Faramir glanced up at his father. Both were holding several sheets of parchment, and both wore the same astonished look.

"Are you reading what i am?" Faramir asked.

"Belthil's report on the King's Council?" Aragorn said.

Faramir just nodded. "This is scarcely believable... In all that i have studied, this is utterly without precedent," he said dumbfounded.

"When i appointed the new Council, i never in my wildest dreams imagined that this would be the result!" Aragorn said, still staring at the report before him.

There was a knock at Faramir's study door and both father and son turned to see Belthil standing there, Elboron sitting up in hiscousin's arms. "Someone wanted to see you, my uncle," Belthil said, making sure that no one else was about first. "He's been crying for you ever since Lady Arwen helped liberate you and Master Legolas this morning."

Taking his son into his arms, Elboron's little hands immediately reaching for wavy locks to entertain himself with, Faramir set the report aside for a moment. "I guess the entire city is aware of what the twins did to us," Faramir said. "Father, i may love your brothers well, but i have to admit that sometimes i just want to -"

"Strangle them?" Aragorn finished for his son. "Welcome to the family. They seem to think no one can truly be one of us until he has come through a certain trial by fire. I think they have been greatly influenced by the smiths of Eregion - always they must test gold in their own little crucible."

"Gold?" Faramir said in mock surprise. "Really, father, i expected a bit more... something more the caliber of mithril, perhaps."

Aragorn smiled at his son's repartee, but it was a slightly sad smile when he thought that not so very long ago he doubted that he would ever see his son genuinely relaxed and carefree again. His child had gone through far, far too much and Aragorn was determined that he should do all in his power to keep him from further hurt.

Elboron took up for his grandfather, though, giving a good hard tug to his father's hair, giggling as if to say, "that's what you get for teasing my grandpa."

Faramir looked around his study, wondering if there was anything there that might be amusing to a baby. There were plenty of books around to amuse him, but probably nothing that Elboron would much enjoy. When it came to entertaining his child, Faramir told himself that it would likely be best to think more like Boromir might have. In other words, books and tales were, as of yet, out of the question. Anticipating the future of his fatherhood, though, Faramir knew that it would not be long before Elboron could appreciate stories. Remembering his own childhood, Faramir thought that he was maybe no more than three years old when his favorite tale was about the little Hobbit who faced the big dragon not so very long ago. It was not until that day he and his company had taken Frodo and Sam to Henneth Annun that he actually believed that story though, and only a couple of months ago in Rivendell had he gotten the whole story, straight from the source..

Deciding the best entertainment he could provide at the moment was his own hair, Faramir sat back down at his desk and took up the report again. Elboron didn't seem to mind if the rest of his family conducted business while he was there.

"This is all true, Belthil?" Aragorn asked about the Council report. "I mean, this is not just a joke, is it?"

"No, indeed it is not, my lord," Belthil said. "What do you think?"

"What do we think? My question is, who's idea was this anyway?" Faramir said, shifting Elboron to his other arm, so he could see his nephew as they talked. Unfortunately, Elboron did not let go of the lock of hair he had a hold of and practically strangled his father with it until Faramir worked it loose and offered another bit of hair to his little one.

"I wish i could take credit, but actually the idea to convene was Master Gimli's," Belthil said.

"This is unprecedented, you know," Faramir said. "Never before has a council actually convened and done something productive, let alone forward-looking, without being told to."

"You realize what this means, of course," Aragorn said, looking over at Faramir.

"To me it means that the world has indeed changed, so much so that men can come up with idea independent of supervision... and every now and again you or i or both of us at once can concentrate on other things," Faramir said with a smile.

Aragorn nodded. "I think we have just made a real advancement. These ideas are very worthy, Belthil," he said, tapping at the pages he held. "I would be happy to discuss these at length at the next meeting. That is scheduled next month?" he asked Faramir.

"Aye, just before the harvest festival," Faramir confirmed. "I should also have the figures on what the garrisons will need by then, there are only a few who have yet to report."

"Actually, uncle," Belthil said, looking over the stacks of parchments until he found the right one, "the last five are in."

"Well, this place seems to run better when i have nothing to do with it," Aragorn said. "In which case, i do not suppose anyone will mind if i can not be found for the rest of the afternoon. There is nothing urgent, is there, Belthil?"

"Not a thing, my lord," the young man said with a smile. "If you will excuse me, i am on duty soon."

Aragorn nodded his consent, aware that Belthil was yet accustomed to such formalities. He was getting used to the fact that no matter how casual he was, some people in Minas Tirith were never going to be comfortable with that and that he simply had to try his best to meet them halfway. After all, these people had dreamed their whole lives of one day serving the King, they'd spent years of their lives training to be "properly acquitted" in such royal company... only to have some Ranger from the North come in and drag road dust and mud all over their highly polished floors. It was the least he could do to sometimes act like what they had always wanted a King to act like. For the moment, though, Aragorn was more concerned with acting like a husband andwent to keep his expecting wife company.

And so it was that everything was running more smoothly than ever before in Gondor. The renewal in Minas Tirith alone was hugely inspiring. Everyone was happy and well and prospering again. That was until one night about a month before Arwen was due to give birth.

Elboron was already asleep for the night (Faramir had actually started sleeping through the night again as his son now only fed at daylight hours) and Faramir was just about to set his book down for the night and turn in as well, when there was a knock on his door. There stood his father, a pillow tucked under his arm and a sheepish, entreating look in his eyes.

ooo

linda: The twins, grow up? That sounds decidedly doubtful :)

AM: Any ideas for a suitable revenge? I've got one idea, but have to see how i can play it out. Confinement - you are a stronger woman than i ever could be!

Elenhin: The revenge i am thinking of a something a little more insidious than even the twins could come up with. It is deceptive in it's simplicity. I guess this chapter answered your question as well.

grumpy: They definitely know better than to play games with their sister, but they do not know Faramir well enough yet... he grew up with Boromir.