Heyo friends. Sorry for the long wait for an update. I kinda have no real excuse. School got crazy and then summer came and I kinda dropped off for a while and forgot about this. Hopefully some of you are still reading. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter. Enjoy! -lanamere
Chapter III
When Faramir entered the Great Hall, he found his father, the King of Gondor, and the King's son, Prince Aragorn, already listening to a soldier, and his father was already beginning to wail. The King Elessar wore an expression of pity and deep sadness, and even the tall, proud Aragorn, who was many years the senior of Faramir, and often held a kind of rivalry and tension with Boromir, had his head bowed, and a look of regret on his face. He knew instantly that they already knew what he had come to tell.
But he kneeled before his king and his father anyways. King Arathorn dismissed the soldier, whom Faramir recognized as second-in-command under Boromir of the Guard, with a nod and turned to him.
"My King, my Prince, father." He swallowed thickly before continuing at the gentle nods from both King Arathorn and his son, Prince Aragorn. "I assume that you have already heard what I came to tell, than?" He said softly, awaiting the impending verbal slap his father was sure to give.
"Where were you?!" Denethor hissed furiously. Faramir flinched. The fact that the blow was expected didn't make it sting any less.
"I...apologize for not coming immediately. I was-"
"Not here, you imbecile! In the battle! Where were you that allowed you, of all people, to escape the battle all but unharmed, while Boromir, Gondor's finest warrior, was struck down and killed?!" Faramir winced, squeezing his eyes shut and thinking his words through. He was silent too long, however. "Answer me, you good-for-nothing fool!" His father roared.
"Peace, Lord Denethor!" The King ordered at the same time Aragorn spoke up.
"How dare you abuse your son with such hurtful words?! How can you say that he was unhurt by this battle when he lost his brother?! Faramir has faithfully served Gondor for just as long as Boromir has-did, and has long kept Ithilien safe from our enemies! He lost the older brother who has watched out for him his entire life! Boromir was precious to many of us, not just you. His death affects all of us, not just you, and perhaps affects Faramir most of all. Don't you dare presume that Faramir was unaffected and unwounded by this loss." Denethor scowled at his feet before bowing slightly.
"I apologize, your Highness."
"It is not me to whom you owe an apology." Aragorn said calmly. Denethor's jaw tightened, but after a moment, he turned to Faramir and nodded to show he extended the apology to him. Aragorn appeared to be dissatisfied by this, and opened his mouth to voice it, but his father held up his hand to tell him to be quiet for now.
Faramir sent a grateful look to the prince. The older man nodded in acknowledgement of the unspoken gratitude, offering a small encouraging smile, before turning to attention to listen to his father.
"Boromir's death does affect us all. He was a brave warrior, and a brilliant captain of the guard. His bravery and military prowess won us many battles. With the Orcs and Uruk-hai causing problems all across Middle Earth, and the Haradrim coming in from the South, the loss of such a great warrior and captain will be deeply felt indeed." King Arathorn said. "I fear his death will deal a great blow to the morale of the people of Gondor, both citizens and soldiers."
"We must not allow them to lose hope. We need to rally them to fight on in Lord Boromir's memory, under a new captain who can inspire their trust and loyalty." Aragorn replied thoughtfully.
"Wisely spoken, Prince Aragorn. However, there is no warrior alive that could hope to rival Boromir. No leader would be able to love up to him in the way you propose." Denethor replied angrily.
"There is one who might." Aragorn replied calmly. "One man who was proven his loyalty and skill time and time again as a Ranger of Ithilien who has never been given a chance to prove his worth as a leader and warrior of Gondor."
"Who, than?!" Denethor snapped at Aragorn. "Who is this man you've claimed could compete with Boromir?!"
"Not compete with; live up to. You've missed him and his potential his entire life, Lord Denethor, but he is a skilled warrior and a loyal Gondorian, and has been a great asset in many battles."
"Enough with your cryptic talk! Who is this man you propose be the next Captain of the Whit's Tower?! Give me his name and I'll have Faramir summon him at once!"
"There will be no need for that. You see, he's already here. He's always been here. We just haven't always noticed." Aragorn raised a hand and gestured to Faramir.
"Father, Lord Denethor, there is the man I propose be the new Captain of the White Tower."