Well hello everyone, my name is Zami and this is my first ever fanfiction. I'm a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and especially the character of Faramir. I hope you like it and give me your feedback.

Disclaimer: I don't own TLOTR or its characters, they all belong to the great JRR Tolkien. Though if I could I would ask him to give me Faramir.

Chapter 1

A meeting in the night

Faramir wrapped his cloak tightly around his body as he stepped into the cold breeze of the winter night in Minas Tirith. He had enough of his friends' and brother's drinking and teasing. He loved his brother, but a night out in the town with him was a nightmare.

He looked up at the sky, it was clear with a full moon. He smiled as he gazed into the stars for a moment, and took in a deep breath. He loved gazing into the clear skies and the stars that shine there, he sighed thinking of the darkness that covered the east. It was growing day after day; the enemy is becoming stronger as each day passes.

He could still hear the voices of his brother and the others rising from inside the tavern. Suddenly one of his drunken comrades stumbled through the door falling on his behind as the voices inside raised with laughter and mirth.
'I should go before they drag me back inside' he murmured to himself shaking his head, with a weak smile looking behind at the soldier who stood up and tottered back into the tavern. He pulled his hood over his head and started walking home taking in the fresh air.

Even though it was not that late, the streets of the city were empty. Faramir hummed a tune as he walked by the closed shops. So calm and quiet, he thought. When he reached the third circle of the city, he could hear the sound of footsteps moving fast in the narrowed streets to the North. He stopped for a moment listening attentively. Two people, no three, there were three people. Two heavy footsteps and one lighter. His life as a ranger made his hearing sense very keen, not to mention the elven blood from his mother's side unlike Boromir he shared many traits with his mother's side of the family. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword in anticipation.

The voices were drawing nearer to where he stood, suddenly a cloaked figure appeared from around the corner almost running into him. He instantly pulled his sword and held it to the throat of the person he thought to be a man. The cloaked figure tried to escape his grip, but Faramir was stronger.

'Let go of me.' Protested the figure and his grip loosened as he realized she was a woman. She was trying to escape his grip fiercely.

His eyes met the eyes of the cloaked women who suddenly seemed to calm down. He could only see her eyes as the rest of her face was covered with a scarf. Her eyes seemed familiar to him, so familiar. It was as if he knew her from somewhere. But before he could think further about it, the other footsteps and voices came closer which startled the woman. He loosened his grip and she looked terrified, she turned to where the sounds were coming from, drawing nearer and nearer. 'I beg of you, help me' she pleaded with him clinging to his cloak. He was lost in her eyes for a moment 'fear not my Lady' he whispered to her and moved in front of her.

The next moment two men came around the corner, one was large and dangerous-looking with a dagger in his hand, and the other one was smaller and less threatening. Faramir stood tall protecting her with his body as she hid behind him.

'There she is!' shouted the larger man, who looked especially mean and angry. His brows drew together as he turned his eyes between the two men, sword in hand anticipating their next move.

'Step aside friend, we do not mean you any harm' said the second man who had a scar under his left eye. 'We only want her, this has nothing to do with you'
Faramir's forehead furrowed and the frightened woman behind him clung tighter to his cloak, he could feel her warm breath on his back.

'I'm afraid, I cannot do that, friend…' he trailed the last word in a mocking tone, his face was mostly hidden by his hood, but his half-smile was clear. 'I would make you an offer though!' he said in a stern voice 'leave now, and I shall not harm you'

The first mean-looking man laughed, as the scarred man moved forward 'this does not concern you' he said carefully 'why risk your life for someone you do not know?' Faramir smiled keeping alert to both men 'A gentleman never leaves a Lady in distress' he said with a smirk.

'She is no Lady!' Spat the larger man 'It will not end well for you if you interfere' he added with a mean grunt. Faramir was not wearing his ranger uniform, so they did not know what he was capable of.

'I shall take my chances then' he said sheathing his sword, he did not feel it would be fair to use his sword, because the other two men were not carrying swords. He pulled his hunting knives from his belt, they were a gift from his brother and seemed to be a better fit for this certain fight.

'That shall prove to be a grieve mistake' said the scarred man while the other one charged at Faramir with his dagger, but the trained ranger he is, he was able to easily averted the blade blocking the man's attack and throwing him off balance with a blow to his back. He quickly straightened and turned to the other man who was now charging at him. Faramir leaned back in a swift move avoiding the attack, then turned on his heels to face the larger man who was back for another attempt. Even though he could have easily gutted them both, he did not, simply because he was not one to harm any creature for no reason especially when he could avoid it.

But the two other men had a different idea, they were serious about causing him harm, so he had to change is tactics. When the large man charged at him again, he avoided the dagger and with his hunting knife, cut the man on his arm. It was not a deep cut, but a shallow one just to warn him of what could happen if he continued.

While he was handling the large man's attack, the other man took the opportunity and went to the hooded woman and tried to drag her away. She was fighting him ferociously, but the man was stronger than her and easily overpowered her. She shrieked as he slapped her hard on the face, Faramir turned as he heard her shriek, he was only distracted for a mere second, but it almost cost him his life.

The large man's dagger almost sliced through his neck, he moved just in time to avoid it, but it cut through his shoulder. He winced in pain but moved quickly to avoid a deeper cut. He hit the large man on the back of his head causing him to fall flat on his face, then moved quickly to save the woman from the other man.

The scarred man was trying to carry the woman, when he saw Faramir moving towards him he quickly pulled out a dagger from his belt, but before he could do anything Faramir had reached him and disarmed him in one swift move, then held his knife to his throat as the other larger man moved towards them.

'Do not move, or I shall cut his throat' he told the man who stopped dead on his tracks, turning his eyes between his partner and Faramir who was holding his blade threateningly. 'How fare you my Lady' he asked without turning to her 'I'm well' she answered after getting up on her feet and stepping behind him.

'Why do you protect this woman without knowing who she is?' Asked the man under his blade. 'Why do you want to cause her harm?' He countered with a question of his own. 'We only seek what is ours.' Answered the scarred man 'She has stolen from my mistress'

'He lies!' shouted the woman quickly in disbelief 'I did no such thing' Faramir looked back at her over his shoulder and their eyes met, he kept quiet and turned to the two men thinking for a moment before asking 'and what is it that she has taken.' 'My Lord!' protested the woman, hurt that he has believed them her voice almost choked with tears before she murmured 'I'm no thief.'

'Fifty golden coins' said the large, angry man 'you see our predicament friend,' continued the man under his blade 'we cannot just let her go' Faramir took a few moments thinking before he replied 'What if I pay you what she owes you?' He spoke looking towards the large man and continued 'would you then leave her in peace?'

The two men exchanged looks before the scarred man replied 'of course, we only want what is ours' Faramir removed his blade from the man's neck and pushed him towards his friend. He then took a pouch with coins in it from his belt and threw it to them. The scarred man caught it as Faramir spoke 'there are seventy golden coins in there' the two men exchanged a baffled look 'I believe that is more than what you say she owes you'

'Yes, it truly is my Lord' said the scarred man, Faramir did not miss the change in the man's tone as he called him Lord, for only a Lord, would have so many coins on him.

'Then you shall leave her in peace,' he said in a stern voice 'for if you ever harm her or even think of it. I shall hunt you both down and kill you, and trust me you do not want me on your trail.' as he finished his word, he threw one of his knives in the direction of the two men. To their relief the knife went in the wooden pole between them 'I do not miss, and I do not forget a face' he added with a hand on the hilt of his sword.

'My Lord' said the scarred man as they both bowed to him 'you shall not have any problems from us' and they went on their way.

'I shall hope not' said Faramir standing tall following them with his eyes as they disappeared into the night before he turned to the woman who was on the ground. 'Are you well my Lady' he said giving her his full attention, she jerked her arm from his grip as he tried to help her stand 'I do not need your help' she snapped at him 'what do you plan to do with me now? Take me to the dungeons,' she continued anger and fear in her eyes.

'Nay my Lady, why would I do such a thing?' He asked as he knelt next to her, staring at her with comforting eyes 'because you believed them you think me a thief' she spat at him, turning her face away from him.

He shook his head 'Nay my Lady, I do not believe them, and I do not think you are a thief' He said in sincerity, he could tell from her eyes that she was telling the truth, he had a gift of reading people and he knew it in his heart that she was innocent. She looked up at him, her face still covered 'why did you pay them then?' She asked in confusion.

'I could see greed in their eyes, I merely wanted to avoid an unnecessary fight.' he explained 'and if a few coins would guarantee your safety ...' his voice trailed as he glanced at her with a reassuring smile. She was stunned 'but it was not a few coins my Lord' he shrugged his shoulder and winced a little as he felt pain in his injured shoulder, but he did not show her his pain and instead smiled kindly at her 'Do not fret my Lady, it is worth it' his tender words filled her eyes with tears, overwhelmed with his kindness and compassion she could not stop her tears from escaping her eyes. No one has ever shown her such kindness.

He instinctively wrapped his arm around her shoulders and allowed her to cry, not saying a word. And she sobbed like she never did before. All her bottled emotions came bursting uncontrollably. When she was finally able to stop crying, he gave her a handkerchief and she silently wiped her tears.

'Come, my Lady, let me walk you home' he said offering her his hand with a smile. When she did not take his hand, he became concerned 'what is the matter, my Lady?' He asked and she shrugged speaking in a low voice without meeting his eyes 'I have no home' her voice was sad and helpless 'I belong to no one and nowhere.'

He placed his hand on her shoulder 'You belong to Gondor' he said with a comforting voice 'you belong to this Land, it is here that we all belong' she met his gaze and he could see gratitude in her eyes and a smile even though half of her face was hidden her eyes showed everything. He smiled back at her and nodded, she nodded back at him and finally took his hand.

When she took his hand, he noticed that she was cold. She was wearing men's wear, a grey shirt with brown breaches and an over tonic and a blue hood. This is why he thought she was a man when he first saw her. The clothes were not her size, they were much bigger. She looked so strange, especially with her small frame. She looked more like a little boy wearing his father's clothes.

He pulled her up till she stood on her own feet. Then took his cloak off and draped it around her shoulders making sure the white tree clasp was tight on the front. 'Thank you' she whispered in gratitude.

They walked silently through the streets on their way to the fifth level of the city. After a while he noticed that she was losing her balance and her knees buckled under her, he caught her effortlessly before she fell to the ground as she almost lost her consciousness for a moment. He held her with his strong arms. It was only then that he realized that she was not wearing boots, how did he miss that? He thought.

'I'm sorry' she said in a weak voice, shivering in his arms. He looked down at her thinking for a moment. They were not that far away from their destination; there she could be safe and warm.

He took his decision and carried her in his arms, she was very light, too light. It was almost like she weighed nothing. She was starting to fall asleep resting her head on his shoulder. She was also pale, too pale for his liking. He held her closer and tighter trying to warm her up as she continued to shiver.

When they finally reached their destination, he was starting to feel cold himself. He knocked on the wooden door praying that they would open for him. It was late at night, but he hoped someone was still up. After a few moments that seemed like ages, he heard footsteps moving towards the door and then the door opened 'I need help' he said to the familiar face that peered at him from the other side of the door.

AN: Well I don't know what you guys will think of my attempt at fanfiction, but I really would love to know. Your reviews will be appreciated ...