Hi! I'm back.
Thank you all for the reviews. I really appreciate them.
Lackwit: I promise to try to keep the A/N's to a minimum, and to the end of the chapter. Thanks also for the info about Éomund and his family. I'm getting a lot of information from the timelines in the appendixes in the books, but some things still aren't in it. I'm going to keep them living in Edoras, because it works for the story. Thanks for the heads up though.
Faraboro: Don't worry. These chapters will mostly be from Faramir's point of view.
Larien Calaelen: I hope I updated soon enough to keep your interest.
Shieldmadenofrohan: I'll try to keep the author's notes to a minimum. I realize that they can be annoying at times. Sorry!! I've read a lot of books based in mediaeval Europe and the nobles started training with swords and stuff very early. I just figured that it'd be the same here/ at least she could have some of the basics down, especially if she play-fights with her brother and cousin.
TheDaughterofKings: I haven't read all the book yet, so I'm basing it more on the movies. Still, I hope you enjoy.
Steelsheen: I agree. There could be a film… The tale of the Stewards!!! I could have David Wenham in it… a lot!! I reiterate the idea David running up and down singing "I'm So Pretty!!"
Go Stick Your Head In A Toilet: Ok, ok! Here the update. You can call off Frank. Actually, I met him. He came in and threatened to kill me until I showed him what I had written, so he let me be. I had a nice chat with him. Turns out he was a ballet dancer until he had a crippling baby toe injury and couldn't leap as high as he could before. So, he became an assassin, one of you legion. BTW where are assassins 1-8 retired to in Ireland? I'm Irish, so I might know them. (Love the pen-name by the way)
Rata: Thank you. Hope you liked this chapter.
Ziroana: I'm glad you liked it. I hope you like this update as much
Wenham-Wonderer: Thanks! I was aiming for funny.
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Okeydokey, on with the fic
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On the Borders of Gondor and Rohan, 3003
Faramir rode slightly ahead of the small party as they crossed the land of Gondor into Rohan. He could hear is brother talking and laughing with the small group of men they had brought with them as body guards, but Faramir felt little inclination to join in the camaraderie.
For one thing, they were his brothers' men. They were in Boromir's regiment in the army, and he trusted them. So, when Denethor ordered Boromir to select five men to accompany them to Edoras, he chose five of the best.
Faramir seethed at the thought of his father, and his manipulative ways. It was because of him that he was on this little diplomatic mission, anyway.
Flashback
Faramir slowly walked towards his father who was seated on his throne at the base of the marble steps. He saw Boromir standing behind him, and a grin broke out on his face before he could control it. It had been many months since the two brothers had met. The grin faded when he saw the look on his brother's face. He looked apologetic and uncomfortable. Denethor saw the grin fade and a streak of satisfaction shot through him. Damned young upstart!
"You wished to speak with me, Father?" Faramir asked as he reached his father and bowed slightly.
"Yes," Denethor replied grimly. "I trust you have heard of the death of Theodwyn of Rohan, sister to Théoden King?"
Faramir thought back to the woman he had met only briefly and nodded. "I have Father. She died of grief, did she not? I understand she lost her husband in an Orc ambush not eight months ago?"
"I see you keep up to date on events in Rohan. If you only paid as much attention to your duties to Gondor we would all be better off."
Faramir resisted the urge to roll his eyes at that comment. He had discovered long ago that nothing he did could please his father, so he tried to see the humorous side of it.
"Father, you know that Faramir…" Boromir began, but Denethor cut him off.
"Yes, yes. I know how highly you think of your brother. However, his many failings are not the point of this meeting. Faramir, I have decided to send a diplomatic party to Edoras to express our sympathies with Théoden King over the death of his sister."
"Forgive me my Lord," Faramir interrupted to his father's annoyance, "But why send one now, when we did not for Éomund?"
"Because Éomund was only Théoden's brother in law. Theodwyn was his sister, and much beloved as I take it. It would do well to try to keep in Théoden favour, especially in these dark times. Now, Boromir has selected five of his best men to accompany you both, as the Valar knows it is not safe to travel alone and I wish no harm to come to my heir…"
"Excuse me, but did you say 'you'? I am to go also?"
"Yes, yes, I've just been saying that. Now…"
"But Father, I cannot just leave the city. I am on leave from the Rangers, as you know. I am expected to return in four days. This will take at least twice that long. If one day I am to be a Captain of the Ithilien Rangers then I just cannot abandon my men on a whim. I would command no respect. You know this! You've drilled it into my head often enough."
"Faramir, I am your Lord. You go where I send you."
"You've always made a point of giving me no special treatment, and any ordinary Ranger could not just leave his regiment without prior permission. And…"
"Faramir!" Denethor interrupted. "Faramir, I need my sons with me. I need to show proper respect and sent those of the House of Hurin. Boromir would make a good show on his own, I'm sure, but I need you too Faramir. I need you to do this for me."
His father needed him. He had actually said it. Denethor II needed his second son Faramir. In all his twenty years of life, Faramir had longed to hear those words form his father's lips. Warmth spread through his chest as he reflected on his father's words.
That warmth was dashed as if with the freezing water from the Forbidden Pool in Ithilien as he remembered a rumor he had heard that morning.
"Gandalf." Faramir said, his anger barely in check. "Gandalf is said to be coming to the city tomorrow and you wish me to be away from here. That is why you are sending me with Boromir. You do not need me, you just need me out of the way." His voice rose with every word until he was close to shouting as Denethor.
"And you wonder why!" Denethor shouted back. "See how he poisons you against me!"
"It was not he that caused the rift between us Father. Ever since I was a boy, you…"
Faramir got no further as Boromir sprang out from behind the throne, and pulled his brother away before he could say more.
"Come brother, let us prepare." He said in an overly-cheerful voice. "For we depart at dawn."
He bowed quickly to his father, and pushed his little brothers' shoulder down so he did the same. Then, he turned and pulled Faramir along beside him.
"Dawn!" Faramir exclaimed as he was propelled down the long hall.
"Hush!" Boromir whispered in his ear. "It is three days ride as the Nazgul flies to Edoras. The sooner we leave, the sooner we will return. We may return in time to see Mithrandir."
As if reading Boromir's thoughts, Denethor shouted from his throne, "I don't want you racing cross country. Take the roads. I will not have my diplomatic party arriving in such a state that they cannot be recognized."
Boromir pulled his brother out of the hall and into the sunlight before he attempted to do Denethor damage. Faramir stormed down the steps and past the white tree towards the wall surrounding the citadel. He rested his hands on the warm stone as he looked down at Minas Tirith, and resisted the urge to shout in frustration. He heard his brother come to stand beside him.
"Take the roads. Roads! That adds two days to the journey each way. We will be gone for two weeks! Gandalf will assuredly be gone by the time we return." Faramir seethed.
"Calm Brother. There is naught we can do. It is his wish, and like it or not, we took an oath to carry out his wishes." Boromir reasoned.
"Why does he do this to me?" he asked Boromir in a whisper. "Why does he attempt to control me so?"
'Why does he hate me?' he said in his own mind.
"I don't know," Boromir sighed. "Perhaps it is because you favour mother in looks, and because he loved her so."
"I wish I remembered her more," Faramir whispered and Boromir put a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "I barely remember what she looked like."
"Look in the mirror and just imagine bigger lips and pretty eyelashes, and then you will see our mother," Boromir told him. "I dare say life would have been very different if she had survived the illness."
Both men were silent for a moment as they through of their dear departed mother. Faramir's thoughts shifted to another child, now motherless.
Éowyn. That bright, happy child now had no parents. Her uncle, he had heard, had adopted both her and her brother as his own. Another family without a mother.
"Come Brother," Boromir said, shaking Faramir out of his reverie. "We have much to do if we are to leave at dawn. Come, we must go pack."
A sudden though struck Faramir.
"I will meet you in your rooms in a few minutes," he told his brother. "There is something I must attend to first."
Boromir looked confused but headed off towards their adjoining sets of rooms.
Faramir headed in the opposite direction, towards his mothers garden.
End Flashback
Boromir spurred his horse on until he was level with Faramir.
"Why so quiet today?" he asked. "I would have thought that you would have been looking forward to seeing Edoras for the first time. The Golden Hall is a wonder to behold."
"I am just thinking," Faramir replied.
"Oh? Of what? Father didn't drag you away from a meeting with a lady by any chance, did he?" Boromir asked with a grin on his face.
"Of course not."
"Pity. You could use some fun." Boromir told him as he leaned in the saddle to avoid his brothers fist that had been playfully aimed at his shoulder.
"In truth I was thinking of a lady. Just a very small one," Faramir conceded.
"Éowyn," Boromir correctly guessed.
"Yes. She is without her parents now. I just hope she is alright."
"Faramir, you only met her once. And that was four years ago."
"I know. She made an impression on me though. She was so happy. I just don't want her bright smile to be extinguished, that's all." As he said that, Faramir glanced down at his saddle bags, something Boromir had seen him do often during the trip.
"Alright, I give up," he told Faramir. "What is it that you have in your bags that you keep checking on? Hmm? I've seen you glance at you bags a dozen times in the past few days."
Faramir coloured slightly.
"It is a gift for Éowyn. She probably will not remember me, as she was four then and eight now. But I remembered how much she liked the look and scent of the Larada plant. I took a cutting from the bush in mother's garden. Perhaps she could grow her own. It could help sooth her." Faramir blushed some more. "Foolish, isn't it?"
Boromir looked at his brother, once more impressed by the depth of soul that Faramir exhibited. He was so kind to all, and thoughtful.
"It is not foolish at all, Brother." Boromir answered sincerely. ""There is a place two leagues from here that will be perfect for our camp for tonight. We must rest."
Faramir nodded. "We want to look pretty when we reach Edoras tomorrow," he joked.
Boromir laughed aloud, and turned to inform the rest of their men of the plan.
X X X X X
So, what do you think? Review please.
BTW, I'm new to LOTR fan fiction, and I have a question. What the hell is a Mary Sue? I've seen it written several times on summaries and I was curious.
Anyway hope you enjoyed it.