To My Reviewers:
TeenTypist- I hope I won't disapoint you, in that case. quillon- Well, you won't have to wait too long to find out. Caroly- Yeah, Faramir's one of my favourite characters, and I love all of the plot possibilities when it comes to his familiy. So, were you right?
Disclaimer: Still nothing of mine.
CHAPTER TWO
"Mithrandir?" When the wizard silently appeared out of a grove of trees to my right, I like Boromir, jumped to my feet and turned in that direction with my hand on my sword. Boromir's blade was already unsheathed by the time he was on his feet, however, for he was less concerned as I about startling a potential friend, and he felt it his solemn duty to protect me, his younger brother, as long as he was my companion.
When we saw that it was Mithrandir, Boromir's wariness diminished, though he cautiously slipped his sword back in its sheath. My expression was one of delight, which gave way to concern as I simultaneously remembered his message and saw how tired he looked.
He smiled as I dropped my hand from the hilt of my sword. "You have both changed greatly since I saw you last a decade ago, although you, Faramir, were only ten years old and Boromir fifteen. But both of you have retained your same natures." His eyes twinkled slightly as he glanced at Boromir's slightly moody look, which made it obvious that he was offended at being caught off guard by anyone, wizard though he be. As a ranger, I felt slightly reprimanded myself, but then again, Mithrandir could be stealthy when he wanted to be. The wizard grew serious once more.
"But now to more grave matters," he sighed. "You're probably curious about the letter I sent you." I nodded encouragingly as he cleared his throat, and Boromir now seemed vaguely interested, though he still wore a half- glare. "Faramir, do you know how many of the Heren Istarion- order of wizards- came to Middle Earth?"
"Five."
"No, that is what most people think, but..."
"You brought us here to trouble us with the matters of wizards?" Boromir demanded, unable to contain himself.
Mithrandir appeared irritated at the interruption and snapped out, "I just thought that you may like to know what happens within your own borders- troubling or not." That effectively quieted Boromir down, and the Grey Pilgrim, satisfied with his sullen silence, continued, "There are, actually, a great many wizards in numbers that I myself do not know, but of a lesser skill than the five who are known to most people. And within this Order is a faction that has broken off from the normal teachings and concerns of wizards and has instead turned to pursuits of power. Even now there are three such people included in your father's closest ring of advisors."
"Why couldn't you just come to Minas Tirith yourself, tell my father, and get the wizards out of our city?"
Heading off the inevitable glaring contest, I put in, "I was wondering about that, as well. Why the note?"
"Because the lord Denethor already knows that the wizards are there, but he will not believe they are against him; not without proof, even if I came myself and told him what I know for a fact."
"Probably true," I admitted. It was, after all, quite well known that there was little love lost between my father and Mithrandir; a trait that Boromir seemed to share.
"And so," Boromir filled in, "you thought it would be easier to drag my brother down here under the pretext of an anonymous letter and convince him to spy on my fathers trusted advisors."
The wizard and I exchanged a look that said that it would indeed be easier, but trying to be tactful, Mithrandir suggested, "Actually, I think even you would agree that spying on power-hungry wizards who are trying to influence your father is worth your time."
"Your errands are never worth my time."
"I'm sorry you think so." He turned to me. "Faramir..."
"On second thought," Boromir interjected, seeing me watching the Pilgrim attentively, "I want to be there to clean up when the two of you make a mess of things, so..." Here, Mithrandir and I smiled knowingly at each other. "Why don't you tell us what kind of 'proof' you have in mind."
TeenTypist- I hope I won't disapoint you, in that case. quillon- Well, you won't have to wait too long to find out. Caroly- Yeah, Faramir's one of my favourite characters, and I love all of the plot possibilities when it comes to his familiy. So, were you right?
Disclaimer: Still nothing of mine.
CHAPTER TWO
"Mithrandir?" When the wizard silently appeared out of a grove of trees to my right, I like Boromir, jumped to my feet and turned in that direction with my hand on my sword. Boromir's blade was already unsheathed by the time he was on his feet, however, for he was less concerned as I about startling a potential friend, and he felt it his solemn duty to protect me, his younger brother, as long as he was my companion.
When we saw that it was Mithrandir, Boromir's wariness diminished, though he cautiously slipped his sword back in its sheath. My expression was one of delight, which gave way to concern as I simultaneously remembered his message and saw how tired he looked.
He smiled as I dropped my hand from the hilt of my sword. "You have both changed greatly since I saw you last a decade ago, although you, Faramir, were only ten years old and Boromir fifteen. But both of you have retained your same natures." His eyes twinkled slightly as he glanced at Boromir's slightly moody look, which made it obvious that he was offended at being caught off guard by anyone, wizard though he be. As a ranger, I felt slightly reprimanded myself, but then again, Mithrandir could be stealthy when he wanted to be. The wizard grew serious once more.
"But now to more grave matters," he sighed. "You're probably curious about the letter I sent you." I nodded encouragingly as he cleared his throat, and Boromir now seemed vaguely interested, though he still wore a half- glare. "Faramir, do you know how many of the Heren Istarion- order of wizards- came to Middle Earth?"
"Five."
"No, that is what most people think, but..."
"You brought us here to trouble us with the matters of wizards?" Boromir demanded, unable to contain himself.
Mithrandir appeared irritated at the interruption and snapped out, "I just thought that you may like to know what happens within your own borders- troubling or not." That effectively quieted Boromir down, and the Grey Pilgrim, satisfied with his sullen silence, continued, "There are, actually, a great many wizards in numbers that I myself do not know, but of a lesser skill than the five who are known to most people. And within this Order is a faction that has broken off from the normal teachings and concerns of wizards and has instead turned to pursuits of power. Even now there are three such people included in your father's closest ring of advisors."
"Why couldn't you just come to Minas Tirith yourself, tell my father, and get the wizards out of our city?"
Heading off the inevitable glaring contest, I put in, "I was wondering about that, as well. Why the note?"
"Because the lord Denethor already knows that the wizards are there, but he will not believe they are against him; not without proof, even if I came myself and told him what I know for a fact."
"Probably true," I admitted. It was, after all, quite well known that there was little love lost between my father and Mithrandir; a trait that Boromir seemed to share.
"And so," Boromir filled in, "you thought it would be easier to drag my brother down here under the pretext of an anonymous letter and convince him to spy on my fathers trusted advisors."
The wizard and I exchanged a look that said that it would indeed be easier, but trying to be tactful, Mithrandir suggested, "Actually, I think even you would agree that spying on power-hungry wizards who are trying to influence your father is worth your time."
"Your errands are never worth my time."
"I'm sorry you think so." He turned to me. "Faramir..."
"On second thought," Boromir interjected, seeing me watching the Pilgrim attentively, "I want to be there to clean up when the two of you make a mess of things, so..." Here, Mithrandir and I smiled knowingly at each other. "Why don't you tell us what kind of 'proof' you have in mind."
