The brothers had an easier time than their start for the rest of their road to Edoras, the first stop. They did, however, receive the now traditional greeting of the Mark in the Eastfold. Boromir was more than a little offended, but Faramir assured him that it was really just a matter of protocol and that the last time he had been through Rohan he'd had a nice rest and meal and replenished supplies.
Just how much had changed in 15 years time, however, was alarming to Faramir. Apparently, not only were orcs a problem in the Eastfold, but now, too, were the Dunlendings were becoming more aggressive in the Westfold as well. More than that, what truly distressed Faramir was to see what had become of King Théoden. This man was younger than his own father, but looked to be agéd more than Mithrandir, when only 15 years ago he was a hale and strong leader of his people.
Faramir wondered if the mantle of leadership was truly so heavy, for Denethor, too, seemed over-aged for one of his bloodlines. He remembered that even his daeradar at times seemed weary, but then again, that was usually because the twins were around. It seemed to Faramir, though, that there was more to it than just the burdens of rule, at least in Théoden and Denethor's cases, and he had a very uneasy feeling in Meduseld whereas he once felt welcome. He felt he was able to pinpoint his uneasiness on the perturbing man who clung to the King like a shadow, a fell shadow, or like a leech, sucking the life-blood from this once hearty man.
Boromir and Faramir were extended little welcome and merely told that they may continue on. Once again, Boromir felt offended, not realizing that it was only because he was heir to the Stewardship that he and his companion were permitted passage. Faramir, however, was glad to be away from there, regardless of whether they had any proper rest or meals or any such things.
Just before they reached the Fords of Isen, however, they were stopped and literally searched by another company of Rohirrim, despite Boromir's challenging insistence that they had been given permission to pass from the King. Faramir recognized the captain as the man who had stopped him 15 years ago, the King's son, but now he looked much grimmer than he did in those days. The world was changing so fast, and Faramir almost feared what he would find in Rivendell. Eventually they were let pass, but Théodred warned them strongly about going through Dunland. Boromir, at the utter end of his patience, shouted, "we are going north, what do you expect us to do? Go south to the sail and sail up the river?"
"It might well be worth your trouble," Théodred said. "If you ride through Dunland, i hope you can ride fast."
Faramir had a mind to caution more like Théodred's than Boromir's, and once they were out of the Gap of Rohan, Faramir suggested either staying by the foothills or going due west until they reached the Greyflood, crossing it, and going north from there.
Taking a look at a map, though, Boromir believed that going west would set them too far off course and he feared that staying in the foothills would get them lost. Boromir was all for staying on the South Road and asserting their power if it came to some trouble with the Dunlendings. It did not set well with Faramir, but he agreed, provided they ride hard, take little rest, and keep watches until Tharbad. Twice they had to vacate a campsite prematurely and once they were pressed to fighting out of a slight "situation." When they did reach Tharbad they camped for two solid days before even thinking of moving on.
Faramir would have stayed an extra day at Tharbad, the river was running high and the ford was not the safest anyway. The dark clouds over the Misty Mountains told Faramir that there was rainfall there which was now swelling the river. He really would have rather preferred heading back east to Ost-in-Edhil, but for Boromir that was right out. Boromir wanted to cross at Tharbad and head north until they picked up the East Road, saying that where there was a road, there was a way. He did not favor striking directly north and "wandering" without a proper path.
Faramir ceded to his brother again, though he was losing his patience. Had not Boromir claimed to need him on this trip? Faramir walked his horse across first and then Boromir followed. Halfway over, however, Boromir's horse missed her footing. Faramir turned back to help try to get her back up, but the horse's panic combined with the flow of the river was just too much. Faramir's horse was walking back to her master, almost as though he wanted to help save Boromir's horse as well, but the ruined bridge that served as the ford began to crumble rapidly out from under them and it was all they could do to jump back across to land just in time. Both horses and all of their supplies, save one pack that Faramir carried, were lost.
Boromir sat silently on the riverbank for some while before speaking. "This was a mistake. We should turn back. This whole time we have been plagued by one thing after another. We are even losing our patience with one another, little brother."
Faramir sighed. "If you wish to turn back, that choice is yours, but as for me, i will continue."
"How? How can you hope to continue now that our maps, our food, everything, are washed away? We would have to walk the entire way to some place that i never even saw on a map. For all the gods know, perhaps it is naught but a myth. Perhaps there is no Imladris and we are letting ourselves go on a wild goose chase."
"There is most certainly an Imladris, though you will not find it on a map," Faramir said. "Please trust me, Boromir, i can get us there. After all, is that not why i quit my service, to come and help you? As for going on foot, it would be a lot more advisable for us to continue to Imladris on foot than to go back through Dunland."
Boromir closed his eyes and laid down on the ground. "Perhaps we should just wait here for a boat to come down the river. Only our luck would be that it had no paddles and was full of holes."
"Come on, brother," Faramir said encouragingly. "Think of it this way, at least now we have less of a burden to carry."
"Oh, yes? That will be fine when we are lost and starving in the middle of nowhere," Boromir said gloomily, though he got up and followed his little brother.
"We shall scarcely starve," Faramir said chuckling, unfathomable to Boromir considering their situation. "Anything but, in fact, there is much to sustain us this time of year. We shall need to stay close to the river for water, but if you let me lead we will get there fine, it will just take a little bit longer."
How his little brother maintained not only his optimism but also his sense of direction was a mystery to Boromir. He was sure that they would have reached their destination by the end of August, but Faramir seemed to think they would have at least two months more to go. It was a long and difficult journey without horses and living off the land as they were, but Faramir kept them going.
Boromir wondered just when the counsels spoken of in their dream were supposed to take place and if they would not get there only to learn that all counsel had been dispensed a month beforehand. Boromir would have likely strangled someone had that been the case. There was one thing that Boromir was hopeful of, though. "Faramir," he said to his little brother, "you said that you lived here in the north. I know how dearly you wish to see your home again. Perhaps it might be possible for us to stop our way, we could rest and you could spend a few days home again?"
"I would not have come all this way without that thought in mind," Faramir assured Boromir, though he knew his big brother thought that meant they would stopping en route. Weeks went by and Faramir had yet to point out any home where they could rest. Boromir suddenly had a new found respect for the Rangers who lived in this country and wondered how any could survive life like this. Faramir was not altogether sure how much longer he could have survived life in city and military. The freedom that was this land had reinvigorated him, despite their arduous journey, and every day they came closer to Rivendell, closer to home, the more Faramir could sense the comfort that was Imladris.
After over three months of traveling, double what it should have taken, Faramir finally saw up ahead the stand of trees, now brightly colored of autumn, that marked the southern outermost boundary of the Imladris tour of duty area. Faramir's heart leapt and he urged Boromir to hurry on. Faramir practically ran into the woods, expecting to be greeted at any moment by either Glorfindel or the twins, perhaps even Gildor, but the trees were particularly silent and Faramir heard no songs nor even sensed anyone out on patrol. It was curious to him that there should be no one here on guard, but he felt none the less safe and at home.
Boromir, on the other hand, did not like the woodlands one bit. He felt not wholly welcome, as though there was some power in the very air which rejected something in him. "Faramir," he called, "where are we? What is this place?"
"This," Faramir said, smiling, "is Imladris," and he hurried onward.
Boromir was more than bewildered as to how his little brother had known this place as though it was the home that he had so longed for while in Gondor. Suddenly a thought came to him, perhaps it was the Elven trickery which his father had warned him against that caused him to feel uncomfortable here. Still, he trusted Faramir and followed him. It was afternoon when they first walked under the leaves and evening was hastening on but still there had been no signs of any civilization here; it was all trees as far as Boromir could tell. Night began to fall and Boromir was all for laying down under a tree and sleeping until morning, but Faramir insisted that they go on, saying that they would reach their destination in only a couple more hours, that the ford was near, and after that they would have real beds and food and a hot bath. That promise was the only thing that kept Boromir's legs moving.
ooo
Within the Last Homely House that night Elrond had a raging headache and kept trying to get away and drink a lavender tea and hopefully get a few hours of sleep; Erestor had other plans though - too many plans. The advisor was in a state that he had not been in for years. There was no way possible that they could hold the council on the morrow in the hall as he had originally planned, the cooks and servers were threatening him with kinslaying if he dared to try to change the meal times for one single meeting. He was still not comfortable with the accommodations they had prepared for the four Hobbits, though none of them seemed to be complaining as long as there was food available. That was another thing, Erestor had a terrible feeling that if these Halflings were around much longer there would not be a crumb of anything remotely edible in the valley. More than that, he was certain that the smell of pipeweed would never wash out of the guest linens.
Now Elrond was standing on the balcony, clutching the rail as he tried to shut out Erestor's tirade enough to compose himself. Something caught Elrond's attention in the distance and suddenly he turned back to Erestor and, clutching Erestor's shoulders now, he said, "do not worry about tomorrow, just now i need you to prepare two more rooms."
Erestor just stood still for a moment, trying to determine whether or not he'd actually heard what he thought he did. "Two rooms! You want me to prepare two more rooms, now? This entire house is filled with "people" from every race imaginable. I think i put up two Ents and an orc three nights ago. No, wait, that was not an orc, it was Estel in his foul temper. Who could possibly show up here at this hour when we are going to hold this gods-forsaken council on the morrow, and more over there are not two rooms left to prepare. One, i could manage."
"Two, Erestor," Elrond said calmly.
"Elrond, the only habitable rooms left are what was your wife's sewing room -"
"I know, Erestor, but it will do for tonight. Cel' would not mind, i am sure."
"Well, there is someone in this house who will mind if i prepare the other room. You know that Estel would not allow it, that space is nearly sacred to him," Erestor said, speaking of the rooms adjoining Estel's that had belonged to Faramir and had not been touched for 15 years.
"Erestor, i can not brook any arguments about this, just prepare them both. Let Estel sleep, i really do not think he will mind so much come morning."
Erestor sighed, though it sounded more like a growl. "Fine, Elrond, but i shall expect some manner of compensation. This is nearly worth more than my while."
Elrond just smiled and said, "naturally, meldir." Erestor had been insisting that the entire valley was more than worth his while for the last hundred years. It had only gotten worse in the last few years, as more and more Elves left to the West and Erestor acquired more duties that others had once held. Elrond brewed himself that lavender tea he'd been, literally, aching more, and went to sit out on the front porch and wait for the arrivals.
ooo
steelelf: Oh, dear, you say? Well, we shall see :)
Elenhin: Your words are always too kind to me. As always, i am just glad that you have been enjoying as a spin this tale. It is that that makes me want to keep writing. I think the next chapter will be filled with lots of interesting revelations. I am debating whether or not i should attempt to "recreate" the Council, that could be exhausting.
linda: Faramir does seem to be a good influence on Boromir, but what lies ahead remains to be seen.
The Last Hope: I am glad to hear from you again. And glad you are worried about Boromir, it is worrisome, though as i said to linda, it yet remains to be seen what shall happen in forming the Fellowship. That should be covered in the next chapter though.