CHAPTER 25 : Strangers
*&*
Faramir yawned and got up, looking at the thin veil of water tumbling down from above. It was a beautiful sight, Henneth Annûn, especially at sunrise and sunset. That was definitely one of the things he liked about being the Captain of the Rangers of Ithilien. But on the other hand, being Captain of the Rangers was something like being banished, and that thought always hit him extremely hard when he was feeling particularly down or upset. His father had definitely not waited very long to switch him to being a Captain of the Rangers.
So much for Boromir saying that Gondor will be safe in my hands. I'm not even in Osgiliath or Minas Tirith, but roughing it out in the wild! He sighed, thinking about his brother. It had been a week ago when he saw his brother, lying dead in a boat with his arms, and the armour of his felled enemies. The sight had filled him with sadness, but Boromir seemed so much at peace, and he had died honourably. Then Boromir's horn had washed up on the shore, cloven in two. That was all the confirmation Faramir needed. His brother was gone.
Sadness no longer came to Faramir's when he thought about that, but a silent, heavy feeling made its way into his heart. What are we to do now, without Boromir? He had asked himself that one night, and was only answered by the sound of the waterfall. That question followed him about every day, and every night, and he could never find an answer, only emptiness.
You must have known, in some way. You must have known the danger, you must have known what was about to happen. Perhaps you didn't even realise it yourself, but you must have felt something. That was why you wouldn't let me go. My brother, if only you had let me go to Rivendell instead, things would be different. I wouldn't be lost now, without your comforting words and your advice. I need you, my brother. We all do.
Faramir shook his head, and blinked to clear away the tears that had begun to sting his eyes. He stood up. Boromir was lost to Gondor now, and there was nothing he could do to change that. What he could do was to keep up his brother's work, and keep his people safe.
*&*
"Mother?" Liana peeked into the room, holding a cup. "Here, Mother, drink some water. It might make you feel better."
Aislin looked down at the child, saw the concern in her round, bright eyes. "Thank you, Liana." She took a sip from the cup. "Why do you suddenly call me 'Mother'?"
Liana smiled and climbed into bed, hugging Aislin to her. "Because you're my mother now. I can barely remember my real mother. I feel sorry about that sometimes, because she died to save me, but I cannot remember her face now. And you've been taking care of me for so long… you're my mother now, just like Boromir is my father."
Boromir. You broke your promises… you're never coming back. But you came to me in my sleep, kissed me goodbye in my dreams. You left before I could tell you one more time how much I love you, you left before I could find the words. I love you. I need you, my love. We all do.
Aislin tightened her grip on Liana. This was as good a time to tell her as any. "Liana… Boromir isn't coming back to Minas Tirith anymore. He's left Middle-earth, Liana, just like your real mother."
Liana looked up into Aislin's eyes, and a smile broke across her face slowly. "I know. He came to see me last night when I was sleeping. He told me to be a good girl and to take care of you. He said not to cry for him, that he was happy. I don't know what he meant, but he said that we'd be saved," she told Aislin sincerely. Aislin's eyes widened, but there was no lie in Liana's eyes. Of course not. Why would the girl want to lie about something like that?
And Aislin had every reason to believe Liana. After all, Boromir had also come to her in a dream. He'd left Gondor for Rivendell because of a dream.
All because of a dream. But he said that we'd be saved.
*&*
Faramir concealed himself in the bushes, next to one of his men. They watched silently as the Haradhrim made their way towards Mordor, slowly but surely. There were the Mumakil as well, huge creatures that used to fill Faramir with terrifying delight when he heard tales of them as a boy. Now, he felt nothing, just the knowledge that if he managed to bring one of them down, it would be one less for him and his men to fight against when the attack against Gondor came.
The ranger next to him made the bird call, the signal for them to all get ready. He took an arrow from his quiver. This was definitely not the first time they were doing this. It never turned the enemy back, but at least it reduced their number, no matter how insignificantly. Faramir felt a twinge of sadness and regret for the soldier he had picked out to be his target. He looked to be about Faramir's age, and Faramir wondered if he had left anyone behind, if he had a younger brother back home who would mourn his death, feeling lost without an elder brother's presence. Then he hardened his heart. This is war, there is no mercy. He nodded, and gave the signal, and the arrows of the rangers flew out as one.
*&*
The Haradhrim yelled out as the unfortunate ones among them fell. They began firing, but none of the Rangers were hurt, simply because the Haradhrim had no idea where to shoot. Faramir smiled grimly to himself, loosing arrow after arrow. Then he noticed three small figures crouching over a rock. He frowned, but when he looked closer, there were only two figures left. He gestured to one of the Rangers, wanting them to go find out who those figures were. He had certainly never seen them before. He got up to move over to them, and let one last arrow fly. The fallen soldier landed just at the feet of the strangers.