Together

By:

LiL Pippin Padfoot

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Disclaimer: "I need to concentrate, Paige."

"So? What's that mean, Forsyth?"

"That means you shut up."

"I think I might cry."

"Don't cry." - Me and Forsyth (Gondor!) in Lit.

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Chapter 8

Miriel's Response.

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Neither Boromir or Miriel could sleep that night.

Neither could Faramir, but for different reasons.

While Miriel was reading and re-reading Boromir's letter and composing her own, Boromir was awaiting for Miriel's response. Eventually, he did fall asleep, but his dreams reflected his last thoughts.

Faramir was dreading his father.

Finally morning came.

Faramir and Boromir went to breakfast, trying to hide the fact that neither of them had a good night's sleep.

"Sleep well boys?" asked Denethor

Boromir and Faramir looked at each other.

"Yes." said Boromir "I did." Boromri struggled with a smile, not wanting to look to cheerful.

"Faramir?" asked Denethor

"What?" asked Faramir, trying to act alert. "Yes, good sleep. Very comfortable."

"I don't know." said Denethor. "Perhaps a bed is to civilized for a person who is used to sleeping in the wilderness."

If Faramir noticed the critism of him being a Ranger, which to Boromir, he did not, Faramir did not show it.

"Or," said Denethor going on. "Maybe you prefer to be outside at night."

Boromir tried to swallow, but he had an impending fear of doom.

Faramir's glance darted up, then down.

"Quiet, are we?" asked Denethor.

"I did go outside last night." said Faramir

"Really?" asked Denethor "Do tell."

Faramir had a creepy feeling that Denethor already knew.

"I thought I heard something, so I slipped outside. Nothing but the guards walking about." said Faramir

"Which guards?" asked Denethor

Faramir shrugged. "It was dark."

"Generally at night it is." said Denethor "But there is more to this story, and I know it, and I will find out. You two are dismissed." Denethor got up and walked out.

Faramir and Boromir left without finishing their breakfast.

"Close one." said Boromir

"Close one?" asked Faramir "Close one! No, Boromir. A close one, is an arrow coming a hair's breath away. This was a death toll."

"You're over reacting." said Boromir "Just one more time, please. Just go get Miriel's response."

Faramir stopped "I forgot about that, almost. Fine. But if I get caught with some...mushy love note, I do not know what Father will do, but I can garuntee it will not be pretty."

"Well, to tell the truth, you're not that pretty anyway." Boromir ducked Faramir's punch.

Miriel had been reading Boromir's letter. She had quickly tucked it under her pillow when her Father had walked in.

"Miriel?" he said

"Yes, Father, what do you need?"

"Nothing, I do think I am going crazy."

"Why?"

"Well, I could have sworn that a man all dressed in black came in my room last night, but when I lit a lantern, he was gone. I wanted to ask you, because I saw you light one too. Did that man wake you up?"

"No..." said Miriel, that wasn't a lie. She hadn't been sleeping. "I saw your lantern, and wondered what was wrong, but when you put yours out, I also turned mine out."

"Oh." he said, dwelling on this. "Well, I suppose I ought to go now." he said

"Goodbye Father." she said

Her Father had been a merchant in Osgiliath, but now he was looking for work. Not many would hirer an elderly man.

When Miriel was sure her father wasn't returning, she re-read Boromir's letter again.

Dear Miriel, (it read)

If you are reading this, either my father has let me go, but if he has, I would be talking to you in person. But if you are reading this, most likely I conned Faramir into delivering it, and I'm sorry for anything he did (I'm sure he did something, even if it was just waking you up).

I don't really know what to say, except I love you. That's all. I'm not very good at this 'love' thing I'm afraid, but I try. I love you.

Boromir

Miriel hunted around the Houses of Healing till she found some parchment, and scratched her own response.

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Sorry, haven't updated in a while. I guess I forgot.