Summary: In the years before the fall of Osgiliath and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the one Ring, Faramir finds himself besotted with a lady from Gondor, but the resentment Denethor harbors for his younger son threatens to ruin everything.
Rating: PG (probably doesn't even warrant PG, but hey...)
Disclaimer: This story is based upon the characters and world created by J.R.R. Tolkien in his books "The Hobbit," "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring," "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," and "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." They are also based - in part - on the movie version of "Lord of the Rings," directed by Peter Jackson. These stories are meant for entertainment only, and I receive no monetary compensation for them - only the enjoyment of writing them. Some few passages have been quoted from either book or movie only for purposes of story continuity. These are marked with ** at the end of the passage. The setting and all characters are the creations of Tolkien except for the following, who are my own: Seralina (Serra-leena), Hamathar (Hamma-thar)
Thank you: Evenstar Elanor and Jopru for taking the time to send me comments.
** ** ** **
"You're looking particularly pleased with yourself," said Hamathar when his daughter arrived in the pavilion box. Seralina looked coyly at her father through her thick eyelashes.
"Do I?"
"You are up to something, my daughter, but, ah, you could have robbed the Steward and run off with a dwarf and I'd forgive you." Hamathar sighed, knowing full well how much of Seralina's creature he really was, and he cared little for who knew it.
He and his wife had two children once, before Seralina. His son had died a soldier, in a battle with Orcs many years ago, and his first daughter had fallen ill when she was 15 and perished. Hamathar had resolved himself to the remainder of his life without the joy of children. Then, unexpectedly, when he was 40 and his wife was 45, she'd announced she was once again pregnant. They both considered Seralina to be a gift from the gods and they doted on her. Seralina's mother passed on when the girl was 10.
The parade of participants had gone on for some time. There were at least 100 men competing and their numbers would be winnowed down over the next few days until only the finest remained. They came before the Steward in no set order. Finally, Seralina could see Boromir's blond head above the crowd and a few down from him she saw Faramir. The crowd cheered for their favorite when Boromir bowed to his father and Seralina counted six young ladies who all waved dreamily at him and then shot each other looks of disgust.
"Lord Boromir does indeed love the attention of the ladies," observed Hamathar.
"That he does," said Seralina, "but he at least is open and bold about it. He does not favor one to her face and then hide her from another."
Her father started to say something and then his brow furrowed and he leaned forward. Seralina saw him staring hard at young Faramir and the rose adorning his jerkin.
"My Lord Steward," said Faramir, reciting the formulated greeting, "Faramir of Gondor presents his arms for the competition."
"Welcome, Faramir..." The Steward paused, also wondering about the rose. "Bring honor to your house and to your sponsor..."
Faramir looked up to Seralina and she leaned forward, waving to him. A small smile curled the corners of his mouth. There was an audible gasp and then a flurry of whispers as the crowd realized that Faramir would be the Rose of Gondor's champion in the games. Seralina heard them and pressed her fingers to her mouth, laughing.
After two days of fierce competition, the victors were presented. As predicted, the Riders of Rohan excelled in the equestrian events. Eomer and his cousin Theodred were both presented with coins. The elf warrior, a prince by the name of Legolas, took a coin in archery but only competed in one event, saying he felt his keen elven eyesight gave him an unfair advantage. Boromir himself won four, and to Seralina's delight, Faramir won three.
Denethor smiled broadly when he presented the coins to Boromir. Faramir stepped up after his brother only to have the Steward present him with his coins with little more than a thin smile and perfunctory salute. Seralina saw the flash of disappointment that crossed Faramir's face, but it disappeared as his brother appeared and clapped him on the back, congratulating him loudly on his prizes.
I'm glad they care so much for one another, thought Seralina. How lonely it would be for Faramir if Boromir's heart was set against him as well.
As the ceremony ended, Faramir worked his way through the crowd to Seralina and Lord Hamathar.
"You've done well," said the old man.
Faramir's smile was thin. "Thank you," he said, but his thoughts were on the lack of praise from his father. Then he turned his attention to Seralina and his face brightened.
"And I must thank you, Lady, for I'm certain your rose brought me much luck."
"No," she said. "Luck had only a little to do with it. Your own strength and skill won the day."
He offered his arm. "If your father does not object, I would walk you home."
Lord Hamathar put his daughter's hand on Faramir's arm. "Then I convey her into your protection." Seralina smiled at her father and then at Faramir and the two started to walk towards the city. Many eyes and whispers followed the pair. Among them was Denethor whose countenance darkened.
The following month passed quickly. Immediately after the games had concluded, Boromir had ridden out on a mission for Denethor. Faramir stayed on his regular patrol with his own men, scouting the lands near Minas Tirith, and that meant he was frequently within the city walls - and a frequent caller on Lady Seralina.
Together they stood in the last rays of the day's sun, looking down at the streets of the White City. Seralina's hand was warm in Faramir's. At that height in the city, the breezes were always cool. Faramir moved to stand behind Seralina, shielding her from the wind, and he slid his arms around her waist.
"I understand my father and I have been invited to the Steward's home tomorrow for dinner."
"Mmm," murmured Faramir. "My brother arrives back in the morning. I've been told I must attend as well."
"And so we shall be regaled by tales of his adventures and mighty deeds," she said. "Or rather, your father will wish to hear of them, and Boromir will certainly oblige him."
"Seralina." Faramir's voice was low and soft in her ear. "I did not walk you to the top of the city to discuss my brother." He kissed her neck, where the corner of the jaw rested, and then he kissed her again a few inches down. Seralina closed her eyes as a shiver ran through her and leaned into his embrace.
"If you are willing," he said after a moment in that same husky whisper, "I would speak to both of our fathers of a more formal binding between us."
She turned in his arms and looked up into Faramir's grey-blue eyes. Tracing a finger down his cheek, she smiled. "Willing? Aye, Lord Faramir, I would be most willing."
He smiled. "Tomorrow, I have a day free of duty, save my father's dinner. Would my lady wish to ride to Osgiliath for the day?"
"She would." Seralina enjoyed riding and a day trip to the river city was something she hadn't done yet this season. "And I know my father has business to attend to with the Steward before dinner, so he will be occupied much of the day..."
** ** **
That's it for Chapter 2... more to come soon... As always constructive feedback is most welcome!
Rating: PG (probably doesn't even warrant PG, but hey...)
Disclaimer: This story is based upon the characters and world created by J.R.R. Tolkien in his books "The Hobbit," "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring," "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," and "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." They are also based - in part - on the movie version of "Lord of the Rings," directed by Peter Jackson. These stories are meant for entertainment only, and I receive no monetary compensation for them - only the enjoyment of writing them. Some few passages have been quoted from either book or movie only for purposes of story continuity. These are marked with ** at the end of the passage. The setting and all characters are the creations of Tolkien except for the following, who are my own: Seralina (Serra-leena), Hamathar (Hamma-thar)
Thank you: Evenstar Elanor and Jopru for taking the time to send me comments.
** ** ** **
"You're looking particularly pleased with yourself," said Hamathar when his daughter arrived in the pavilion box. Seralina looked coyly at her father through her thick eyelashes.
"Do I?"
"You are up to something, my daughter, but, ah, you could have robbed the Steward and run off with a dwarf and I'd forgive you." Hamathar sighed, knowing full well how much of Seralina's creature he really was, and he cared little for who knew it.
He and his wife had two children once, before Seralina. His son had died a soldier, in a battle with Orcs many years ago, and his first daughter had fallen ill when she was 15 and perished. Hamathar had resolved himself to the remainder of his life without the joy of children. Then, unexpectedly, when he was 40 and his wife was 45, she'd announced she was once again pregnant. They both considered Seralina to be a gift from the gods and they doted on her. Seralina's mother passed on when the girl was 10.
The parade of participants had gone on for some time. There were at least 100 men competing and their numbers would be winnowed down over the next few days until only the finest remained. They came before the Steward in no set order. Finally, Seralina could see Boromir's blond head above the crowd and a few down from him she saw Faramir. The crowd cheered for their favorite when Boromir bowed to his father and Seralina counted six young ladies who all waved dreamily at him and then shot each other looks of disgust.
"Lord Boromir does indeed love the attention of the ladies," observed Hamathar.
"That he does," said Seralina, "but he at least is open and bold about it. He does not favor one to her face and then hide her from another."
Her father started to say something and then his brow furrowed and he leaned forward. Seralina saw him staring hard at young Faramir and the rose adorning his jerkin.
"My Lord Steward," said Faramir, reciting the formulated greeting, "Faramir of Gondor presents his arms for the competition."
"Welcome, Faramir..." The Steward paused, also wondering about the rose. "Bring honor to your house and to your sponsor..."
Faramir looked up to Seralina and she leaned forward, waving to him. A small smile curled the corners of his mouth. There was an audible gasp and then a flurry of whispers as the crowd realized that Faramir would be the Rose of Gondor's champion in the games. Seralina heard them and pressed her fingers to her mouth, laughing.
After two days of fierce competition, the victors were presented. As predicted, the Riders of Rohan excelled in the equestrian events. Eomer and his cousin Theodred were both presented with coins. The elf warrior, a prince by the name of Legolas, took a coin in archery but only competed in one event, saying he felt his keen elven eyesight gave him an unfair advantage. Boromir himself won four, and to Seralina's delight, Faramir won three.
Denethor smiled broadly when he presented the coins to Boromir. Faramir stepped up after his brother only to have the Steward present him with his coins with little more than a thin smile and perfunctory salute. Seralina saw the flash of disappointment that crossed Faramir's face, but it disappeared as his brother appeared and clapped him on the back, congratulating him loudly on his prizes.
I'm glad they care so much for one another, thought Seralina. How lonely it would be for Faramir if Boromir's heart was set against him as well.
As the ceremony ended, Faramir worked his way through the crowd to Seralina and Lord Hamathar.
"You've done well," said the old man.
Faramir's smile was thin. "Thank you," he said, but his thoughts were on the lack of praise from his father. Then he turned his attention to Seralina and his face brightened.
"And I must thank you, Lady, for I'm certain your rose brought me much luck."
"No," she said. "Luck had only a little to do with it. Your own strength and skill won the day."
He offered his arm. "If your father does not object, I would walk you home."
Lord Hamathar put his daughter's hand on Faramir's arm. "Then I convey her into your protection." Seralina smiled at her father and then at Faramir and the two started to walk towards the city. Many eyes and whispers followed the pair. Among them was Denethor whose countenance darkened.
The following month passed quickly. Immediately after the games had concluded, Boromir had ridden out on a mission for Denethor. Faramir stayed on his regular patrol with his own men, scouting the lands near Minas Tirith, and that meant he was frequently within the city walls - and a frequent caller on Lady Seralina.
Together they stood in the last rays of the day's sun, looking down at the streets of the White City. Seralina's hand was warm in Faramir's. At that height in the city, the breezes were always cool. Faramir moved to stand behind Seralina, shielding her from the wind, and he slid his arms around her waist.
"I understand my father and I have been invited to the Steward's home tomorrow for dinner."
"Mmm," murmured Faramir. "My brother arrives back in the morning. I've been told I must attend as well."
"And so we shall be regaled by tales of his adventures and mighty deeds," she said. "Or rather, your father will wish to hear of them, and Boromir will certainly oblige him."
"Seralina." Faramir's voice was low and soft in her ear. "I did not walk you to the top of the city to discuss my brother." He kissed her neck, where the corner of the jaw rested, and then he kissed her again a few inches down. Seralina closed her eyes as a shiver ran through her and leaned into his embrace.
"If you are willing," he said after a moment in that same husky whisper, "I would speak to both of our fathers of a more formal binding between us."
She turned in his arms and looked up into Faramir's grey-blue eyes. Tracing a finger down his cheek, she smiled. "Willing? Aye, Lord Faramir, I would be most willing."
He smiled. "Tomorrow, I have a day free of duty, save my father's dinner. Would my lady wish to ride to Osgiliath for the day?"
"She would." Seralina enjoyed riding and a day trip to the river city was something she hadn't done yet this season. "And I know my father has business to attend to with the Steward before dinner, so he will be occupied much of the day..."
** ** **
That's it for Chapter 2... more to come soon... As always constructive feedback is most welcome!