Together

By:

LiL Pippin Padfoot

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Disclaimer: "You're not done yet, Forsyth?"

"Well, I generally read over what I've written, unlike you, Miss Speedy Gonzalas. You can't even read your own writing."

"I can too. But it only counts if Mrs. A can read it."

"True." - Me and Forsyth, right before we were dismissed from class.

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Chapter 9

Midnite Caper

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Faramir once again snuck out of his rooms and headed for the Houses of Healing.

Faramir had a strange suspicion he was being watched, but he doubted very much his Father, proud as he was, would be hiding behind a mullberry bush. But one can never tell.

Faramir slipped into Miriel's room, where he expected her to be there.

She wasn't.

Faramir cursed. Where was she?

Then he got a bit of a surprise.

"Burgalar!"

Faramir paled.

"Burgalar I say, Burgalar!" It was coming from across the hall.

"Where, man, where?"

"In my daughter's room. I knew I saw some one stalking about last night, so I made her stay in my room with me."

Faramir looked around.

He saw a letter with 'Boromir' on it. He grabbed it, and was preparing to jump out the window when the door was bust down.

Everybody froze.

"Get him!"

Without one chance, Faramir found himself tackled. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Miriel, pale in the moonlight.

"Pull off his hood, and see who this scoundrel is." growled one man.

They all looked healthy enough, so Faramir assumed that they had to be refugees from Osgiliath, the ones without family here in Minas Tirith.

He felt one grope about, till he pulled Faramir's hood off, then a gasp went around.

"Faramir? The Steward's son?"

"This is an outrage."

"The Steward, letting his son go gallavanting out after our daughters."

Faramir's face was burning.

"What shall we do with him?" asked one.

"Wait," said a small voice.

Everyone, incluing Faramir, turned toward it. It was Miriel "He came to see me." she said "I was planning to come back into my quaters, meet him, then sneak back into my father's."

Everybody apologized to Faramir, and helped him up, where he stood awkwardly.

"Well, I'll get going now."

"You hold just a minute boy." an icy cold voice filled the room, and a lantern was lit.

Faramir paled even more if possible. The guards had called on his Father.
Boromir had heard the disterbance in the hall, it had woken him up.

He crept to his door and listened.

"Houses of Healing...Burgalar...Man dressed in black...they caught him...Faramir was thrown on the floor..."

That was all Boromir needed to hear. A Burgalar had obviously attacked Miriel's room while Faramir was in it.

Boromir got dresses as quickly as he could, but when he got down there, a mob of people were flanking the door to Miriel's room.

"Master Boromir," said one of the Healers "You may not want to interrupt."

"Why not?" asked Boromir "How is my brother? What is going on?"

"Your brother was caught in Lady Miriel's room."

Boromir pushed through the crowd, and arrived at Miriel's room, where he heard two voices from inside.

"Father, it's not like that-,"

"Don't interrupt me Faramir. I understand now. Boromir's been covering for you, but he cannot anymore. You and your Rangers are to leave for Osgiliath tomorrow, prepared or not, and are not allowed to return to Minas Tirith until I give the word."

The door opened, people backed away as the angry Steward marched through them. Boromir stepped in the room. Faramir was standing in the middle of it. "Faramir-," Boromir started, but Faramir stopped him.

"Here. This is what you want." Faramir handed him the letter. "Goodbye." and Faramir walked out into the crowd, and disappeared. Boromir held the letter in his hand for a moment, pocketed it, then walked out. The people would want answers.

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