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!
