Author's note: *covers face with hands* PLEASE don't hurt me! I'm so sorry
for not updating sooner! *racks brains* I was so busy. I wrote stuff during
Spring Break...but it all ended up in the trash can. I've plotted out so
much...the little scenes like this aren't easy to conjure up anymore. I
really want the battle scenes to be a highlight. Please don't run away, I'm
still writing Red Dawn.
I'm also trying to start a website for a role-playing-game/fanfiction
archive/'me' webbie. But I really need some administrators for the RPG. If
someone wants to try it out (it doesn't matter whether you've never even
seen an RPG before, or know what the heck it means!) just email me:
forever_faramir@hotmail.com and put 'White City RPG' as the title. Just
tell me your name, email, RPG experience. (You can add: your own
webbie/fanfic/RPG)
Decision
There was a gentle rap at the door.
"W-who is it?" I said blearily, my mind drugged with sleepiness.
"Lieutenant Mablung, my lady." Said a voice through the door.
"One moment, if you please." I sat up gingerly and pushed the blankets off. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Taking my time, I stood, feeling better than I had the night before.
I made my way to the door and opened it. "Good morning." I murmured.
He chuckled, "I'm sorry if I woke you."
"No, no, I don't mind." I said.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Much."
"That's good to hear."
I smiled a little. Mablung was of the nice, sweet sort. Faramir was lucky to have such a loyal soldier at his call.
"Lord Faramir wishes to speak with you."
"Oh. Of course." I nodded.
My heart pounded wildly and I looked at Mablung expectantly.
"He hasn't told a soul."
"Not even you?"
"Not even me." He echoed, "No, he's quite confidential with these matters. It's between you and him, no one else."
"Oh, I see."
No, he wouldn't let me stay. He couldn't. I was only a girl. An ambitious half-elf. I had no place in Ithilien. In war. Faramir would have came himself to speak with me if he wanted me to stay.
The only reason for the summons was to comfort me.
"He'll be waiting outside the door in about half of an hour." He said as he made for the door.
"Your belongings were searched. They're over there." He added. "Nothing was removed except the daggers that you had before. They're with the Captain."
"Thank you, sir."
Mablung stepped outside and I was left alone.
I locked the door and opened my saddlebags. I looked for my gowns but decided against the idea. There was no point in looking fancy.
I took out my only other set of male clothing. I undressed swiftly and tied the cords of the cuffed white shirt. I pulled on the dark breeches and took up my tunic.
Black velvet, it was. And in the centre was the crest of my house, embroidered with silver thread. It had been my brother's tunic.
He had given it to me after Mother's death to console me. It was meant to be a ceremonial possession, a memento.
Brother looked like a prince in it. Mother had loved it when he wore the tunic to dances and banquets.
I slid it on and brushed my thick hair back. Taking a narrow strip of leather, I tied it behind me.
I washed my face in a cool basin of water, which had been left there the night before. Sighing as I dried my face, I cleaned my teeth and sat back down on my bed.
A gentle knock at the door, "Lady Ariaelle?"
I unlocked the door and opened it.
There stood Faramir, Captain of the Ithilien Rangers, Son of the Steward of Gondor.
"My lord," I said, bowing my head.
"Rise." He said softly.
I rose and looked at him. Tentatively, I stepped back, allowing him to enter.
"Are you well rested?" he asked.
"Yes, my lord."
"Please, don't call me that anymore. It's very difficult to talk that way."
I lowered my eyes in silent compliance.
"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly. He put a gentle hand to my forehead. Satisfied, he drew his hand back and asked, "Do you wish to leave now?"
There, I was to return to Minas Tirith. "Whatever you wish, sir."
"No 'sir'. No 'my lord'. Same with the rest. Please? It gets very...very burdensome."
"I can ride back alone."
"What are you talking about?" he asked sharply.
I didn't reply. I was afraid that I'd burst into tears.
"Oh, I see." He murmured after a while, "I'm sorry. Will you walk with me?"
Apprehensively, I took his arm.
Was he jesting? This was no joke. Why didn't he just send me home and be done with it, I thought impatiently.
He led me out of my room and we walked along the stone corridors. The depressing gray suited my mood. There was no sign of timber or any wooden section of the building.
"What is this place?" I asked, lips parted slightly in awe.
"Ithilien's refuge, Henneth-Annun." He answered.
"Henn-neth A-nnun." I pronounced slowly, "The Window...on...on the West?"
"Mmm hmm." Faramir said.
"Oh."
We walked along a secluded hall and out one of the doors. The Anduin flowed nearby to my right. It curved into the trees ahead of us and out of sight. The woods seemed quiet. Behind me and to the left, I heard the echoes of gleeful laughter from several men and then a sharp one who barked at them, "Silence, you fools. Do you want me to fetch the Captain? Do you want him to see you all like this? Get back to work!"
A playful snort erupted from Faramir. "Damrod..." he chuckled.
I had to smile a bit. The Rangers did seem quite brotherly. Somehow, Faramir's presence seemed to affect my mood. I no longer felt angry or hopeless, but content and curious as to where he was leading me.
Faramir led me into the trees, through a path that only he knew well. The grass had been trodden on thoroughly, but only by one man. We entered a clearing. He looked back to see if I was still behind him and I nodded. He smiled a little and almost walked into a tree.
"Whoa..." he muttered, his nose almost touching the tree trunk.
I stopped in my tracks and giggled. Oh, he was charming all right, but this was beyond...
Beyond what?
Whoa...I almost said out loud. Now, what are you thinking?
Whatever it is, it will NEVER happen. Faramir belongs with a lady.
I'm a lady.
A feminine one, with pretty lashes and a softer voice. No one wants to hear your own honking trap.
I don't have a honking trap! Who do you think you are?
Me, myself and I.
I swerved back to reality and realised that Faramir was laughing along with me. He ran a hand through his roughly cut hair and walked on. He crossed the clearing with long strides and I tried to keep up.
I wondered why this path was made for only one man to walk through it. I hastily covered my mouth when I realised that I had spoken aloud.
"Oh, only I come through here." Came the answer.
"Why?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"Because...everyone needs their own private spot in this world." He said solemnly.
I stifled another onslaught of giggles. "Oh really? I shall have to search for my own then, I guess."
"You'll find it."
I smiled at his back. It was good that he couldn't see me.
I don't know, am I allowed to smile at him?
You have already.
I rolled my eyes and collided with Faramir, who had stopped.
"Daydreaming, are we?" he mused, helping me up.
"You could say that, my lord."
"Remember, no pretense."
"Of course, s-"
"Ah."
"-ir." I finished obstinately.
Since when had we become so friendly? When had I decided to laugh and not ponder over what to say next?
Since this morning, I remarked.
Why am I talking to him like this? He's the second heir to Gondor's throne! He's not some...some...
He's not just somebody.
He doesn't stand by, he pulls himself together and stands up to get work done. He's charismatic. He's charming. He's intelligent. He's kind and sweet and...
What?
Good looking?
All right, you know what? PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER.
I followed him a little farther and he moved a branch aside.
I ducked under and my lips parted in awe.
"It's so beautiful," I sighed.
"You like it?"
"Of course!"
He sat down against a tree and motioned me to sit also. I settled on the grass near Faramir, with the bare minimal of etiquette: amount of space, between us.
Across us lay a serene section of the majestic River Anduin. Before us, the grass melted into sand and pebbles. The Anduin licked at the shore. In the background, the Eastern Mountains loomed, casting a shadow on the other side of the river. I turned to Faramir.
He seemed to be watching something very intently. Following his gaze, I beheld the reason for this exact spot as his hideout.
Minas Tirith lay against the mountain. "Oh." I said softly, understanding so much with just a quick glance.
"Faramir?" I addressed him by name, hoping that he didn't mind.
His blue-gray eyes met mine.
I flinched. Turn away, turn away, the voice in my head cried.
Amazingly, we saw nothing before he drew back his gaze. I lay back, my brain swimming ferociously. It was close.
But it didn't happen.
Was it because Faramir had already seen before? Was it because he turned away?
I sucked in deep breaths. One. Two. Three. The mental stress and fear had done as much as I was afraid it could.
Weakly, I turned on my side, my front facing Faramir. I closed my eyes and tried to regain some of my strength.
I felt his hand open mine and drop his healing pendant in my palm. He clasped my hand and after a moment (which I supposed he used to touch his own forehead), he touched mine. Then, I felt two fingers on my pulse.
Almost instantly, energy flooded my body. After a few minutes he closed off and removed his pendant.
"Thank you." I said.
"Not a problem."
I smiled a little and sat up slowly.
"Well..." he began, "I brought you here because-" he stopped for a long moment, as if he were pondering the reason.
"I brought you here because I wanted to tell you that I...well...um, I'll let you stay in Ithilien."
I stared at him in astonishment.
Decision
There was a gentle rap at the door.
"W-who is it?" I said blearily, my mind drugged with sleepiness.
"Lieutenant Mablung, my lady." Said a voice through the door.
"One moment, if you please." I sat up gingerly and pushed the blankets off. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Taking my time, I stood, feeling better than I had the night before.
I made my way to the door and opened it. "Good morning." I murmured.
He chuckled, "I'm sorry if I woke you."
"No, no, I don't mind." I said.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Much."
"That's good to hear."
I smiled a little. Mablung was of the nice, sweet sort. Faramir was lucky to have such a loyal soldier at his call.
"Lord Faramir wishes to speak with you."
"Oh. Of course." I nodded.
My heart pounded wildly and I looked at Mablung expectantly.
"He hasn't told a soul."
"Not even you?"
"Not even me." He echoed, "No, he's quite confidential with these matters. It's between you and him, no one else."
"Oh, I see."
No, he wouldn't let me stay. He couldn't. I was only a girl. An ambitious half-elf. I had no place in Ithilien. In war. Faramir would have came himself to speak with me if he wanted me to stay.
The only reason for the summons was to comfort me.
"He'll be waiting outside the door in about half of an hour." He said as he made for the door.
"Your belongings were searched. They're over there." He added. "Nothing was removed except the daggers that you had before. They're with the Captain."
"Thank you, sir."
Mablung stepped outside and I was left alone.
I locked the door and opened my saddlebags. I looked for my gowns but decided against the idea. There was no point in looking fancy.
I took out my only other set of male clothing. I undressed swiftly and tied the cords of the cuffed white shirt. I pulled on the dark breeches and took up my tunic.
Black velvet, it was. And in the centre was the crest of my house, embroidered with silver thread. It had been my brother's tunic.
He had given it to me after Mother's death to console me. It was meant to be a ceremonial possession, a memento.
Brother looked like a prince in it. Mother had loved it when he wore the tunic to dances and banquets.
I slid it on and brushed my thick hair back. Taking a narrow strip of leather, I tied it behind me.
I washed my face in a cool basin of water, which had been left there the night before. Sighing as I dried my face, I cleaned my teeth and sat back down on my bed.
A gentle knock at the door, "Lady Ariaelle?"
I unlocked the door and opened it.
There stood Faramir, Captain of the Ithilien Rangers, Son of the Steward of Gondor.
"My lord," I said, bowing my head.
"Rise." He said softly.
I rose and looked at him. Tentatively, I stepped back, allowing him to enter.
"Are you well rested?" he asked.
"Yes, my lord."
"Please, don't call me that anymore. It's very difficult to talk that way."
I lowered my eyes in silent compliance.
"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly. He put a gentle hand to my forehead. Satisfied, he drew his hand back and asked, "Do you wish to leave now?"
There, I was to return to Minas Tirith. "Whatever you wish, sir."
"No 'sir'. No 'my lord'. Same with the rest. Please? It gets very...very burdensome."
"I can ride back alone."
"What are you talking about?" he asked sharply.
I didn't reply. I was afraid that I'd burst into tears.
"Oh, I see." He murmured after a while, "I'm sorry. Will you walk with me?"
Apprehensively, I took his arm.
Was he jesting? This was no joke. Why didn't he just send me home and be done with it, I thought impatiently.
He led me out of my room and we walked along the stone corridors. The depressing gray suited my mood. There was no sign of timber or any wooden section of the building.
"What is this place?" I asked, lips parted slightly in awe.
"Ithilien's refuge, Henneth-Annun." He answered.
"Henn-neth A-nnun." I pronounced slowly, "The Window...on...on the West?"
"Mmm hmm." Faramir said.
"Oh."
We walked along a secluded hall and out one of the doors. The Anduin flowed nearby to my right. It curved into the trees ahead of us and out of sight. The woods seemed quiet. Behind me and to the left, I heard the echoes of gleeful laughter from several men and then a sharp one who barked at them, "Silence, you fools. Do you want me to fetch the Captain? Do you want him to see you all like this? Get back to work!"
A playful snort erupted from Faramir. "Damrod..." he chuckled.
I had to smile a bit. The Rangers did seem quite brotherly. Somehow, Faramir's presence seemed to affect my mood. I no longer felt angry or hopeless, but content and curious as to where he was leading me.
Faramir led me into the trees, through a path that only he knew well. The grass had been trodden on thoroughly, but only by one man. We entered a clearing. He looked back to see if I was still behind him and I nodded. He smiled a little and almost walked into a tree.
"Whoa..." he muttered, his nose almost touching the tree trunk.
I stopped in my tracks and giggled. Oh, he was charming all right, but this was beyond...
Beyond what?
Whoa...I almost said out loud. Now, what are you thinking?
Whatever it is, it will NEVER happen. Faramir belongs with a lady.
I'm a lady.
A feminine one, with pretty lashes and a softer voice. No one wants to hear your own honking trap.
I don't have a honking trap! Who do you think you are?
Me, myself and I.
I swerved back to reality and realised that Faramir was laughing along with me. He ran a hand through his roughly cut hair and walked on. He crossed the clearing with long strides and I tried to keep up.
I wondered why this path was made for only one man to walk through it. I hastily covered my mouth when I realised that I had spoken aloud.
"Oh, only I come through here." Came the answer.
"Why?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"Because...everyone needs their own private spot in this world." He said solemnly.
I stifled another onslaught of giggles. "Oh really? I shall have to search for my own then, I guess."
"You'll find it."
I smiled at his back. It was good that he couldn't see me.
I don't know, am I allowed to smile at him?
You have already.
I rolled my eyes and collided with Faramir, who had stopped.
"Daydreaming, are we?" he mused, helping me up.
"You could say that, my lord."
"Remember, no pretense."
"Of course, s-"
"Ah."
"-ir." I finished obstinately.
Since when had we become so friendly? When had I decided to laugh and not ponder over what to say next?
Since this morning, I remarked.
Why am I talking to him like this? He's the second heir to Gondor's throne! He's not some...some...
He's not just somebody.
He doesn't stand by, he pulls himself together and stands up to get work done. He's charismatic. He's charming. He's intelligent. He's kind and sweet and...
What?
Good looking?
All right, you know what? PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER.
I followed him a little farther and he moved a branch aside.
I ducked under and my lips parted in awe.
"It's so beautiful," I sighed.
"You like it?"
"Of course!"
He sat down against a tree and motioned me to sit also. I settled on the grass near Faramir, with the bare minimal of etiquette: amount of space, between us.
Across us lay a serene section of the majestic River Anduin. Before us, the grass melted into sand and pebbles. The Anduin licked at the shore. In the background, the Eastern Mountains loomed, casting a shadow on the other side of the river. I turned to Faramir.
He seemed to be watching something very intently. Following his gaze, I beheld the reason for this exact spot as his hideout.
Minas Tirith lay against the mountain. "Oh." I said softly, understanding so much with just a quick glance.
"Faramir?" I addressed him by name, hoping that he didn't mind.
His blue-gray eyes met mine.
I flinched. Turn away, turn away, the voice in my head cried.
Amazingly, we saw nothing before he drew back his gaze. I lay back, my brain swimming ferociously. It was close.
But it didn't happen.
Was it because Faramir had already seen before? Was it because he turned away?
I sucked in deep breaths. One. Two. Three. The mental stress and fear had done as much as I was afraid it could.
Weakly, I turned on my side, my front facing Faramir. I closed my eyes and tried to regain some of my strength.
I felt his hand open mine and drop his healing pendant in my palm. He clasped my hand and after a moment (which I supposed he used to touch his own forehead), he touched mine. Then, I felt two fingers on my pulse.
Almost instantly, energy flooded my body. After a few minutes he closed off and removed his pendant.
"Thank you." I said.
"Not a problem."
I smiled a little and sat up slowly.
"Well..." he began, "I brought you here because-" he stopped for a long moment, as if he were pondering the reason.
"I brought you here because I wanted to tell you that I...well...um, I'll let you stay in Ithilien."
I stared at him in astonishment.