Chapter 25

For Faramir

Sheffield and Tom walked together holding their torches high above them searching every inch of the tunnels. Whenever the tunnels lead off in a different direction a member of their group would leave to follow it. Pippin took the first tunnel that went in a different direction, and then it was Merry who took the next. Soon it was Tom's turn as they both stood in the corridor facing another tunnel that went in another different direction. Sheffield told his brother that he would continue on the straight path, while Tom searched his. Nodding to each other they parted company and continued down on their own.

Walking another few yards, Sheffield's torch came upon the trunks and debris upon the floor of the tunnel. Holding his torch high above him and looking around, he slowly approached it. Seeing the mount upon the timber for his torch, he placed it there. He immediately saw a discarded torch upon the ground and a puff of smoke still burning. He stood up and carefully looked around knowing that who ever was here just left moments ago. Then if it was Faradom, he would be watching him from a distance and appear in his own good time. He would just wait him out.

Bending down upon his knee, Sheffield examined the trunks running his hand over them and looking into them. He felt a presence behind him that made the ends of his hair stand up on their own. His eyes shifted to each side trying not to let on that he was aware of him standing behind him. His heart raced deeply in his chest. He paused for what seemed like a very long time trying to get his nerve up. With quick agility he suddenly jumped up and turned sharply hoping to startle Faradom directly behind him and get the first drop on him. Something that he had seen Faradom do many times when cornered.

Faramir screamed with fear and jumped almost straight in the air. His heart felt like it sunk to his toes and his head felt dazed as if he would faint.

Sheffield ran towards Faramir feeling so badly for frightening him half to death and wrapped his arms around him, lifting him off the ground. "I'm sorry fer frightenin' ya, Faramir. I've come t' find ya and bring ya back to yer Da."

Faramir looking into the kindly eyes of the hobbit who held him and he felt instantly safe. Wrapping his small arms around his neck, he began to cry from relief.

"Now isn't this touchin', both me brothers have found one another and just in time, mind ya!" said Faradom holding his knife out in front of him as Sheffield turned around and watch him slowly approached them, coming into the light.

Faramir encircled his small arms around his protector's neck and held on to him tightly.

"Let go o' thee lad, dear brother!" Faradom ordered him and dared him not to obey with the glint of a sparkle in his eyes.

"Faradom, it's over with! They'll be on ya in a moments time," said Sheffield holding on to Faramir and backed up a couple of steps away from him.

"I think not, dear brother. My wagon is loaded and ready. Just down this tunnel a short ways is a door t' me freedom and riches. I don't intend t' be leavin' without the lad, or ya fer that matter. After all, I've claimed ya once and now I've claimed the little lad. In ya knowin' me ways, ya know you'll not have a chance o' beatin' me, Sheffield. So ya might as well just follow me out!"

"Not this time, Faradom, I'll not fear ya," he said confidently and sarcastically. "You'll not be takin' this lad nor meself out o' Brandy Hall! I've found me real brother and a new life, I'll not lose that again!"

With just a few strides, Faradom stood in front of Sheffield and held his knife's point against his cheek and pressed it dangerously to pierce his skin. With his other hand he grabbed Faramir's back of his shirt collar and lifted him out of Sheffield's arms holding him dangling in the air. "Brave statement there, lad! But little ta nothin' ya could do about it! You're as weak kneed and jelly spined coward, too fearful o' yer own shadow! You're me brother that I've takin' and now I've added another. This here lad will make me a good thief, just as ya had done fer me many long years ago!"

Bringing the knife down, he cut into Sheffield's cheek opening a gash and sending his blood dripping down the front of his shirt.

Quickly he pulled the small lad in front of himself and held the knife to his throat as Sheffield tried in vein to rush him. Stopping immediately before them, he knew he would cut his throat without a second thought about it. But something else caught his eye as he peered over Faradom's shoulder and held the wound upon his face.

"Okay, ya have me! I'll go with ya, if'n ya don't hurt the lad any!" he told him faking fear upon his face that he knew Faradom would believe. "I'll do whatever ya want o' me."

Faramir stared horrified at Sheffield as he coward away from his captor and looking so pathetic and weak. His small rounded eyes pleading with him to free him.

"A coward t' the very end!" said Faradom almost laughing. "This little one here has more courage and spirit than you have ever known!"

A shadow raised above Faradom and Faramir from behind as a large rock came crashing down upon the side of his head and in that second, Sheffield pulled the knife from Faramir's throat allowing the blade to cut open the palm of his hand. Grasping Faramir with his other hand, he pulled him out of the villain's arm, saving his life.

Tom knocked Faradom down to the ground and tried to hold down the knife in his hand, but he quickly out maneuvered him and flipped Tom off of him. Coming around he held the knife out to Tom and lunged for him. Tom had only a second as he quickly jumped inches away from the blade. "Another weak minded cow, just like yer brother, thinkin' ya can take me! How many times must I knock ya down fer ya to learn a lesson!" Faradom's harshness of his words tried to weaken his opponent, "I've beaten ya a time or two and takin yer brother from under yer weak minded nose! Come on, lad. Come after me and I'll enjoy cuttin' ya into pieces!"

His fierce words fell short in front of Tom as this time was going to be different. He now knew it was Faradom who had taken his only younger brother away. It was this hobbit that had broken his mother's heart to such a degree that caused her own death and had stolen Snowclad away from Brandy Hall. It was he who had beaten him on too many occasions and stolen ponies that he was guarding in the open fields making him feel weak and useless.

But this time the gentleness in this hobbit that he was so well known and respected for, gave way to his courage and true inner strength. Seeing little Faramir being taken away from his family and knowing if he did not stop Faradom, another family would suffer what his family had. Tom and Sheffield were not going to let it happen again. Both standing side by side they faced Faradom and his knife.

Sheffield made the first dash at Faradom, but quickly jumped to the side avoiding the slash of his knife, while Tom jumped him and wrestled him to the ground. Sheffield grabbed his wrist to hold down the hand with the knife. Prying his finger from the handle, Sheffield was able to free the knife and kicked it away from them.

With two solid blows from his fist, Tom hit Faradom squarely in the face causing his nose to bleed and blackened his right eye. A sharp dizziness caused Sheffield to teeter on his feet from the loss of blood from his hand and from his bleeding cheek. Faramir pulled him away from the battle upon the ground and did his best to wrap his hand to help him.

Tom struggled in his efforts to gain the upper hand on Faradom because he was too quick and experienced in fighting and turned the tables on Tom with ease. With a sudden fierce blow to the side of Tom's face with his fist sent him weaving in confusion as he stumbled in front of his attacker. Faradom raced towards the knife, but Sheffield stood in his way as he punched him in the stomach sending the wind out of him. Sheffield tried to take a breath, but his lungs could not do it and he collapsed upon the ground, wheezing. Unable to stop him, Faradom stepped over him and reached for the knife, but Faramir kicked it further away from him. This gave Tom a moment to recollect his bearings and lunged for Faradom again. Rolling upon the ground in a battle of strength they fought each other, one not giving in to the other.

But with each turn or flip brought Faradom closer to the knife and before anyone could stop him, Faradom grasped the blade in his hand and brought it down upon the one he struggled with. Sheffield froze as he saw the blade cutting into his brother and heard him scream out in pain. Before Sheffield could race to his side, Faradom tried to flip him around to get him off, but he was not prepared when Tom still had more fight in him. Tom's hand held firmly upon his attacker's wrist that held the knife and he twisted and turned trying to take it from him. With one last effort they rolled over and over and Sheffield heard a final deadly gasp and he feared his brother was lost to him.

Faradom rose to his knees with a ghastly look upon his face and then stared down he saw his blade embedded in his chest and tried to pull it out. The second the blade moved from his heart, he fell to his death immediately and Tom stood up before him.

Sheffield ran to his brother and held him tightly in his arms being so thankful that he had survived. Tom could only raise one arm to hold his brother and Sheffield knew that he was hurt badly. Pulling away from him he could see the blood running down his arm and traced it up to his shoulder. Faradom had wounded his brother and he took the fine delicate cloth upon the ground and began to wrap his wound. Sheffield torn more lengths of the cloth and made a sling to support his arm to help him with the pain he was feeling. Helping his brother to stand, Faramir approached them and pulled at Sheffield's tail of his coat.

"Can you now take me back to my Da?"

"Yes, Faramir, just follow me." Sheffield reached for the torch and took it in his hand. Tom and Faramir followed him as he led them down the corridor of the tunnel.

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Pippin pulled his torched up in front of him when he heard the clamor of excitement coming from the entrance of the tunnel that he searched. Turning around he taught to head back wanting to know what was happening.

Merry pulled Faramir behind him when he saw Pippin's light from the torch he carried and knew that he was fast approaching. His smiling face and those that stood around him all stared at him when he came into view, and knowing the surprise he was about to receive. The guard took Pippin's torch, while he turned, and approached the small group of hobbits who looked like they all had their hand's into the cookie jar. Pippin immediately noticed Sheffield and Tom's appearance and the wounds that were bleeding through the wrapping. Fearing the news that they might tell him, he waiting for them to speak. When no words came forth and only their silly grins upon their faces, it lightened Pippin's heart as he wondered what happened to his son.

"Is anyone going to tell me, what is going on or am I suppose to guess?" he said finally with a questioned look upon his face.

Merry stood to the side and Pippin could see the thick, curly brown hair and soft brown eyes of his little son, Faramir, who peeked out from behind Merry, and run to his father.

Pippin's eyes filled with tears as he bent down to his knees and made ready to embrace his son. His little arms reached around his father's neck and pressed himself closely to him. He felt his son beginning to cry and he held him tighter in his protective arms. Pippin looked up from his son's shoulder, turning appreciative eyes upon the group standing in front of him. Sheffield looked at Tom, and Tom glanced back at him, smiling at his brother. Turning back to Pippin, they took in a deep breath trying to hold back their own tears. Seeing them reunited and knowing in what they had endured being separated for so many long years as brothers, just how important this moment was because it did not happen to Faramir.

"Come on, Tom, I need to get ya t' the healer and make sure me brother is well cared fer!" said Sheffield putting his arm around him and guiding him back to the entrance of Brandy Hall.

Merry gave the guards a nod to indicate for them to find Faradom and take care of all that they needed to. Little Faramir pulled slightly away from his father and looked him squarely in the eyes. "Can we go home to Tuckborough now, Da? I no longer care to see another dark tunnel nor ever want to see rabbit ever again!"

The group of hobbits burst out laughing as they all felt the same way.

Merry stood waiting for his cousin and watched him as he placed a kiss upon his son's cheek and lifted him up into his arms, both hugging and laughing with each other. Merry, Pippin and little Faramir followed the brothers out of the tunnel.

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