"…My Men!" Boromir roared over the soldiers collected in the green. To look at him, his voice light and carefree, would be to think that he was going to a picnic, a lark somewhere in the woods. Just by looking at him, thought Sedryn smiling, made her feel better. No wonder they followed him. "For the first and hopefully the last time in my entire life, my position as heir to the Stewardship has outranked my position as your Captain-General. I must leave on a journey with Sedryn—" Boromir laughed as the men cheered for him and his new wife, "—and I do not know how long it will be before we return. If we return." His tone sobered. "I cannot tell you how ashamed I am to leave you when I have sworn an Oath never to let you fight without me, but my Lord commands." Shouts of encouragement rang out from the crowd. One man shouted an enthusiastic affirmation of their trust in him. Boromir's face turned grim. I cannot promise that we will return, he Sent to the others, disgusted but at what, he was unsure. They trust you, Sedryn said to Boromir and Faramir. I trust you.

They trust us. Boromir corrected, then turned again to the Men. "Captain Ildrin will lead you, as he so often has, except in event of either the Citadel or Osgiliath being attacked. In which case all warriors of Gondor will answer to Faramir."

Murmurs of approval passed through the men, most of them nodding or smiling at Faramir. All but the newest of the soldiers had spent at least some time under Faramir's guidance and approved of how he led his soldiers.

Standing beside Boromir and Sedryn from their elevated point on the podium, Faramir felt the tension in his shoulders drain away as he looked out over the massed soldiers of Gondor and saw their acceptance of him as their possible leader. Now if only he could be sure he would not lead them astray…

You won't, came Boromir and Sedryn's simultaneous reply. They've accepted you, Boromir said.

That's nonsense! Faramir retorted. I might!

No more than I might, Boromir shrugged. No more than Ildrin would. No more than Ancir or Damrod or Mablung.

I wish I could offer some reassurance, Faramir, Sedryn added, but I have nothing to offer but my support.

Faramir nodded in thanks. He appreciated their words more than they knew, but he did not know whether he had proven to himself that he could lead the entire army of Gondor. Rangers yes, he could, but soldiers? They were different. Although Faramir was as well-drilled in soldiery as Boromir was, he was accustomed to thinking as a Ranger, using stealth rather than might. Well, he would have guidance, if he needed it, by asking the old campaigners…

"Thank you, Men! May you long stand proud on the walls of Minas Tirith!" Boromir said aloud. "Dismissed!"

But the men waited until Boromir, Sedryn, and Faramir descended from the podium and walked through the path the men made for them. Though they accepted that Boromir had to leave, they did not know where, nor did they know for how long he and Sedryn would be gone. There were many dangers out in the wild.

The Men reached out to in some way touch Boromir and Sedryn, Faramir walking along behind, happy to see the loyalty in the Men's eyes as they shook hands with Boromir or traced one of Sedryn's curls. Sedryn, touched at the gentleness reflected in the hard fighting men, found her eyes dewing over with tears for the gallants of Gondor. O proud walls! White Tower! O winged crown and throne of gold!

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Boromir held Sedryn tight. Sensing that he was restless, she snuggled up to him, burrowing until her head rested against his chest, his heartbeat sounding steadily. "Now you see what you have married into." Boromir said quietly into the darkness above her head. "Do you regret it?"

"No." she said immediately, looking up so that her eyes, glinting in the moonlight, met his.

"Do you not even wish to consider it?" he said.

"There is nothing to think about, Boromir." She said, moving away to sit up in bed, and his arms itched to hold her again. Through the mind-clasp he felt her searching for a way to prove her answer. Finally, she gave up. "I do not know what to tell you," she said, "other than that regret never passed my mind. Unless…do you regret it?" she asked, suddenly a little breathless.

"No!" he said, his voice a little loud. "Never." He said more softly. "I—I do not want you to feel obliged or tied to me, that is all."

"Obliged? Tied to? I am your wife." She said incredulously. "Do me the honor of comprehending what that means, and do not speak so ridiculously. 'Obliged to'—I love you, you great lump of flesh, I'd follow you to the ends of Arda, and not because I'm 'tied to you!'"

The ruse worked. She felt him smile and some of his apprehension drain away as he pulled her back down into his arms. "Thank you, my little ribbon," he said, chuckling to himself.

She laughed. "The icing on the cake!"

But Boromir lay awake a while longer, watching as her eyelids grew heavy and she drifted into sleep. He wished from the depths of his heart that they had not been ordered to go on the long journey. He feared that if he left the city he would not return. So for the last time for a long while the Children of Gondor slept in their bed, their hearts heavy with the weight of a land they were tied to.

It's a short chapter, but a sweet one, I think :). I promise a longer one later -- this just seemed a good place to end it. Many thanks to reviewers.