Aragorn observed Faramir closely. Behind an expression of mostly shock and questioning, Aragorn could make out what he thought might be the tiniest bit of relief. But it was buried deeply under a certain amount of devastation and Aragorn wondered if it wasnt some false hope of his own.

Faramir's gaze no longer held with Aragorn's as he dropped his vision to the thin air directly in front of him. Faramir felt his heart racing against his breathing, it was a dead heat if ever there was one. His head bowed and his loose hair fell over his face. He closed his eyes tightly, fighting back the tears he felt rush up from his heart. It was not as though his dream had not prepared him for this, but.... When he lifted his head again his wet eyes pleaded with Aragorn.

His voice scarcely worked. He felt his mouth dry and his throat constricted tightly, choked with unshed tears which felt as though they were burning through his vocal chords. All Faramir managed to utter was, "Who...?"

Perceiving all too clearly every bit of his son's pain, Aragorn's own breathing had become very ragged. His eyes fell closed and he unconsciously lowed his head slightly, taking another deep breath before continuing rather quietly. "Thirty-seven years ago, a man called Thorongil was a highly praised ranger to Steward Ecthelion. Thorongil has been called by many other names, but the first name that was given to him was Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

The next minute felt like a life-age to them both. Faramir could not describe his feeling at that moment even if he had an elven lifetime to do so. Faramir felt everything from sadness to shock to a strange sort of happiness, to some feeling that had no name but felt like disbelief. Yet he knew instantly that there was nothing in Aragorn's words that was untrue.

Memories, one right after the other, rushed passed Faramir's mind. Aragorn's parting gift before he left for the march on the Black Gate, how he perceived such sadness in the King at the parting, the unmistakable light the glowed in Aragorn's eyes when Faramir first woke to him in the Houses of Healing, the fact that Thorongil's name was the only name Denethor ever spoke with more disgust than Faramir's. All these things and more proved to Faramir that this was no lie.

He looked long at Aragorn before lowering his head again and gently shutting his eyes, trying to understand. His fierce trembling had ended and his breathing was again surprisingly even. He looked up again at Aragorn with noticeable hope and just barely whispered, his voice suddenly jagged again, "Father?"

Aragorn's tears fell freely then and all he respond could with was a nod.

Faramir suddenly felt so weak. "All of my life," he said quietly, only partly aware that he was thinking out loud, "every day, i wished that i could change my birth.... The only thing i ever really wanted, day in and day out, was my fa-, Denethor's, love."

"Faramir... i am so sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me or to understand me, but i want you to know how sorry i am. I thought... the way he treated Boromir made me believe that you would be much happier.... I'm sorry, Faramir. I'm sorry that you ever suffered because of me."

"But why did you...? I never saw you... you never saw me. Did you even care? It's not that you had to make yourself known, but did you ever even want to know how i was doing?" Faramir's eyes now showed a deep hurt that struck Aragorn the worst blow he'd ever been dealt.

It took a lot for Aragorn to pull himself together to answer. "I cared, Faramir, every day. I listened always for news of you everywhere i went. The reason i never came back here was that.... Faramir, believe me, i wanted to come back here every day." His heart was sinking low, he was so scared that Faramir was not believing that he loved him. "I did not come here again because i thought it would be better for you not to know. And yet, i will not lie to you, it was also my own dishonor that kept me away. I wanted you to grow up free from any doubts that my being there might have caused. I truly had no inclination that your life would be so unhappy. I wanted the best for you. I learned far too late how grievous a mistake i had made."

Again, the quiet filled the next minute into a long, long time as Faramir and Aragorn silently read each other's heartbreaking expressions.

"F-father... you truly love me as your son?"

Aragorn's trace of a smile was a sad one. "I have from the very moment you were born, Faramir."

At that there was a small feeling kindled in Faramir's heart the likes of which was utterly foreign to him: the love of a father for his son. Faramir was hardly awake that he rose to stand, as did Aragorn. All he knew was that he was embracing his father, the man who his heart knew was truly his father in all senses. The single word which caused him to plunge back into darkness a month earlier now filled Faramir's heart, "Father...." He did not hold back his smile.

Aragorn held his beloved son in a tight hug and he would not let go for fear that this dream would slip away. "My son... my son...."