All right, enough with the see disclaimers. I don't own Lord of the Rings, my name is not Tolkien so please be happy with that.

A/N: This is a very short chapter but I like cliffhangers so...

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It was the fifteenth, and Faramir was afraid. Things had not gone well at dinner and Denethor had consumed many glasses of wine. As a servant escorted him into the study, Faramir tried to calm his nerves. Maybe the Steward would just dismiss him. It was not to be so.

"You little disobedient child, how dare you go against my orders! I explicitly told you that you were not to read until I said you could. And yet I find a book hidden underneath your pillow!" He was towering over Faramir, the alcohol on his breath emitting an awful stench.

"Father I swear, I haven't read anything except for my studies! That is the book I plan to give Boromir for his birthday, I haven't..." a slap kept him from continuing.

"Do not lie to me child! Only cowards lie! How could the Valar have cursed me with such a son!" Denethor was now waving his dagger at him.

Faramir's calm broke. "Father, please! Why do you not love me? I try so hard and yet nothing I do pleases you! Why do you hate me so? You have never showed me the least bit of love! Mother would be ashamed of you!" It was the wrong thing to say. Incensed by his words, Denethor lost control.

"Love you? Hah! You are weak!" the Steward threw Faramir hard against the wall, rebreaking his arm. "You are worthless!" The dagger slashed against the boy's cheek. "You do not deserve to be loved!" Faramir watched in horror as the dagger rose above his father's head. He knew what was coming, but cared not for his heart had broken into pieces at Denethor's words. The dagger came down and Faramir waited for the end to come.

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Like I said, I like cliffhangers.