See disclaimer chapter 1

A/N: This story is AU, but I tried to make it so that it would fit around the real story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silence crept through the halls of the palace in Minas Tirith. The servants went about their duties speaking only in whispers. Once in a while they glanced towards the room where Steward Denethor's wife, Finduilas, lay in bed, slowly dying.

            None really knew why she was dying. Most believed that the Lady was perishing from grief, being away from her beloved Dol Amroth. They said that she withered because her husband did not have time for her with his new duties as Steward. Yet they guessed wrong. Finduilas's body had betrayed her, her own cells rapidly killing her in a disease that none truly knew about. Cancer, for that is what it was, had claimed her and Denethor could do nothing for his love. Now he sat by her bed, her hand in his, willing Finduilas to live, in vain.

            "Denethor," Her voice was soft and weak with pain. "please bring the boys in. I wish to say good-bye." Denethor nodded, sending a servant to fetch his two sons. As they waited, Finduilas decided to say farewell to her husband, sensing the end was near. "Denethor, please be strong for the boys, they will need their father. Remember that both of them love you and need you to love them in return." Her face softened as she smiled sadly at Denethor. "Remember also that I love you." Denethor kissed her hand as the door opened and the servant came in, followed by the two young lords.

            The two walked towards their mother, the elder putting on a brave front while the younger struggled to hold back tears at the sight of his mother looking so weak. Finduilas spoke to ten-year old Boromir first. "Sweetie I have to leave soon. I need you to take care of your brother for me, can you do that?" Boromir nodded. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized that his mother was dying. Seeing this, Finduilas raised a weak hand to brush them away. "Now be a good boy. I love you so much."

            She turned to look at five-year old Faramir. Not being able to take it any longer, the boy burst into sobs and threw himself on the bed and into his mother's arms. Finduilas held him gently as he cried, humming softly until his sobs became sniffles. Still holding Faramir, she told him, "Love, do not be so sad. You still have Daddy and Boromir here. And I'm sure Uncle Imrahil will be happy to come visit anytime."

            Faramir sniffled again. "Why do you have to go?"

            Finduilas wanted to cry at the sight of her son so heartbroken. "Love, I wish there was another way, but there isn't. Faramir," she brought his head up till she was looking straight into his eyes, gray like her own. "know this now. I love you more than anything else on earth. You are my stars and my sea. I will ever and always love you." Faramir smiled and snuggled against his mother's side, not noticing when she breathed her last.

            Denethor felt his heart break. His beloved wife had left him. His gaze turned to Boromir who had lost control of his tears, yet managed to keep from collapsing into sobs. Then he looked upon his younger son. Denethor's heart hardened against the boy. Faramir had stolen his wife's love. Although part of his soul screamed that this thought was false, Denethor paid no head to it. Finduilas's fateful last words caused a rift between father and younger son that would not heal. It was the beginning of Denethor's resentment and harshness towards young Faramir.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I gave Finduilas cancer because I believe that only elves can die of a broken heart. Finduilas has only a little elvish blood in her. The next chapter will be longer, I promise.