Author's note: I hope I'm getting something from writing this chapter. I've
decided that the Faramir in this fanfic will be based on the Faramir in New
Line's LotR (the movies). I haven't gotten any reviews yet, so I don't
really know how to improve it. But I think that I should put more detail
into the writing. Is that right? Anyhow, thank you very much for reading.
And please review!
The Steward of Gondor
Lord Denethor strode in, flanked by two guards, "WHAT IS GOING ON?" he roared. Most of the soldiers scrambled around. Some ran out the other door.
I almost jumped in surprise. This was the Steward? This was Faramir's.father? He looked nothing like his son. Lanky gray hair, gray fur- trimmed coat, and sunken expressions. His eyes were sharp and piercing. They had nothing in common at all. Denethor's voice was booming, while Faramir's was gentle. The Steward's appearance was intimidating, while his son's was calming.
Faramir looked indifferent from before. He didn't turn around, nor looked at me. His eyes were troubled, as if by doubt.
"WHO BEGAN THIS?" yelled the Steward. I almost jumped again. This time, Faramir looked up, and then he stood. "Faramir." Said the Steward. "You again. Why must you always disobey me? Why must you always do things your way? Why can't you be more like -"
"Boromir." Faramir said softly. "Father.I."
"I don't want to hear it."
With difficulty, Faramir swallowed the words he wanted to say. He took a step back, pushing the table with his leg. I stood before the table would pin me to the chair.
"Sorry." Faramir murmured.
"It's alright, my lord." I replied quietly.
Denethor turned to the men; "I expect all of you to report tomorrow morning, as scheduled. No exceptions." The men all looked stunned. One, they hadn't expected to have to wake as early as the days before. Two, they were almost terrified of the Steward.
One of the soldiers stepped forward, "Go to it, men." He commanded. The last of the soldiers finally pushed their way out the door. I went also, but before the door, I stopped and looked back. The soldier who had commanded the men to leave was still with Faramir and the Steward. The seemed to be so immersed on their argument that they didn't notice me.
"Faramir. Why? Why are you always.like this?" Denethor stopped at a loss for words.
"Father, I didn't." The second son of the Steward was trying to say.
"You did." Came the reply.
"No. Father, he didn't." Said the other soldier.
"Boromir?" said Denethor in a puzzled voice.
"I started it." Boromir said. "Father.Faramir was against my starting it."
That earned a stunned look on the Steward's face. Faramir looked at his older brother and frowned. Again at a loss for words, Denethor turned to me. I flinched.
"What are you doing there, girl?" boomed the Steward.
I curtseyed as swiftly as I could without tripping and thought quickly for an excuse. I began, "Well.my lord, I was leaving, and then I realised that I do not know the way to my.ah.chambers."
"Why did you not ask another soldier?" he said.
"I doubt they would know, nor concern over such a small matter." I replied as calmly as I could.
"And so you decided that the Steward of Gondor would concern over it instead?" he said smugly.
I blinked. Now I was stuck. "Well." I stammered, fumbling for something to say.
"I was speaking to her." Faramir interrupted. "I was telling her the way to her rooms before you stopped us."
"Well, girl, you are dismissed. Leave." Said Denethor, as though Faramir had not spoken. I blinked and left the room. I shut the doors after me and waited, listening. I had nowhere to go, after all.
"Boromir." Denethor was saying. "Do not do this again."
"Father.the men are bored. If we do not start it, they will. It could get out of control." Boromir pleaded.
"And you will be there to stop them." Said Denethor shortly. I listened intently but it was silent for the next few seconds. Finally, "You are both dismissed."
I was a little surprised at the abruptness of the conversation. Quickly, I followed the corridor to my right. I really had no idea where my chambers were. Seconds later, the doors opened and quiet whispers and footsteps followed my route. I hurried my steps, unsure of what to do. Perhaps I should run, or maybe I should just.oh what do I do?! Finally, I stopped my walking. I listened to the footsteps as they neared me. When they had come but a short distance away, I turned around. It was Faramir, and his older brother, Boromir. I curtseyed, but kept my mouth shut. I stayed in the position for a good, long 5 seconds.
"Please." Came Faramir's voice. "Please rise." He bade me. I did, but kept my eyes downcast. I had a bad feeling that Boromir was watching me intently. "This is my older brother, Boromir." He introduced. His voice sounded disappointed and depressed.
I curtseyed again, still silent. Boromir told me to stand again. "So this is the girl who took so much of your attention that you were not able to talk with the other men." I colored.
"Oh brother, stop your teasing." Faramir laughed suddenly, "You're embarrassing her." I blushed even harder and Boromir elbowed his brother.
"See.it isn't me." He turned his eyes to me once again and I flinched. "Look here." I did, slowly. He surveyed me for a long moment. Then he quickly backed away, "She's an elf." he stammered.
Faramir was trying his hardest not to burst, "No, brother, she's a half- elf.all the way from Imladris!"
I swallowed, and tried to lower my eyes from Boromir's keen ones. "No, wait, your eyes." he began.
My eyes, I thought. Oh no, was I doing it again? He can't see this. I broke off eye contact.
"I know." Said Faramir softly. "I know what you mean." And he grabbed Boromir's belt, pulling him away from me. "Stop fooling around." He grinned.
Boromir broke out of his trance and turned to Faramir. Laughing, he dove at his brother who ducked him swiftly. I had no choice but to observe the scene. It was so awkward. Why were these.almost Princes, grabbing each other and laughing like ordinary men? Boromir had Faramir backed up on the opposite wall and Faramir was still eagerly taunting him. Boromir grew redder by the millisecond.
Suddenly all was quiet. Faramir had stopped his quiet taunts and Boromir had stopped laughing. I think I almost stopped breathing.
"You know? I think she's watching you. You don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of the lady you fancy. It's a common misconception." Said Faramir, as though he was Cupid himself. I blinked. Boromir lunged at him and Faramir ducked, "Calm down, dear brother." He said.
Finally, Boromir laughed again and backed away, "When I get my hands on you." he threatened good-naturedly.
Faramir sniffed, "Lady Ariaelle's been very patient, Boromir." He said. I looked up, totally confused. I didn't understand these two. On one side, they were dutiful soldiers. And on the other side, they were young men, having their fun. "I think I'll take the Lady to her rooms now. Good night, brother."
"Now you wait a second. I'll do it." Boromir offered quickly.
"I knew it!" Faramir smiled and laughed. It was an elegant sound, smooth and rippling. It sent a shiver down my spine and my insides felt as though butterflies were fluttering up and down. "My Lady, beware. You've caught Boromir in your net." Boromir just about lunged at Faramir again but stopped himself.
"You choose, my lady." Boromir said fairly, winking at me.
There was a slight pause as I worded a response, "Oh.my lords, I don't know. Perhaps you should just tell me where they are. I could go alone." I said with proper etiquette.
They both looked at each other. I tried to smile. Boromir blinked and Faramir's smile faded.
"I'm the older one," said Boromir finally. "I'll go."
"But I met her first!" Faramir protested.
"I'll tell.Father!" Boromir threatened triumphantly.
Faramir looked at him quickly. I frowned. He obviously seemed very unhappy. "That's below the belt." He said softly.
"I know." Boromir said understandingly, smiling.
"Fine, brother. But I expect you to not get lost," Faramir said. And he gave me a small bend at the waist, my gallant soldier. "Good night." He murmured.
He patted Boromir on the shoulder, whispered something in quick Numenorean to him, which I did not catch, and left.
The Steward of Gondor
Lord Denethor strode in, flanked by two guards, "WHAT IS GOING ON?" he roared. Most of the soldiers scrambled around. Some ran out the other door.
I almost jumped in surprise. This was the Steward? This was Faramir's.father? He looked nothing like his son. Lanky gray hair, gray fur- trimmed coat, and sunken expressions. His eyes were sharp and piercing. They had nothing in common at all. Denethor's voice was booming, while Faramir's was gentle. The Steward's appearance was intimidating, while his son's was calming.
Faramir looked indifferent from before. He didn't turn around, nor looked at me. His eyes were troubled, as if by doubt.
"WHO BEGAN THIS?" yelled the Steward. I almost jumped again. This time, Faramir looked up, and then he stood. "Faramir." Said the Steward. "You again. Why must you always disobey me? Why must you always do things your way? Why can't you be more like -"
"Boromir." Faramir said softly. "Father.I."
"I don't want to hear it."
With difficulty, Faramir swallowed the words he wanted to say. He took a step back, pushing the table with his leg. I stood before the table would pin me to the chair.
"Sorry." Faramir murmured.
"It's alright, my lord." I replied quietly.
Denethor turned to the men; "I expect all of you to report tomorrow morning, as scheduled. No exceptions." The men all looked stunned. One, they hadn't expected to have to wake as early as the days before. Two, they were almost terrified of the Steward.
One of the soldiers stepped forward, "Go to it, men." He commanded. The last of the soldiers finally pushed their way out the door. I went also, but before the door, I stopped and looked back. The soldier who had commanded the men to leave was still with Faramir and the Steward. The seemed to be so immersed on their argument that they didn't notice me.
"Faramir. Why? Why are you always.like this?" Denethor stopped at a loss for words.
"Father, I didn't." The second son of the Steward was trying to say.
"You did." Came the reply.
"No. Father, he didn't." Said the other soldier.
"Boromir?" said Denethor in a puzzled voice.
"I started it." Boromir said. "Father.Faramir was against my starting it."
That earned a stunned look on the Steward's face. Faramir looked at his older brother and frowned. Again at a loss for words, Denethor turned to me. I flinched.
"What are you doing there, girl?" boomed the Steward.
I curtseyed as swiftly as I could without tripping and thought quickly for an excuse. I began, "Well.my lord, I was leaving, and then I realised that I do not know the way to my.ah.chambers."
"Why did you not ask another soldier?" he said.
"I doubt they would know, nor concern over such a small matter." I replied as calmly as I could.
"And so you decided that the Steward of Gondor would concern over it instead?" he said smugly.
I blinked. Now I was stuck. "Well." I stammered, fumbling for something to say.
"I was speaking to her." Faramir interrupted. "I was telling her the way to her rooms before you stopped us."
"Well, girl, you are dismissed. Leave." Said Denethor, as though Faramir had not spoken. I blinked and left the room. I shut the doors after me and waited, listening. I had nowhere to go, after all.
"Boromir." Denethor was saying. "Do not do this again."
"Father.the men are bored. If we do not start it, they will. It could get out of control." Boromir pleaded.
"And you will be there to stop them." Said Denethor shortly. I listened intently but it was silent for the next few seconds. Finally, "You are both dismissed."
I was a little surprised at the abruptness of the conversation. Quickly, I followed the corridor to my right. I really had no idea where my chambers were. Seconds later, the doors opened and quiet whispers and footsteps followed my route. I hurried my steps, unsure of what to do. Perhaps I should run, or maybe I should just.oh what do I do?! Finally, I stopped my walking. I listened to the footsteps as they neared me. When they had come but a short distance away, I turned around. It was Faramir, and his older brother, Boromir. I curtseyed, but kept my mouth shut. I stayed in the position for a good, long 5 seconds.
"Please." Came Faramir's voice. "Please rise." He bade me. I did, but kept my eyes downcast. I had a bad feeling that Boromir was watching me intently. "This is my older brother, Boromir." He introduced. His voice sounded disappointed and depressed.
I curtseyed again, still silent. Boromir told me to stand again. "So this is the girl who took so much of your attention that you were not able to talk with the other men." I colored.
"Oh brother, stop your teasing." Faramir laughed suddenly, "You're embarrassing her." I blushed even harder and Boromir elbowed his brother.
"See.it isn't me." He turned his eyes to me once again and I flinched. "Look here." I did, slowly. He surveyed me for a long moment. Then he quickly backed away, "She's an elf." he stammered.
Faramir was trying his hardest not to burst, "No, brother, she's a half- elf.all the way from Imladris!"
I swallowed, and tried to lower my eyes from Boromir's keen ones. "No, wait, your eyes." he began.
My eyes, I thought. Oh no, was I doing it again? He can't see this. I broke off eye contact.
"I know." Said Faramir softly. "I know what you mean." And he grabbed Boromir's belt, pulling him away from me. "Stop fooling around." He grinned.
Boromir broke out of his trance and turned to Faramir. Laughing, he dove at his brother who ducked him swiftly. I had no choice but to observe the scene. It was so awkward. Why were these.almost Princes, grabbing each other and laughing like ordinary men? Boromir had Faramir backed up on the opposite wall and Faramir was still eagerly taunting him. Boromir grew redder by the millisecond.
Suddenly all was quiet. Faramir had stopped his quiet taunts and Boromir had stopped laughing. I think I almost stopped breathing.
"You know? I think she's watching you. You don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of the lady you fancy. It's a common misconception." Said Faramir, as though he was Cupid himself. I blinked. Boromir lunged at him and Faramir ducked, "Calm down, dear brother." He said.
Finally, Boromir laughed again and backed away, "When I get my hands on you." he threatened good-naturedly.
Faramir sniffed, "Lady Ariaelle's been very patient, Boromir." He said. I looked up, totally confused. I didn't understand these two. On one side, they were dutiful soldiers. And on the other side, they were young men, having their fun. "I think I'll take the Lady to her rooms now. Good night, brother."
"Now you wait a second. I'll do it." Boromir offered quickly.
"I knew it!" Faramir smiled and laughed. It was an elegant sound, smooth and rippling. It sent a shiver down my spine and my insides felt as though butterflies were fluttering up and down. "My Lady, beware. You've caught Boromir in your net." Boromir just about lunged at Faramir again but stopped himself.
"You choose, my lady." Boromir said fairly, winking at me.
There was a slight pause as I worded a response, "Oh.my lords, I don't know. Perhaps you should just tell me where they are. I could go alone." I said with proper etiquette.
They both looked at each other. I tried to smile. Boromir blinked and Faramir's smile faded.
"I'm the older one," said Boromir finally. "I'll go."
"But I met her first!" Faramir protested.
"I'll tell.Father!" Boromir threatened triumphantly.
Faramir looked at him quickly. I frowned. He obviously seemed very unhappy. "That's below the belt." He said softly.
"I know." Boromir said understandingly, smiling.
"Fine, brother. But I expect you to not get lost," Faramir said. And he gave me a small bend at the waist, my gallant soldier. "Good night." He murmured.
He patted Boromir on the shoulder, whispered something in quick Numenorean to him, which I did not catch, and left.