A/N: Look! Only like 2 days in between chapters! Yay!
Chapter Eight: Ill Luck
It was easy enough to hide in the shadows while the sun still hid below the horizon. Soon, however, the rosy tendrils of light colored the sky, signaling to the world the beginning of a new day.
Faramir waited rather impatiently in his still obscured corner. Why were no patrols coming or going? Surely there must be some business attended to beyond the stone walls and wooden gates. Were there no messages which needed sent? This prospect worried the young runaway. After all, how was one to run away properly if one could not even pass the front gate?
Faramir's musing was interrupted when his stomach rumbled loudly, effectively reminding the boy that he had not thought to bring anything along for breakfast.
No matter, Faramir thought to himself, I'll just catch something once I'm outside the city.
Apparently his stomach didn't quite agree with this plan, and protested.
Faramir ignored his stomach and continued to watch the gate silently, waiting for a messenger or a group of soldiers to arrive. An hour passed, then two. The boy's stomach had given up its attempts to alert the child to its emptiness. The guard changed, and still no one required that the great gate be opened. The sun rose high in the sky. There were no longer any shadows large enough to sufficiently conceal the boy. This fact concerned Faramir. What if someone saw him before he had time to escape?
At the palace, an apprehensive Steward could be found pacing back and forth in front of his desk in the same study in which he had sought to organize his thoughts the night before.
That morning, his youngest son was again not present at breakfast. The child could not be found in his room, or indeed, anywhere else one might search! It gave the impression that the boy had simply vanished into thin air!
At first, Denethor was irate, furious that his son would disappear in such a manner. But as the minutes stretched into hours, worry slowly replaced anger. Where had the boy gone?
When midday came and the child was still missing, the steward ordered the rest of the city to be searched, deeming that the boy had obviously escaped the palace somehow.
Denethor sat down heavily on his throne, and put his head in his hands. How had all this happened?
It was at this time well past noon, and Faramir's hunger had returned in earnest. The boy was beginning to question the wisdom in leaving, seeing as he had not succeeded in slipping out of the city, nor had he thought to bring any food with him when he snuck hastily through the city the previous night.
Just as he was beginning to entertain the notion of returning to the palace, Faramir saw his chance. A rider came to the gate; then, after a small conversation with the rider, a guard called for the gate to be opened. The messenger nodded to the guard, and spurred his horse forward. Faramir, careful to be quiet as he could be, crept swiftly along the wall. He was nearly out; his goal was nearly accomplished! Suddenly, a voice behind him ended his moment of glory.
"What's this? How did you come to be here, little one? Surely this is not a good place for you to be," one of the guards said. Faramir said nothing in response.
"What's your name?" The guard inquired. Faramir was, again, silent.
"Why, that's the Steward's son!" Another exclaimed.
"Aye! So it is! There have been many looking for you, young sir, and now, it seems as if the task is complete! Let us get you back to your father."
The guards did not seem to notice that this suggestion did not appeal to the child. Soon, to his dismay, Faramir found himself being led back up through the winding tiered city.
A/N: Sorry if you wanted Faramir to escape...maybe he'll manage to sneak away...no promises though. R/R!
Lord Elrond of Hogwarts: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!
Raina: Thanks! Yeah, old Denethor is somewhat crazy but he has his moments!
Jaimi: Sorry, not out of the city today...Glad you like it though!
Padawannabe: The best on the entire site? blush Thanks!
