Kindred= Faramir and Aragorn
He sits across from me keeping his watch. He does not know that I am also up. It is late in the night, and I ought to be asleep, but the peaceful oblivion on sleep will not come to me. So I sit and watch my kindred.
Why do I feel so drawn to this man? I have met hundreds like him. He is a soldier of Gondor, devoted to his city and her people and the duty of keeping her safe. I have known hundreds of other soldiers no less devoted to Gondor in my long life, yet, he is unique.
He has the build of the Numenor, so very similar to his father. However, I have never met someone less like the cold Steward. His eye's are wise and kind, the eyes of a scholar, not a soldier. He has the heart of a healer, and the nobility of a king. This man would give his life for his friends and his country, even if they would give naught in return.
That is what makes him so different. He is born of the highest nobility, yet he has never known luxury or even love. Because of this neglect he is not spoiled, he is not arrogant. He should be bitter and cold but he is not. He's kind, willing to love and longing to be loved. He is a man I know I can trust a man I know I can believe in. He is one who would follow me to his own death. I can see it in his eyes, an awe and unending devotion. He believes I will save Gondor, believes I will renew its splendor.
I have never believed I could. I know I will try, but I've never believed I could. Yet, when I watch his doubtless belief I almost think I could do it. With a man like him to help me I believe I could save Gondor. With him to aid me I believe I could save the world of man, that we will save the world of man.
For in him I see that the world of man is indeed worth saving.
A/N: It's Aragorn's thoughts as he watches Faramir some time during the Fellowship of the Ring. The computer I had all my ANFOTR stuff on crashed, and I've just now got all of this back. Sorry it's taken so long to update, I should have a new chapter for Shadow King soon :). Feel free to leave suggestions for oneshots/plots you would like me to write on.