk to her before she decides to leave. Oh, and are you drunk by any chance, brother? She hates that." Stifling a yawn, Faramir clapped Boromir on the shoulder and turned leaving Boromir to contemplate the best way to approach Lady Lorien.