Uncertain Fates

Gelidir returned to Denethor out of breath.

"Whoever it was, they are gone, my lord," he explained.

Denethor sighed weakly; his mind was preoccupied on another matter. He stared at Gelidir intently before executing his order. "Send for the finest swordsman in all of Gondor," he said suddenly.

Gelidir nodded, knowing what Denethor meant. "And, my lord; have you set a date?"

Denethor nodded. "Yes; I want this over with as soon as possible. As soon as we have our swordsman, I would want it to be taken care of the very same day."

Gelidir nodded obediently. "With your leave my lord, I would like to leave and send word to the messengers."

"Do it," Denethor said darkly.

000

When Boromir finally reached the dungeon, two guards stopped him from entering.

"My lord, we cannot let you enter; we are afraid that the conditions…"

"Do you think that I haven't been inside a dungeon before?" Boromir snapped, all while trying to catch his breath.

"But, my lord—" the other soldier began.

"Enough! I wish to see my brother!" Boromir shouted, losing his already waning temper.

The guards stepped aside as Boromir dashed past them and headed straight into the dungeon. When he entered, he could hear the moans of doomed prisoners, long forgotten and left to die. Some stretched their bony and withered hands through the grates of the cells, trying to reach Boromir.

The Gondorian lord tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness as he peered through each cell, hoping to find Faramir. But instead, he only saw prisoners, perhaps they deserved to be there, but then again, he knew not. What he did know was that he had to find his brother and save him from a certain death.

"Faramir!" he called desperately, not caring who heard him. He only hoped that Faramir would hear his call.

0-0

The beaten Ranger sat up instantly when he heard his name being called, but not only that—he heard a familiar voice, one he thought he would never hear again. He stood up and rushed to the grates to get a better look in order to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating. He wasn't. He could see a shadow wandering helplessly, looking for someone, looking for him.

"Brother!" Faramir responded.

Boromir couldn't believe what he had heard. He was half expecting to be disappointed, but now he had indeed found his brother.

He ran in the direction of Faramir's cell but when he reached it, he could hardly believe that the man inside was his brother.

Faramir's face was still swollen due to the treatment that he had received in Mordor; his hair was dirty and matted; his eyes, once a soulful blue, but at the same time cheerful, had been dulled by sorrow and despair.

Boromir was speechless, as was Faramir for a moment, but he was the first to return to normal and speak to his brother.

"Brother, you have come for me," he said, stating the obvious.

Now more anger than shock began to set in as Boromir examined his damaged brother. "Who has done this to you!" he roared.

Faramir had actually forgotten how bad he must have looked; "Your anger is of no use, Boromir. My previous captors are far away."

Boromir's hands balled into fists. "Where have you been? Where did they take you?"

Faramir knew that there would be a time to explain what had happened, but at the moment his life was at risk. "Listen to me Boromir; there will be another time for this, but there is a much more urgent matter at hand."

Boromir could have kicked himself for letting his anger get in the way of why he really had come.

"Yes, there is; you have been accused of desertion. Something that you would die before doing; and while we speak, your execution is already being arranged," Boromir stopped to let his words sink in for a moment. He knew that it wouldn't be long before he was discovered with Faramir, and as he began to think, a slight plot formed into his mind—a plot to help Faramir escape. But in order for the plan to be executed, they couldn't do anything to rouse suspicion, or else the weak plan would crumble altogether.

Before Faramir could speak, Boromir began again. "But there is a way that I can get you out of here…even if it's just long enough for you to prove your innocence."

Faramir seemed strangely calm, especially considering his inward conflict. "I am guessing that father is the one who has signed my death warrant, but I only have one question more: how am I to die?"

Boromir shifted uncomfortably, thinking of the barbaric death that had been decided for his brother. "You will not die, I am going to make sure of it," Boromir said, hoping to veer from the topic.

"Then what death is intended for me?" Faramir asked softly.

Boromir couldn't even look him in the eyes when he answered, for he wasn't and never would be at peace with his brother dying before his time. "Decapitation," he answered.

Faramir instinctively brought his left hand up to feel his neck. He stared ahead, his eyes not even focusing on Boromir. "Decapitation?"

"Yes, but it will not happen; I will not let it happen," Boromir insisted. "I will get you out of here."

"How soon?" Faramir asked.

"Tonight."

000

Gelidir wasted no time sending messengers out with the news. And it seemed that the call had almost immediately been answered, and word reached them by the evening that a swordsman from Cair Andros was willing to perform the execution. He was said to be a veteran, and so he was accepted to perform the duty.

0-0

Meanwhile in the Citadel, Boromir was completely oblivious to the current situation, for he needed to speak with Lady Éowyn.

She opened her door after he had knocked only once, and stiffly let him in. Things between the two of them had improved considering how much she had loathed him, but they still didn't act as a husband and wife should.

He walked in and waited for her to close the door. He needed her help greatly.

"My lady," he began, but didn't get past that.

"Oh, do stop with the formality. After all these months I have grown tired of hearing you call me that."

If it was under any other circumstances, Boromir would have smiled, but the matter concerned Faramir's life.

"Are we alone?" he whispered.

Éowyn nodded. "Why have you come here?" she asked.

"Because I need your help," Boromir said, walking closer to her and gently resting his hands on her shoulders. "The matter concerns my brother's life or death, and you will play an important role when it comes to deciding his fate."

Éowyn paled. She didn't even know that Faramir was back in the city. She listened in horror as Boromir, trusting her, told her everything. When he finished he stared at her, waiting for her reply and at the same time, fearing the worst.

Éowyn saw the fear in his eyes and did the most honorable thing that she could. She agreed.

"What do I have to do?" she asked fearlessly.