Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings, its characters, and lands, are the property of Tolkien Estates and New Line Cinemas. This story was not written for profit, but for my enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.

WARNINGS: None for this chapter. Rated K.

Chapter Three— Family, Friends, and Unfortunate Arrivals

…

The tribulations began but three days later, as the members of the Great Council began to arrive from all corners of the Kingdom. Some of which, Aragorn and Faramir remembered from last year, were naught but a bother, wealthy men seeking only for their own gain, but others were a welcome addition.

One such addition came in the form of Imrahil. The Prince of Dol Amroth arrived four days before the Council began. Faramir had greeted his uncle happily, and Imrahil was no less glad to see his nephew.

"Please," Faramir invited, "Come have supper with Eowyn and I. I should love to have you meet our children."

Imrahil smiled, embracing the Steward warmly. "I would love to," he said.

Imrahil recalled a day, not so long ago, when Faramir was young, only in his teens. He'd come to visit Dol Amroth, and the welcome had been much the same; except that now Faramir reached his uncle's height, and had unexpectedly taken his father's position as Steward.

So much had changed since then…

I am getting old, Imrahil thought to himself, smiling at the thought. Here was his nephew, grown up and with massive responsibilities.

He sighed knowing that he could never look at Faramir without thinking of the child who had become nearly a son to him during that visit. Had Faramir stayed longer, he would have perhaps become the strong father figure that the boy lacked in his own father. But Dol Amroth was far from the White City, and that visit was one of a very few.

Not that his brother in law was a bad father, only his duties kept him busy much of the time, and most of the rest of his time he spent with his heir. It was not until the later years when Faramir had been completely shunned.

Faramir limped steadily toward their chambers.

Imrahil frowned. "What happened?" he asked, noticing the younger man's limp.

Faramir turned, a puzzled expression on his face, and Imrahil gestured at his leg.

"Ah, that," he said, "Well, it is a long tale. And a weary one as well. For now, suffice it to say that my leg was broken, and it never properly healed. But it is getting better, I think."

Imrahil gave a quiet snort. If this was better, he wondered what it had been like before.

"Should you not be resting it?" he asked.

Faramir shook his head. "If I rest it, it only stiffens. At least now I can move without a crutch."

Imrahil said nothing. He merely followed his nephew into the house.

Eowyn met them. "Prince Imrahil!" she cried, "What a pleasant surprise."

Imrahil gave her a smile, dipping his head. "Always a pleasure to see you, Lady."

Eowyn turned to Faramir. "I've just put the little ones down for their nap," she said. "Why don't you and Prince Imrahil take some time to catch up on things? I have some things to do, and I must tell the servants to prepare supper."

She left, dipping into a curtsey as she did.

Faramir smiled and shook his head. "She has been busy lately," he explained, "Very busy. Of course, as a mother to two little ones at once, I suppose it is all to be expected."

Imrahil nodded. "Yes, it is," he said. "I cannot wait to see them."

Faramir sat down, leaning back.

"Now, I suppose, I can tell you a little of what happened," he said.

Imrahil gestured for him to go on, and he began to tell about his and Aragorn's venture to Ithilien and their subsequent kidnapping.

When he had finished, Imrahil raised his eyebrows.

"You are very lucky," he said, "that you survived."

Faramir nodded. "And I am grateful. You see, I am not too upset about my crippling. I am only thankful that I'm alive, and with Eowyn and my son and daughter."

Eowyn's head appeared in the doorway.

"Do either of you have any preferences for supper?" she asked.

Faramir grinned broadly. "I do not," he said, "Whatever you wish will be fine."

Eowyn sighed. "I don't know what to do!"

"Be calm, my dear," Faramir chuckled, "It is not as if we are as picky as some of those noblemen."

Eowyn smiled. "I know. I suppose that everything is a bit hectic now."

She sat down next to him, gripping one of his hands, entwining her fingers in his.

"I suppose I can rest awhile, if only to be with you, min leof."

Faramir leaned his shoulder against her's. Oh, he loved her so much.

"I think I would like that better than supper," he murmured.

0o0o0

Supper did come, with no further worries, and it turned out to be a pleasant affair.

Elboron and Arawyn remained asleep throughout most of the meal, and after they had awoken, Eowyn and Faramir brought them out to so that Imrahil might meet them. The aging Prince was delighted with his great-niece and nephew, even when Elboron managed to get a hold of a lock of his hair.

Faramir laughed, and told him, "That simply proves my theory that he is fond of Numenorean hair."

He gently untangled his son's fingers from Imrahil's hair, and took him.

"He has done it to me several times," he said, "And also to Arag—I mean, King Elessar."

He smiled, cradling Elboron gently in his arms.

Imrahil had to grin at Faramir's use of Aragorn's given name.

"So, then," he asked him, "Have you and the King become confidants?"

Faramir looked up.

"Oh, yes," he told him, "And more. I think I may go as far as to say friends."

"Ah, indeed," Imrahil smiled, "Well, that is good. Better to be friends than enemies."

Faramir nodded in agreement.

"And it is good to have one," he said, "I must admit, sometimes I forget that he is King and I am Steward, and it is as if we are merely a pair of rangers and retired warriors, riding and having a good time. But this Council should serve to make us remember our places."

Imrahil nodded, noticing the way Faramir grimaced at the mention of the Council. He smiled.

"It shan't be that bad," he said, "It only lasts for three weeks."

Faramir groaned. "Three long weeks."

Imrahil grinned. "Yes, but then it shall be over."

Faramir nodded, "I suppose you are right. Anyway, let us get onto a happier subject. How are things in Dol Amroth?"

Imrahil shrugged. "Not much has changed."

"How is Lothiriel?" Eowyn asked. She'd become friends with Faramir's cousin last year, when a few of Imrahil's children had accompanied him to Minas Tirith.

"Well," Imrahil replied with a smile.

Before anything more could be spoken of, a sharp knock at the door drew them out of their conversation.

Faramir sighed, handing Elboron to Imrahil.

"Would you please hold him while I see what this is about?" he asked, making his way to the door.

He opened it, and his face softened to see Bergil, Beregond's son.

"Yes?" he asked.

Bergil was red-faced, and grinning.

"The King told me to fetch you. He told me to ask you 'where you were, and if you were deliberately leaving him to deal with his own personal bane.'"

Faramir grimaced. "That'll be the council members."

He turned back to the others.

"I'm terribly sorry, but I think I must go," he said, "I should not want to leave my King in this state."

Both Eowyn and Imrahil smiled at this.

"You go," Eowyn said, "We'll manage fine for the moment."

Faramir dipped his head apologetically.

"I'll be back soon, I hope," he said.

Then he turned and left with Bergil.

0o0o0o0

Faramir and Aragorn greeted the various dignitaries who arrived, and managed to get them all shown to their guest rooms. It was only proper for the King to greet them as they arrived, and, naturally, he wanted Faramir at his side. Faramir could not object, except for the lofty, haughty nature of some of the nobles.

It seemed forever, but at last the day's arrivals stopped coming.

King and Steward relaxed in the gardens that evening, talking with each other about virtually everything that came to mind.

It was the kind of laid back, informal time that Faramir enjoyed. He'd had precious little of it before Aragorn became King, and he relished every minute of it.

The moon had risen by the time they retired, and Faramir slipped into bed next to Eowyn, a smile on his face.

She put her arms around his neck, and he held her close. Soon after, they fell soundly asleep, all thoughts of councils erased from Faramir's mind.

0o0o0o0

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, how did you like it?

Please tell me if I should change something, add something, revise something… etc.

We should start getting into the action next chapter.

The events that occurred in Ithilien that were mentioned in this chapter happened in A Tale of Two Rangers.

Faramir's visit to Dol Amroth as a teenager will be elaborated on in a future story that I'll write.

And now I'll start doing these again…

REVIEW REPLIES

Guest—Thanks. I've totally changed the entire plot. I hope it's better this way.

Nimrodiel—Quite possible, quite possible indeed. Actually, definite. But there'll be no revealing who is doing it, who his/her accomplices are, etc. It's a bit of a mystery/crime solving story as well. Do you think this is improved on the way I had it before? I think so.

0o0o0o0

And, farewell for now.

I'll get the next chapter up when I can. No definite time or date, but I'll get it up when I get enough time and inspiration to write it.

Novaer,

Luthien