AN: This was supposed to be a one shot fic, but it kind of happened, so I let it. I think it was just too good to pass up.
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~Finding South~
His first instinct was to call out, but then he remembered that hobbits, for all there bravery, were rather skittish. The last thing he wanted was to startle this Hero of the Realm, and cause his small form to plummet over the edge of the parapet he was standing on. The Hobbit was craning his neck, looking all about him, and seemed not to notice that he was in a rather precarious position. So Faramir made his way along the wall as normally as he could.
"I though hobbits did not care for heights." Faramir said, standing on the walkway.
The hobbit smiled at him, and sat down on the breastwork, idly swinging his shoeless feet over the edge of the fire-pit. For the first time, the Man looked directly into the hobbit's eyes.
"We don't usually. But it doesn't seem so bad after these last few months."
"I suppose that's true enough." Faramir said. "Your cousins were wondering where you had got to. They said something about a 'midnight snack', and that it was not your wont to miss it."
"Is it midnight already?" Faramir nodded. "Oh me. I didn't realize it was so late."
"What have you been doing out here?"
"I was," the Hobbit hesitated, and then decided that Faramir would not mind hearing a story about his lost brother. "I was looking for South. Boromir said you've a star for it, but he never got to show me."
Faramir was silent for a time. Hobbit and Man were side by side, looking out across the Pelennor towards Osgiliath. Finally, Faramir raised his arm and pointed to the right.
"You see the star there, the bluish one?"
"I do."
"That is Gil-hyarmen, the right foot of the constellation Mairo, the Horse."
The Hobbit smiled, and then laughed, and Faramir realized that this was a joke he would never understand.
"Well now. How about that." The Hobbit mused quietly. He swung his feet around and jumped off the parapet. He looked up at Faramir. "Tell me, Lord Faramir, would you like to go on an Adventure?"
"Well, that depends, Master Perian. Is it for a noble purpose?"
"Oh aye, my lord, it is indeed. My kinsmen and I seek to liberate a host of sweet breads from the larder and rescue them from the horrible fate of facing the King tomorrow."
"That is a noble cause. Tell me, have you and your stalwart cousins discovered the hidden passageway to the confectionery kitchen?"
The Hobbit's face lit up.
"Lead on, my lord." He said. "For I can see that you are quite accomplished in these matters."
Faramir laughed, and took the Hobbit by the hand. As they walked through the gardens that led the way to the citadel proper, the Hobbit looked back over his shoulder. He did not look South.
"My Lord Faramir, have you ever heard of the game of horse shoes?"
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~finis~
AN: I also invented the South star. And very creatively name it "South Star", using the letter names from appendix F (or E. I can't remember, and I can't reach my books from here).