A/N: Hello again, here is the fourth part as I promised I finished it quicker than the last on, but I'm afraid the next one could take awhile, I have some family problems. But now enjoy and read and review.
PS: for a reminder this story is based on both book and movie.
Disclaimer: I don't own Middle-Earth and the characters in it; they all belong to J. R. R Tolkien.
Maradon
The autumn in Rivendell was breathtaking. It truly felt like Rivendell was meant to be in autumn colours. The play of colours was more than pleasing and it was neither steaming hot nor ice cold. It was perfect. Even the surrounding mountains were not so dark and gloomy anymore, they were peaceful and comforting.
Faramir had fallen in love this quiet place but he knew that he could not stay here forever and his time in Rivendell was coming to an end. Yes… He was a scholar and Ilmadris was perfect stop for him. Lord Elrond's library was amazing, he could sit there for hours and just read and read and read. But he was also a warrior and he knew in his heart that he could not find his true place somewhere like the quiet and peaceful Ilmadris.
Faramir padded Menenor one last time: "In two days we will start trying to ride again, you seem to have perfectly recovered." Saying that Faramir gave Menenor, whose eyes could not hide the excitement of the prospect of galloping through the endless fields, an apple. Faramir smiled and started his journey back to the house. Soon his smile was replaced with a gloomy look. In Gondor he had known who he was, he was the steward's second son, a Captain of the Rangers of Ithilien. Now he was a wanderer who did not have a home nor a future. He was lost in the dark and deep corridors of his life. Nowhere to go, no-one to be.
At Breakfast even Merry's and Pippin's cheerful chatter did not raise him from his dark thought.
"Faramir, are you alright?" Merry asked worryingly.
"Yes, I'm quit alright, master hobbit."
"But you have not said a word this morning," Pippin looked at him.
"I have been bothered by dark thoughts."
"About the council what was held yesterday?" Merry's eyes lighted up.
"Some of it, yes." Faramir had to smile a little to that question.
"Oh, I wish I could have been in the council." Pippin said.
"You, really wish to know how doomed we really are?" Faramir asked and rose. Both hobbits looked after him in confusion.
"Faramir!" rushed Merry before Faramir could leave, "You promised to tell us about, Gondor, Arnor and Rohan."
"I am sorry, I am not well to tell these stories, but in few days I shall, I promise you." He turned to the breakfast hall doors again, but his way was blocked by Glorfindel and two other elves.
"Faramir, I think you have not met Lord Elrond sons Elladan and Elrohir."
"No I have not; it is nice to meet you, Lord Elladan and Lord Elrohir."
"It is nice to meet you too, Lord Faramir." Twins replied in a chorus.
Faramir wanted to pass them but three elves didn't move.
He raised his eyebrow. "Can I go to my room know?"
"Yes, you can," Glorfindel said, "But only if you make a promise to us."
Faramir rolled his eyes… Of course, another promise, "And what may that promise be?"
"You are not going to your room to read," when Faramir started to protest Glorfindel raised his hand, "instead, you are going to take your sword and meet us in the training grounds, we want to teach you some elven fighting techniques, we have two hours until the council, you can spear it can you not?"
"Yes I can, but why?"
"Because of that dark cloud hanging above your head," Elladan smiled.
"And knowing from the stories about you, that you are a scholar and a warrior, and we know that both of your sides will much appreciate it." Elrohir grinned. At that point Faramir discovered what the difference between the twins was: Elladan was the calmer one.
"Alright, I shall be on the training ground in few minutes."
Faramir was smirking when he walked to the training grounds Larsian on his hip, he would have gone with Glorfindel and the twins even if they had not cornered him. He wanted to know the elven fighting techniques. If they had not offered to show it to him, he would have asked them.
Glorfindel, Elladan and Elrohir were waiting already for him. The eyes of the three elves grew wide when they saw Larsian unsheathed.
"Now I see that it is very important to teach you those techniques!" Glorfindel said calmly.
"Why is that?" Faramir was dazed.
"Because you have a special sword," Elladan murmured.
"A special sword?"
"Yes, a special sword," Glorfindel stepped closer and took it in his own hands, the words I am Larsian, I protect and serve the one who is loyal shined in the sun light, "I have not seen it for centuries; no, I am wrong it must have been almost an age. Where did you get it?"
"Mithrandir gave it to me eleven years ago. But do you know its story?" Faramir's eyes started to sparkle with anxiousness.
"Yes, but it is not mine to tell."
Then Faramir turned to Elronds' sons. They shook their heads as well, "It is also not our story to tell; you shall hear it in its right time and right place." Faramir frowned but understood.
For the next forty-five minutes, three elves showed Faramir all the easiest moves they could think and then they went against each other one by one.
"You are a fast learner, Faramir," Glorfindel said when Faramir used all the learned moves in those battles.
"Few have said that before, others say that I am just a show off!"
"Well those people are not very intelligent. Now, what would you say if I asked you to challenge me?" Glorfindel asked taking his sword.
"Alright," Faramir already knew that he would lose. Firstly, he was tired and, secondly, he was fighting with Glorfindel, but it would have been foolish of him to pass this opportunity.
"Oh! This I must see!" Elrohir's amused voice reached to them when they took in the positions.
"We shall fight until the bell to the council rings. Or … until one of us wins."
So they began. Faramir had been right: he was no match to Glorfindel, his 31 years experience were useless against Glorgindel's thousands of years. He fought with everything he got, used every move they had just taught him, and every single one he had learnt in his short life. He did not know how long they had fought when suddenly something disturbed Glorfindel and he lost his concentration and Faramir saw his opening with few shift moves he had Glorfindel on his back and sword on his throat. At the same time first bell for the council rang.
He helped Glorfindel up: "It was well fought Faramir. Well fought!"
"I thank you Glorfindel, but I was just lucky."
"Lucky? I have never seen anyone win Glorfindel!" baffled Elladan when Elrohir walked towards them. They were still in shock, but they came out of it and were suddenly laughing.
"I would never have thought my eyes would see that day when someone wins Glorfindel in a challenge," Elrohir smirked.
"Oh, shush you two and lets go back to the house, the council will start in half an hour, we have enough time to clean ourselves up."
"Yes, Glorfindel," said two brothers still laughing.
Glorfindel was grumpy when they got to the house.
"Do not think that I am mad at you for winning me, you were very good using all you knew against me!"
"Why is your mood down then?" Faramir could not stop himself asking.
"Because those two rascals will surely go and tell it to Erestor," Faramir could not stop himself from grinning: bickering between those two was well known to everyone.
They could not even step into the house when Lord Erestor was in front of them, "What is wrong with those two?" He pointed at the cackling twins.
"There is nothing wrong with us, Erestor," Elladan said trying to stop himself laughing.
"Oh is that right! Then why does your brother sound like a hyena?"
"Because Lord Faramir won Glorfindel in one-on-one match," Elrohir caught his breath to say that sentence and started laughing again.
"You … are … joking?" When two brother shook their head, Lord Erestor lost his calm and started snickering, "You, Glorfindel, the Balrog's slayer, were won by a mere man?" Then he looked at Faramir, "No offence meant, Lord Faramir."
"None was taken." Faramir was amused; he was trying hard not to start laughing himself.
"I have to tell it to Elrond, he would find it amusing." Now Erestor was smirking evilly.
"Do not even think about it! You know that I shall get you back. And you two," Glorfindel pointed at Eladan and Elrohir, "You remember who was the one who taught you most of the pranks you are pulling."
With that the chief of the House of the Golden Flower walked away mumbling. And all the three elves started laughing again. Faramir walked to his room still amused.
After the second bell rang, Faramir was in the corridor leading to the balcony where the council was held. He was so deep in his own thoughts that he almost ran in to Gandalf.
"Good morning, Mithrandir."
"Good morning, Faramir." Faramir smiled and accorded his steps to Gandalf's.
"Mithrandir, for a long time I have wanted to ask you about Larsian."
"Yes, what about it?" Gandalf raised one of his eyebrows.
"What is the story behind it?"
"It is not my story to tell, when the time and place are right, you shall hear it, I promise you."
"Glorfindel, Elladan and Elrohir, told me the exact same thing."
"Oh, did they?"
"Yes."
"Good, good," with that he walked away leaving Faramir looking puzzled.
Faramir frowned, it started again; the discussion on who should take the ring, in Faramir's opinion it had been decided yesterday.
"One of us must to it," Legolas said with confidence.
„And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?" Gimli stood up, "I shall die before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" The commotion started, Faramir sat on his seat; it was not his battle to fight.
"Never trust an Elf!" Gimli stepped right in front of him
"Do you not understand that while we are here quarrelling about everything we possibly could, Sauron's powers are growing? No-one can escape it! We will all be destroyed!" Gandalf eyes were angry.
While the council was yelling at each other, Faramir saw Frodo, who stood up and tried to make his voice heard over the commotion. He was upset and shaking, yet Faramir had never seen such a firm and determined look in any hobbit's eyes. Finally he yelled, "I already said it yesterday: I will take it! I will take the ring!"
The argument died down. Gandalf closed his eyes as he heard Frodo's statement; he had hoped that he could change yesterday's decision.
"I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though – I do not know the way." Frodo looked at everyone. Faramir looked at the little brave fellow; he had been ready to offer to go himself, he had had enough of the argument, but Frodo had been faster. Gandalf walked to Frodo and placed his hand on Frodo's shoulder "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."
Then Aragorn rose, „If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will," he walked in front of Frodo and knelt before him "You have my sword."
Legolas joined them, "And you have my bow."
Gimli looking grimly at Legolas stepped beside him, "And my axe."
So this was his destiny, this was the way he had to take, "In your hands, Frodo Baggins, are all our hopes and faiths, I will protect you as long as I can." Faramir smiled and took his place behind Frodo.
"Heh!" yelled Sam jumping out from behind of the bushes "Mr. Frodo is not goin' anywhere without me!"
Elrond was amused „ No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."
Suddenly Pippin and Merry emerges from behind the pillars "Wait! We are coming too!"
"You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Said Merry and stood beside Frodo
"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest... thing." Pippin stood besides Merry.
"Well that rules you out, Pip!" Merry hit his companion gently into the ribs.
"Nine companions..." Elrond said, "So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!"
"Great! … Where are we going?" everyone who knew Pippin shook their heads, only Pippin, could say something like that, only him.
