Hi!!
Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate it.
I'm sorry it took so ling for this chapter to be posted. I had it written, but I decided that I hated it, that it wasn't true to the characters and just didn't fit in with the direction of the story, so I deleted the whole thing and started again.
Hope you enjoy it.
Daughterofkings: Here it is. Enjoy.
Go Stick Your Head in a Toilet: Now, I wouldn't mind too much if Frank came back. He's kinda cute. Is he married? Engaged? Seeing anyone? Don't tell me he's gay. Do not tell me that!! Anyway, thanks for reviewing. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Sidheranma: I'm going as fast as I can. Give me time.
Caroly: I thought it would have been cute for that to happen since Faramir is so perceptive and stuff. Glad you're liking it.
Vor Tirla Laime: Flowers aren't just what I imagined Faramir giving me… Anywho, enough of my dirty (but happy) mind. I'm glad you like this. Thank you for the complement.
Rebby: Read on and find out.
Lackwit: Thanks! As to Denethor, he won't be appearing in it again for a few chapters. But when I do write him, I promise not to make him an insane nincompoop. The way I see it, yes he is insane, but he is also smart and alert. That makes him that bit more dangerous. He won't be a major character in this though.
Wenham-Wonderer: Thanks. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Btw, love the penname. I totally agree with you. He is HOT!
Zirona: Thanks! I hope you enjoy the rest of it as much.
Maria: Thank you. That's so sweet. I'm glad my story caught your eye. I hope you enjoy the rest of it just as much.
Magsluvsaragorn: Thanks. She would be pretty cute as a kid, wouldn't she? Then again, most children are adorable a four. I have to disagree with you slightly. I think Faramir is the best looking guy in the movies, but Éomer is a close second. (Very close. I love his eyebrows and forehead. They are so expressive!!)
Tasya: Isn't he such a sweetie? I love the character so much!
Thank you to everyone who wrote what a Mary-Sue was. It makes SO much more sense now.
Anywho, on with the fic.
X X X X X X X X
They broke camp early the next morning. The brothers knew that they would be meeting with Théoden that day, so they took a little more care with their clothes. The sun grew stronger as the morning crept on, and at noon, they stopped for a well deserved break.
"Have you ever been to Edoras?" Faramir asked his brother as they munched on dried biscuits and drank water.
"I have but twice," Boromir answered around a mouthful of food. "Father took mother and me when I was just four, before you were born. I could see the Golden Hall glinting in the sun from miles away. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to see the fabled horses of the Rohirrim. I was in awe. I was there again about ten years ago. My company had been separated from the rest of the army in a battle, and we had wounded. We were near Edoras, so we asked for aid. Théoden let us into the city, and gave us medical aid and such. It's very different from Minas Tirith. A little bit primitive in my opinion, but it's a nice city. Lots of horses," he joked.
Faramir absorbed all this as he finished his meal.
"Come," Boromir said, addressing them all, "We must ride on. It is several hours ride to Edoras, and we want to get there before dark. There have been reports of Orcs roaming the borders of Rohan."
At the mention of Orcs, the other six riders stood and hastily packed away their things. Boromir noticed that Faramir was in a much better mood that he had been in the past few days. It seemed the farther away they got from Denethor, the brighter his younger brother seemed to get. Boromir was pleased, and was secretly glad that Faramir was a Ranger in Ithilien, even though it meant they were parted for long periods of time. It gave Faramir a chance to be himself without fear of criticism from their father.
They were about one hours ride away from the city, when they heard the sound of thundering hooves. Over the crest of a hill came a troop of the Rohirrim, Riders of Rohan. Faramir and the rest led their horses to a stop and waited for the Rohirrim to join them.
"Who goes there?" their leader asked.
"I am Boromir, Son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. This is my brother Faramir. We are on a diplomatic mission to Edoras."
The leader seemed to consider this for a moment.
"I am Grima Wormtounge," he told them. "I am an aid to Théoden King. Come, I will escort you to the city." He turned and spoke to the rest of his company in his native language, obviously telling them to continue their patrol as they bowed their heads respectfully and rode away.
Wormtounge brought his horse level with Boromir's and they rode ahead together, talking politely. This left Faramir time to study their escort.
At first glance, he seemed to be a fine example of the Rohirrim. He was tall and, though slender, seemed to be muscled and strong. His dark hair hung just past his shoulders and Faramir guessed him to be about five years older than himself.
But, something about him made Faramir uneasy. Faramir had been born with the ability to read men's hearts and sense their souls, and something about Wormtounge just didn't ring true. Faramir sensed a shadow in his heart, one that could be exploited with ease by someone who knew how. He made a mental note to keep an eye on this Rohan Warrior.
They rode on for some time more. At last, Boromir turned to his brother. "Look," he said, pointing to a spec on the horizon. "The sun glints off the roof of the Golden Hall."
Indeed, in the distance, Faramir spied a glint of sunlight and the shape grew more distinct as they neared it. At last, they were at the gates at the foot of the city, which opened on their approach. Faramir tried to contain his excitement at seeing the strange and historic city by reminding himself of why he was here. Therefore, he appeared solemn as he rode up the hill towards the Golden Hall.
They dismounted and Wormtounge gave orders for their horses to be taken care of and for Boromir's men to be given a place to stay and. Faramir was amused by Wormtongue's priorities and followed as the Rohan rider strode ahead of the brothers to the heavy doors of the Golden Hall which were opened by the guards stationed outside.
They entered the hall and walked towards the throne. All three dropped to one knee before the King, who looked up wearily. Faramir had never met the king before, but Boromir had and was shocked by the change in him. He seemed to have aged many years. The spark was gone from his eyes and he sat hunched over on his throne.
(Just to clarify, Théoden is not under the control of Saruman yet, but the death of his beloved younger sister is taking its toll on him.)
"Sire," Grima said, standing up again. "This is Boromir and Faramir of Gondor, sons of the Steward."
Théoden looked up wearily. "Welcome, Sons of Gondor," he said, his voice frail and tired.
"We thank you sire," Boromir said as they both stood. "We have come to offer the condolences of all of Gondor on the loss of your sister and brother-in-law."
"I thank you. Please, accept the hospitality of our hall and stay for a while."
"We would be honoured sire," Boromir replied, and Théoden nodded.
"Very well. Grima, please see that our guests are properly situated."
The three men nodded in respect of the king, and left the great hall. They followed Grima down the myriad of corridors, and past dozens of doors until they finally stopped outside the guest quarters.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," Grima told them as they entered one of the rooms. "Feel free to explore the city and make use of its facilities. Our evening meal shall be served in three hours. I will have your saddle bags brought to your rooms," he told them as he left.
"Nice man," Boromir observed as Grima walked out of sight. Faramir decided not to tell his brother of his misgivings about Wormtongue as it seemed that he was the only one with them.
He turned to enter his own room when a flash of blonde caught his eye. He looked again and saw a young girl peeking out from around the corner. It was Éowyn. She was now eight years old with long blonde hair currently tied in a plait that hung over one shoulder. Her blue eyes were bright but filled with sadness and grief that seemed out of place on one so young.
"Hello," Faramir said. Éowyn looked startled but came around the corner to face the two men.
"Are you from Gondor?" she asked in a shy voice.
"We are little one," Boromir answered. "My name is Boromir and this is my brother Faramir."
"Faramir?" she said. "Have we met before?"
"Yes we have Lady Éowyn. We met when you were very young. Just four years old," Faramir told her.
"I remember you," she told them. The brothers exchanged surprised glances. She remembered him? It seemed highly unlikely.
"You do?"
"Well, a little. I remember you gave me a flower blossom and that my mother helped me press it flat to keep it. I still have it. Whenever I saw it again, she would tell me how I got it. My mother died," she told them in a wavering voice.
"We know Blossom," Faramir said. "That is why we are here. To give to you and your family the condolences of Gondor and its people."
His endearment made her smile a little and Faramir decided that it would be his name for her.
"Will you be staying for dinner?" she asked them.
"We will."
"I will see you then," she said and darted off down the corridor. The brothers exchanged glances of amusement and went into their prospective rooms to wash away the dust of the journey.
X X X X X
They ate dinner in a small family dining room just off the great hall. Théoden sat at the head of the table. Faramir and Boromir sat on either side of him. Éomer and Théodred, now both twelve, sat on either side of them and Éowyn sat beside her brother.
The boys were very curious about Gondor, not having been there since they were eight, and had dozens of questions for the sons of the Steward. In between questions, Boromir and Faramir regaled the table with tales of their exploits in their youth. The children laughed and even Théoden broke out of his gloom long enough to find amusement in the stories.
After desert, the children left to leave the adults talk. As the door closed behind them, Théoden turned to his guests and said
"I must thank you. None of them has laughed so much since Éomund died almost a year ago. It was my fondest wish that they would smile again, and begin to cast aside the shadows that have dominated this hall of late."
"Think nothing of it sire," Faramir said.
"Indeed," Boromir added. "We know what they go through. We lost our mother at young ages ourselves."
"Of course," Théoden answered and then sighed. "I have taken my nephew and niece in as my own. Indeed, I would have it no other way. However, I worry that it will not be enough for them. I see them as much as I can. We eat together every day for example. But, they need both parents."
"We were raised by one man," Faramir told him, "And we turned out alright. Just give them love and support. They will turn out fine."
Boromir glanced at his brother, and could see the effort it took for Faramir to say that. He could see his brothers eyes narrow just slightly and could sense the lump that formed in Faramir's throat. It was just like him though to try to give some comfort to a grieving man.
"If you will excuse us sire, it has been a long few days ride. I for one am looking forward to a soft bed for the night," Boromir said, standing up and clapping his brother on the back. "What do you say little brother?"
"I say it sounds like heaven," Faramir said, his eyes thanking his brother for changing the subject.
"Of course," Théoden replied. "Please, stay for a few days. Your presence lightens the darkness of the hall."
"We thank you. It would be our pleasure," Faramir replied. Gandalf would be gone from Minas Tirith anyway by now. There was no point in rushing back.
X X X X X
Over the next few days, as well as attending to their duties as emissaries of Gondor, Boromir and Faramir were brought on several extensive tours of Edoras and the surrounding countryside by Théodred, Éomer and Éowyn, the latter of which seemed to latch on to Faramir. If they rode out, she rode beside him, asking him questions about the places he had seen, the people he had met, the skirmishes he had been involved in as a ranger. Faramir didn't mind and answered her questions to the best of his ability. He called her Blossom, which she loved, and he sensed an intelligence and ability in her that surprised him.
Indeed, the children of the Golden Hall all seemed to be especially bright, funny children and Boromir and Faramir fast developed lasting bonds with them.
Three days after their arrival, Éomer, Théodred and Éowyn happened upon the brothers practicing with their swords. They stood staring at the fast and furious mock-battle that took place behind the Golden Hall until it ended when Boromir tripped Faramir and pinned him to the ground with his sword. The pair laughed and Boromir helped his brother to his feet. The pair were startled when they heard clapping and turned to find a mini-audience watching them.
"That was amazing!" Théodred exclaimed.
"Indeed! You were so fast! Could you teach us to fight like that?" Éomer asked.
"If you wish we can teach you a little," Faramir answered. The boys nodded eagerly. Faramir noticed Éowyn looking slightly hurt, and wondered why until he remembered that she had told him a few days before how she often trained with her brother and cousin, but that her mother hadn't liked her to do so.
"Would you like to learn also Éowyn?" he asked, earning him a dazzling smile from the child and a quizzical look from his brother. She nodded eagerly and the three children ran to get their practice swords.
"What was that about?" Boromir asked.
"She told me how she liked to train but rarely got the chance to train with proper sword masters. Her brother and cousin teach her."
"I see. I think you've become quite attached to the little one Brother."
"Indeed. She is a sweet girl."
"I warrant you will miss her when we leave in two days."
"That, my brother, is a certainty."
X X X X X
The next few days passed quickly, and too soon, it was time for the company from Gondor to ride back to Minas Tirith. Faramir had been happy during his time in Edoras. Théoden, though still obviously grieving for his lost sister, had begun to come out of it a little and had been a gracious host. The children had been a joy to be with. Their spirits were strong, and they were determined to be happy again. Faramir knew that he and Boromir had helped in some way in that.
Faramir and Boromir had taken their leave of Théoden, thanking him for his hospitality and again offering the condolences of the people of Gondor. Now, the men of Gondor checked their saddles and gear outside the great hall while Éomer and Théodred stood to one side trying to look tough. They were upset though at the thought of their new friends leaving, but rallied bravely.
Faramir thought that Éowyn wasn't going to say goodbye until he saw her slight frame slip out form the hall. He knew she was very upset at their leaving, and it showed. She ran over to Boromir, hugging him tightly. Tears fell from her eyes when Boromir hugged her back. She then ran to Faramir, threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his side.
"I don't want you to go," she sobbed.
Faramir knelt down so he was eye level with the child.
"Blossom, I have to go," he told her. "I have to go back to my company in Ithilien."
"I know," she pouted. "I still don't want you to go. Who will take care of me?"
Faramir exchanged a look with Boromir and sighed. He picked her up in his arms and she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"Éowyn," he began, "you are not alone. You have your uncle, who loves you very much. You also have your cousin and your brother, and you know that they love you. They will always look out for you, right guys?" he asked the boys.
They both nodded.
"Oh indeed."
"Absolutely."
"See," Faramir said and Éowyn lifted her tear-stained face to look at her family, "if you sick together, you will be alright. Now, Boromir and I lost our mother when we were young, but we always had each other. Look out for each other, alright Blossom?" he asked. Éowyn nodded and he put her down.
"Oh, I almost forgot," he said walking over to his saddle bags, "I have something for you."
He took out a piece of tan-coloured cloth and handed it to her. She opened it up and found a section of a root from some sort of plant.
"It's part of the Larada plant," he told her. "If you plant it, it will grow and fill the air with sweet scents to calm you."
Éowyn's eyes filled with tears again, and she hugged him.
"Thank you," she whispered. "When will we see you again?" she asked.
"Well, one of the reasons we came was to speak to your uncle abut a possible alliance. Théoden may visit Minas Tirith in the future. One of us is bound to be near if you do come." Boromir told the assembled group, and their mood considerably lightened.
The brothers mounted, and waving, set off on their journey home. The children ran to the look-out tower and saw how the men from Gondor joined the rest of their company at the base of the hill and set out across the plains. Éowyn held the treasured gift in her hands as she watched them ride away.
"Éomer, Théodred, come and help me find a place to plant this," she asked when the riders were no more than a speck on the horizon. "I want it to grow tall and strong."
X X X X X
To Boromir's dismay, Faramir seemed to withdraw in to himself the nearer they got to Minas Tirith and their father. As they rode through the White City, his mood was positively dour. Boromir understood the pressure their father put him under, so he was not surprised.
They dismounted when they reached the upper level, and together strode through the doors of the citadel and towards their father's throne.
"Boromir! You are home!" Denethor exclaimed, standing to embrace his son. "I was worried for you."
"There was no need Father," Boromir assured him. "I had Faramir to watch my back."
"Ah yes, Faramir. None the worse for your ordeal I take it?" Denethor's cold voice cut like a whip and even Boromir flinched at the sarcasm in the words.
"Father," Faramir acknowledged respectfully, bowing his head.
"Come, you must be tired from your journey," Denethor said, throwing an arm around his eldest son's shoulder. "I will have some food and wine brought up and you can tell me of your journey." He led Boromir over to a table that stood to one side, leaving Faramir to follow.
Faramir shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his brother told the Steward of what they had done in Rohan. Faramir noticed that though he mentioned the children, he did not portray them as special to either of them. Faramir knew that Boromir did this because if Denethor found out how attached Faramir had become to the children, then he would make sure he was out of the city every time Théoden was due to come to Minas Tirith.
"Faramir, you seem uneasy," Denethor observed. "Is something not to your liking?" Denethor asked sarcastically.
"No Father." Faramir replied.
"Perhaps you are anxious to return to your company in Ithilien," Denethor said. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that. I have decided that if you are truly to become a Captain, then you must learn the workings of the army. I have decided that you will not return to Ithilien until you have served in the army for a time. You will be stationed here in the White City for the moment."
Faramir knew his face portrayed his dismay. He had been counting on escaping from his father's cold and indifferent presence, and now he was to be stationed here for 'a time'? Faramir was smart enough to know that he would be stationed here for a few years at least.
"Don't worry. You will rejoin the rangers soon enough," Denethor told him, and turned back to Boromir, who noticed his brother's dismay but was powerless to help.
Denethor continued questioning Boromir, not realizing, or caring, that he had crushed his youngest son's spirit just a little more.
X X X X X
In ROTK EE, Théoden kinda forgives Grima. He says that he was once a man of Rohan and that got me thinking. What was he like before Saruman got to him? That is why I put him in here. Don't worry, he will change as the fic goes on.
I'm still not happy with this chapter. I may re-write it. Constructive criticism appreciated.
The next chapter will be set several years from this date. It would be boring for you to read of every encounter they had, because most of them would just be run-of-the-mill visits. Trust me, the next one will have lots of angst. Éowyn will be sixteen, and have a huge crush on a certain second son.
ForeverFaramir