The brothers breathed a sigh of joy upon seeing the White City. Boromir's smile grew wider as he heard the cry go out that the lords of Gondor had returned.
Faramir laughed, "You never grow weary of that, do you?"
Boromir shook his head, "And no shame brother. It is for Gondor that we struggle. Nothing compares to the joy of being welcomed to the home that we are defending."
"But now we must meet with Father."
Boromir nodded, and reluctantly the brothers rode toward the house of the Steward.
*
The brothers stood before their father as Denethor praised Boromir for making contact again with the Riders of Rohan.
"Even without the girl! My first born, you have again made your father proud!"
"Faramir was there to help too, father," Boromir reminded him.
"Yes, indeed. Thank you Faramir for your presence." He nodded gratuitously towards his youngest, and returned his attention to Boromir. "You have something to add?"
Boromir began cautiously, "Despite our success, I still believe that a marriage should be arranged. As long as Theoden lives, we are on uncertain ground."
Denethor's eyes rose in astonishment, "You wish it?"
"No, father, you have made your preferences known, and I would not go against that."
Denethor replied, "As I never doubted." Acknowledging Faramir's presence for only the second time, Denethor spoke, "So you, Faramir, could make yourself useful in this. More so than you have in other ways, for I've heard that poetry and studies with wizards are no impediment to fathering an heir, I hope. Perhaps I will need to wait nine months for proof of that!"
Faramir's face remained immobile. Boromir, however, flinched visibly at the insult and he defended his brother, "He would do this for you, Father, at great sacrifice to himself."
"Faramir only acts for himself, as always," Denethor shot back to Boromir, as though the younger brother were not present. Turning then to Faramir, he inquired, "The lady is comely then? Have you already written her a book of Elvish sonnets?"
Faramir met his father's gaze, "No, my lord," he replied quietly, "The lady is not acquainted with the Elvish tongue."
Denethor scowled. "Enough of that, for in truth there was no surprise that a match be made between you and the lady of Rohan. I will send a letter of proposal, presently." Looking to Faramir, "Would that satisfy?"
"As you wish, Father," Faramir replied.
"I know not whether I wish it or no!" Denethor snapped. "No matter, you will do your duty and father me an heir. Make yourself valuable for once" Denethor rose from his seat, addressing the elder, "Boromir, walk with me. I wish of news of Osgiliath."
Putting his arm around his eldest's shoulders, the Steward of Gondor turned from Faramir and walked from the room.
Faramir laughed, "You never grow weary of that, do you?"
Boromir shook his head, "And no shame brother. It is for Gondor that we struggle. Nothing compares to the joy of being welcomed to the home that we are defending."
"But now we must meet with Father."
Boromir nodded, and reluctantly the brothers rode toward the house of the Steward.
*
The brothers stood before their father as Denethor praised Boromir for making contact again with the Riders of Rohan.
"Even without the girl! My first born, you have again made your father proud!"
"Faramir was there to help too, father," Boromir reminded him.
"Yes, indeed. Thank you Faramir for your presence." He nodded gratuitously towards his youngest, and returned his attention to Boromir. "You have something to add?"
Boromir began cautiously, "Despite our success, I still believe that a marriage should be arranged. As long as Theoden lives, we are on uncertain ground."
Denethor's eyes rose in astonishment, "You wish it?"
"No, father, you have made your preferences known, and I would not go against that."
Denethor replied, "As I never doubted." Acknowledging Faramir's presence for only the second time, Denethor spoke, "So you, Faramir, could make yourself useful in this. More so than you have in other ways, for I've heard that poetry and studies with wizards are no impediment to fathering an heir, I hope. Perhaps I will need to wait nine months for proof of that!"
Faramir's face remained immobile. Boromir, however, flinched visibly at the insult and he defended his brother, "He would do this for you, Father, at great sacrifice to himself."
"Faramir only acts for himself, as always," Denethor shot back to Boromir, as though the younger brother were not present. Turning then to Faramir, he inquired, "The lady is comely then? Have you already written her a book of Elvish sonnets?"
Faramir met his father's gaze, "No, my lord," he replied quietly, "The lady is not acquainted with the Elvish tongue."
Denethor scowled. "Enough of that, for in truth there was no surprise that a match be made between you and the lady of Rohan. I will send a letter of proposal, presently." Looking to Faramir, "Would that satisfy?"
"As you wish, Father," Faramir replied.
"I know not whether I wish it or no!" Denethor snapped. "No matter, you will do your duty and father me an heir. Make yourself valuable for once" Denethor rose from his seat, addressing the elder, "Boromir, walk with me. I wish of news of Osgiliath."
Putting his arm around his eldest's shoulders, the Steward of Gondor turned from Faramir and walked from the room.