Luineraugwen: Thank you to call the people who reviewed. There's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
The Monster Under Eowyn's Bed: I'm not leaving so you'd better put up with my "Sue".
THE HAMMER: Lord Argon is Hadria's father. I got his name from Braveheart.
Emily: Well in my story they do have balls okay. I hate Denethor, so that's why I portray him as such a bastard. Yeah I did mean Hadria and not Haldir. Well if you don't like women warrior stories then don't read it because that's the way I write. Women in my stories don't just do sewing and female things, I have them learning how to fight so they can stick up for themselves and not having to rely on men.
Shallindra: Hadria isn't like others. Okay, I guess she may be but she's not gonna go and fight in any wars against Sauron okay. And although she may be beautiful, she's nothing exceptional. Also, she's not a princess.
Mimori: Actually since I last updated, I've come up with an alternate ending that I'm happy with. I don't know what you people will think but hopefully the readers wont see it coming. There is going to be a thing between Faramir and Hadria.
ModestySparrow9: I've got something like that in mind.
KayeThorn: I know Gondorian people's eyes are normally grey but I wanted to give Hadria a unique appearance. I'll try and do what you said.
On with the story.
"…they want me to" Boromir spat out.
Faramir's world came crashing down. In only a few minutes he had gone from the happiest man alive to the most hurt one. He knew that Denethor hated him. Faramir had been the cause of his mother's death. She became sick after his birth and died a few months later. Ever since then, Denethor had loathed him and adored Boromir. Years of mistreatment, disappointment and being ignored had turned Faramir into the person he was. A scholar and bookworm who had little self-confidence yet had very little of the courage that his older brother possessed.
"Has Hadria been informed of this?" he asked painfully and Boromir nodded.
"Aye she has. She stormed out of the hall as soon as she was told, muttering to herself that if she couldn't go with you, she wouldn't go at all. I don't think that her father is too happy about this".
"No, he wouldn't be. Hadria is a very spirited young woman and with most probably stick to her word." Faramir said pouring a goblet of wine for both of them.
"Also there's another thing, I don't believe father wants you to attend the ball…" Boromir trailed off as he accepted the drink.
"Let me guess. He said something about dishonoring the family name. I wouldn't be surprised if it was him who did that. You know how loose his tongue becomes when he drinks" Faramir replied spitefully but inside he knew it was so he couldn't see Hadria that night. It was to ensure she stayed with Boromir the whole night and didn't wander off with him.
"No, he and Lord Argon had been arranging this ball to put Hadria and I together. It's been their plan all along that she would marry me but over the years, she became attached to you. Lord Argon and father are worried that she would defy our arrangement and run off with you. I overheard her father saying that he will force her into marrying me if she refuses" Boromir explained.
"Ah, just as I thought. Father wants the best for you, he always has and yet he if I were to die, he would not even flinch. Now that I have something that means more to me than life, father rips it away and gives it to you. He cares not for me, brother" Faramir said slamming his hands on the table.
"I'm sure he..."
"Leave, this conversation is over" Faramir said angrily and turned his back to Boromir.
"As you wish, brother but I have to let you know, in four days I must journey to Rivendell and I do not know how long I will be gone. Continue Hadria's training for me" Boromir said putting his hand on his younger siblings shoulder before walking out of the study.
Faramir turned back around and braced his hands against the wooden surface of the table. It had been a week since his brother had returned from Osgiliath. Their father had told Boromir to leave for Rivendell immediately but then remembered that the ball was on, and gave his son just over a week before he left. A week for him to take Hadria to the ball and no doubt with what Faramir had heard today, their father would somehow manage to have the two married by the time his eldest son left for the elven city.
The young man clenched his fists but when that failed to contain his anger, he swiftly ran his arm across the table, sending everything on its surface crashing to the ground. The candles immediately went out and Faramir watched as his wine spilled from the goblet and stained the rug. His anger seemed to seep out of his body just like the wine seeped into the rug. His anger was replaced by a feeling he wasn't used to. Emptiness. Sighing he picked up everything that had been thrown to the floor, placed it back on the table and slowly wandered up the stone steps, his heart torn to shreds.
Luineraugwen: Although it was a short chapter but that seemed like an appropriate place to end the chapter. I've decided what the ending will be. I kinda involves both of the ideas I had before and I hope you readers will be happy with it. It certainly might come as a surprise.
The next chapter will be from Hadria's point of view.