These characters belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. This story was written for pleasure and not for financial gain

O, welche Lust in freier Luft Den Atem leich zu heben !

Oh what joy, in the open air,Freely to breathe again! - Fidelio -Bethoven/Sonnleithner

Once assured that the King was sleeping soundly. Faramir decided that he was badly in need of a wash and a change of linens. He went outside to fetch some water and answer nature's call, checking on the horses while he was there.

Returning as quickly as he could, he put the icy water on the fire to heat,collected some soap and towels and found a clean shirt and drawers for himself amongst the clothing he had brought.

Aragorn had not stirred while he was away. His main concern now; was that Elbeth might awake while he was washing .He dared not risk taking a chill by bathing outside. With his back turned to the sleeping child, he secured a towel around his waist, before removing his drawers and breeches then sponged his lower body clean under it to shield both himself and Elbeth. He then donned clean drawers and put his breeches back on.

The Steward then peeled off his shirt and tunic. His teeth chattering with the cold, he thoroughly washed away the detritus of the King's wounds from his body. By the time he was finished and had towelled himself dry,he was covered in goosebumps. Swiftly he donned a clean shirt and replaced his tunic. He dared not risk any infection for himself as it seemed Aragorn was likely to be dependant on him for some time to come. Elbeth was too young to survive alone here,however resourceful she might be.

Carefully, he slid his hand under the covers and Aragorn's loose shirt to feel that he was warm enough. Reassured that he was,he dared risk removing two of the blankets. He tucked one around Elbeth for extra warmth and kept the second to wrap around himself.

He settled down near to Aragorn and once satisfied that the King appeared fairly comfortable, tried to rest, yet sleep was slow to come .He felt complete again, now the thought bond was re-established. He wondered that as it had formed again so easily if maybe it had never been completely severed .He was grateful beyond measure that Aragorn had seen fit to restore the link with him. He knew the King did not trust him, but then how could he ever expect to be trusted again ? The pain and despair he had sensed in his friend's soul had truly appalled him. Aragorn had endured torments beyond anything he had imagined. He wondered if even an exceptional man, such as the king undoubtedly was, could ever hope to recover.

For one who even found the huge apartments in the Citadel confining, whatever must it have been like to spend weeks chained in a dark cellar ? Not only a helpless captive;but deprived of adequate food and water and constantly tortured? He had no idea how he could help his King. He only wished that Arwen were here to console her husband with her Elven strength and wisdom.

Aragorn cried out in his sleep, restless despite the liberal dose of poppy juice he had been given. Faramir could do little but smooth his hair and murmur Elvish words of comfort. When the King finally settled, exhaustion overcame him.

He awoke again hours later. Aragorn appeared to be in a deep natural sleep and his flesh felt to be a normal temperature. Elbeth had burrowed into her blankets like a nest.

Deciding he could safely leave them for a little while, Faramir took his bow and went out in search of food.

He was fortunate to quickly take down a rabbit grazing on the patch of grass he had cleared for the horses. The snowfall of the previous night had only covered it thinly and already it was melting in the weak morning sunshine. It was still very cold but looked as if it were going to be a fine day for the sky was clear and no longer overcast by storm clouds.

He took the rabbit back inside the cave and was starting to prepare it for the pot when Elbeth awoke and came over to him.

"Is Strider getting better?"she asked."He no longer looks such a funny colour."

Faramir smiled at her."He is much better today," he told her.

"Will he be able to play with me ?" she asked delightedly.

"Not for a while yet," Faramir replied."It might be a long,long time before he is well again but I think he will get better now."

Satisfied,albeit slightly disappointed, Elbeth turned her attention to other matters. "I'm hungry! When can we have breakfast?" she demanded, " I want to play snowballs again today! When can I go out?"

"After you have eaten your breakfast unless you have to go out now." Faramir told her patiently. Then realising that he was hungry too, he left off his task and prepared some oatmeal for them both while Aragorn was still sleeping.

After they had eaten. he sent Elbeth out to play and collected what he needed to tend to Aragorn. who was showing signs of awakening. He made some tea and approached the bedroll where he lay.

The King opened his eyes and stared wildly around him; making Faramir fear for a moment that he was feverish again. He then focused his eyes on his Steward and looked at him questioningly.

Faramir knelt beside his lord and smiled reassuringly.

"Where am I?" Aragorn asked hesitantly.

"You are in a cave in the forest,"Faramir explained."I brought you here."He hesitated and stopped to think ,trying to recall the passing of the days which all seemed to have blurred into one."It was two or three nights ago," he said at last.

Aragorn struggled to sit up. Faramir was immediately at his side, supporting him and placing pillows to support his back.

"Easy!" he cautioned, "You need to get your strength back!"

Aragorn grabbed Faramir's wrist with his bandaged hand, "Am I your prisoner now ?" he demanded.

"No, no, my dear lord." Faramir reassured him." You are no prisoner. As soon as you are well enough I will take you to your wife and son and Eowyn can tend your wounds properly."

Aragorn looked from from convinced."Is it daylight?" he asked.

"Yes, I think it is about noon."Faramir told him.

"I want to see the sky! " Aragorn said suddenly.

"And so you shall as soon as you are well,"Faramir soothed, "Now drink this hot tea, it will do you good!"

" You tell me I am not a prisoner ? You lie! I want to see the sky now!" Aragorn demanded

"No,my lord, I fear only that you might take a chill,"Faramir replied.

"I have been in the dark so long!" Becoming increasingly agitated,Aragorn tried to struggle to his feet but immediately fell back helplessly amongst his nest of blankets."Faramir please,help me ! I cannot endure this darkness any more." His tone was pleading rather than accusatory now.

"I will light more candles, sire." Faramir was becoming increasingly alarmed fearing the damage that agitation could do to his friend's already very fragile health. He felt the King's forehead for fever but there was none.

"Please, for the sake of the love you once bore me , let me see the sky again!" Aragorn pleaded. "I feel so trapped in here!"

"You have my love still and always will,sire." Faramir said sadly.

"Then prove I am no prisoner! Let me see the sky !"

Faramir realised there was only one way to calm his King as obviously his horror of being confined was troubling him.

"I will have to carry you then," he said, his eyes full of compassion."Put your arms round my neck and hold on!"

Aragorn looked doubtful,as if the thought of Faramir carrying him repulsed him. He then nodded resignedly.

Faramir peeled back several of the blankets, wrapping those that remained and the fur tightly around Aragorn's skeletal frame and bodily lifted him. Once such an act would have been almost impossible, yet he had done it several times over the last days.

He staggered to the cave entrance, his precious burden in his arms.

The sun was now high in the sky, which was a clear frosty blue. What still remained of the snow sparkled in the winter sunlight.

Aragorn gazed up at the sky, his expression rapt. Tears started to slowly trickle down his haggard cheeks. "I never thought to see the sky or breathe the sweet air again!" he whispered.

Faramir felt his back would break soon but felt compelled to linger a moment or two longer."Here is Roheryn!" he exclaimed, as the stallion whinnied and trotted towards his master. "See Elbeth is over there, playing snowballs!"

The little girl then caught sight of them and joyfully ran towards them .

"Strider, you are better!"she exclaimed joyfully,"But why are you crying?"

"I can see the sky!" was all Aragorn could say,"I can breathe again!"

"Elbeth, can you help me support his legs!" Faramir asked her urgently, fearing he would drop Aragorn any moment. He felt something in his back give way and gritted his teeth.

The child did as she was told while Roheryn nuzzled his master ecstatically. Faramir waited for him to caress the velvety nose before gently saying,"I fear I cannot hold you any longer and you could take a chill if we stay here."

Aragorn was now weeping too much to speak coherently.

Faramir turned and carried Aragorn back inside with Elbeth helping as best she could. They could still hear Roheryn whinnying when they reached the inner cave.

"You go back to play now," Faramir told Elbeth, when Aragorn was laid back on his bedroll. "I need to give the King a wash and change his clothes."

"Just a minute, I have something important to do first!" She bent to kiss Aragorn saying,"There I've kissed you better, you can stop crying now!" before running out into the sunlight again.

"Thank you," Aragorn whispered." I feared I would die in the darkness without seeing the sun and the sky one last time!"

It was Faramir's turn to blink back the tears.

The tea was still drinkable and he held the cup to Aragorn's lips while he composed himself. Taking a pan of warm water from the fire, he gently bathed the King's tear stained face. At least the he seemed somewhat more settled now. He let him rest for a few minutes before exposing him, to what he knew would be an ordeal for such a proud and self contained man, to be bathed like an infant and have his bandages changed.

TBC

A/N

A very grateful thank you to you all for your much appreciated comments. I have replied to everyone who logged in.

My apologies for any errors that you might find, my usual Word processor is not working and I am having to use one I am unfamiliar with.

I have deleted the scene with Faramir bathing in chapter 33 in favour of an expanded version in this chapter.

Aragorn cannot force his way into another's mind. I assumed Arwen might have inherited that ability from Galadriel. My Thought Bond requires complete love and trust to work properly. Aragorn wanted to try and sense the truth and not risk Faramir's life by withholding the link.