I'm not sure if this is breaking away from the book or not, actually. Oops. I'm always saying that I've got to read the book again to make sure but I have like 5 books that I have not read and now I'm reading this library book I have to return soon… so yeah. Forgive me if it breaks away from the book/timelines/appendices, but it makes sense to me!

*&*

Three years later…

*&*

CHAPTER 10 : Departure

*&*

"As your first duty as a Captain of Gondor, I am sending you to Osgiliath to lead the soldiers there. Make sure that they are alert and ready at all times. Osgiliath has been attacked before, and I will not yield it once again."

Faramir bowed and left the hall to get ready for his short journey.

Aislin brought his fresh clothes to him. "So, how does it feel to be promoted?" she asked.

He stuffed the clothes into his bags, and grinned at her. "Of course it feels good. But I don't really want to go to Osgiliath," he confessed. "I didn't think that becoming a captain would mean that I had to leave Minas Tirith."

"What's wrong with leaving Minas Tirith?"

Faramir took Aislin's hand, and held it tight. "I'd have to leave you, you see." He shyly drew her closer and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

Aislin blushed and drew her hand out of his. "I… I have a lot of work to get done," she said. She gave him a quick hug, and then left his room.

*&*

Aislin's cheeks burned as she hurried down the hallway. For three years she had tried and tried to make herself fall in love with Faramir. She loved him, of course, but she never felt like she was in love with him. Every time he kissed her or said something sweet to her, she could not escape from the pang of guilt that shot straight at her heart. He was so sweet, so tender, so sensitive, and here she was, lying to him, using him. Why? Just because she feared rejection, because she enjoyed thinking that someone thought the sun rose and set wherever she was. What a harlot she was!

So absorbed she was in her own thoughts that she did not notice someone walking towards her until she had crashed right into him. She lost her balance, and would have fallen, had he not grabbed her arm and steadied her. "Are you all right, Aislin? I am so sorry… I should have watched where I was going…" Boromir said, flustered.

As always, her heart skipped a beat. "No, no I'm fine. I should have been the one watching where I was going," she said, trying not to meet his eyes. She never wanted to look into his eyes, because she would just drown in them, and lose herself. "Are you going to speak to Faramir?"

Boromir nodded. She noted that he also did not meet her eyes. "Yes, I thought that I would just tell my little brother a thing or two about being a captain. It is a huge responsibility, and I want to make sure that he will know exactly how to handle it."

"Yes, yes, that's good. Well… I have a lot of work to do," Aislin said, and hurried on her way, forcing herself not to look back.

*&*

Boromir knocked on the door and entered his brother's room. Faramir was still packing his things. "I hope I don't forget anything…" he muttered.

"I'm sure you won't. Anyway, Osgiliath isn't at the end of the earth. You don't need to bring your whole room with you, you know," Boromir joked. "There isn't a huge library there, but there are books, so don't worry about that."

Faramir laughed. "I'm not worried about books. Somehow I get the feeling that I will not have much of a chance to be reading any books while I'm there. I have to keep things up, you know. The soldiers there have seen you; they'd expect no less from me."

"You'd live up to their expectations, little brother. You're a good soldier as well, despite what you think, and despite what Father thinks. I see it in you. You'll make us all proud."

Faramir nodded. "You'll take care of Aislin, won't you?"

Would you trust me with her, little brother? Still, Boromir said, "Of course I will. You didn't even need to ask, little brother."

Faramir sighed, and suddenly Boromir could not help but think that his brother knew that there was something between him and Aislin. Then Faramir smiled, and Boromir wondered if he had imagined it all. "Good. I'll really miss her. I didn't think that becoming a captain would require me to leave Minas Tirith. I wish I could bring her to Osgiliath with me."

For your sake, and mine, I wished you could do that too, little brother, Boromir thought.

*&*

The next day, at morning's first light, Faramir began his journey. Aislin and Boromir stood next to each other at their favourite place next to the beacon, watching Faramir ride away, little more than a tiny speck. The sun was rising, but Aislin did not remember to savour its beauty. "Please let Faramir be safe," she said softly.

"Don't worry, Aislin, he will be safe."

"There's talk of evil in the east… Osgiliath is just in its path."

"I do not think that whatever shadow is growing is strong enough to attack Osgiliath just yet. It is not something we will have to worry about for now."

Aislin frowned, and Boromir put his hand on her shoulder. She jerked a little, but let his hand remain where it was.