Faramir stood quietly; sad eyes watching his brother walk away from him. He'd known all along that this reaction was a possible risk involved in keeping his full identity secret. Yet, what choice did he have? Even though he trusted Boromir with his life, this secret was different; one accidental slip in a land so close to Mordor could be very dangerous, and not just for Faramir, but for all those around him as well. The way he saw it, it was simply best to say nothing to no one and to hold to that policy regardless of the personal consequences. If anyone was endangered because of who he was, it was not something that Faramir could live with. He only hoped that Boromir would cool down and be able to see it that way as well.

A warm hand rested on Faramir's shoulder, gently compressing the tension away. "I am sorry that went ill," Aragorn said quietly.

Faramir sighed. "I can not say it was wholly unexpected. What else could I do though? He would have been in terrible danger if he knew. I couldn't risk my brother, though perhaps I have anyway."

"There are none who do not live in risk in these days," Aragorn said. "I have not yet had a chance to tell you how truly sorry I am for the mistake I made before you left. I know you would say that it was not I who hurt you, nor was it you who hurt me, but when I say that I did that to myself, I mean that had I but made it clear to you the whole trouble could have been avoided. I am sorry that I did not tell you more of your mother, though possibly you know already."

"I think I have figured out that she was the Steward's wife, or at least that is what the clues seem to indicate," Faramir said.

Aragorn only nodded. "I should have told you of this many years ago, my son. I still fear to say it, though, if it is hurtful to you, or if you would think less of me."

"I think not," Faramir said sounding tired. "Did you love her?" he asked.

"For my part, no, not in the way you speak of. I thought very highly of her and considered her a friend. I do not believe that she loved me either, rather I saw in her eyes something that suggested that I reminded her of someone who she did love. In that I can understand her behavior, but I have yet to really understand mine. I do not know if I have really forgiven myself for it either, though Arwen holds me blameless. And yet that may make me feel all the more guilty. But I want you to know that I have never a day been ashamed of you. Because of you I have been truly the richest man in all of arda... and often the most worried as well," Aragorn said with a slight grin. "Had you ever the chance to meet her, Finduilas?"

Faramir shook his head. "From what Boromir has spoken of, she left Minas Tirith with him shortly after my birth and went back to her home in Dol Amroth. Boromir was raised there and saw his father only once in 15 years before he returned after his 20th birthday. From what I have gathered, though he has never said in so many words, his mumma died when he was about 10."

"Then she lived much longer than I would ever have thought. I am glad that she returned to the sea, she was too gentle a lady for Minas Tirith," Aragorn said. "Faramir, more than that, much more, what I should have made known to you was that I never intended to name you as my heir until you were of age. I would rather have died without an 'official' heir than to have put such a terrible burden on you. It was my intent to allow you to make the decision for yourself. I know you left because you feared that your decisions had been made for your, but I would never do such a thing to you. Ever since the first time I held you all I have ever wished for is your happiness. I know that you dreamed of living here and working beside Erestor for many days into the future. I would see you have that dream."

"I would as well, ada, but so much has changed. If all that was spoken of here today is so, there may be no future for us, let alone an Imladris. At any rate, I know that I can not make a decision about my title and status now. I never really thought I had any choice in the matter. I love you for giving me that choice, though."

"I love you for giving me all the experiences of fatherhood," Aragorn said, embracing his son. "I do not expect you to make any choices soon, I more than understand. When I made that decision I made Erestor promise that he would not record your name in any official documentation, not least of which the books of our lineage which he keeps under lock and key. I rather made that decision with the hope that I would, at some point in my life, have more than one son," Aragorn smiled slightly. "Why do you not go on inside and have something to eat? I will be in after some while; I think I need a walk just now though." Aragorn held up his pipe, taking a walk in Imladris was often code for "Elrond would have my head if I smoked near him."

Faramir laughed, understanding at once. "I will see you then," he said, heading in. He had taken after his daeradar and had no love for pipeweed.

Aragorn had no trouble at all finding his next quarry. Boromir sat alone in a secluded niche in the garden where moonflower vines intermingled with morning glories, each taking its turn on exhibit by day and night. Over the few moments he had been sitting there, Boromir felt his anger and the strange mood that had been over him fade away. He was left now wondering at some of his own thoughts and actions and not understanding why his little brother (could he still call him that?) trusted him with his life, but not with his life. He understood being hesitant to say at first, after all, he hadn't spoken of his lineage until he was sure that Faramir liked him for who he was in the first place. Friends were so hard to come by, Boromir knew, and so easy to lose. He was feeling truly alone and very, very far from home.

What had made him speak so strangely? Could it possibly have been the Elven trickery his father had warned him about? But no, for father said that they would try to dissuade him from the goals of Gondor, though they definitely did that as well. Boromir felt so entirely weary, something not usual in Imladris, and he questioned himself over and over. Laying his head atop his bent knee, he concluded that absolutely nothing had gone well since his father had shown him what was kept in the secret room in the White Tower.

His father... there was another source of doubt. Since returning to Minas Tirith nearly 20 years ago, Boromir had watched his proud father decline slowly. Where was the admirable and good-humored, if not busy and decorous, man he'd known before he and mumma moved to Dol Amroth? Who knew what happened to his father in the 15 years he'd been away? When he came home that day, his father had welcomed him with open arms and wept over him and continued to favor him as much as he did when he was but 5 years old. But he was different, changed, and he continued to change. He was not the same man, the soldier who Boromir had wanted to be.

He was now, to Boromir's eyes, a worn man, weary and aged before his time. Boromir wondered if it was more to do with the death of his grandfather or his mother that changed his father's behavior, but one thing that Boromir remembered bitterly about his mother's death was that there was not even a word of sorrow sent from Denethor. And still, Boromir respected his father, for he knew that the burden he bore was great and that he was truly mostly unaided in his efforts. He knew that his father was a good man who loved his land so dearly that he would give all of himself for her... the trouble was, how much was he willing to compromise to buy Gondor's safety?

Boromir was beginning to ask that same question of himself when he found that he was no longer alone. "It's been a long day, you should come inside and take some food and rest," Faramir's father, Aragorn, Isildur's heir said kindly.

"How do I know you are really him?" Boromir answered in an overwrought voice.

"You do not," Aragorn said. "Quite honestly, most times I do not either."

"Do you know how much Gondor needs her King now?" Boromir said, looking up into Aragorn's keen eyes. "Why are you here when you are needed now more than ever? The White City, beautiful and proud of old, is growing exhausted. If you are who they say you are, we could be new again, you could renew us. The kings of old were leaders, a central figure that an entire people could rally to."

Aragorn saw clearly what Boromir hoped for: someone who could truly lead them into victory against Mordor. Already he saw himself being put up on a pedestal, being made a shining example, a figure, as Boromir himself put it. He could just envision himself mounted and arrayed in finery and armor that made him gleam like a movable beacon of Gondor, shining at the head of the ranks, sword drawn, riding forward against the Black Gate of Sauron.

But he knew very well, even if others would not see it, that he was Mortal and but one single man without any extraordinary powers. He could see himself being trampled and flung aside like a weed by only the minions of the Dark Lord. He could be broken, too, and something in him just did not want to get up the hopes of an entire race over something so innately questionable and weak.

"I think we will have much time yet to discuss matters of a political nature. What I am come for at this moment is to do my part to set things right between you and my son - I know how much you mean to each other. I want to tell you something, Boromir. When my little boy left here 15 years ago, it was because he suddenly had a whole new world to deal with. I know, for I did the same thing myself when I was his age and learned who my father was. Boromir, you have always known that you are the heir to the Stewardship of Gondor, imagine for a moment if you had never known it, if you had lived a common life growing up, and then were told one day that you are to next in line to inherit the highest current leadership of a land.

"I have worried about my child, my son, every single day from that day to this. But now i know that he had an honorable companion, someone he could count on who cared enough about him to go to lengths for his safety, i am much redeemed for my fears and anxieties. I would think you would understand this, Boromir. In a place so near to Mordor, the name of Isildur's heir is a byword for peril to any who should know of it. My brothers tell me that when my father was killed by orcs it was very plain that he was specifically targeted, but so too were his men. My son feared for your safety, should you know the whole story, for even if you kept the secret only in your heart, it is said that there are those who may read the hearts and minds of Men, and that is no more a myth than Hobbits are."

"What you say of that at least is true. Long has my father been known for that very ability. Perhaps it is that which will prove his downfall... i do not know. There were times when it seemed that he would station Faramir's Rangers in some specific place or other and nearly always was there a major attack within a week. Sometimes it seemed to me that he would put him in the line of dangerous purposely, but how could father actually know when and where an attack would be?"

Aragorn was very silent for some time, knowing that Denethor would not have missed who Faramir was and not doubting that he would put him at the fore of an attack. More than that, Aragorn had a pretty good idea how he would know where they would be hit. "Boromir, there is more that i think you should know of; however, you must swear to me that if you hold any culpable it will be me, not my son, for he is innocent of this."

Boromir looked cautiously at Aragorn for a while, but curious won out and he nodded, saying, "i swear it."

"Faramir never spoke of his mother, did he?" Aragorn said.

"Not really. He told me once that he never knew her, so i presume that she died in birth or shortly thereafter," Boromir replied.

Aragorn shook his head. "I am certain that the resemblance between you has not gone unnoticed."

Boromir was now outwardly glaring at Aragorn. "What mean you here? Speak! Tell me what it is you mean to say. You hardly have to, for i believe i guess your meaning."

"Gauging your reaction i would say that you do. I accept your blame, deserve it in fact. But you should know the facts -"

"I am no fool, Aragorn, son of Arathorn. I know rather well how these matters work." Boromir's voice then grew low and heated. "And i will tell you this, if my mother were not dead and she told me that you harmed so much as a hair -"

"It was your father who did the harm," Aragorn said, rising to his own defense. "Now, i can and do accept your blame for my part in what happened, for allowing myself to allow it to happen, but i will not be falsely accused. It was not my fault that Denethor did not take care of her."

"My father may be an imprefect man, but never did he... i don't think..." Again, Boromir's fury began to lessen quickly. He had never really stopped to consider why they had gone to Dol Amroth all those years ago, or why he hadn't seen his father until he was 20, or even just why it was stipulated in his mother's testament that he should remain in Dol Amroth until he came of age. Boromir looked down at the earth about him. "I no longer am sure of anything anymore," he whispered. "Everything i know is wrong."

"Then you shall simply have to learn again," Aragorn said compassionately.

"Damned Rangers, always do you make everything sound so easy," Boromir grumbled.

"Well, when we are not fighting for our very lives, things do seem rather more easy to us, that is true." It was not Aragorn who said that though.

Boromir looked up and felt a bit guilty. There was no way he could deny it, especially not now, he really did consider Faramir his little brother, and apparently the feeling was more than just the voice of sentiment. He loved Faramir in the way that brothers do, as truest family, in a way that even devastating life-changes can not tear assunder.

"What is your verdict, then?" Faramir asked quietly. "For 15 years we have been nearly all the other had. If that has come to its ending, i should want to know it sooner than later."

Boromir rose and rested a hand on Faramir's shoulder and looked into his eyes. "No," he said sincerely, "this can not be ended by you or i."

"You know that i truly trust you with everything, Boromir. Only, i could not tell you of my line because of the danger it would put you in. Bor', even if i have had to lose you as a brother, i could bear that before i could seeing you tortured for information about the last of the heirs to Isildur's throne. It has happened before to others, and i... felt i had to protect you, at all costs."

"I would still fall defending you, little brother." It was funny how Faramir had a way of always making Boromir feel better about things, as if things could always be worked out with patience.

"And i you, big brother. But you had best never make good on that," Faramir said seriously.

Boromir laughed and embraced his brother tightly. "Just this once, little one, Boromir of Gondor will do his best to not fulfill his word to its utmost end, at least i will try not to catch any extra arrows just for fun."

ooo

So i did manage to get another chap in this week. The next chapter will be the selection of the Fellowship. Is anyone taking bets?

linda: Have you noticed the pattern in the way the Ring affects Boromir?

Elenhin: I have most often been told to act my age as well, but meaning that i shouldn't act so much older than i am. I have had to learn how to grow down, though i think i am doing at least a little better. I was never terribly immature, even as a child, i was always the nervous one afraid of getting hurt or something. As a result, i've never had any major injuries, though. I can just imagine what could happen if the twins team up with Merry and Pip. And, yes, you should feel sorry for Boromir. He's having a very difficult time. It's saddening, but it seems that the finest blades are the easiest to break.

steelelf: Those two seem to raise trouble at their very mention!