WARNING! SLASH! Read: male x male relationships. Don't like? Well, no one's forcing you to read.

AN: Errmmm….I said I'd be writing more now I'm on vacation. But it turned out I started writing other things -_-;;; I'm having writer's block with this one. The plot is still in tact though. Anyway, now I'm slowly starting to come out of the block. Ah well…

rayemars, Aerlinnel, and Furius: Thanx for pointing those thou and thee mistakes. Actually I found out that I shouldn't have used thou/thee whenever Faramir addresses Aragorn. This is what happens when I use old English (especially since English isn't my mother tongue)

Spoilers for Book VI of Part III, Return of the King

Pair: Aragorn/Faramir. Don't like the pair? As I said, no one's forcing you to read.

Reviews and comments would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!
Hope you guys will like this.

Life to the Dying
by valacirca

When the black breath blows
and death's shadow grows
and all lights pass,
come athelas! come athelas!
Life to the dying
In the king's hands lying!

~~Athelas, Lord of the Rings

Part Four: Heart's Desire

Aragorn speedily made his way into the city, anger and worry radiating from his usually stoic appearance. Storming up the halls of the Tower of the Guard, people could be seen moving away hurriedly from the fell Lord of the North. No man would dare approach nor hinder him from his intention.

"Aragorn!"

But an elf would.

"Legolas, I have heard the news. Tell me, where is Faramir?" Aragorn asked hastily. He had hoped to follow him to the Houses of Healing, but instead he found the Captain of the black and silver Guards of the Citadel in grief.

"The Prince of Dol Amroth have asked me to send for you or Gandalf," answered Legolas. "They are in Rath Dínen. Go quickly, for I deem that there is evil afoot."

"Thank you my friend," replied Aragorn. "And now I must ask you to seek Gandalf also, I shall need him ere this is all over."

"Of course," replied the elf and quickly departed.

Quickening his pace Aragorn followed the path towards the Closed Door. At the Door he was greeted by the sight of the Prince Imrahil, his face shows no sign of distress yet Aragorn knew that something is amiss. Since the last ruling Steward of Gondor set himself in the pyre, none was allowed to enter while there is still war to be fought.

"My friend," said Aragorn, "how comes this? That the Hallows of the dead be once again be disturbed by the living, have the guards been idle?"

"'Tis not by anyone's bidding that anyone should come hither," replied Imrahil, confused. "But this madness…I know not what it is. I have sent the guards away lest they see their lord in such manner."

Imrahil beckoned Aragorn to follow him into the House of Stewards.

In the midst of the rubble that was once the proud House of Stewards was Faramir crouched on the ground. His garments were torn and dusty and the smell of old death lingers about him.

"What evil was brewed here?" Aragorn wondered to himself as he approached the stooped figure of the Steward. Faramir no longer appear as the Captain of the White Tower and is much more in likeness to the one called Wormtongue, bent and whispering to himself dark hisses, that he met in the halls of King Theoden of Riddermark.

In one corner Faramir sat curled upon the threshold of the fallen dome of the House of the Stewards. Aragorn approached cautiously. Stopping at three feet from the Steward he stooped down and called softly.

"Faramir," he whispered.

There was no sign of movement as Faramir sat still hunched over the corner with his back turned towards the Dúnadan.

"Faramir," he tried once more, this time lightly placing his hand on the other man's shoulder.

A shrill shriek pierced the silence and the figure darted to the right, running towards the entrance where Imrahil stood on guard. Faramir tried to push his way through but to no avail for the Prince stood fast and unyielding. Aragorn quickly leapt after him and grabbed him around the waist to stop his escape.

The Dúnadan tackled and pinned him to the ground. Faramir, instantly falling limp to the assault as if the strings that that was moving him have been cut, exhaled a small faint sigh forming the words 'Father' on his lips.

A pained look ran across Imrahil's face as he saw the wretched state of the once proud son of Gondor has become. "What evil and madness has befallen him, my lord?" asked Imrahil to his liege-lord.

"The Black Breath has left a darkness around him," said Aragorn from the ground where he was ensuring that Faramir is still alive. The Steward lay with his face on the ground, seemingly dead. "But of the nature of the darkness, I know not yet. That is why I seek the aid of Gandalf in this matter."

"And he has come," said the voice from behind them. There the wizard stood flanked by the elf and the dwarf who stood ready with both bow and axe at hand as if expecting battle. They had not noticed them arrive, they were too concerned with Faramir.

"Indeed, my friend," said Aragorn as he checked over Faramir and saw the other breathing heavily with eyes glazed over. "I know not what has happened before I came here, neither can anyone else. Do you know why this has come to pass?"

For a long while Gandalf thought. When at last he finally spoke he asked Aragorn: "Does he know what has befallen his father?"

"Yes," Aragorn answered quietly. "Had I any other choice, I would not have been the one to tell him this and await for your counsel, but…"

"I see," the wizard nodded wisely. "For that may have been the only probable reason why he should come to the abode of the dead to seek his sire."

"But this madness, Mithrandir," said Imrahil. "Where did it all come from?"

Gandalf looked at the Prince of Dol Amroth and sadly shook his head. "The Darkness has never wholly left him, I'm afraid."

And Imrahil remained silent.

The elf, the dwarf, and the prince stood aside as the wizard knelt down beside the fallen Steward and the Dúnadan. Together, they rolled him onto his back and were astounded to find what lay in his hands. Stronger than a death grip is how Faramir hold close to his heart the palantír of the White Tower.

"So, it has come to this?" said the elf quietly.

"Yes, it has," replied Gandalf.

"Such sorrows do the mortal men bear, but blind have they become to it." The quiet voice of the elf fell over them, but Legolas knew that it would never surpass the sorrow that the elves hold in their unfathomable hearts.

"What?" asked Aragorn looking from Legolas to Gandalf. "I understand it not. What sorrow does he bear? Surely, it is so much more than learning of his father's death, is it not?"

"Do you really not know the answer?" Legolas asked Aragorn.

Aragorn shook his head in reply.

"I think," said Imrahil. "I think I am beginning to understand what it is."

"Indeed," said Gandalf, "for you, descendant of the people of Nimrodel, may have a little more perception in the matter. He then turned to Aragorn. "It is said that when darkness touches a good heart, it would hurt him more because he will be broken cruelly."

"That I know," said Aragorn.

"But what you know not is how it shall be made," said Gandalf. Aragorn nodded for him to continue. "Long has the Lord Faramir sought to please his father, but as Boromir was the heir of their father, Denethor gave more thought to the deeds of the elder son. And Boromir too, engrossed in the education on the ways of becoming the leader to his people, had no or little time with his brother.

"And so Faramir turned to the ways of the lore masters concerning himself with herbs and poetries instead of deeds and battle. And so he became further apart from his kin. But still he is a great Captain of his men and none save Boromir can defeat him in single combat."

"How then does this concern me, Gandalf?" asked Aragorn.

"You, Aragorn, are the true descendant of the Númenoreans of the West. To Faramir, you are the King that shall return. No longer has he a brother or a father to turn to, so now the burden lies upon you. He honors and respects you as much as he loves his brother and father. Only, they have never shown it in return, save when in the height of Denethor's madness he chose to have his son die alongside himself."

The Halls of Steward fell silent as everything dawned to Aragorn in a new light. Indeed, he thought. This is the desire that he speaks of. Even the most innocent of desires can be turned evil, such was the way of the darkness. Had he known it before, would it make a difference? Will he know what to do? Nay. The answer has eluded him, and eludes him still.

Slowly he raised his head.

"How then shall I make amends?" asked the Dúnadan.

Gandalf sadly shook his head. "Only you would know how."

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A bit short, but things are starting to fall into place again.
Please review and tell me what you think ^^
Thanx for reading!