Aragorn sat in counsel in his pavilion with Éomer, Imrahil, Gandalf, and his Eldar brothers. He listened to Gandalf stress the fact that Sauron was wary of him, the heir to Elendil, the heir to Númenor. He had spent years hiding that fact so that he could escape Sauron's notice, and now, apparently, that was just the opposite of what he had to do. Now Gandalf was counseling him to invoke Sauron's notice, as much as possible. Gandalf proposed that all the men who were well enough should gather for a march directly to Sauron's doorstep and fight the full scale of his forces right there… at least long enough for Frodo to get across to Mt. Doom. Easy enough, Gandalf was only asking them all to commit suicide.

No one spoke for some time. Aragorn sat there absorbed in his own thoughts. He had only just called his son back from death, was he now to walk into it himself, with no real hope of coming back? It was not as though he had ever done anything in his life with very much caution, on the whole, but nor he had even thought about such an undertaking as challenging Sauron directly. If their ruse succeeded, what would be the merit of it if they all fell in the process? Yet Aragorn knew that Gandalf would likely not have offered this suggestion if it wasn't clear that Faramir would remain in Minas Tirith with the ability to take up the Crown and preserve the line of Elendil, indeed the line of Elros.

Looking at Gandalf, though, Aragorn had an understanding that this counsel was not in anyway easier for the Wizard, for he too was looking directly at death, and Aragorn had never heard of anyone being sent back from the Halls of Mandos twice. Aragorn remembered how Gandalf had shown up just when he was ready to give up four days after he had escaped Minas Tirith with his newborn son. He remembered that Gandalf showed up again in Edoras and stayed with him to Imladris, encouraging him and helping keep Faramir well. As much as Aragorn wished they could just stay in Minas Tirith and wait, he knew that Gandalf was right. This had to be done. Even if he fell in this campaign, he would do so paving the way for Faramir and those to come to know a better age than he had so far.

Aragorn agreed to the course Gandalf advised, and so too did the twins. Eomer vowed that he would return the favor Aragorn gave them at Helm's Deep, adding his forces to the march. Imrahil said that he would follow the King where he led of fealty, even though Aragorn did not claim that status, but he also felt that he had those who would be left behind to consider and thought it best that at least some manner of protection be left behind. He was still thinking of the nephew who he had not yet had the opportunity to introduce himself to, and it still marveled him that Aragorn was really the Thorongil he had fought beside so many years ago. Aragorn was quick to take up Imrahil's idea of leaving a suitable defense behind and he promised that more, fresh troops would be coming soon from the South.

It was agreed that they would set forth in two days time then. For the next two days, Aragorn intended to spend every waking moment with his son, lest they be the last moments he should spend with him. Thankful that their counsel had concluded rather quickly, Aragorn's thoughts were about getting in some more sleep before pulling his cloak about him and moving through the lesser traveled ways of the City to see Faramir and tell him of their plan. Éomer had moved off to his captains and Imrahil to his knights. Gandalf was off somewhere smoking his pipe alone, and the twins were going to put their Elven energies into helping the clean-up effort.

Aragorn had just gotten comfortable when Legolas appeared beside him. "I am sorry that you have just missed taking a suicide pact with us, mellon," Aragorn mumbled, trying to snuggle into the pack Elrohir left for him to use as a pillow. He had gotten a few hours of sleep before their counsel, but he needed more yet.

"I need not have been here. You already know that whatever path you chose Gimli and I will be there to watch out for you," Legolas said with a slight smile. "Pilin-nen cannot lose his ada… but he also needs his brother, and it seems that your hand is needed to revive yet another."

"Legolas, Boromir is in the arms of the sea by now," he said, trying to drift off like a boat on the sea himself.

"So I thought as well, but either way, there is a man who goes by the name of Boromir and whom Faramir considers a brother in the Citadel in urgent need of your hand," Legolas said.

Aragorn rose and pulled his cloak around him. There had to be a mistake, this was not remotely possible. Boromir had not survived Amon Hen, he knew that well enough, Elrond had taught him how to tell the difference between life and death and, though they were in a hurry, no pulse meant death to Aragorn. He began to doubt himself, though. Perhaps there had been something that he had overlooked; perhaps he should have tried a little longer to revive Boromir. How could he ever be forgiven by the man for dismissing his life too lightly? It was not that he ever meant to… though clearly it would look that way in the eyes of anyone who meant to oppose him, and Boromir could in fact do just that. 'Yet again,' Aragorn thought, 'a lapse of my own has affected another's life in a dreadful way.'

Without warning, someone grasped Aragorn's shoulder as he walked and spun him around. "'Dan, what -"

"I would thank you to cease that self-doubt," Elladan said in a stern tone.

Aragorn glanced around at Legolas who just shrugged. He had dearly hoped he had only been thinking and not speaking his thoughts aloud.

Elladan simply tapped at his temple, his meaning clear enough. Aragorn really hated it when one of his family read his thoughts without warning. "And I would thank you to let me know before you go prowling around my mind!" he snapped back.

"Not a chance, Estel, not until we have finished what we set out to do," Elladan replied, rather calmer.

"You do not trust me?" Aragorn questioned hotly.

"You, I trust with my life. Other forces, however, I do not. You think the power of Mordor is all deceit, despair, and envious desires? The Dark Lord sows doubt, too. Carry on, little brother, and just remember that we are here to protect you. I for one do not want to know what it would do to my sister if we lose you now."

Aragorn felt slightly embarrassed for overreacting so. He knew 'Ro and 'Dan only meant to watch out for him, as they always had done. He supposed he was just short tempered from the strain of the last... however many years. Truth be told, Elladan had rather effectively echoed his own fears and he did not care for being confronted with the possibility. Deciding to stop thinking so much, it clearly was not helping at the moment, Aragorn asked Legolas what had happened to suggest that Boromir needed his help, let alone that he was still alive.

Legolas simply explained that one of the nurses had come in and asked him where "Thorongil" could be found, which the Elf found rather amusing, and that she said that she could not wake him. Aragorn passed the gate before the tunnel and was greatly thankful that he had not been recognized, he had held his breath as they passed the Houses of Healing.

Aragorn held his breath again walking out of the tunnel and across the lawn of the Citadel. He tried to keep his eyes directly on his path and nowhere else, but he kept looking over at the White Tree and fountain. It was just as it had been the last time he was in the Citadel, the highest level of the City. That had been the day that he said a final farewell to Ecthelion, and had he but known of the man's past… the day that Faramir had been begotten. He knew that, provided the quest was successful and he survived, that this would be his home for the rest of his days. Then again, he thought that was the least likely outcome of all at that point.

Walking into the "King's House" as it was, unfathomably, still called, Aragorn felt such an odd sense of ancient kin. If that was any indication, he thought it would likely be best to steer clear of the Hall of Kings. Aragorn knew where the Steward's apartments were located and presumed that the heir's apartments would be nearby. He was correct and not terribly surprised to find a worried Pippin waiting for him there at Boromir's door. Resting a steady hand on the Hobbit's shoulder, which was, oddly, a little higher than he seemed to recall, Aragorn walked into the room. Within only moments Mithrellas and Imrahil came in too.

Aragorn recognized Mithrellas as one who was tending Faramir the night before. Before he even had a chance to get near to Boromir, though, Imrahil pulled him aside and said softly, "I never did have an opportunity to thank you for saving the life of my nephew. More than any Man could rightly do has already been done by you, and I could never hold you accountable if this one cannot be spared by your hand."

Caught a bit short, Aragorn just looked at Imrahil with a questioning, yet knowing, expression. Was this meant to say that Imrahil knew? Aragorn decided it was neither the time nor place to get into the matter and simply lowered his head in acceptance of the man's consideration.

Crossing the room to where Boromir lay abed and taking a deep breath to leave his own insecurities out of this, Aragorn set about the task of trying to find out what was ailing… well, when he thought about it, his half-nephew. After a few minutes worth of examining vital signs, Aragorn rose with a bewildered expression. "I can not see what is possibly troubling him," he said, "his heart rate is perfectly normal, he is breathing well, and he has no fever or chill. You say that you were unable to wake him?" he asked Mithrellas.

She nodded and noticing an empty vial on the nightstand handed it to Aragorn, hoping he could make something of it. Aragorn sniffed at it and tasted a tiny bit of it but seemed more perplexed than ever. "Has anyone else been here with him?" he asked rather suspiciously.

"Yes," Mithrellas said, "he seemed to be doing well enough; I thought that all he needed was to drink plenty of water and to take his rest. I asked one of the maids to stay with him and to see that he kept drinking and not to allow him out of bed. I have no notion why he should be so ill!" Mithrellas was clearly upset over Boromir's condition. She had been practically a second mother to him and now she was blaming herself for not treating him well enough.

Aragorn saw it plainly enough, he too blamed himself for not taking sufficient care of Boromir. "Is it possible to send for whoever stayed with him?" he asked.

"Certainly, but I am not sure where -"

"You needn't send for me, my lady," said a girl at the doorway who looked more upset than anyone else present did. "I heard that his Lordship was unwell and I came quickly." She glanced around at those there and looked to be afraid for her life. She was visibly trembling and her tears spilled silently. "I never thought that stuff would harm him, and then he dismissed me and sent me to the Houses to help there. I only did what his Lordship bid me to!"

Aragorn hated to see such fear in someone so young; this girl could not have been of 20 years yet. He walked her over to be seated and took her hands in his to calm her. "It is all right," he said gently. "I only need to know what was in this vial. There may be something I can do if I know."

The girl grasped Aragorn's hands tightly as a new wave of tears wracked her. "I am sorry I disobeyed him!" she cried. "I was so fearful for him, though, and when he asked me to bring him Yew extract…." She could feel Aragorn go tense at those words and she pulled back a little out of alarm. No one else seemed to react to the words though. "I knew it was a poison," she said quietly in fearful tones. "My mother used to keep it to drive mice away. I could not do it! I could not obey him and let him die!" she sobbed.

"Sedho… sidh," Aragorn whispered. "What was in the vial then?" he asked, trying to be as gentle as he could, understanding how upset this girl was.

"I… it was poppy juice so that he would sleep and I… I added willow bark, because he said he was in pain. I put a bit of vinegar in it also, just so that he would not recognize the taste. I would never have deceived my Lord had his life not been at risk! I did not know that what I gave him would be harmful to him! I beg your mercy, please!" The girl was on her knees before Aragorn.

Aragorn, however, was fighting to hold back laughter and failing miserably. The man was doubled over in hilarity and everyone stared at him as though it was quite obvious that he did indeed need his sleep. "Ai! It is no wonder you could not wake him, my lady. Child, please rise, you have done no harm at all and in fact you deserve a place of honor for your quick thought and knowledge of medicine. Poppy juice is a rather strong choice, but effective it is. I think that Boromir shall likely be asleep for the rest of the day, but you did indeed save his life." Aragorn began to sober a bit with the thought that Boromir had actually asked for Yew extract, but that could be settled later. For now, the main thing was that he was in no immediate danger.

Shaking his head, Aragorn kissed Boromir on the brow, saying, "enjoy your rest, Son of Gondor, the rest of us are not so fortunate!" He left the room with Legolas and Pippin, leaving Boromir's care in the hands of Mithrellas and his uncle, and that poor young girl who was so terrified that she would be disciplined for saving his life. It made Aragorn wonder what state the City had come to if people were expected to blindly follow orders or fear retribution, even if they acted for the best. However, that was something else that he had little desire to ponder.

"I must go and speak with Faramir," Aragorn said, "I had no notion that he lived, and I can not begin to understand how I missed -"

"Absolutely not!" Legolas said, stepping in front of Aragorn and stopping him in his tracks. "Faramir will not be going anywhere in a hurry. You on the other will drop over of exhaustion if you do not get some sleep, Mortal. Now, get back to your pavilion. Pippin, would you mind seeing his Stubbornness directly to his sleeping appointments? I shall go to Faramir and let him know that you are going to rest well for a while with no more interruptions, and so too is his brother. Go!"

Pippin, dutiful Guard of the Citadel that he was, took Aragorn's hand and led him firmly away as he stared at Legolas with an expression that was a mixture of shock and relief.

ooo

sedho... sidh - still... peace

AM: Sure, i am the "author" but you know how little control i have over these characters. And, anyway, i can't do anything. I meant, i can't fly, can i?

linda: I really have not seen any other stories which have Faramir and Aragorn with a blood relationship. I have seen a good few in which Aragorn rather takes Faramir under his wing, and yet even that wasn't quite the inspiration for my premise. Anyway, i am quite you are enjoying so far. I do so aim to please, more or less :)

estelle: It is good to hear from you again! I understand about work keeping you away, though. I am surprised that you were very nearly able to guess me out about Boromir. Well, i couldn't really bump him off, could i? And yet, no one's fate is really secure until i write the words "the end." I do hope you shan't have to gofor weeks again, but i can understand that it would be a lot easier on your nerves to be ableto read all at once!

Elenhin: I know i have a bit of areputation for being a biton the evil sideto my poorvictims... characters, rather. I think i am getting a bit soft though. I seem to be completely unable to decide if Boromir should live or die. He does seem to be all right now. I wonder if he will insist on going along to Morannon, though, once he wakes up that is. There are many who do wish to see him live, though, and i have gotten so AU by now... well... time will tell, as i always say.