Fear of Fire, Chapter Ten: Conflict

Rating: G, I guess.

Author's Note: Forgive me for the abysmally long update time on this one. Mea culpa. Rest assured the next chapter is already in the works. Oh, and after this chapter there will be considerably more slash going on. No action till chapter 12, but lots of slashy thoughts in the next one.

Conflict

"You heard what?"

Eowyn nearly dropped her fork at Faramir's sudden reaction. "I heard he's been transferred to Osgiliath."

"Lieutenant Amlach? You're certain?"

Eowyn frowned, trying to remember the names the guard she had been chatting with had told her. "Yes. Yes, I'm fairly sure that was the name."

Faramir pursed his lips, looking away. "And this was on the King's orders?"

"Yes," Eowyn confirmed. "Or at least Miriel certainly seemed to think so. She said the gossip was that you were angry at him, so Aragorn --Aragorn had removed him for you." She looked at Faramir with dawning comprehension. "But that doesn't sound like you."

"I take care of my own problems." Or at least, I try to.

"So you didn't say anything, or..."

Faramir shook his head in firm denial. "I did not."

Eowyn sighed, poking at her salad with her fork. They had been back in Minas Tirith for three days, and the King's Council was due to convene in another two - yet she had yet to see her husband and Aragorn spend more than half an hour in the same room together. They were both always busy, always preparing for the Council to convene - they were just always busy doing different things.

"Faramir, you really must find a way to communicate better with him."

"I am aware," Faramir said sourly.

Eowyn said no more for a moment, allowing him to lapse into a brooding silence. She hoped a little time for reflection would let him remove himself from his anger and start formulating a plan. She started eating again, but he didn't; he seemed to prefer running his fingers along the side of his knife and fork, only occasionally lifting a bite to his mouth.

"Well?" Eowyn demanded, when she could no longer stand the thick silence. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Do?" Faramir blinked at her. "What can I do? Clearly the King has made up his mind."

Eowyn frowned. "Do not tell me you don't intend to speak to him about this, Faramir."

"What is there to say?" There was a hard edge to Faramir's voice. "If the King sees fit to remove a man from under my command then--"

"Oh, stop it," Eowyn interrupted crossly. "'The King' this, 'the King' that. What will you say to Aragorn about it?"

"Nothing," Faramir said shortly.

Eowyn raised one eyebrow. "Nothing?"

"Nothing." Faramir began shoveling food into his mouth, gaze pointedly fixed on his plate.

Eowyn watched him for a moment, tapping the side of her plate with her fork. Then she suddenly stood, knocking her fork aside. She had Faramir's hand in hers and had dragged him to his feet before he realized what was happening. "Come," she said grimly, taking long strides towards the door.

Faramir was obliged to follow or be disconnected from his hand. "Eowyn? Where are we going?"

Eowyn wisely waited until they were out in the hallway before answering. "To see Aragorn. Or 'the King,' if you insist, but he'll correct you every time you say it so you might as well stop now."

Faramir had planted his feet firmly at about "the King," but as Eowyn kept hold of his hand and continued walking as though nothing had happened, Faramir was forced to follow her or create a scene. "Eowyn!" he hissed angrily.

"Do not fight me, Faramir," Eowyn warned. "You are his Steward. The two of you must learn to communicate, and if you won't do it on your own then someone will just have to lock you in a room together until you come to terms."

"This is not the way to go about this!!" Faramir was speaking in a vehement whisper as Eowyn dragged him down the hallway, past guards and courtiers alike.

"Oh, I'm sure your method will work much better," Eowyn hissed back at him. "You must at least let him know you disapprove."

"Why?"

"Because that's what adults do, Faramir," Eowyn said, exasperated. And with that, they reached Aragorn's study. Eowyn knocked firmly on the door.

They were admitted instantly by the guard. Aragorn looked up and smiled warmly when he saw who it was. "Faramir, Eowyn. What can I do for you?"

"Faramir has something he needs to discuss with you," Eowyn announced before Faramir could even open his mouth. And then, while both men were still registering what she had said, she turned and marched out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Exit hurricane Eowyn, Faramir thought ruefully. What had he gotten himself into with thismarriage?

Aragorn looked at him inquiringly. "What is it, Faramir?"

Faramir squirmed. "I--well--why did you remove Lieutenant Amlach?" he suddenly burst out. Graceful, Faramir. Very graceful.

Aragorn blinked. "Because he was a problem."

"Do you remove soldiers from all of your captains' units without informing them?" Faramir asked crisply. He hated the sound of the words leaving his mouth; he hated sounding bitter and petty. But he couldn't help it; he was too angry to censor his words.

"I was doing you a favor," Aragorn replied patiently, almost as though talking to a child.

Faramir felt his cheeks redden. "I did not ask you to do this."

"It would not have been much of a favor if you had, would it?" Aragorn replied with a smile.

Faramir could feel his face hardening. Aragorn's smile faltered.

"I wish you would not subvert me in this manner," Faramir said, his voice tight with anger. "You must not treat me any differently than you do any other captain of Gondor. I was handling this situation."

"But you weren't," Aragorn pointed out. "It was draining you."

"Who told you that?" Faramir asked sharply.

Aragorn remained silent, and Faramir took a deep breath, realizing he could not reply.

"Nevertheless," he continued in a calmer tone, "I do not require or wish your intervention. I warned you of this."

Aragorn grimaced. "It was not like that, Faramir!"

"It was not your place to do what you did."

Aragorn froze. No, he was thinking. No, it was not. I only wish it was.

Faramir waited in silence. After a moment, Aragorn cleared his throat and smoothed the front of his tunic unnecessarily. "Very well," he said slowly. "If that is your wish, then I will abide by it. It won't happen again."

Faramir took a deep breath. "Thank you."

There was an awkward silence. Normally Faramir would have bowed himself out of the room at this point, but Aragorn hated it when he bowed.

Aragorn was fiddling with his stylus. "Have you made any progress with your fear?" he asked suddenly.

Faramir was taken aback. "I--I have not had much time to work on it, Your M--Aragorn."

"Would you like my help again?" Aragorn asked, looking up hopefully.

Faramir did not want to - he felt emotionally wrung out and did not want to face any more time alone with Aragorn. But more than this he did not want to appear weak, so he nodded his consent.

Aragorn seemed pleased. "Tomorrow evening, then?"

Faramir nodded again. He couldn't stand to stay here any longer. Bowing - he could not help the habit - he left the room with a heavy heart.

Aragorn stared at the closed door for a long time before returning to his work.