That afternoon when Aragorn went to discuss with his council the question war (and also possibly to discern a few more names for replacement), Faramir went to Éomer to discuss funeral arrangements, though his heart was not in it.
Éomer invited him into his chambers cordially enough, though it could be said about him, too, that his heart was not in it. It was quite plain that neither man wanted to talk about the matter at hand with the other. Faramir noted that Lothíriel was not around at present.
The conversation started out civilly enough. Faramir did not argue that Éowyn should be laid to rest in Rohan, Éomer did not argue that Findiel should be with her. They both agreed to wait until Legolas, Gimli, and Glorfindel returned. Both men were really rather able to comfort one another. All was going well until Éomer said something about raising a mound over her burial house.
Faramir was caught short, knowing little of the funeral customs of Rohan. He had seen Théoden's funeral, but only from a distance. "Éomer," he said cautiously, "please explain to me what exactly is involved in your burial customs."
Éomer explained that Éowyn and Findiel would be laid together in a small house of sorts, then it would be covered by a mound upon which simbelmynë would be like to grow until the end of days.
That Faramir objected to. "My wife shall not be buried underground like a common-woman," he said vehemently.
Éomer was quite stunned, not to mention rather offended. "Common? Is that how you regard the customs of my people? My uncle the king was buried thusly, as was my cousin his son. Do you call them common then?"
"You would lie your people in the ground where in a few short years they shall become naught but food for worms?" Faramir said, sickened at the idea. "Our noble are not treated in such a manner. They lie in Rath Dinen, preserved and in peace."
"Rath Dinen, you say? Do i not recall hearing that blood was shed there not so very long ago?" Éomer queried pointedly.
"To save my life! Do you begrudge me that?" Faramir said.
"Begrudge you your life? Why, of course i do not, good Steward. My question is more to the point of what did you do to save my sister's life?" Éomer retorted.
Faramir was growing defensive at Éomer's tone. "What could i do? I hurried back here with all haste and by that time she was already dying. My father tried to help her, but she was beyond even his reach. But it is clear to me that you did nothing to guard my wife's well-being while i was away," he said with an attack of his own.
"I did all i could to keep my sister safe!" Éomer shouted. "And i always have! My only mistake was in allowing her to marry you and live so far away in this place of confinement."
"Clearly my mistake was in trusting you to look after her and my daughter while i was gone. I was a fool to leave this city thinking that it might be in good hands with you as a guardian," Faramir shot back. "And yet i would like to know who ever gave you the right to invite guests into the Citadel, especially without consulting my adjutant."
"Your adjutant? The Elf? I was not aware that i was required to report to him of all of my activities in your absence. Should i be reporting to you now, Steward?" Éomer asked in a mocking tone.
By then both men were on their feet and face to face. "I should be eternally grateful that i am a citizen of Minas Tirith and not of Edoras. I can not begin to imagine the lack of security there. Is it any wonder your uncle's mind was so corrupted?"
Éomer glowered dangerously, then suddenly smirked. "Shall we talk about corrupted minds, Faramir? What about your brother's father? To say nothing of what happened to you yourself several months ago."
That was more than enough for Faramir. As far as he was concerned, Éomer had knowingly crossed one too many lines. It was Faramir who threw the first punch, the first time he had ever started a fist fight in his life.
Things were going little better with the King's Council. After Aragorn read the letter aloud to them, they were more up in arms than ever before. More than one of them demanded war on Harad, to which Aragorn responded very angrily by making it quite clear that no one made demands on him.
Aragorn utterly refused war, and instead asked Erestor to draw up a communiqué to the leaders of Harad. This did nothing to placate a number of councilors and they were told to leave immediately. Those who remained said rather little the rest of the time. As far as Aragorn was concerned, those were very wise men. He decided to leave the meeting early again, having made his decision and thinking it more important to be with his son.
Aragorn thought to look for Faramir in his chambers, but hearing shouts from the direction of Éomer's apartments, he went to check in on his friend first.
Erestor went immediately to Faramir's study to work on the letter they would be sending to Harad. The dark-haired Elf had only just gotten through the door when he was grabbed around the waist from behind by a forceful pair of arms.
---
So... things grow interesting again. Any bets on who has a hold of Erestor right now?
Elenhin: A pack of wolves indeed. I think Aragorn knows how to handle wolves though. I should hope. It may have been a good thing that Faramir did not go to that meeting - though it seems his relationship with his brother-in-law is rather strained at the moment.
linda:Faramir was pretty much raised to blame himself for things beyond his control. He needs to learn to break that habit. The letter is sad. It shows plainly the humane side of Castamir warring with the more cruel side.