CHAPTER 23 : The Dream

*&*

Seek for the Sword that was broken;
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand.

*&*

Faramir groaned, and opened his eyes. It was still dark outside; the sun would only rise in a few hours' time. But it was time for him to get out of bed, and prepare for his journey to Osgiliath. Yet… what was that dream that he had had? What did it mean? He somehow had some recollection of having such a dream; this was definitely not the first time it had entered his slumber. But he just could not understand.

He dressed and left his room, grabbing his sword. Perhaps Boromir would know something of what the dream meant.

Boromir had just risen as well, and was buckling on his belt when Faramir entered. He took one look at Faramir's face, and frowned. "What's wrong, Faramir?"

"Nothing, actually. It was just this dream that I had… I cannot understand it, yet it seems to hold some important meaning." Faramir went on to tell his brother of the dream. "It must be of great importance, but what does it mean? Do you have any idea?"

Boromir shook his head. "Such a dream has come to be once, but I put it out of my mind, thinking it some riddle I dreamed up in a moment of worry. But if it should come to the both of us, twice to you, it must hold some significance. Yet I cannot understand it as well. We need someone of greater wisdom. I will ask Father later today."

"Yes, that is a good idea," Faramir agreed. "I shall return to Osgiliath, then. I have left the men for too long."

*&*

 "I cannot tell you what it means, but this I can say: Imladris is the old name for Rivendell, where Elrond the Half-Elven dwells."

Faramir walked out of his father's hall alongside Boromir, both deep in thought about what to do next. It had been three days since they both had the dream, and it had not returned. Yet Faramir knew that it was no less urgent. If he was to go to Rivendell, he could seek the counsel of Elrond, and perhaps find the answer to the riddle. Surely it meant something. And if he could just know what to do about it, perhaps he could save his country. Sauron would strike again, that was certain. It was just a question of time. And if Faramir could have a race with evil, perhaps, just perhaps, he could save his people.

"I'll go to Rivendell," Faramir said firmly. "I will seek the counsel of Elrond. He will know what is going on."

"The journey will be long, and not without dangers, especially in such evil times," Boromir said, shaking his head. "No, I will go."

"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself on this journey, there is no need for you to try to protect me," Faramir protested. "I'm more well-read and I know more of lore than you do, you know it well. Perhaps my knowledge would be able to help in some way."

Boromir laughed. "Master Elrond is far wiser than any of us are. What knowledge do you think you could have that he does not already possess? Trust me, my brother, on this matter, it doesn't matter at all how much we've read, because the wisdom does not lie with us. I will go. You have other things to attend to, don't you?"

"You are a better captain than I am, you lead the men in a far better way. If anything happens to Gondor during this journey, it would be better if you were the one here leading our soliders," Faramir pointed out.

Boromir looked his younger brother straight in the eye. "You are a good leader as well, Faramir, as I have told you time and again. Gondor will be safe under your charge."

"But…"

The look in Boromir's eyes stopped Faramir. "I've never told you to do anything before, Faramir, but now I'm telling you: stay in Gondor. I will go to Rivendell."

*&*

"So, are you all right?"

Aislin looked at Faramir, a little surprised. "Of course I am. Why do you ask?"

Faramir shrugged. "Well, I was just wondering about what you felt about… Boromir going to Rivendell. It's a really long journey there."

"Yes, it is a very long journey, and I am a little worried for him. Who wouldn't be? But such journeys have been made before. Boromir is strong and capable, I'm sure he'll be all right."

A shadow passed over Aislin's face, and Faramir frowned. She definitely wasn't as carefree as she was trying to make herself seem to be. "You don't have to hide anything from me, you know. You can tell me anything. I'm your best friend, I want to know if I can help."

"It's nothing, just a silly girl's fear." Aislin saw the look that Faramir gave her, and sighed. "It's nothing, I'm sure. But… just somehow I feel like this journey of Boromir's is going to go wrong. I don't know why, I've never felt this afraid for him before, even when he rode out to war, I wasn't so worried…" She broke off.

"Osgiliath wasn't so far away, and at least you knew he was going to war. As for this, it's a much longer journey, and one can never really tell what he's going to be riding off into," Faramir said, trying to comfort his friend. "Anyone would be worried for him, as you said. I understand. Don't scare yourself too much."

Aislin nodded, but still she could not shake away the fear.