A/N: to clear any possible confusion, this chapter is not told from Denethor's perspective. Gandalf is telling the story during this chapter.
He lays here now, motionless. His father's madness had gone too far. When Pippin came to me with the news that his father intended to burn the both of them ALIVE, I left immediately. Ever he followed me as a boy. Always asking questions about the way of the world. But now, it will take a miracle to save him. Aragorn now enters the room followed by the lord Imrahil of Dol Amroth and Pippin. Aragorn comes close and places his hand upon his brow. He feels how high the fever is. He turns to a woman nearby and asks "Has this house any herbs?"
"Aye sir, but not enough I fear for those who will need them."
Have you athelas?"
"I know not, at least by that name."
"It is also called kingsfoil."
"Oh that. We have not."
I then spoke up and told her that unless some could be found, Shadowfax and I would take her to find some and show her the meaning of haste. But it wasn't necessary. A small boy entered the room. Alright, he wasn't all THAT small. The boy must have been nearly 5 feet in height, Beregond's boy. He approached Aragorn with a cloth bearing six leaves. He spoke up "It is kingsfoil sir. But not fresh I fear. It must have been culled two weeks ago at least. I hope it will serve, sir?" He looked upon Faramir and burst into tears. His father had done everything to try and save him. He did not want it to all be for nothing.
"It will serve" Aragorn reassured Bergil.
He took one of the leaves the boy had brought and crushed it in his hand. He placed it in the bowl of steaming water that had been brought. He bathed the young man's brow in it. Then, slowly, but surely, he stirred. He looked at Aragorn and spoke, though quite hoarsely, "My lord you called me. What is the king's command?"
"Walk no more in shadows, but awake! You are weary. Rest a while, and take food, and be ready when I return."
"I will my lord, for who would lie idle when the king has returned?"
Aragorn leaves the room as Faramir drifts into sleep. I rise and let him sleep in peace. He will soon have to come to terms with his father's death and final madness. But not yet. For now, just let him sleep. That will be something for another time. Not now.
It has been nearly a month since Faramir awoke and now must take up his position as steward since he now is healed. I have dreaded this moment for so long. Do not think ill of me. I do not mean that it is not enjoyable for him to be restored fully to health. Now that he is ready to take up his authority in the city, he must learn of his father's final madness and death. I do not want to be the one who gives him the news. It would make it easier coming from someone he knows versus the healers, I know. And someone close to him giving him the news would also make it even easier. So that would leave me, Beregond, and Pippin…the three who were there when it happened in the first place. Oh, and Lord Imrahil, but I don't think he wants to be the one to tell him any more than I do. I eventually decide to suck it up and tell him since no one else volunteered to do it. As I begin to approach, Beregond comes to me and tells me I don't have to. He and Pippin are going to tell him together. I let out a sigh of relief. Beregond has been there for him since the beginning of his father's madness and should still be here for him now at the end.
The two of them now return with the news of, considering the ending, he took the news reasonably well. He may take a day or two to heal, but that's to be expected. I approach Faramir to see if there is anything I, or anyone else, can do. He assures me that he will be fine. He just couldn't believe that his father would do something like that. He will not turn into his father. I believe that he will make a good and wise steward just as Aragorn will make a good and wise king. Faramir shall live to see these days renewed. He will start a family and live in peace.
Aragorn spared Beregond's life and made him captain of the White Company, guard of Faramir, prince of Ithilien. I see the relief on Beregond's face. He shall live and share the glories of life in peace. Aragorn shall make a just king. I can see it. But my days are over. I was an enemy of Sauron. That was my purpose. Now it is time for me to leave. But not quite yet. Soon though, it will be my time to go now that the world is at least in peace and free from the one enemy.
