**Author's Notes:
This is a little chapter that basically tells you what was going on with Faramir when Eomer and Eowyn were having their lunch.**


***************Chapter 23***************


Faramir sighs deeply, rubbing at his chin as he sits in his study looking over the plans to rebuild the first circle. He looks up as his aide comes in to remind him he was to have lunch with King Elessar today and discuss the building plans. With a nod he stands and smooths out his black robe that bore the symbol of the Steward of Gondor on the front. He rolls up the plans and then grabs them as he heads from the room, the plans under on arm, the white rod of the Stewards under his other. He leaves the study that was once his father's and makes his way from the rebuilt House of Stewards and across the courtyard to the entrance to the home of the King. He nods to the guards as they open the door for him and then heads over to the room where he had had lunch for the past week. He had to admit, he very much liked Aragorn. He was a kind man who listened to everyone before making any decisions. And to Faramir's amazement, he chose Faramir's opinion most times over the rest of the councils. He can't help but smile at that as he stands at the closed door, waiting for the guard to announce him before he walks in. He nods to the king and queen before allowing one of the servants in the room to take the plans from him. With his hands free now he takes the white rod from under his arm and takes his usual seat at the table. "Good day my Lord, good day my Queen. My apologies if I am late. My Lord, you'll be happy to know I was able to figure out the problem we were having with rebuilding the first circle. We could take the material we need from....Osgilliath." He didn't want to do that, he would rather rebuild Osgilliath with what was left of it. But he couldn't find any other answer to finding the materials needed to rebuild the first circle so quickly. He smiles when the king agrees that was a good idea. He nods to a servant as they fill his goblet with wine. He looks at the food as it is set out on the table and only after being given permission does he place some of the food onto his plate. The bread was still warm and fresh. Oh it would go great with the small dish of butter set beside his plate for him. He loved fresh bread. Especially when it was made in Dol Amroth. His Uncle's cook made the most delicious bread. He looks up at Arwen when she asks him a question. With a smile on his face he nods. "I have sent them to her with the messenger today, my Queen. We had agreed today would be the day to send out our letters. I hope she is well." He sighs softly, smiling when Arwen says that she most likely was. He nods to her, then finishes buttering his piece of fresh bread. There is much small talk as they eat. Mostly about family life around the castle and nearby villages. He can't help smiling. He enjoyed these lunches with the King and Queen. And he knew why they kept inviting him. He had a feeling it had to do with something Boromir had impressed upon Aragorn before his death. Like that Faramir would need someone. It just went to prove, Boromir was looking after him, even in death.

He looks up from his lunch as Aragorn asks him if he would tell him about Boromir. He is stunned for a moment but then he realizes what Aragorn was asking and he smiles as he nods. "As you wish. Would you like to know my fondest memory of him?" He nods again and then begins to tell about the time Boromir taught him how to fight.

He laughs and wipes at his eyes, having laughed so hard while telling the story that he had gotten tears in his eyes. "And then he said he was not going to train me again. Not if he was responsible to produce the next heir to the Stewardship." He smiles and shakes his head, then looks up as Aragorn says something. He smiles sheepishly and shrugs. "It was the closest thing I could think of to hit with my being in a headlock. Boromir was quite strong." He finishes the meat on his plate and looks at the Queen, smiling at her when she explains that she had never done such a thing to her brothers. "Did you not? Well you would have if Boromir had you in a headlock. He had quite a good grip with his right arm." He was amazed he hadn't burst into tears when talking of Boromir. But there was just something about these two that made him feel comfortable and at peace. He knew both were old enough to be his mother and father, though they didn't look much older than him, so maybe that was it. Aragorn certainly seemed to want to play the part of his father or brother. And even though at first he didn't want to disrespect the memory of his own father and brother, he now couldn't help finding himself drawn to Aragorn. And Arwen was so wise and kind. Yes he very much liked these two.

When lunch is finished and the table cleared, he sets the plans out before the king, sitting closer to the man so that he could show him the changes he had made. Truth be told he was hoping Aragorn agreed to restore the city to how it had once been. It had been a beautiful city. "And this will allow for better defense, Sire. Incase of an attack." He sees the nod and smiles, turning to another plan and discussing it with the king. His hearing catches onto a soft sound and he turns his head to look at the Queen who was watching the two of them. Aragorn had noticed as well and now both men were looking at Arwen. She simply explains that she had thought the scene in front of her quite a nice one, to see the two of them working together. Faramir wondered why she thought that, she'd seen them working together before.

He smiles as he clears the plans off the table, excusing himself from the room. The King and Queen were needed elsewhere so the lunch meeting had been called short. He makes his way back to his study, stopping long enough to dwell for a moment in the sun out in the courtyard. When he finally returns to his study he sets the plans down and pulls out a piece of paper from one of his desk drawers. He dips his quill pen into the small bottle of ink and starts to write. It was yet another letter to his beloved Eowyn. He wanted to tell her how the Queen had thought that Aragorn and himself looked like father and son while working on the plans. He thought it was interesting really. So he was telling Eowyn about it.