Let's take another jump in time! Let's push it forward to the year 3015 of the 3rd Age. That would make Faramir and Aislin 32, and Boromir 37.

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CHAPTER 17 : Liana

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Boromir walked hand in hand with Aislin through the gardens, both oblivious to whoever was watching, and also to whatever was happening around them. Lost in their own world for two, they cared not about anyone else, but only for each other.

Nine years had passed, nine peaceful years, and it had felt to Aislin as if it had all been a dream. A beautiful, golden dream, full of warm memories. A beautiful journey, with Boromir holding her every step of the way. And there was no other way she would have it.

Her mother had lamented the fact that she was not yet married, but Aislin had only laughed. "It doesn't get any better than this, Mother. I cannot marry Boromir, but I can love him, and he loves me. What more can we ask for? I am thankful for what I have, and perhaps one day the Steward will yield." And that was what she truly hoped for, the last thing that she could ask for: the blessing of the Steward. Surely he knew what was going on between her and his son, but for some reason he seemed to ignore it. He treated her like any other servant. Before him, she and Boromir adopted a formal relationship, servant to lord, though one observant enough would find that he treated her with more gentleness than the others.

"Tomorrow Faramir will be coming back to Minas Tirith." Saying that no longer brought a shadow over them. Things had been sorted out, and Faramir seemed rather happy as he was, and once again the three of them were able to spend time together without the shadow of guilt, or embarrassment, or awkwardness. Once again, the three of them were the best of friends, with no rift between any two.

"Yes, it would be wonderful to see him again." Boromir smiled.

*&*

Faramir sat with some of his soldiers at their post, eating a simple meal with them. He had been their captain for twelve years, and there was without any doubt a bond that had grown between soldiers and captain. When on duty, the soldiers respected his every decision, and when off duty, they cracked jokes and made merry conversation with him. Faramir had begun to enjoy his time in Osgiliath, where he felt like he was truly needed, and where he felt that he was truly of use. It was simple; his father was not in Osgiliath, and in Osgiliath people believed in him.

"Well, I think I should call it a day," he said, standing up. "I have to go to Minas Tirith tomorrow, and tell the Steward that you are all fine men here." The soldiers cheered, and he grinned at them. "So… enjoy your night duties." He winked as they groaned and made his way back to his room.

He passed a dark street, and turned sharply when he heard a scream. Running towards the sound, he saw a woman fall to the ground, and a figure disappearing into the night. A thief? There had not been one for quite a while. He gave chase, shouting for some of the guards, and after awhile two guards were running at his side. He left them to do the chasing, and hurried back to the woman.

She gasped as he held her in his arms, and he found in horror that she was bleeding profusely. Who would be so inhumane as to stab a defenceless woman? "He took all the money I have for the family!"

"It's all right, we'll take care of you," Faramir said soothingly, trying to keep her from panicking. But the truth was, he did not know if she would survive the wound.

"My daughter… my daughter Liana… take care of her…" And then she went limp.

A tear fell down Faramir's cheek as he held on to her tightly. Then he heard the soft crying, and realised that a little girl was kneeling not too far away, hiding behind some wooden crates. "Come here, I won't hurt you," he said to her gently. Slowly, the girl inched her way next to him, and touched her mother's hand. She began to cry harder and harder, and Faramir put an arm around her.

Some soldiers found him there, one arm cradling the dead woman, the other holding on to the crying child.

*&*

Faramir watched as Liana ate the soup she had been given. He had not slept the whole night, but he did not feel tired at all. The thief had been caught, and would be dealt with most severely. Faramir could not bear deciding whether to have him hanged, and had left that to his second-in-command to decide. What was most important now was to decide what to do with Liana. There was no one here who could take care of her, and having her stay with him was just out of the question. He would have no time for her, and the thought of bringing up a child of four was not something that he wanted to think about yet.

He watched her silently, and then the thought came to him. Why had he not thought of it before?

Liana looked up at him as he leaned forward. "How would you like to go to Minas Tirith, Liana?"

*&*

Faramir did not ride as fast as he usually did, extremely conscious of the tiny figure sitting before him in the saddle, holding on to his arm tightly. He smiled at her gasp as they entered Minas Tirith. "It's so big!"

"Yes, it is. But don't worry, you will be safe here," he told her softly. Liana nodded bravely, and he tightened his hold on her protectively.

She watched in amazement as they rode up and up to the Steward's hall. Faramir dismounted, and then carried Liana down after him. "Are we going in there?" She pointed to the great doors of the hall, looming over her. "Who's in there?"

Faramir smiled at her curiosity and innocence. "Yes, we're going in there to see my father. He's the Steward of Gondor, you see, he's in charge of everything that happens in Gondor. I have to make my report to him, tell him about what is happening in Osgiliath."

"Will he want to see me?" Liana held onto Faramir's hand tightly.

Faramir smoothed her hair. "Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. Just keep quiet and let me do the talking, all right?"

Faramir felt Liana shaking as they approached the doors. He hid it a lot better than she did, but he was shaking too.

*&*

Denethor watched as his son walked up to stand before him, holding the hand of a little girl. Faramir had to bend a little to keep a hold on her hand. Who is this girl?

"You're later than usual," he remarked when the two stopped before him.

Faramir bowed. "I apologise, my Lord, but there was… a slight complication in matters."

Denethor looked down at the girl. "And who are you?"

"Liana," she half-whispered, shrinking behind Faramir.

"I brought her to Minas Tirith, my Lord. I was hoping to leave her in Aislin's charge. Her mother was a victim of a thief last night, and suffered a fatal wound. Liana has no one in Osgiliath to care for her, and so I thought that the best place for her was here in Minas Tirith," Faramir explained hurriedly.

"What of the thief?"

"Caught, my Lord, and dealt with. There is no need to worry about him any longer."

Denethor looked down at Liana. He doubted that there was absolutely no one in Osgiliath to take care of her. It was more likely that Faramir had not really tried. But since he had already brought the girl to Minas Tirith… there would be no harm in leaving the girl with Aislin. Perhaps she would take up more of Aislin's time, and stop Aislin's liaison with Boromir. Did the two really think he didn't know? What had gotten into Boromir's head, to spend so much time with a servant girl? He nodded. "All right, then. You may take the girl to Aislin, and then come to finish your report to me later."

Faramir nodded, and left the hall.

*&*

Faramir gave a sigh of relief as soon as he was out of the hall. He had been worried that Denethor would want Liana sent back to Osgiliath. But now things were going just as he hoped. Now he would just have to persuade Aislin to take Liana in.

*&*

Aislin hummed a merry tune to herself as she hung up the washing. It was a beautiful day today, the skies blue, a light breeze in the air. And she would be meeting Boromir later, when he was taking a break for lunch. After that they would go and look for Faramir.

"Aislin!"

She wheeled round in surprise. "Faramir! Done with your report already?" she asked, giving him a quick hug. "It's so good to see you again."

Faramir grinned at her. "Same to you. And no, I haven't finished with my report." He stepped aside, and Aislin saw the little girl standing behind him.

"Oh, and who is this?" she asked, kneeling down and patting the girl's head.

"Her name is Liana. I brought her over from Osgiliath."

"Well, well, well. So you've adopted a daughter?" Aislin smiled up at Faramir. Liana was staring at Aislin with her big, brown eyes.

"No, but I was hoping that you would adopt her. Could you wait here a while, Liana? I have to speak with Aislin for a while, all right?" Faramir drew Aislin aside and explained everything to her. "My father said that it would be all right to leave her in your charge. Please say yes, Aislin."

Aislin kept quiet, and looked over to Liana, now picking a flower and examining its petals. A smile broke spread slowly across her face. "How could I refuse her, Faramir?"

Faramir hugged Aislin in relief.

*&*

The other women were all very excited to see Liana, and she seemed a little surprised to have so many people fussing over her. One woman produced a little dress just her size. "My daughter wore that when she was a child," she said, passing it to Aislin. "I have kept a few more, and we can always make more for the child."

"Thank you." Aislin smiled and went to make sure that Liana had a good bath and changed into clean clothes. Well, now she had a daughter.

*&*

Boromir was surprised to see Liana and shocked to hear about what had happened to her mother, but he accepted her with no questions asked. He was unused to children, though, and Aislin found it rather amusing, as he was rather awkward around Liana.

"What is this for?" Liana pointed towards the beacon.

"Well, when Minas Tirith needs to call for aid, we will light this beacon, and then the message will be passed from one beacon to another, all the way to Rohan, and then the Rohirrim will send help to us," Boromir explained.

Aislin laughed to see the confused look on Liana's face. "Boromir! She's only three, she doesn't understand you." Boromir turned bright red, and even Liana laughed.

*&*

Boromir lay awake at night, thinking about the day that had passed, and the little addition into his life. Liana was a sweet child, and he liked her already, but he just had no idea how to treat her. How much did she understand, and how much was a mystery to her? What did you think of when you were four? He had absolutely no recollection of his own thoughts when he was her age, nor any recollection of Faramir when he was four.

Faramir was a lot better with the child than he was, though. He was extremely gentle with her, and knew just when to laugh when she spoke, and when to take her perfectly seriously (even though what the girl was saying made absolutely no sense).

Boromir smiled to himself. Maybe he had been a soldier for too long, but that was all right. He was going to treat Liana just like his own. After all, this was probably the closest to marriage he'd get with Aislin.