Aragorn could not exactly make out the shouts coming from within the King of Rohan's apartments, but he was certain that he heard punches being thrown. Ordinarily, Aragorn was not a man to get involved in the disputes of others, but this sounded like a situation that needed his intervention.

Opening the door and proceeding to the King's sitting room, Aragorn received quite a shock to his best friend and son exchanging blows. It was the second time in his life, indeed the second time in his rule, that he had walked in on a serious altercation started by someone he never thought would start a fight.

"By Elbereth and Luthien! What is in the name of Udûn going on here?!" Aragorn exclaimed, not foolish enough to actually try to pry the combatants apart.

Éomer was actually the first to pull back. "Your son started this," he said accusatorily.

Aragorn stared agape. Éomer sounded like a child! What in all of arda could make these two grown men behave like boys? Granted, Éomer was eight years Faramir's junior, but still that didn't excuse.... Aragorn sighed realizing that these two were really bearing the hardest impact of Éowyn and Findiel's deaths. Unfortunately, this was how it erupted.

Faramir stood still and silent, his eyes closed. He would not deny that it had felt good to release some of his anger, but he was now appalled with himself for resorting to taking it out on another living being. He suddenly felt as though he was under Denethor's harsh stare again, although the former Steward probably would have praised him for starting a fight... or would have gone two-faced and chastised him for it just because he was who he was.

Aragorn saw how desperate Faramir looked, especially when the man's forehead dropped into his hand as his shoulders trembled and shook. Faramir had taken his fair share of the blows as much as he had dealt them, but that had nothing to do with the tears Faramir shed.

Faramir sank into a nearby chair, his head resting on his knees. "I can not handle this... i can not," he muttered tearfully. "I have never conducted myself so disgracefully or dishonorably. I have thrown punches at my kinsman, i have wept as though i have no rein over my emotions... I know not how to apologize for such a thing."

Aragorn sat beside his son thinking that he really should not have left him to deal with this on his own. "Faramir, i do not believe your actions have either been disgraceful or dishonorable. You are, as are Éomer and i, a mortal Man. I might have seen this coming, it is just a reaction to pain and anger and frustration. One that i understand all too well. I believe Éomer does as well," Aragorn said, looking across at the man who was also seated and feeling none to good about himself either.

Éomer nodded once. "I apologize to you, Faramir," he said haltingly, as though the words were new to him. "I said things in heat and anger, and unfortunately i do that too often. I just... i just do not know - how to face life without my sister," he said, choking over his words.

"I apologize to you," Faramir said, scarcely bothering to look up. He was no stranger to those words, not by a long shot. This time he said them with at least a modicum of feeling, more than he had in years past at any rate. It seemed after years of shutting off his feelings, it was now difficult to train them back into hiding. "I was thinking selfishly when i spoke. I know Éowyn hated it here, and i would not have her laid to rest anywhere but her homeland, nor with any other customs then those of her people."

The two former soldiers extended their right arms to one another in a gesture of brotherly fealty. That issue put down, Aragorn asked Faramir to join him in his chambers for a light luncheon, mostly as a way of getting the two to preserve their peace a little longer. He dearly hoped that they could get to Edoras in the funeral march without incident. Aragorn, for his part, was growing weary of funeral marches to Edoras.

---

Erestor stood still and silent in the dark of Faramir's study. His rational mind refused to be frightened into submission. Whoever had a hold of him, Erestor noted, was at least not holding a weapon to him. That was a mistake on his assailant's part. Erestor was a cautious Elf and went nowhere without some means of protection.

Another mistake on the aggressor's part was pinning Erestor's arms down in his hold. The dark-haired Elf decided to give the fool a lesson in taking a captive, it would have been much wiser to hold him by his arms alone. From where his arms were pinned, he was still able to reach inside the pocket of his robes and get a hold of the small (but deadly, if necessary) knife he had there.

Erestor could feel very plainly the warm, steady breathing against his ear, and as precarious as the situation was, and as trying as the week had been, he could not help but be mildly turned on by it. It was just an automatic reaction to the sensation. The next thing Erestor felt quite clearly was the sensation of something pressing against the back of his leg.

Erestor's initial thought was that whoever had him was in cahoots with the two Haradrim who had been in the city, and probably thought that he was Faramir. He wondered now though. This person seemed to be ordering his actions in such a way that seemed designed to turn him on. Still Erestor refused to get frightened; now he was just angry. If whoever this character was thought he was going to have his way with him, he had obviously never been introduced to Erestor o Imladris!

---

Elenhin: It is difficult to imagine our dear Faramir getting into a fight - clearly even he had a hard time with the very idea.

Raska: I will not argue your opinion of Castamir or what you got out of his letter. I just have a lot of compassion. I see it as not so clear-cut a choice for him. A lifetime of lies and loyalty to one's nation/mission/etc can not just be changed by one day's worth of doubt. I never said Castamir wasn't a total coward, he took the easiest way out - not only ingesting poison, but also Enchanted water so that he would sleep through the pain before he died. I just don't equate cowardice with evil. I pitied whatever internal torment someone in his position has to go through.But that is just me.

linda: One has to wonder if things will ever get better in Minas Tirith. Or anywhere in Middle-earth for that matter.

I suppose we shall all have to wait until next chapter to find out what happens to Ere'. I feel as though i am beginning to drag this out. The funeral will be pretty soon though.

Any new bets on who's got a hold of Master Erestor?