Thanks to Kaisaan Greenleaf, Zammy, gginsc, Blade Draco, Greenscarfgirl, CosPalp, Glory Bee, , and anonymous lilio for reviewing. There's certainly a lot of you.

Well done to gginsc for being the 100th reviewer.

Perhaps I'll wait this long to post the next chapter every time.

Anyway, ENJOY!

He leapt forward, slamming in Boromir's chest and nearly knocking him down. Even as his brother staggered he clung to him, clung with a desperation borne of loss

"I thought I'd lost you" It came out in a choking whisper, accompanied by the start of tears. He felt Boromir's arms around him, holding him equally close

The soothing whisper came back "I'm here now, little brother… I won't disappear like that again."

They stood together in the embrace for a long moment, each letting their tears fall, occasionally tightening or shifting a grip. Finally Faramir let go and stepped back, hands on his brother's shoulders.

"You've changed."

Boromir frowned at him, apparently worried "Have I?"

Faramir grinned, revealing that he was teasing "You look more like you were just after I came of age, before the Darkness enfolded us. Before you were forced into so much responsibility."

Boromir smiled back "Your eyes are glinting again, you've grown younger too…" Then he paused and Faramir saw a slightly wicked curl to the smile "If that's possible, little brother."

Eyes snapping with mock anger Faramir delivered a well-aimed thump to his brother's shoulder "Mind your manners Denethorion, you hold no rank here."

Boromir laughed "And glad about it"

As stern as he had attempted to seem Faramir found himself chuckling too "I take back my comment, you haven't changed one jot háno…" He stepped slightly further away and made to lead his brother out of the room. Then something caught his eye and he changed direction, walking over to a table tucked against the wall. On it sat a leather coin bag and a note. On reading it he started to laugh again

"What is it?

Faramir tied the pouch to his belt and passed the note to his brother. Boromir scanned it quickly and smiled at him "Shall we then, obey the king and enjoy ourselves this evening, I seem to recall The Beacon had good ale if it still stands."

"It does… But first I want you to come with me."

He half expected an argument from the rough soldier and hobbit-like sides of his brother. But Boromir followed his lead without complaint, flipping his hood over his face as they left the room and staying half a step behind him. Only once did he stop and after glancing back Faramir paused too. Boromir was staring up at the white tree, at present laden with flowers. He was silent and Faramir couldn't see his face due to the hood. Not even his ranger training of body language gave him an insight into his brother's mind. The stance was the blank one of a well-trained solider, immune to all scrutiny. But one small word, in Adûnaic , escaped

"Aglâr"

Glory Faramir nodded to himself, it was that indeed.

Eventually his brother shifted slightly and he took that as a signal that they could move on. With long easy strides he crossed the courtyard and opened the door of a building at the side. Then he glanced back to his brother.

"Come inside"

'Inside' was a wood panelled hall with doors leading off it and a staircase winding up to other levels. Faramir barely waited until the door was shut before calling out/

"Anybody home?"

A distant answer came from beyond several doors. They waited and after a moment Éowyn appeared, dusting flour off her hands onto an equally floury apron.

Faramir frowned slightly "Have you been baking?"

She met his gaze, eyes warm "Helping… Cook won't trust me with a bowl and spoon" Then her voice became whip sharp "And don't say a word."

"I wasn't going to" He whirled at a stifled snort "You're not helping."

Boromir pushed off his hood, revealing dancing eyes again, and a wide grin "Have I ever?"

Both spoke at once "No"

To her husband's enquiring glance Éowyn shrugged "I haven't forgotten being jumped out on and nearly falling in the water trough."

"That was years ago… besides I apologised."

Boromir looked injured, but his order of words made Faramir chuckle

Éowyn lifted her head "Captain-General of Gondor you may be now, but it wasn't Captainly behaviour then."

Faramir broke in before an argument could start, glancing around as he realised someone was missing "Where's Elboron?"

"One whirlwind came in, two ran out" was Éowyn's cryptic answer

He nodded then tapped his brother on the shoulder "Come on, you trouble maker."

Éowyn embraced him briefly, an action apparently friendly to any onlooker. However the voice that whispered in his ear was over-sweet.

"If you come back drunk you're sleeping on the floorboards tonight."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead in acknowledgement "My shield-maiden." Then he danced away to avoid a swat "I'll send Elboron and Eldarion in if I see them"

Her call carried down the corridor "I wouldn't, Cook will skin them for stealing the honey cakes."

The door swung shut and they both laughed, Boromir tipping his head back and letting it ring to the sky. The gesture was so familiar that Faramir swatted him, though on reflection he couldn't think why he'd done so. Perhaps because it brought back so many memories of playing together as youngsters, with Boromir always getting them into trouble, then celebrating his successful, though daft, escape with just such a laugh

"Put your hood up, quickly, unless you want to give half the nobles heart attacks thinking there's a ghost in the City."

"Some of them deserve it" Boromir gave a half shrug "Besides it would make life interesting."

Faramir barely prevented himself nodding to the first part, but held his brother's gaze in reprimand "Life here has already been fraught with fear brother, as you would do well to remember."

Some of the glint went out of Boromir's eyes and he bowed his head "I know, and I know that you faced more than I did. Yet we have survived, and your light shines brighter than ever."

Faramir ignored his brother's last comment and tug his hood up for him, pulling particularly hard in retribution.

The streets were crowded and the stone seemed to resound with the noise. Laugher, shouts, general chatter and the strident calls of sellers rang through the air. It was a seething mass of people, most still in dark clothes as they mourned for their Prince. Faramir hid a smile, weaving through gaps that immediately appeared as people noticed the white tree tooled on his leather jerkin. Occasionally he paused, to share a word with one of his rangers, or greet some of his household, out from Ithilien on a celebration jaunt.

Boromir watched the city as they walked. Every time his brother stopped he looked at those who he conversed with, seeking familiar features. When that became hopeless he started peering at the guards who passed, first for curiosity then with more desperation. Had none of his three companies survived the war?

A hand on his arm. He jumped slightly and met Faramir's eyes Calm down the brown gaze begged him, as if he was a skittish horse. Slowly, with a great shuddering breath, he forced himself to relax. Then, with a childishly pleading, yet soothing look, his brother led him onwards.

Translations

Adûnaic

háno=Brother

Reviews, please?

The next chapter won't be around for a while, I'm about to disappear under very important exams...