Slowly one by one, the captains stand up and bow to him before leaving the room. Faramir nods to them but remains seated as he wants to learn more about lord Halbarad. Now the meeting has ended is the right time to do so. Glancing towards Lord Húrin, he notices the lord has also remained seated. He tilts his head wondering if he had a matter to discuss with him. Not that he minds because he has something to discuss with Lord Húrin. As well as with Marshall Erkenbrand.
Just then, he becomes aware that Marshall Erkenbrand has stood up and is bowing to him. He looks him in the eyes and tilts his head. Marshall Erkenbrand frowns at him but remains silent.
"If you could remain for a moment, Marshall Erkenbrand? There is a matter I wish to discuss with you."
"Of course, my lord. Am I right in assuming you wish to talk more about lord Halbarad?"
"You are right. But let us wait for the remaining captains to leave before we begin."
He nods with his head to the captains who are lurking by the door. They are trying but failing to hide their interest in their conversation. Marshall Erkenbrand follows his eyes. He is unable to see which look crosses over the Marshall's face. But it is safe to assume he is glaring at them or something like it. Especially because the captains all cringe and practically flee out of the room. It is like they are being chased by an army of orcs. A wide smile grows over his face in response. Within moments, the room is emptied of the captains.
"Well now that everyone has left, my lord; what do you wish to know about lord Halbarad?"
"Let us start with the question you were unable to answer due to being interrupted. What are his duties so far as you could tell based on conversations you have overheard?"
"Not much, I am afraid. What I do know is that Lord Aragorn was not always around so lord Halbarad handled all official matters during those times. However, they seemed to be mostly concerned about orcs attacking their homes. If he has more duties then I have not heard about those."
"Mhh, so they took a great risk traveling here to our aid."
"What do you have in mind, my lord?"
He turns his head towards lord Húrin who just spoke. Lord Húrin looks at him with a frown. He smiles reassuringly. He does not have anything major in mind. At the same time, he will need Lord Húrin's support if he wants to see his plan succeed. The major risk he will be facing is his father who will most certainly oppose it.
"I plan on sending aid to the north after the host returns. Preferably men and supplies. I imagine they will be having difficulties feeding the people if most have to concern themselves with fighting off orcs. Especially with most of their men being here."
"That is a decent plan but will need time to prepare. You will have to seek lord Halbarad out for this. He will know how much they might need."
"Only lord Halbarad knows about it? I think lord Aragorn will also have this knowledge. But let us go back to our topic and not repeat the past."
"Of course."
He turns his attention away from lord Húrin and back to Marshall Erkenbrand. Marshall Erkenbrand is grinning outright. The grin leaves his face once the Marshall notices his eyes are on him. He puts his hands interlocked in front of his mouth hiding the smile on his face.
"Do you know what kind of man lord Halbarad is?"
"I do not know truly as I have only known him for a short time but what I was able to gather has given me the impression that he is a kind man. He cares about his son and worries for his wife. Also, he and lord Aragorn did banter once or twice when they were with us."
He nods. This is useful information which he can use when he meets with lord Halbarad alone or with lord Húrin. At the same time, he wonders what the bickering has been about. And why a lord and steward would end up bickering. It does not bode well for their interactions if they do. Or so is his experience. But it is something to contemplate later.
"Mhh, could you tell me what kind of injury he has sustained?"
"I do not know, my lord. I know he was struck down near Harlond and cared for by lord Aragorn himself. I have been told he was severely injured by a sword to the stomach. But I know this only from hearsay."
He smiles appreciating the information he received. It does not answer all his questions but he has gotten the message; Marshall Erkenbrand does not have the answers he seeks. He knows he has got to find someone else. Hearsay is good but not complete. And with time, the truth might have been slightly lost. It is dangerous to rely on it so long as you do not have all the facts.
"Thank you for providing me with answers to my questions for as far as your knowledge reaches. If there is nothing else you need from me you are free to leave."
"It was a pleasure. With your permission, I will return to my men. I bid you a good day, my lord."
He remains silent but nods his approval. In response, Marshall Erkenbrand bows and walks out of the room. He waits for the Marshall to leave before he nods with his head towards the door. Lord Húrin does not react to it and remains seated. He frowns and stands up. If Lord Húrin does not leave then he will leave. It is at this time that lord Húrin finally speaks up.
"Lord Faramir, could you wait for a moment?"
"Of course. May I ask why?"
"You may. I wonder if I should make some inquiries about lord Halbarad?"
"No, you do not need to do that. I will look into it. You have enough work to do as is."
"It would be no issue. I can easily manage that together with my other duties."
"Thank you for offering but I insist; I will look into it. I need to have more to do anyway. And this is not something intense so master Neston will not have any issue with it."
"If you insist. I bid you a good day then."
Lord Húrin looks at him with narrowed eyes and thinned lips. He stares right back, ending up in a staring contest for a moment. It is then Lord Húrin stands up and leaves. Faramir remains seated and puts his elbows on the desk while resting his head in his hands. Sitting this way has his eyes closing and opening all the time while his head falls forward. He struggles to keep his eyes open. He needs to consider the information he just received. And now would be a good time to do so. Closing his eyes for a moment, hoping it will solve his problems which it does. Once he opens his eyes, he no longer struggles to keep his eyes open. He is well aware he needs to get back to his room soon before his sleepiness returns.
With this in mind, he stands up and leaves the room. Walking along the hallway, he thinks back to what he learned about lord Halbarad. It was a great surprise for him to learn about his presence. Father never mentioned him in any way. He scratches his chin. Did father not know about the lord's presence? No matter how unlikely, it is a possibility. At the same time, he is certain his father would have informed him had he known it. And has never known anything which caught father unaware. He always knew what was going on.
So what to do now? He already intended to seek out master Neston to discuss lord Halbarad. Maybe he should use this time to also question master Neston about his father's knowledge? He smiles immediately. It would be the best thing to do. Master Neston would be one of the people who are most likely to give him the answers he seeks.
He nods to himself, his mind made up, and looks around the hallway. A short distance away from him, he sees two large double doors. Along the hallway people - mostly staff - walk to and from the door, passing him along the way. No matter how much he looks, none of them are master Neston.
Walking towards the door, he listens carefully if he can hear any sounds coming from the room. Listening with his ear against the door is just something he just cannot do. It would be highly unseemly. Hence him listening as he walks near the door. Unfortunately, no sounds come from the other side except for a few muffled ones. As such, he determines this must be some sort of storage room and not a patient room.
Walking on, he crosses the door as he makes his way along the hallway. People pass him once more but he does not pay them any mind. It is not as if they talk to him. No, everyone hurries along the hallway in silence. It gives him ample time to search out master Neston among the people but all he sees are healers or wounded men moving about.
Turning a corner, he is met with staff hurrying away from him with laundry or dishes. He bites the inside of his cheek aware he has accidentally stumbled into a servants' hallway. Looking around, he searches for a way out of the alley without any success. Biting back a sigh, he walks on while keeping an eye out for other hallways. Giggling reaches his ears the further he walks.
A few minutes later, he finally locates a way out of the hallway and instantly turns around the corner. A dark and gloomy hallway lies before him. Burning torches flicker along the walls. Dead silence comes from the hallway accompanied by an oppressive feeling on his chest. Ignoring the feeling, he walks on. The tread of boots sounds behind him. He glanced back, seeing two guards standing a while back. He narrows his eyes. What are they doing here? Only one way to find out.
"Can I help you two?"
"No my lord, you cannot. We are here because Lord Húrin asked us to keep an eye on you."
"Did he now?"
The guards nod but refrain from saying anything more. He shakes his head and turns back to walking through the hallway. Great now he's a nursemaid ordering others to keep an eye on him. Looking at the walls, he pulls his mind away from this thought. His eyes land on the cobwebs hanging along the walls and from the ceilings. He staggers at a cobweb hitting his face and falls to the floor.
"My lord!"
Feet run towards him. Two hands grab his arms and pull him back. Worried eyes look at him while he tries to smile. A frown deepens while the hands grip his arms tighter. He hisses and wiggles his arm a bit causing the grip to be lessened.
"My lord, are you alright? What has happened?"
"Nothing severe. A cobweb just caught me unaware."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Thank you for your concern. You can let me go now."
They look at him with disbelief but let him go. He pushes him upwards with aid of the wall. Once he stands he staggers for a moment but does not fall again. Taking a deep breath, he does not feel any pain which raises red flags to him. Glancing back, he sees the guards looking at him worriedly but they have not reached for him when he staggered; something he is grateful for.
Walking forward once more, he looks back at the hallway. Torches lie on the floor; their wall handles having been broken. Either completely or partially. As he walks, he crosses a few doors with broken handles or handles covered in years worth of dust. All in all, it becomes clear he has ended up in an abandoned hallway.
Hurrying forward, he turns a corner. A small light becomes visible in the distance. He smiles and makes his way towards the light as quickly as he can. The closer he gets, the lighter it becomes. He bites back a sigh, unwilling to worry his guards even more. Nevertheless, he is nearing the ending of the hallway. The only thing to determine right now is where he will end up. And then he can determine how to find master Neston.
Minutes later, he clenches his eyes shut and staggers a bit as he enters into the light. A hand touches his arm. He opens his eyes waiting for them to adjust to the light before looking backward. One of the guards stands at a distance while the other stands close to him. Following the guard's arm, he sees it belongs to the hand gripping his arm. He lifts an eyebrow.
"Are you truly alright, my lord? You halted so suddenly."
"Yes, I am fine. I was merely blinded by the light coming from the dark hallway. It is nothing for you to concern yourself with."
"Of course, forgive me for overstepping my bounds."
He waves the guard away with his hands intending to put him at ease. He does not follow the guard with his eyes, just glad he did not fight him as much as earlier. Walking forward, whispering sounds come from behind. Turning his head around, he sees the guards whispering to each other. He frowns. What is this about? His dismissal? Or are they still not entirely at ease despite his reassurances? He shakes his head aware he has more important things to focus on.
Turning his attention back to the hallway, more Gondorians walk past him the further he gets. In the distance, an open door can be seen. A dull light shines on the floor in front of the door opening. Warriors wander in and out of the room the door leads to. Around the area, a few healers wander together with a few assistants. All of it gives him hope to find master Neston there and walks closer to the door.
Just as he is about to reach the door, master Neston steps out of the room talking with another healer. He stops and watches master Neston continue with his conversation. He can only understand half of it as most of it goes above his head. He has insufficient knowledge about the language of the healers they are talking in. Master Neston suddenly looks around and locks eyes with him. Master Neston nods which he returns. He waits as master Neston finishes his conversation with the healer before turning towards him.
"My lord, can I do something for you?"
"Yes, you can. There is a matter I wish to discuss with you. If possible I would like to do so in your office."
Master Neston looks at him questionably. He keeps his face impassive, refusing to give any gossipers fuel for their passion. Master Neston frowns but eventually nods and mentions with his hand for him to follow. A request, he is quick to comply with. While walking, he listens carefully if the guards are following him. It takes him but a few moments before he realizes they are indeed following him. He bites back a sigh. Lord Húrin's concern is appreciated but unnecessary. He is more than safe here in the Houses.
So how to handle this? He knows the only thing he can do for now is ignoring it. It is of no use to trouble himself with a matter he can do nothing about. When he meets with lord Húrin again he can address it and learn his motivations. Looking forward, he follows master Neston as they weave their way through the crowds and the hallways towards his office. Due to the waving, it feels to him like an eternity before they finally reach master Neston's office.
Opening the door, master Neston beckons him inside. Out of the corner of his eyes, he sees master Neston's attention turning towards the guards. He bites his lips to keep from smiling. So he was not the only one who noticed the guards following them. He imagines the guards will be feeling master Neston's disapproval. It is a truly terrifying experience to be exposed to that look.
Faramir walks towards one of the chairs while the door clicks closed behind him. He turns his head around just as master Neston walks towards him. At this time, master Neston mentions with his hands for him to sit down. He nods and sits down, watching master Neston move behind his desk. Once he is there, he places his hands on it and remains standing while looking at him with questioning eyes.
"My lord, how are you doing?"
"I am doing fine, master Neston. I have been feeling better with every day that passes. I believe I will soon be able to leave."
"I determine that not you, my lord. We will look at that at the end of the week and no day earlier."
"Of course."
Faramir lifts his hands in surrender and smiles nervously. He wants to leave preferably tomorrow if not today. He knows, however, it is up to master Neston to tell him when he can leave. He could go earlier without permission but fears what master Neston will do then. He smiles ruefully to himself; master Neston will most likely restrain him or force him to come to more check-ups than is normal. Whatever it will be, it will not be comfortable for him.
"Mhh, are you sure?"
"Yes, I am."
"Mhh, is there anything else you want to talk about?"
"Ah yes, there is something. During my last meeting, I learned there is a northern lord here in the houses."
"Indeed, there is. What is this about?"
"I was told he resided with his men in a wing and not in a room in the noble wing as he should."
He looks master Neston in his eyes who looks at him calmly. He is getting the impression master Neston knows what this is about. Hopefully, he will now gain more information about lord Halbarad. Preferably about his health. An aspect he knows too little about and which he needs information about to determine if he will be able to talk with the steward of the northern chieftain. After a moment, master Neston smiles before speaking up.
"Yes, indeed he resides with his men at the request of Lord Aragorn. Lord Aragorn wished for his cousin to reside with friends."
"Ah, so that is the reason. What can you tell me about him? Are you even aware he is a nobleman?"
"Yes, I am aware he is a noble. Again, what are you going at?"
"Did you know that lord Halbarad is not only a noble but also a steward?"
"I know. I was told so by the men with whom he shares a room. In fact, from what I managed to gather he is actually the Steward of Arnor, a position similar to your father's."
"Indeed. Then why is he not housed in the noble wing if you know he is the steward of Arnor? He should have been treated with the same respect my father would receive were he ever to end up in the Houses."
"As I told you, it was at lord Aragorn's request."
"Who is this lord Aragorn you talk about that he has such an influence?"
He frowns. Is this man their king? Based on master Neston's recent words, he very well could be. It would be one of the only reasons for master Neston to respect lord Aragorn's wishes. He bites his lips as worrying thoughts reach his mind. How much does the king even know about Gondor? He imagines not much if he allowed his steward to be housed with his men and not in his rightful place. He looks at master Neston closely in his eyes but cannot see much. Master Neston looks at him calmly before speaking up.
"Lord Aragorn is the lord to whom Steward Halbarad owes his allegiance. I think you can fill in the blanks on your own, my lord."
"I can indeed. So this lord Aragorn is our rightful king, am I right? Well, thank you for confirming. However, Lord Halbarad being a steward should have forced your hand. No matter the wishes of our rightful king. You know full well no steward or high lord is housed anywhere but the noble wing."
"Indeed, maybe it should have. If you so desire, I will look into changing his residence at the earliest convenience."
"I would appreciate it if you can do so. May I ask what you can tell me about his health?"
"Not a lot, my lord. You know I cannot discuss my patients with anyone but their family and themselves."
"I know, I would ask you to share with me what you can."
"Well, what I can tell you is that lord Halbarad's condition is still quite severe. I assume you heard he was gravely injured. At this time, I am not certain he will survive despite our lord king having a great gift for healing and having attended to him mere moments after the injury was inflicted."
"Oh, so time will tell if he will recover."
"Well, not truly. His condition should improve soon or it will be unlikely he will recover."
"Alright, thank you for informing me either way. But let us return to the matter I came to discuss; the moving of the steward to the noble wing."
Master Neston nods and does not protest. As such, they begin discussing the arrangements to be made for lord Halbarad to be moved to an appropriate room. Most of the major decisions concerning his health, he leaves in master Neston's capable hands. The only matter he concerns himself with is the room. During their discussion, it becomes clear Master Neston has a small non-descriptive room in his mind. It is a room he does not approve of. In the end, nearly an hour later, they manage to make the final decisions with a compromise on the room being one of them.
Stepping out of the office, Faramir bites back a sigh at the sight of the guards standing sentry there. He would have expected them to leave and not stick around. But apparently, he is wrong as they are still here. He shakes his head and simply walks past them. They will need to keep up with him if they insist on guarding him.
Glances back into the room, he sees master Neston looking over papers and making notes. He smiles knowing master Neston is now making the arrangements they both agreed on. A yawn threatens to leave him. He struggles to keep it down before he manages to hide it behind a sigh. It is long past the time for him to get back to his room and rest. Closing the door, he turns around and walks away.
Footsteps echo through the hallway from behind. He walks on listening as the footsteps continue to follow him. He nods in greeting to the people who call out to him as he walks past them. After some time, he glances slightly to the side allowing him to see the guards following him out of the corner of his eyes. Further than this, he does not pay any attention to them as his mind moves back to what he just learned.
Just as when he first learned about the steward's housing, he still feels shocked now. Master Neston's explanation did nothing to lessen it. His shock has only increased. He shakes his head in disbelief. The entire notion of housing a steward somewhere other than the noble wing is absurd. Not to mention entirely inappropriate. Due to this, he is pleased with the compromise he managed to make with master Neston; the steward, lord Halbarad, will be moved to the noble wing where he is supposed to reside during his recovery. He is aware it will take time but he is more than happy to wait.
Turning a corner, he sees a dark-haired man stumbling a short distance away from him. The man steadies himself against the wall. His clothing is not of Gondorian or Rohirrim origin. That much he can see. It appears similar to what he would wear when he was with the Ithilien rangers if only a few shades darker. Could this man be one of the Northern Dúnedain? He might be. It would explain why he doesn't recognize the origin of his clothing. Quickening his steps, he walks closer to the man and touches his arm once he is close to him.
"May I be of any assistance?"
The man whirls around a startled look hidden on his face. Only due to his experience as a ranger is he able to recognize it. The face is pale and grim but shines with sweat. The man's breathing is slightly labored. Despite this, he receives a harshly cold glare. Faramir smiles gently trying to put him at ease.
"Who are you?"
"I am Faramir, Captain-General of Gondor and Acting Steward while my father is with the host. May I ask for your name?"
"My name is Aphadon, Captain Faramir. What do you want?"
"I saw you stumbling and wondered if I may offer you my assistance."
"That is not necessary. I just overextended myself. Thank you for your offer."
Aphadon's voice is as cold as ice. His eyes glow with hidden fire. He smiles nervously. He has no idea what has happened for Aphadon to react like this. If this is any indication of the men of the north then they do not have pleasant personalities. He looks away well aware he has no right to judge them until he knows what their lives have been. It could be the result of a harsh life.
Looking around, he notices people are watching them. Most are frowning or glaring at Aphadon while only a few smile amused. Waving with his hand, most people quickly leave. Turning away from them, he sees Aphadon has turned away from him. He is now glaring at those bystanders. Deciding to redirect his focus, he speaks up.
"Were you trying to get somewhere?"
Aphadon focuses once more on him and narrows his eyes. Seconds later, he sighs before answering his question.
"Yes, back to our room. I walked around the garden for a bit but need to rest now. Besides, it has allowed me to escape master Neston's scrutiny while he checked on Halbarad."
"I can understand the feeling. Have you enjoyed your stay here in the Houses?"
"Enjoy? What's there to enjoy about staying here? All I can say is that I do not have any complaints. Well except for master Neston that is."
"I am glad to hear it. Do not fault master Neston too much. He is simply dedicated to his duty."
"I won't. Our chieftain can be similar or maybe worse than master Neston. I learned to handle it. But if you would excuse me, my lord, I wish to return to my room to rest."
"Of course. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No. I can manage on my own."
Aphadon takes a few deep breaths after this before straightening. He keeps a hand on the wall leaning slightly against it. Faramir keeps an eye on him. He is not convinced by Apahadon's words. However, he cannot interfere too much as he is certain he does not have the necessary authority over Apahdon. Not to mention, he suspects it will not be well received if he forced his aid on him had he the necessary authority over Apahdon. Aphadon looks at him and smiles slightly.
"Are you sure?"
"I am sure, Captain Faramir. I will manage by myself."
"Of course. Forgive me for prying. I bid you a good day."
"Have a good day too, captain."
Faramir nods before walking on, well aware Aphadon did not react to his apology. It remains to be seen if Aphadon accepted it. As well as if it will result in problems for him in his interactions with the steward. Stopping, he looks out of a window to the field. Small hills can be seen as well as tiny people scurrying around. He cannot see what they are doing but gets the impression they are very busy. It does not come as a surprise to him as he is well aware of how much work cleaning such a large battlefield can be.
Turning away from the window, he walks on. It does not take him long to notice the absence of footsteps following him. It makes him realize how used he has gotten to it in such a short time. Turning around, he is met with a hallway devoid of guards. Frowning, he wonders what has happened for them to leave when before they seemed insistent on following him around. He shakes his head. He will learn what is going on at a later time. At this time, he should just get back to his room.
As he walks his mind moves back to lord Halbarad's state of health. And by just thinking about it, his earlier concern returns. A concern which he only now truly becomes aware of. Till now, it has lurked in the back of his mind. But now he knows about the steward's state of health, he is aware of the possible consequences. Master Neston did not say it outright but the implications were there. The survival of steward Halbarad is not certain.
It is worrying on more than one point; it worries him personally as he does not know what it will mean for the people of the North. And by extension, it gives rise to uncertainty for Gondor once the king ascends the throne. It is also worrying for the people of the north as it might mean an uncertain future for them. He does not know how inheritance goes there. Nor does he know about their traditions, laws, and management.
All in all, he is unable to tell who they will have to deal with in the future as Steward of Arnor. And they will have to because he is certain the king has returned and will eventually ascend the throne. Even if no one has outright said so. All the signs are there. So, he has another matter to figure out; how the position of steward is determined in Arnor.
He frowns. Did someone not say anything about Lord Halbarad having a son? If he has then this son could be the heir. However, the problem is the son is with the host so it is uncertain l if he will return alive. As such, he wonders if Lord Halbarad has any other children. They might be in line after their brother if they are younger and the son he knows about is the eldest. If the position is inherited, that is. Well, maybe Aphadon can tell him if they meet again. Or even better yet, he can seek out lord Halbarad himself once his health allows for a meeting.
Ithilien, Aragorn POV
As he rides, Aragorn looks ahead where the Morannen rises steadily. He takes a few deep breaths aware of what they will soon be facing. Sooner than every man with him would like. Turning his head slightly back, his eyes meet those of Halon who smiles at him while proudly holding his standard. He smiles back at him before glancing towards the host.
Among the host, a few men are turning their heads around and lagging behind the others. They are the same men who were during their last rest glancing fearfully around. One or two had to be hauled back after running away in fear. With them is a captain who seems to be talking with them. What he is saying, Aragorn cannot tell because the distance between them is too great. Still, he gets the impression the captain is berating the men.
He glances away from them and sighs well aware of what it is he is seeing. He has seen it before. These men are becoming faint of heart and clearly cannot continue. The captain recognizes their struggle and is doing all he can to have them continue. And yet, he is not sure what to do with them. He has a few options available but is uncertain if they are the right ones. Closing his eyes, he looks up at the sky while considering them.
He can send these men home. It is an option he quickly abandons. If he does this then he will be forced to send men with them. It would weaken the host more than for these men to leave on their account. Especially if more men begin to suffer the same thing. He knows he cannot weaken the host in any way. So what else can he do; he can give them another task. Thinking about it, he smiles pleased with the idea. It is a good option and the best he has at this time. The men will have something to do. And at the same time, people will not talk about their faintness of heart. It will allow them to hold their heads high.
Looking back, he catches the eye of the captain who looks at him almost pleadingly. Well, for as much as he can see a pleasing look at the distance which is between them. He nods to the captain which is returned almost immediately. It is then he turns his attention back to the other men. He smiles pleased with the knowledge the captain will seek him out soon. It is then his eyes widen as he makes a realization; his actions may be seen as undermining Thor's authority. He is still unsure how much authority he has at this time despite Thor acknowledging him as the rightful king.
So what can he do with this? He could leave it as it is and could hope the captain will not cause a fuss. He could also involve Thor in this. Thinking about it, he realizes it is the only reasonable option he has. Smiling ruefully, he decides he will seek Thor out as soon as they make camp next time. Together they will be able to determine what other duties these men will be given.