These characters all belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien and New Line Cinema. This story was written for pleasure and not for financial gain.

A/N A very big thank you to all my reviewers. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

In answer to questions I have received, Faramir's forebodings apply to events in my story "The Hidden Days of Healing" also on this site.

Chapter Three

Faramir had asked the one question, Aragorn had no wish to answer, at least not until the man was fully recovered.

"I was not there. I only heard tidings of his death when I reached the city gates." Aragorn said evasively.

"But surely they told you how he died?" Faramir insisted.

Aragorn sighed deeply. It seemed his attempts to calm Faramir to his presence had worked all too well.

"It is not a pleasant story." Aragorn said." Are you certain you wish to know, especially as you have not yet recovered from your wounds?"

"Nothing could be worst than what I imagine, while I am lying here!" Faramir replied.

Aragorn rose to his feet", One who was there is in the next room." He said" I will fetch him to you."

Merry and Pippin were sitting on Merry's bed, a large tray laden with food between them.

They looked up as Aragorn entered and smiled with delight to see their visitor.

"Strider, how good to see you!" Merry exclaimed.

"Do have a cake, they taste good!" Pippin said, proffering a heaped plate in greeting.

Aragorn accepted despite the urgency of his errand, hoping the sweet cake might make him feel a little less weary.

He noticed with a flash of amusement that the hobbits had somehow managed to procure some of the tea, they were so fond of drinking in the Shire.

He helped himself to a cup, knowing it was famed for its invigorating properties.

"How is your, arm, Merry?" he asked, noticing that Merry held his teacup in his left hand.

"Much better, thank you," Merry replied, hastily changing the cup to the other hand where it wobbled alarmingly.

"I will look at it later." Aragorn replied, unconvinced, " But first I must ask Pippin to come with me to see the Lord Faramir."

Pippin looked alarmed.

"What's the matter?" he asked." Has his fever come back?"

Aragorn shook his head. "No, he is recovering from his injuries but he wants to know how his father died and begged me to fetch someone who was there, loathe though I am to do so."

Pippin stared at the King in horror.

"But I can't tell him that his father tried to burn him alive!" He gasped.

"I fear you must as Gandalf is occupied with preparations for tomorrow's departure."

"But I don't know what to say!" Pippin blanched at the prospect. Aragorn laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Just keep to the facts and do not go into details but emphasise how his father had lost his mind .I will be with you when you speak to him."

"I'm glad I wasn't there. I'm sorry you had to see all that, Pip!" Merry said as he started eating yet another cake.

"Faramir would have died had Pippin not been there, so Gandalf tells me." Aragorn said gravely, swallowing the last of his tea.

He replaced the cup on the tray and led Pippin towards the door.

"I will be back later to tend to your arm." he told Merry as they left.

Instead of hastening to Faramir's room, Aragorn lingered with Pippin in the hallway.

"Do you know why none of Denethor's guards attempted to stop him making a pyre?" Aragorn asked the Hobbit.

"They were too afraid." Pippin said simply." I'd not been there long enough to learn that in recent times if you didn't do as the Lord Steward said, you would be flogged. If I'd known, I'd have been too scared to do anything either. I helped the healers with the wounded and so many had been flogged, the healers had to ignore those injuries to have time to tend to the wounds they received in battle. Bergerond told me later about how scared of Lord Denethor everyone was. He won't get into trouble will he for helping Faramir?" Pippin asked anxiously.

Aragorn stood lost in thought for a moment. Pippin's words had explained much that had puzzled him. As for Bergerond, he had shed another's blood in the Hallows, a serious offence, but one that could wait until the fate of Middle Earth was decided.

"I would not punish a man unjustly and there will be no more beatings." The King said at last." But until Sauron is overthrown all talk of the future is futile."

Pippin shuddered but collected himself as they reached Faramir's room and went within.

Faramir had not moved since Aragorn had left him and he now lay back against the pillows looking anxious.

"Here is one who was present when your father died." Aragorn said quietly to the young steward.