"That is all I have to report, Lord Steward," Faramir said after he had completed his tale. It had taken several hours to tell his father everything that had happened, for Denethor payed attention to every detail and often wanted clarification on some of the information. Boromir had aided Faramir as much as he could, but it was obvious Denethor was critical of Faramir's message.
Denethor sat in his chair pondering his younger son's words. "You leave the battle for Osgiliath to tell me of a dream?" he asked finally. "Men are dying out there, Faramir, and they expect the son of their Steward to be willing to die with them."
"I know," Faramir sighed. "And I would not have come if I did not think it was important. The dream has come to me almost every night since it first came. Surely you must know where this Imladris is."
"Imladris of old was the name for Rivendell," Denethor stated. "But it was an Elven kingdom that is probably gone and forgotten by now."
"Father, if I could only go there and find out-"
"Silence!" Denethor shouted. "It is an impossibility. I cannot have a soldier of Gondor chasing a dream."
"Father, the dream came to me as well," Boromir said calmly.
Denethor's stern frown turned to a look of worry. "You, Boromir?"
Boromir nodded.
"Faramir, you have my leave to go. Be prepared to return when I need to speak to you again."
***
Faramir was in the courtyard for what seemed like an unnaturally long amount of time. He felt like the dead stump of the White Tree that he was sitting under. He had seen a few flashes of light from the tower, and that only happened when his father was in a bad mood. What in Middle-Earth could he and Boromir possibly be discussing?
A guard walked up to him and saluted. "Lord Faramir, the Steward asks to speak to you."
"Thank you, Beregond," Faramir said as he got up.
***
"Boromir has told me of your bravery, Faramir, and I have made my decision." Denethor said, "You are to be made a Captain of Gondor, and you are to take Boromir's place."
This was not what Faramir was expecting, but he was happy about the promotion. "Thank you, Lord Steward, but I do not understand; why am I taking Boromir's place?"
"He is going to Imladris to investigate this dream of yours; I expect he will return to Minas Tirith as soon as he can, so you do not need to worry about him."
Faramir could not believe it; Boromir had taken his mission!
***
"I cannot explain it, Faramir," Boromir said as he was packing. "As soon as you left, Father went into his room and was there for almost an hour. When he came in, he was eager to let me go, but not you."
"But why? I'm an able fighter, and you need to stay here to take Father's staff when he dies!" exclaimed Faramir.
Boromir put his hand on Faramir's shoulder. "That's exactly why I need to go. I am only skilled with the sword; you are the one with the wisdom to lead our people. I would have what is best for Gondor. I would have you be the Steward."
Faramir felt tears coming to his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. "I can never be as good of a Captain as you."
"You've always said you wanted to prove yourself to Father; here's your chance! My mission is far more dangerous, and I would rather take death myself than worry about my younger brother getting killed. Be strong for Gondor, Faramir. And be strong for me."
Boromir then mounted his horse and rode out of the city gate. Faramir felt in his heart that he never see his brother again.
Denethor sat in his chair pondering his younger son's words. "You leave the battle for Osgiliath to tell me of a dream?" he asked finally. "Men are dying out there, Faramir, and they expect the son of their Steward to be willing to die with them."
"I know," Faramir sighed. "And I would not have come if I did not think it was important. The dream has come to me almost every night since it first came. Surely you must know where this Imladris is."
"Imladris of old was the name for Rivendell," Denethor stated. "But it was an Elven kingdom that is probably gone and forgotten by now."
"Father, if I could only go there and find out-"
"Silence!" Denethor shouted. "It is an impossibility. I cannot have a soldier of Gondor chasing a dream."
"Father, the dream came to me as well," Boromir said calmly.
Denethor's stern frown turned to a look of worry. "You, Boromir?"
Boromir nodded.
"Faramir, you have my leave to go. Be prepared to return when I need to speak to you again."
***
Faramir was in the courtyard for what seemed like an unnaturally long amount of time. He felt like the dead stump of the White Tree that he was sitting under. He had seen a few flashes of light from the tower, and that only happened when his father was in a bad mood. What in Middle-Earth could he and Boromir possibly be discussing?
A guard walked up to him and saluted. "Lord Faramir, the Steward asks to speak to you."
"Thank you, Beregond," Faramir said as he got up.
***
"Boromir has told me of your bravery, Faramir, and I have made my decision." Denethor said, "You are to be made a Captain of Gondor, and you are to take Boromir's place."
This was not what Faramir was expecting, but he was happy about the promotion. "Thank you, Lord Steward, but I do not understand; why am I taking Boromir's place?"
"He is going to Imladris to investigate this dream of yours; I expect he will return to Minas Tirith as soon as he can, so you do not need to worry about him."
Faramir could not believe it; Boromir had taken his mission!
***
"I cannot explain it, Faramir," Boromir said as he was packing. "As soon as you left, Father went into his room and was there for almost an hour. When he came in, he was eager to let me go, but not you."
"But why? I'm an able fighter, and you need to stay here to take Father's staff when he dies!" exclaimed Faramir.
Boromir put his hand on Faramir's shoulder. "That's exactly why I need to go. I am only skilled with the sword; you are the one with the wisdom to lead our people. I would have what is best for Gondor. I would have you be the Steward."
Faramir felt tears coming to his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. "I can never be as good of a Captain as you."
"You've always said you wanted to prove yourself to Father; here's your chance! My mission is far more dangerous, and I would rather take death myself than worry about my younger brother getting killed. Be strong for Gondor, Faramir. And be strong for me."
Boromir then mounted his horse and rode out of the city gate. Faramir felt in his heart that he never see his brother again.