Chapter Three

He remained alone, with no more tears left to cry for his brother. Just staring blankly at the window as he watched the last of the sunlight disappear over the horizon, the golden colour leaving his skin in an eerie darkness, making him look more like the un-dead than a small Prince. Boromir just listening the sounds of his own breaths leaving him, swearing that he could hear his brothers cries that drifted up from the dungeons. Though, it was just his imagination running away with him. Thinking about what pain and torment was in store for his brother this time. Only brought from his thoughts by the sound of footsteps upon the floor.

"Faramir?" Sitting up sharply, almost scrambling to his feet to look at the person in the doorway, his eyes dropping to the floor.

"Faramir is still in the dungeons, and that is where he is to remain" Denethor's own orbs searching his eldest as he walked closer "Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir..." Boromir let out a silent sigh as he just nodded, blinking as he watched his father drop to his knees in front of him.

"Boromir...My son..." Placing a kiss on the crown of his sons head, his hands still cupping the teens face "Do not worry for him. There is no time, nor need for it." His voice sounding in the soft tone that a father should use on their children, as he always did on his son...The only son that mattered to him anyhow. "You are my heir Boromir, and you make me proud in everything you do" Taking a step back, just looking at the boy whom as frowning slightly.

"Doesn't Faramir make you proud Father?" Though his question was overlooked, a small glint of anger rising in the mans eyes though it soon disappeared.

"You are not to go into the dungeons. That is all..." turning his back on Boromir as he waved his hand dismissively. The teen easily got the hint and nodded, turning and walking slowly out of the room.

He stopped, dead, in a split in the dark hallway. Three ways to choose from, three paths to take. To the left, his chambers, and a restless sleep. To the right, the road to the dungeons, to play brother and saviour. The emerald orbs flickered between one, then the other, before shaking his head and quickly continuing his journey straight ahead. Within a moment he felt the crisp night air upon his face, allowing a clean breath of relief to leave him, as he walked silently through the gardens. The small trees creating a canopy over the lad as he slowly walked along the white gravel path which soon opened into the small clearing, his destination. Blade callused reached down to pick up the rose that lay at his feet, as ever, carefully placed by his brother, as it had been every morning since their mothers death. Boromir dropped to his knees, just staring at the stone in front of him, a thorn digging into his fingertip drawing blood, that slowly made a path down his hand, mimicking the flow of tears that had re-emerged.

"Mother...I'm lost..." Though no answer came as he clasped his hands together around the rose in prayer. "Save me...Save Faramir..." Slowly looking down as a salt tear dripped from a petal of the flower and fell to the floor stained pink.

"You go!"

"No you go!" Boromir had made his way down into the dungeons, now standing in the shadows as he listened to the two half-witted guards arguing over one petty thing or another. The corridor was long, dark and damp, the putrid smell of blood and flesh rot seemed to weep out through the many small holes in the brick work; that seemed to do nothing except put a deathly chill in the prisoners. Boromir was so engrossed with trying to prevent himself from vomiting, that he didn't notice as one of the turnkeys gave a grunt of defeat and disappear down into the darkness of the corridor.

But Faramir did. His cell was at the very end. The small food port in the door was low enough to allow him to see out. To see the man approach the small stone room. To notice the eyes that never met his own. To notice the three thronged whip in his hand. Eyes widening as he scurried back to the furthest corner of the cell, trying to curl into a tiny ball, holding onto childish hopes that he wouldn't be seen.

"Get up" A voice that tried so hard to be emotionless and cold. "I said..." In a few short strides and the man was towering over the boy, pulling him sharply to his feet in one swift movement. "Get up" Faramir's chin slowly rose as he looked up at the dark man Make this not real. Make this a nightmare And as if for one beautiful moment, he heard the whip drop to the floor. Thank god. Thank god Though these thoughts were shaken from him as he heard the clank of metal. His hands were wrenched above his head, first one then the other; watching with a vacant expression as steal cuffs were clamped around the fragile wrists before being attached to a small chain in the ceiling, the small child letting out a small grunt of displeasure and protest as the chains stretched his arms, having to stand on his toes to stop his bones from snapping. Suddenly, a shiver ran through him, feeling the cold bite of metal on the back of his neck. A knife, that was pulled down sharply, tearing away the fabric of his tunic. Once more, Faramir just stared as the fine cloth was thrown aside.

"My mother gave me that" It was just a hollow, empty statement, cut off as the boy gasped, feeling a draft whip around his legs and groin and watched his leggings join the tunic. "What...What are you going to do to me?" The boy stood naked, shaking and shackled to the ceiling, looking around in a kind of tranced state. Let this be a nightmare

The only answer he got was a CRACK. Or rather, three, one from each of the small strands of leather. His body jolted, teeth cutting through the soft flesh of his lip, pain ebbed through every part of him, though his attentions was focussed on something else. Something was trailing down the inside of his forearm, tear laddened eyes looked up and just watched as the dark liquid appeared from under the cuffs, watching as it moved with a kind of sick grace down past his elbow.

"I'm bleeding" They were the last audible words to escape his lips before the whip came down again and again until he was pushed into the blessed state of unconsciousness.

As hard as he tried, upon hearing his brothers cries of pain, Boromir's stomach gave a lurch, causing the teen to drop sharply to his knees as a mixture of half digested food and bile squeezed up his throat before spilling onto the slimy stones in front of him. Sitting back on his heals he rose a hand to wipe the last of the nauseating substance from his trembling lips, his skin a milky white tinged with green, that looked almost translucent in the moonlight. Finally he staggered to his feet, one hand set firmly upon the wall for support. He could not tell how long he just stood there, his mind frozen in disbelief of what had just happened to his dear brother. Though at some point, he staggered down the hall, just staring in at the motionless figure, his fingers wrapped around the bars, his forehead pressed against the dirty metal as tears of sympathy shimmered in the moonlight.

It was cold. Slowly, bloodied eyes opened to just stare at the wall. He was shivering. Fresh blood was trickling from every orifice, from both natural and unnatural partings in the boys skin. With a grunt he pulled his arms from their position, curled tightly across his torso, wincing as he pulled apart the drying blood cells as he stood up, listening to the soft sound of suction as his limbs righted themselves. Taking a step forward, as if testing his legs he moved into the small pool of light in the centre of the cell and just stared at his body. Oh Gods

"Oh Gods" Faramir's head snapped up and stared at the figure at the door

"Boromir!" His voice raspy from crying. Ignoring the pain that was trying to take over every part of his body, he ran to the door, bloody arms reach out in almost desperation through the bars as the child almost immediately started to sob. "Get me out! Get me out!" The elder brother near fell backwards, just staring at the arms that flailed around like injured snakes that tried to snare him so avidly. "Please Boromir....Boromir.." The voice trailed off as the arms disappeared just as quickly as they had appeared in the first place.

His last words gave way to further sobs as he slid down the door, splinters from the course wood firmly logging themselves under already bloody fingernail. The boy was giving up. Curling into a tight fetal ball at the base of the door, trying to keep in any body heat that seemed to be escaping with his still flowing blood. But yet still, the feeble pleadings still escaped his bruised lips. Begging Boromir to save him this time. To wake him from this nightmare, to wrap him in his strong arms and carry him to his own bed to push him into happy dreams.

"Faramir...Don't cry...Brother, please don't cry..." Boromir's own voice threatening to crack with each syllable. His mind flying at a racing speed...Just as desperate to free Faramir as his brother was to get loose.

"Lord Boromir?" The teen sharply span around to face the speaker. Hazel eyes meeting dark, stern ones, owned by the broad man that now stood in front of him.

"Hamoon..." Boromir's knees almost giving way as he looked up at the Captain of his fathers guards. "I was just..." Cutting his words short as he felt a gentle hand upon his shoulder pushing him backwards carefully. His eyes widening as he watched the mans actions, a hand to the pocket...Out came a key...Slid into the look before Hamoon spoke.

"Keep him quiet Boromir..." The words were simple, but said enough. Boromir just nodded quickly as he watched the man drop to his knees to place a light cloak around the naked boy.

Faramir's eyes shot open as if the whip had been brought down upon his back once more. Immediately he began to move, pushing the cloak from his freshly marred shoulders, scrambling to his feet, and within a moment...He was out of the door, running into the darkness.

As his brother whirled past him disappearing down the long dark hall, Boromir just stared at Hamoon with an open mouth, though it was but a split second before the eldest took after his younger brother, who was out of site, but yet could still be followed, the sound of small feet slapping distinctively against the cold stone.

"Faramir...Faramir wait..." He hissed as he eventually got a grip on the boys wrist. Faramir just looked up at him, his eyes filled with a wild fire, a force that could not be reasoned with.

"Let me GO!" Trying to pull sharply from his brother without luck. After three or four more attempts, the boy, much like a frightened animal did only what he could do. Sinking his teeth into the soft flesh of his brothers wrist, he waited till he was free and off he disappeared once more.

Boromir let out a howl of pain, staring down at his now bleeding limb. Shocked. "What has he done..." The words were whispered as he just starred at a nearby painting of their father. Boromir's mind unable to set to where his brother would go...Where would he...

"LET ME GO TOO COME BACK" He didn't have to wait long, soon his brothers shouts filled the palace once more. Tears continuing to fall, Boromir slowly made his way to the gardens, just staring through the trees at the tiny figure, looking like some grotesque shape of a former human being.

"Let me go too...Let me go..." Fingers digging at the grass, Boromir moved forward and wrapped his arms around his hysterical brother.

"Faramir I'm here...Please...Calm down..." Faramir slowly stopped struggling and just starred at the white stone before them, his whole injured frame shaking.

"Why did she leave....Why did she have to die"