Reminder:: Nope, Tolkien's stuff still isn't mine.

I'm so sorry for the insane delay. Don't have any excuse except school and the oh-so typical writer's block. Couldn't get over this hump. x.x So this chapter turned out a little bit shorter than I originally intended, but I hate to be repetitive so I kept things simple.

Hope it's not too confusing this chapter. Lady's now officially Finwen, so it's nobody new. Just a reminder from last chapter. n_n

Thank you for the lovely comments! They make me soooo happy. They're almost as good as chocolate! =D

Chapter Fifteen :: Lord Denethor's Sons

I sat down, carefully observing my surroundings. Servers came waltzing in like there was no tomorrow and I started to wonder when they would stop bringing in food. Tray after tray came in and all were unmasked to display fruits, pastries, meats, and dishes I couldn't name all on silver. Even the plates matched this room…

I wonder what made him be so kind… After hearing countless tales about him, I was expecting a sentence this morning, not breakfast! But as he stared at me, I felt very self-conscious of myself.

"Go on, eat. Pick your favorite."

Nervous and nearly sick to my stomach, I had definitely lost my appetite now that it looked like he wanted to watch me eat first. I reached forward, doing my best to control the shaking of my hand, and thought a roll with butter looked safe. Things started to call to me though, asking me to try them. So I started to load my plate with pastries and delicacies that I didn't recognize but smelled good. All the while, the Lord Denethor watched me with interest.

Strange… I wonder if people are ever reincarnated? Denethor watched as the girl before him took a tiny bite of apple strudel. Apples… If he wasn't mistaken (which he never is) that was Finduilas' favorite.

"So." Denethor quipped, shattering the silence. "How old did you say you were, Finwen?"

She quickly gulped down her food and coughed a bit before clearing her throat and saying: "I didn't, milord. I do not know my age."

"Ah, yes. You have… amnesia, correct? The loss of memory?"

She nodded.

"Terrible, simply terrible. Disappoints me to hear. You will not be able to tell me anything about yourself?"

Finwen thought for a moment, wracking her brains for something that a Steward would be interested to hear. "I like horses."

"Of course! One of the Rohirrim."

She nodded again.

Denethor started to absent-mindedly load his plate with everything that was within his reach as he spoke. Like clockwork.

"From what I have heard, you have met my son?"

"Your son?" Finwen swallowed again, politely attentive.

"Yes. Not long ago as I see it. In fact, I believe you met him in Ithilien?"

Well, I met a lot of people in Ithilien… I thought bitterly. Was he expecting me to remember a certain face? A name? I heard tons of names! This was so frustrating…

I stared at my plate as I tried to focus. It was already so long ago… Let's see… Well, besides Faramir, I can't remember any names. I suppose his name is my best shot.

"Faramir, milord?"

"So you have met my son."

Oh… Oh! So he was higher up than I thought… Hm. Wish I treated him with more respect… Was I supposed to have bowed when I saw him? Too late now, I suppose…

"What did you think of him?" Lord Denethor asked a bit darkly.

"Very kind… Valiant… Smart." I rattled off adjectives, hoping I was making Faramir look good. I wouldn't want to dig him into a hole with his father or anything.

"Ah. And my other son? Have you met him in your travels?"

"I'm sorry, Lord Denethor. I did not know you had another son."

"He is Boromir, heir to my house."

The name didn't seem familiar to me, so I waited patiently.

"You have not come across him?"

I shook my head.

So easy! So easy for her to lie. But something in her eyes is innocent. There is darkness and sorrow, yes, but she seems so ignorant. Could she simply be that good at lying? Denethor contemplated. It seemed uncertain. She was only a girl after all. But still… the lingering images in the palantir were glued firmly in his mind. Finduilas look alike or not, this girl was capable of killing his son. As ridiculous as it seemed…

"Well, think nothing of it." Denethor waved it off and took a bite of sausage. He could not get it past himself that this girl was not Finduilas. But someone who looked so much like her… Perhaps that was the trick of the Deceiver? To throw into his wake a young girl who purposely was meant to look like his late wife so he would be softer? Seems possible… But these notions are all so ridiculous! How could this young thing do any harm whatsoever?

As Denethor contemplated on whether or not it would be ethical to execute his breakfast guest, Sarah was feeling much more comfortable with the man. Perhaps he wasn't as scary as everyone made him out to be. Sure, there was a certain level of respect one had to keep to simply be in his presence, but wasn't that common with all 'royalty'?

Sarah cleaned up her plate like a good girl in silence as there were no more questions to answer. Denethor looked her over one more time and made his decision.

"This has been lovely, Finwen. I enjoy your company."

Surprised, the girl smiled and bowed her head to him. "It is an honor, Lord Denethor."

Smiling, Denethor began again: "Would you come back for supper?"

"I would be… honored, Lord Denethor." Sarah answered him. Denethor rose so Sarah quickly exited her chair also and bowed to him. Denethor nodded to her, giving her dismissal and Sarah was escorted from the room back to the Houses of Healing.

So be it. I cannot trust this girl as of yet. I cannot be certain of anything in these times… But one thing I can do is to keep a sharp eye on her. I shall watch over her myself. Finwen will not leave my sight until I deem her innocent of threat to my heir.

Ioreth pounced on me like a cat the moment I said farewell to the warden of the houses.

"So how did things go, dear? You look all in one piece to me," She said in a rush, circling me for inspection.

I let out a small laugh. "It's alright, Ioreth! The Lord Denethor is quite kind. He offered me a delicious meal and simply asked if I could remember things like my name and age…"

"That's all?"

"Oh!" I shook my head, remembering. "He also asked if I knew his sons. Apparently, I met the Lord Faramir at one point… I wish I treated him more like royalty."

"Don't worry about that, dear. I'm sure you did what you could on the little knowledge you had." Ioreth comforted somewhat insultingly. "Anyway, the Lord Faramir may be the son of the Steward, but he is the youngest and isn't quick to take offence. He probably understood your position somewhat. No harm done."

No really knowing what to say to that, I simply nodded and Ioreth led me back to my room. As she was freeing me from the horrible nightmare of a corset, I remembered what the Steward requested.

"Ioreth? Is it odd to be invited to supper?" I asked.

"What? No, why ever would you think that?" Ioreth laughed.

"I'm just curious why people always get together at mealtimes. When I sit down to eat, I don't want to talk to anyone, I want to eat. So why invite others over to talk to? You never get to eat much at all."

"That's not exactly true." She argued a little lamely. The corset finally released with the last string undone and I let out a cough and took a deep breath. My rib cage felt sore, so I openly groaned. "Oh, you'll get used to it; it's not that bad… Now what about these questions about supper? Who invited you?"

"Why… the Steward. He said he wished that I come to supper with him."

Ioreth looked disturbed by this. "No reason?"

"No. I thought breakfast would be enough." I shrugged and took another breath of beautiful air.

"Hm…" She pondered and set my dress nicely in my wardrobe. She then helped me pull over a nice little frock that was just for the Houses. Not proper enough to wear in public, but it was styled for comfort when healing the sick and injured.

Ioreth started for the door but stopped. She hesitated, looking back at me a moment, and then waving a quick farewell before she shut the door behind her.

I wonder what the trouble seems to be? Does she suspect something that I didn't see? Am I really all that dense?

I walked over to the window, unlocked it, and leaned on the sill. I stared down at the street below me where a familiar man was out with his dog. A woman walked quickly by carrying a large bouquet of flowers and a small child in her free hand running to catch up with her pace. A couple of older boys dashed through the alleys laughing and yelling, playing some sort of game that got angry shouts from the people they ran into.

Looking out away from the street, I could see the sun poking through the thick onset of cloud that stretched across the expanse of sky. Towers and other buildings rose above my own room, so I stared up at them in wonder. How could people build all of this? It seemed impossible to me but here I was staring at it.

My eye caught some movement to the far left. A guard tower of sorts was positioned around my eye-level. A few guards dressed in black and silver were walking in the open pillared chamber, not doing much of anything, but I could tell they were talking by the way they faced each other. I started to watch them in interest. One man pulled out his sword, examining it, and started to play with the light that was flowing into the room and redirecting it around. One man sat and carved a piece of wood most likely, I could not tell from where I was, but he was hunched over with a small blade. The third man had food in his mouth and he was gesturing with his hands, making it obvious he was talking avidly about something or other. He took a large bite and the man redirecting the light with his sword shot the beam at the man eating, making him angry. Something was thrown, missing, and the three started to laugh.

Amused at the display, I continued to watch them. What were they supposed to be doing anyway? It simply looked like they were awaiting orders, but why position them there if there was nothing to do? Where they supposed to watch for something?

The man eating started to point my way and at first I did not catch what he was doing until it was too late. He had caught me staring at them. The other two turned around to face me at the same time I ducked into my room.

Awkward… Some silly child is staring at them… I sat on the floor underneath the window but couldn't help the tugging of my curiosity. What would happen if I showed my face? I looked up at the window and turned around, climbing back up to look out. I peered out suspiciously, warily looking their way. The man who pointed me out was staring at me, ready for me to make my appearance to prove to his unconvinced cohorts that he was not imagining me. The minute I stuck my head out into full view he quickly started to point again and grab the attention of the other two. All three turned to stare at me, somewhat surprised that I was staring back.

I decided to make the first move for once. I smiled wide and waved at them.

Waiting for a response, I continued to lean against the window sill. The man eating looked doubtful, but the man who was redirecting the light with his sword waved back and so did the whittler. They took me to be funny and started laughing. By now since they recognized me staring at them, they simply couldn't ignore me. I made silly faces at them and they continued to laugh.

"Lady, what are you doing?"

I practically fell from the window as I turned to face Ioreth.

"Nothing! I was simply getting a look outside."

Ioreth looked suspicious and hurried to the window. Without looking out, she shut the panes and locked it.

"Oh, please! I just wanted some air! I haven't been able to go to the gardens yet… I didn't think I was doing any harm…" I complained.

She sighed and gave my shoulder a pat. "After you have supper with the Steward, I will let you out to the gardens. Does that sound fair?"

I nodded to her, still a little embarrassed she caught me, and she hurried to the basket she brought in.

"What's that?" I asked curiously.

"Well, you are going to dine with the Steward, aren't you?"

"Not another dress!"

"Don't be silly." Ioreth rolled her eyes but grinned all the same. "No, these are the flowers you are going to bring for his table."

"We're going to eat them?"

"…Really, dear, you have no idea what etiquette is. Now hush up and help me arrange these—believe me, I'm doing you a favor."