Well here we are again, another new chapter! And so sorry to break the news… but we need another fast-forward! I seem to really, really like fast-forwards. They just keep the story from being boring and long-winded. Especially if they're stories like mine that stretch over YEARS.
So now I present you with a fast-forward to the year 3018. Aislin and Faramir are now 36 (ooh, getting old!) and Boromir is a whopping 41 (haha fine so that's not all that old, especially when you consider Aragorn and the Elves =0P).
The first part of this chapter is still in the year 3015, though.
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CHAPTER 20 : The Time Has Come
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"Aislin, I dismiss you from my service."
Aislin's eyes widened, and she looked up at the stern man staring down at her. "My Lord…"
"Don't you think I have not seen you with Boromir. And don't you think that I approve. I don't believe that serving me is the best for you, and for my son."
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"Father, what is this you have done, dismissing Aislin from your service?" For once Boromir cared nothing about angering his father. This was simply too much.
Denethor did not even bat an eyelid. "I thought that this wasn't the best place for her, and therefore I asked her to go home. Anyway, she has a child to look after now, one cannot expect her to keep working for me."
"Other women have had children, and I did not see you dismissing them!"
Denethor turned to face his son, his face black as a thundercloud. "I did not see you so worried when I dismissed other servants! I've seen the both of you together! I have warned the both of you, but my warning was ignored!"
Boromir met his father's glare unflinchingly. "I am sorry your warning was ignored, Father, and I have to apologise to you now, because I will not stop seeing Aislin. I love her, and that's more important than anything else." He turned and stalked out of the room.
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YEAR 3018, MAY
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"Faramir! Faramir!"
Faramir stooped to catch the giggling child in his arms and swing her around. "Hello, Liana. My, aren't you getting bigger everyday, my little lady?"
Liana blushed and nodded, evidently pleased at being called a little lady. Then she squirmed, wanting Faramir to let her down. He did so, and she waved as Aislin walked over, hand-in-hand, with Boromir. Aislin smiled, giving Faramir a hug and a friendly kiss on his cheek. "Welcome back to Minas Tirith once more," she said. Faramir grinned before Boromir gave him a hearty whack.
"Welcome back, little brother!"
"Thanks," Faramir said, rubbing his shoulder. "But you didn't need to do that." Boromir just laughed and winked.
"Perhaps I would have to drag Faramir back to my home again and rub ointment on the bruise?" Aislin suggested playfully. "Too bad the bruise is not on your forehead."
"I don't trip over laundry baskets anymore, Aislin, and haven't done that for years," Faramir replied, picking Liana up again. "So, now that I've given my report… what's for lunch?"
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Once again they sat by the beacon, as they always did. Faramir chewed at his bread, quite contented to let the moment last without bringing up any grim news. He watched Liana play, saw Aislin and Boromir talk to each other, still very much in love. His mind drifted back to those times twenty years ago (had it really been that long?), when they were all so young, so naïve. At that time he had felt like he was fighting a losing battle with his brother for the love of Aislin, and now he saw that he could and would never be more than best friends with Aislin. At that time he had had so few responsibilities, and now he was in charge of the safety of a whole city. At that time they had all been simple, and now they all had a hand in raising a child (Aislin and Boromir especially), and it was evident to all that they had truly grown up.
But some things had not changed. He still laughed over jokes with Aislin and Boromir, and they still never abandoned the habit of eating their meals by the beacon. Some things would just last until it was impossible for them to be continued any longer, and he was grateful for that.
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Aislin went to play with Liana, and Boromir seized the chance. He moved to sit beside his brother. "What news from Osgiliath, Faramir? You seem a little troubled."
Faramir sighed, swallowing the last of his bread. "I can't help thinking that something is coming to Osgiliath soon. I asked if I could have more troops, just in case, but Father said that there's enough soldiers, that everything's fine the way it is now. He says that there's nothing too big that Mordor can't throw at us, but I don't know…" He shook his head, looking down at his boots. "I really love that city, Boromir. I wasn't born there, nor did I grow up there, but there's something about that place that really feels like home now. The people know me, and they have faith in me. Faith I… I never really found in Minas Tirith."
Because I'm in Minas Tirith, Boromir couldn't help thinking. But there was nothing much that he could do if his father had already given the order to have no soldiers moved to Osgiliath. "Get the people of Osgiliath to move away from Mordor, to move into the city, closer to Minas Tirith. If need be, move some of them in Minas Tirith, I'll make sure that they're taken care of and given a place to stay. That way, if anything happens, it'd be easier to get the people, particularly the women and children, out of Osgiliath and into Minas Tirith. At least we would be able to keep as many of them safe."
Faramir nodded. "Yes, I did think of that. I'll make sure it's done when I return tomorrow."
"Good. You're a good captain, Faramir. Don't forget that."
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YEAR 3018, JUNE
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"Grab your weapons! Grab your arms!" Faramir rushed through the city, yelling orders to the guards on duty, and calling for the soldiers off-duty. "Defend the city!"
It had come at last, the attack on Osgiliath. As he ran through the streets, he felt extremely grateful for having taken Boromir's advice. Many of the people were in Minas Tirith, and he had just given the order to have as many more people rushed to Minas Tirith as it was safe. He and his men would keep the Orcs off for as long as they could. He just hoped that it would be long enough for all the civilians to reach safety. He grabbed a bow and shifted the sword at his side before rushing back to his soldiers, defending the city the best they could. Run, run for your lives, he thought silently, turning his head to see the women and children fleeing.
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"Open the gate! Let the people in! Quick, quick!"
Boromir looked down from the walls to see civilians coming towards Minas Tirith. The sound of swords came along with the wind, and he could see smoke rising from Osgiliath. Some of the women and children (and the older men) were on horses, but those running on foot were lagging behind. "Get horses out to help those falling behind!" he ordered. The guards around him nodded and went off to carry out his orders. Taking one last look at the people running in, Boromir turned and sprinted down to the gates to make sure that everything would be taken care of.
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"What's happening?" Liana wanted to know. "Why is there so much screaming?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, dear," Aislin told her. "Just stay inside with Grandma and listen to what she says. I'll go and take a look. I'll be back later, all right?" She ushered the six-year-old into the house and was gone before Liana replied.
Faramir's greatest fear had come true. Please let him be all right, Aislin prayed silently as she hurried down the streets to the gates.