I am soooo sorry for not updating, but for some reason I just have not found the time.
Reviewer Responses
Smeagol= Indeed hobbits are known for their sensible and intelligent nature. *remembers Pippin and the little well incident in Moria* or maybe not.
Susan= Man, everyone is so hyped about Aragorn finding out who Faramir is and the reunion scene with Elrond, I don't know if it will live up to expectations. Well I have at least one more chapter until that is posted so I have time to revise. Glad you like the story.
Ewan is hot= I am so glad you don't think it is boring. I sometimes fear that I keep going on and on about things and people lose interest. By the way, another good Faramir story is Equaniminty(sp?) by IceAngel. Very sweet.
Siberia= I'm sorry but there really won't be more with Mithrandir in this fic. But I am considering a sort of sequel that will probably have him in it.
AzNnEgGrOePnOi= Unfortunately, Boromir is very dead at this point and I only had room for that one little spirit-to-brother conversation.
Silmarien= The light-heartedness will continue a bit, but I am not done with angst. Like angst. Good angst. Whoops, sorry, got a little spacey there. =D
Narn= Wow, I hope I can live up to your expectations. Thanks for the huggle, I like all the encouragement I can get.
Corinn and Eomer= Indeed they do.

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          Faramir watched as Aragorn rode towards the Gate of Minas Tirith. Well, the barrier of Minas Tirith, for the Gate had been destroyed in the battle. Yet still Aragorn rode proudly, clad in black mail and a white mantle, wearing the Elfstone that Lady Galadriel had given him in Lothlorien. Faramir glanced over at Éowyn to see her reaction to the regal king.
          Éowyn, though, paid Aragorn just as much attention as she did the others. She was very happy to see her brother, Éomer, riding grandly next to Aragorn. Éomer was her only living relative left and even though she knew he had survived the battle, she was relieved to see him with her own eyes. Also riding with Aragorn was Prince Imrahil, Mithrandir, Elladan and Elrohir, Legolas, Gimli, and four hobbits. Éowyn recognized Merry and Pippin, and figured that the other two, the ones riding closest to Aragorn, were the Frodo and Sam that Faramir had told her about.
          Faramir turned from watching Éowyn to watch the king's procession. He happily saw that Elladan and Elrohir rode with Aragorn. It had been years since he had seen his foster brothers. //I wonder if they will recognize me? It would be great fun to see how long it takes them and Estel to figure it out.// Hurin, the Warden of the Keys who stood next to Faramir, wondered about the amused look the Steward had on his face.
          Finally, a single trumpet rang out and silence fell over the crowd. Hurin and Faramir walked from the Gate followed only by four Gondorian soldiers who carried a black and silver casket. Faramir knelt before Aragorn. "The last Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office." He held out the white rod that symbolized the Stewardship. Aragorn took the rod, but gave it back to Faramir.
          "That office is not yet ended and it will be yours and your heirs' for as long as my line shall last. Do now your office!"
          Smiling, Faramir stood and spoke clearly so that all could hear him. "People of Gondor, hear now the Steward of this Realm! Behold, one has come to claim the kingship again at last! Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dunedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Numenor. Shall he be King and enter the City and dwell there?" //And please don't ask me to repeat myself, I am already out of breath!// In one voice, the crowd roared their approval. Faramir continued. "Citizens of Gondor, the loremasters tell that it as the custom of old that the king should receive the crown from his father before he died; or if that might not be, that he should go alone and take it from the hands of his father in the tomb where he was laid. But since things must now be done otherwise, using the authority of the Steward, I have today brought forth from Raith Dinen the crown of Earnur the last king, whose days passed in the time of our forefathers of old."
          The guards stepped forward and Faramir opened the casket. From it he brought forth the ancient crown, shaped like a helm except white, and the wings on either side were of pearl and silver in the likeness of a sea bird. Seven gems of adamant were set in the circlet and on its summit was set a single jewel of flaming light.
          Aragorn took the crown from Faramir and held it up. "Et Earello Endorenna utulien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!" Out of the Great Sea to Middle earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world. They were the words that Elendil had spoken when he landed on the shores of Middle Earth, a refugee from Numenor. Then Aragorn handed the crown back to Faramir. For a moment, Faramir irrationally feared that Aragorn had decided not to be king, but his fears were put to rest when Aragorn spoke again. "By the labor and valor of many have I come into my inheritance. As such, I would have the Ring-bearer bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir place it upon my head, for he has been the mover of all that has been accomplished, and this is his victory." As Frodo took the crown from Faramir, the Steward smiled. //Even in his greatest of triumphs, still Estel takes no credit.//
          And so Mithrandir set the crown on Aragorn's head and as the new King stood, Faramir could see the sea-kings of old in him. For a moment there was a pause, then Faramir cried, "Behold the King!" The crowd broke out in cheers, trumpets were blown, and the King passed through the barrier into the City. He made his way to the Citadel and the banner of the White Tree and the Seven Stars was unfurled on the topmost tower. Yet there was one person in the city unhappy about the new king, and especially the new Steward. A dark figure melted into the shadows, already planning the layout of his attack.
         

~*~

          Faramir watched as King Aragorn passed out judgements from his throne. //He is either loving this, or wishing he was back in the wild as a Ranger. Most likely a little of both.// In fact, seeing Aragorn work made Faramir very glad that he was not king, or even a Ruling Steward. Never had he wanted power like that. Faramir's face lit up when Éowyn entered the room quietly. He made his way through the crowd to her side. "Good morning, love," he whispered to her.
          Éowyn smiled at him. "Good morning to you. What has happened so far today?"
          "Oh, nothing much. King Aragorn decided to reward some warriors for bravery and such. And the guard that left his post and killed someone in order to try and save me from being burned alive is now the Captain of my personal guard, the White Company. The King also made me Prince of Ithilien."
          Éowyn smiled and leaned closer to him. "Is that all? I suppose that will have to do." They both laughed. "Well, my love, I do believe my brother is next to be greeted." Faramir let his gaze leave Éowyn as he watched Aragorn talk to Éomer. The King of Gondor spoke of Eorl of Rohan who rode to Gondor's aid in ages past and of the friendship of the two peoples. Éomer then asked Aragorn to let the body of King Theoden lie in the tombs of the kings of Gondor until he had prepared a grave for him in Rohan. Éowyn turned to face Faramir. "I feel I must go back to Rohan and help my brother settle into his kingship. But I will return with Éomer to bring King Theoden's body back to his land."
          "I understand. Just don't stay away too long, my love. I miss you already."
          Suddenly someone behind them spoke. "Isn't that sweet! Rendil, why don't you say sweet things like that to me?"
          "You already know how much I love you. Besides, if I said that to you, you would think I had lost my mind and you'd feed me another one of those concoctions of yours." Faramir turned around at the familiar voices. Before him smiled Iorwyn and Rendil, the latter of whom had his arm in a sling. Both were grinning at him.
          "Well don't just stand there, Faramir. Introduce us to your lady friend."
          Faramir chuckled in amusement. "Forgive me. Iorwyn, Rendil, this is Lady Éowyn daughter of Eomund of Rohan. Éowyn, these are old friends of mine, Rendil of Dol Amroth and his wife, Iorwyn of Minas Tirith."
          A pleasure to meet you, Lady Éowyn. Rendil and I were wondering when Faramir would chose a nice girl to settle down with. Then, I heard of the kiss on the wall, so when Rendil returned from the last battle... "
          "Rendil, you fought? I thought you had retired."
          Rendil smiled sheepishly. "Well, I couldn't very well sit home when my friends were out fighting."
          "He left against healer's orders too." Iorwyn shot her husband a glare. "But, as I was saying, when he returned, we decided to come and see if we could meet the woman who captured our Steward's heart."
          "Do I pass inspection?"
          Iorwyn looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yes, I believe you do. We wish both of you the same happiness that we have had."
          Faramir smiled and bowed slightly. "Thank you. I do hope that you will come to our wedding and visit us in Ithilien once in a while."
          Rendil nodded. "We would love to. Just be careful, Iorwyn might give you some horrid-tasting medicine for a wedding gift. Ow!" Rendil smiled at Iorwyn's play-slap. "You shouldn't hit an injured man. I think you put back my recovery at least a week."
          "I did not, now say good-bye, dear. I want to stop by mother's house to pick up a few things. Good-bye Faramir."
          "Good-bye Iorwyn, Rendil. Travel safely." Faramir and Éowyn watched the couple walk off, Iorwyn pulling Rendil's good arm while he grumbled about having to see his in-laws. "They certainly are something, aren't they?"
          "Indeed. They seem very nice. Strange, but nice."

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Hope you all liked it!