That night Gandalf had stayed by Faramir, keeping him talking mostly just to shield his mind from his nightmare. It was a lot to be revealed to the young man all at once and Faramir would need to take his time in accepting what had happened. Sometime after dawn Gandalf had gone to harvest something in the way of breakfast to bring to his young friend. Gandalf had a keen understanding of fire and had a feeling that it would be safer to bring breakfast to Faramir rather than to risk a fire blazing in the hearth of the dining hall. If there could be any mercy to the timing of Faramir's dream it was that he would have plenty of time during spring and summer with relatively few smoldering reminders.

Gandalf walked into the dining hall just as the servants were putting the finishing touches on the platters of food that adorned the king's table. The vast majority of the food would not be eaten and there more for decoration; there were, after all, only so many people who would share breakfast with the King, and here there was enough for the entire company stationed at Ithilien to feast on for months. If there was one group of artisans in Minas Tirith who would never get used to Aragorn's casual ways, it was the servers. They prided themselves entirely on their majestic dinner settings, and no matter how Aragorn insisted that one plate of fruit would be sufficient, there were always three mountainous, towering arrangements of exotic edible crops.

Imagine, then, the fuming rage that ensued when the White Wizard strolled into the dining hall before everyone else and made off with bits and pieces of the breakfast dishes set about the table.

Faramir was still feeling a little stunned when Gandalf returned and they broke fast together in Faramir's sitting room, his son breaking his fast in the next room when Berethil came for him. The Steward felt a good bit better after eating and began to think of a way to deal with the fact that Denethor had actually tried to do away with him personally when war failed to do so for him.

"Perhaps i ought to just forget it entirely, Mithrandir," Faramir said. "Leave the past alone and concentrate on the future. In fact, i really should get back to my office. The whole day yesterday was spent in revelry and i ought -"

"You ought rest is what!" Gandalf said. "You had no rest yesterday and certainly none last night."

"I've done without sleep before, and i have even managed to stay alive in battle while sleep deprived," Faramir said pointedly.

"That was out of necessity and those days are over. There is no longer any reason for you to endure such abuse," Gandalf said with finality and Faramir couldn't help but feel that he meant a little more than what he said. "When is the last time you have really rested, Faramir?"

"Well, i might not have slept last night, and nor did i sleep all that well the night before the celebration," Faramir said honestly. "But Elboron and i both slept soundly two nights ago. It is not as though i never sleep, Mithrandir."

Gandalf sighed thinking that Faramir might well not have a true understanding of what he meant. "I am not speaking of sleep, Faramir, but rest. When have you last sensed tranquility, in and about you; peace, without some little matter still suing for your attention?"

Faramir's silence and blank expression said it all to the Wizard who already knew. Now Faramir wondered, had there ever been a time in his life in which he had experienced real peace, totally? In 37 years, was there ever a single moment when he had a clear mind?

Berethil came out into the sitting room and transferred Elboron to his father's arms. She started to take the plates from the table but Gandalf stopped her, charming her with his smile and insisting that he take the dishes himself. He promised Faramir that he would be back momentarily, but the Wizard had other motivations for disappearing briefly.

-

Gandalf went back to the dining hall where others had now gathered, leaving the dishes with one of the servers, who would have given Gandalf a piece of his mind had he not been so afraid of the ancient Maia. Pouring himself a cup of tea, and again infuriating the man who had spent his entire life training to pour tea for others, Gandalf took a seat beside Erestor, who was always the first to arrive for anything.

"Have you given any more thought to your return to Imladris," Gandalf asked by way of a greeting.

"Fair morning, is it not, Mithrandir," Erestor smiled and said in that way of his that intentionally reminded someone when they had passed by cordiality. "As a matter of fact, i was just discussing that very matter last night. When i see Estel i intend to ask him when he might next be available for the trip. I know he so dearly wishes to go back with us for a short time, and Faramir as well."

Gandalf nodded and sipped his tea. "Oh, Faramir has wished to see Imladris since the first time i visited the city and planted the idea in his young mind. However, i think that his wish has grown into a need. That lad is so burdened with things he should never have had to endure."

"What troubles my s-" Aragorn, just walking in, began to ask but checked himself when he caught out of the corner of his eye a server moving quickly forward to serve his king. "My Steward," he finished after excusing his stop by making a rather overacted show of clearing his throat. "Tell me not that he had Dorwinion at the party last night? Well, i could understand, naturally, it was a celebration, and i know how persuasive Glorfindel can be with a glass of wine... don't you agree, Erestor?" Aragorn said with a raised brow.

Erestor sighed, rolling his eyes. Clearly the Queen was in one of her good moods last night. He had not seen Estel this manic since he was a boy terrorizing the once-peaceful valley of the House of Elrond. "Actually, Ar-Estel, we were just discussing taking our leave soon," Erestor said, thereby rather quickly settling the King's mood.

Gandalf, seeing that the matter was in hand, finished his tea and went to fetch another cup to take to Faramir, ignoring the glare he received from the tea-warden.

-

My apologies for the shortness of this chapter. I just wanted to get this moving along.

AM: Indeed, such a revelation is not easy for Faramir. It's a good thing he has a real dad and his own little boy now, elsewise it could have terrible results. Still the upcoming trip to Imladris will be beneficial.

Elenhin: We shall see how deeply Faramir's nightmare effects him. Hopefully with Gandalf, bearer of Narya,around it should be a little easier.

linda: Without giving too much information, i can say that no, Faramir's dream isn't a premonition, just a revelation of what happened.Bad enough in itself.

flowerbee: Melkor? Hey, movin' on up! What is with Gandalf, anyway? I think that is a question for the ages. Something to do with pipeweed most likely though. If Denethor is going to be playing with revolvers he is going to need instructions. "First and foremost, always remember to never pointbarrel at others. Barrel should always be pointed toward self. Second, pull back trigger. Third..."