A/N: A thousand thanks to Sapphire Immortal who beta read these chapter for me.

I turned and addressed Beregond and Denethor servants that stood there aghast. "And so pass also the days of Gondor that we have known; for good or evil they are ended. Ill deeds have been done here; but let now all enmity that lies between you be put away, for it was contrived by the Enemy and works his will. You have been caught in a net of warring duties that you did not weave. But think, you servants of the Lord, blind in your obedience, that but for the treason of Beregond, Boromir, Captain of the White Tower, would now also be burned." I was satisfied with their stiffening from their shame.

"Bear away from this unhappy place our comrades who have fallen. And we will bear Boromir, Steward of Gondor, to a place where he can sleep in peace."

Then we took up the bier bore it away towards the Houses of Healing, while behind us walked Pippin with his head downcast. I made no attempt to speak with him, but placed a hand on his shoulders. He looked at me, and I gave a thankful look. To my relief, he accepted it, understanding the message.

At length we came back to the Steward's Door, and Beregond looked with grief at the porter. "This deed I shall ever rue," he said with a grieved sigh; "but a madness of haste was on me, and he would not listen, but drew sword against me." Then taking the key that he had wrested from the slain man he closed the door and locked it. "This should now be given to the Lord Boromir." He said, heavy hearted.

"I suppose I am in command in the absence of the Lord,' I said. Yet in my heart, it seems that after my father's ordeal, I do not want that position. 'I bid you keep the key and guard it, until the City is set in order again."

Now at last we passed into the high circles of the City, and in the light of morning we went towards the Houses of Healing; these were fair houses set apart, for the care of those who were grievously sick, but now they were prepared for the tending of men hurt in battle or dying. They stood not far from the Citadel-gate, in the sixth circle, nigh to its southward wall, and about them was a garden and a greensward with trees, the only such place in the City. There dwelt the few women that had been permitted to remain in Minas Tirith, since they were skilled in healing or in the service of the healers.

But even as we came carrying the bier to the main door of the Houses, we heard a great cry that went up from the field before the Gate and rising shrill and piercing into the sky passed, and died away on the wind. So terrible was the cry that for a moment we all stood still, and yet when it had passed, suddenly our hearts were lifted up in such a hope as I had not known since the darkness came out of the East; and it seemed to me that the light grew clear and the sun broke through the clouds.

I, Beregond and Pippin took Boromir into the Houses of Healing. We left my brother to the cares of the head healer and went back up to the battle.

We found Gandalf waiting outside the House of Healing, we looked at him, and for a while he was silent. At last he spoke. "My friends,' he said, 'and all you people of this city and of the Western lands! Things of great sorrow and renown have come to pass. Shall we weep or be glad? Beyond hope the Captain of our foes has been destroyed, and you have heard the echo of his last despair. But he has not gone without woe and bitter loss. So long has the reach of our Enemy become! Alas! but now I perceive how his will was able to enter into the very heart of the City.

'Though the Stewards deemed that it was a secret kept only by themselves, long ago I guessed that here in the White Tower, one at least of the Seven Seeing Stones was preserved. In the days of his wisdom Denethor did not presume to use it, nor to challenge Sauron, knowing the limits of his own strength. But his wisdom failed; and I fear that as the peril of his realm grew he looked in the Stone and was deceived: far too often, I guess, since you departed for Rivendell Faramir. He was too great to be subdued to the will of the Dark Power; he saw nonetheless only those things, which that Power permitted him to see. The knowledge which he obtained was, doubtless, often of service to him; yet the vision of the great might of Mordor that was shown to him fed the despair of his heart until it overthrew his mind.'

So it was that accursed orb. How I rue the fact that I didn't snatch it from my poor father's hands and smashed it should I have that knowledge already. "Now I understand what seemed so strange to me!" said Pippin shuddering at his memories as he spoke. "The Lord went away from the room where Boromir lay; and it was only when he returned that I first thought he was changed, old and broken."

"It was in the very hour that Boromir was brought to the Tower that many of us saw a strange light in the topmost chamber," said Beregond, swallowing and cleared his throat. I realized how thirsty I was then. So did Pippin, but he did not make a peep. "But we have seen that light before, and it has long been rumored in the City, that the Lord would at times wrestle in thought with his Enemy."

"Alas! Then I have guessed rightly," said Gandalf, but he did not enjoy his confirmed suspicions. "Thus the will of Sauron entered into Minas Tirith; and thus I have been delayed here. And here I shall still be forced to remain, for I shall soon have other charges, not Boromir only.'

"Now I must go down to meet those who come. I have seen a sight upon the field that is very grievous to my heart, and greater sorrow may yet come to pass. Come with me, Pippin! But you, Beregond, should return to the Citadel and tell the chief of the Guard there what has befallen. It will be his duty, I fear, to withdraw you from the Guard; but say to him that, if I may give him counsel, you should be sent to the Houses of Healing, to be the guard and servant of your captain, and to be at his side when he awakes. You, Faramir, shall await by his side also, for by you he was saved from the fire. Go now! I shall return soon."

With that he turned away and Pippin followed him down towards the lower city. And even as they hastened on their way the wind brought a grey rain, and all the fires sank, and there arose a great smoke before them. I gave one last look at Beregond, who saluted to me. I returned it, giving a respectful bow before going to him to await my brother's awakening.

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I went into the house of healing and numbly waited by my brother's side. Beregond took two chairs and gave one to me to sit. I accept it graciously. While I sat there, Nestedrin, the warden of the House of Healing came to me. I frowned, wondering what has happened for him to come to me so quickly.

"My Lord, what madness is this? The injured should not wait on the injured." He cried out upon looking at me. "You too, sir knight!" He added as well and as accusing, turning to Beregond

I lifted my head and looked at the warden. It took me a few moments to realize that he was referring to me. I looked at Beregond, and saw that he was surprised that he was spoken to as well.

"Injured?" I questioned stupidly, and Beregond agreed. But the warden knelt beside me and gently touched my right arm. I looked at the arm and was shocked by how bad it looked. It was badly burned, and I could not feel his hand upon my arm. He gently lowered my arm and walked behind me, forcing me to another spare bed. Another healer went to a protesting Beregond, but when she gestured towards his arm, he stared at it dumbly.

"Lord Faramir! Why have you not sought aid?" Nestedrin demanded anxiously, gathering herbs and bandages and laying them out on the bed. He walked in front of me and looked at me in the eyes. In a way, I was intimidated by the fierceness of his questioning. I could not speak out…again. "Your brother shall not miss your company for a minute, and at the moment you are in grave need of medicine!"

Then he turned to Beregond, glaring at the gaping knight, whose arm was being tended to by poultices. He didn't seem to notice the pain that spasms from his limb. "You, of all knights, sir Beregond, should know that you and your lord is injured as well."

"Then let me assist him my Lord." A familiar voice called. I turned my head and gasped.

Aragorn, in his magnificence and in no worse state than I am, was standing in the doorway.