This part might be a bit out of character, but since everything's been so gloomy and depressing, I figured it would lighten the mood... a bit anyway =X
Chapter 24 (Future) - Like father like son part 3
It was decided. He was going to burn. How could so many fears become true in a single day? Proclaimed a mad man like his father, betrayed by his closes friend and burned alive. Even now as he sat in his cell, he still couldn't believe this was really happening.
Although it was to happen in three days' time, the preparations were already being made. Through the small hole in his cell, he could see the courtyard where the pyre was being made. He could smell the wood as the guards carried it.
And all he could do was sit and wait. Wait for the day he would be taken out of here and brought up there, where he will burn.
"How did it all turn out so wrong?" he whispered to himself as he stared blankly at the ceiling.
"All is not yet lost, Faramir." It was a voice he had almost forgotten, but knew none the less. Some life sparked in his eyes as he turned his head to the left and saw it. The light that had warned him before.
"How can that be? There is no hope left…" he turned his gaze to the floor. That's right, all hope was lost.
"There is always hope. Remember that after every dark day, the sun rises. There is hope, as long as you are willing to seize it," it walked closer to him. He felt the warmness from its glow and the power of its words. Yet where there is light, there is always darkness. His heart was unable to believe this, as his mind was clouded by fear. The light saw the broken man, and looked at him with pleading eyes.
"You mustn't lose hope! If you do, all is lost. You must remember! Fight the darkness!" it kneeled down and looked him in the eyes. There was still life.
"Remember what? What do I have to fight for? If there is I can not see it…" he then looked at the figure, mouth half open: "Can a man still be brave when he is afraid?"
"Yes, he can. Fear shows you your weakness. And when you conquer it, you become stronger for it. All you need do is remember."
"Can you help me? I am… slightly lost," he chuckled. Maybe he really was mad?
"If I help you remember you will be alone in this darkness and despair. I will be unable to ever speak to you here. And they will know I was here. It might matters worse."
"But I will remember right?" he didn't know where he got all this strength and determination. But he knew he had nothing more to lose. You can only appreciate things, when they are taken away from you.
"So be it. It is all in your hands now, Faramir," it whispered and put its hand on his forehead. A moment later, a bright light surrounded him as his eyes grew wider.
Images flew into his mind as a wall of dark broke and memories were released. He remembered everything. The meeting, sneaking out, riding, night chat, cold in the mountains, the Sango and all else the followed. And as those memories came back, he realized that this, what was happening right now, was not real.
"A dream," he whispered as the light fully faded and he was fully awakened. "This was all the cause of the Ngami," he breathed.
The first step was now done. But things got harder from here on, as he needed to figure out how to free himself from this.
"Three days… more than enough time… I hope," he whispered and closed his eyes. Every vision he had of this light figure he carefully repeated in his head. Every word they spoke he thought of what it meant.
The only thing he knew for sure was that he needed to fight this nightmare. What his name had to do with everything he wasn't sure. Or if it even had anything to do.
"I reject a part of myself… something I also fear. Fear the power it had over me…" he thought of it in his mind. Last time he thought he had it, but turned out wrong. So what was it?
Suddenly, his cell door was opened and two guards walked in, their faces emotionless.
"Stand," one of them ordered.
Faramir looked at them, confusion on his face as he did what he was told. Why were there guards here?
"What's happening?" he asked when they took a hold of his shoulders and pushed him out of the cell.
"The date for your death sentence has gone up. You burn today," the second one answered. The Rangers breath got stuck in his throat as they pushed him through the door to the dungeons and onto the street.
"If they speed up the sentence, then I must be getting close… otherwise they wouldn't have bothered," he said to himself as they arrived in the courtyard.
He saw the large pile of wood and the stake on which he will be tied to. Swallowing he quickened his mind to find the answer.
As he was lead atop the pyre, he saw how many people have come. Almost the entire city of Gondor. He had hoped that people hadn't had him for such a mad man.
Still he tried to find a way to end it all. Closing his eyes to ignoring the pushes, yells, cries around, his mind was fixed on only a single thing. "Something I fear, and reject at the same time… Fear the power it had over me…" he kept repeating, until his arms were bound with a rope behind the stake and the guards stepped off.
Taking a sharp breath, he opened his eyes and looked in front of him. There stood Aragorn and the council members. His heart sank as he looked at his so-called-friend. He didn't understand why…
"No! Don't get distracted!" he schooled himself and took a calming breath. Think that was all he could do. And then it ended. Everyone fell silent and he knew he had run out of time. In a few moments, he was going to burn.
Elessar opened a scroll as everyone turned to look at him when he read: "Proclamation for death; false accusation of at least two members of the high council and spearing rumors of a conspiracy. So I, King Elessar of Minas Tirith sentence you, Faramir son of Denethor, to burn on a stake until death," he continued, but the Ranger didn't hear him anymore.
Something clicked in his mind when he listened to the proclamation. He finally realized how everything was connected. Faramir didn't even care as they poured oil on the wood and when a guard walked towards him with a troche.
"I finally understand…" he closed his eyes as the fire connected with the oil and lit up. "I am only sufficient, so to be whole, I must accept that… " taking a deep breath, he felt the flame almost on his skin.
"I am son of Denethor and I must burn…" he opened his eyes just as the fire engulfed him. He didn't feel pain of the heat as in the next second, it all vanished and he found himself inhaling a sharp, cold breath as his head shot forward.
He could now feel the snow on his face, burning in his legs and the frozen wind in his face and the rope around his wrists digging into his skin. A few moments later, he saw a light coming from his body as it took shape.
"I-It's you," he breathed when it took its full form.
"I am relived you are finally awake Faramir," it nodded and suddenly hissing was heard. Turning his head to the right, he could see he was restrained with a rope to tree branches nearby. And then his gaze fell upon them. The Ngami. They were even worse than before now, as the light revealed this mouth with missing teeth and black saliva. But they backed away from the two as if they were hurting.
"I will keep them at bay for as long as I can. They hate the light, it burns them. But you must save your friends," the light said and took another step forward, lighting the area enough for Faramir to see the others.
"How do I do that? Aren't they in the same 'nightmare world' as I was?" he asked and pulled on his restrains, mustering enough strength to tear the rope apart. Moving quickly he used a small dagger to cut the ropes around Aragorn.
"You must make them accept their worst fears, like with yourself. Once you accepted that you are his son, the nightmare was broken. You must do the same for them now," it then extended its hand a dagger of light appeared before adding: "Plunge this into their hearts. Using your own ability to read and content with people's hearts you'll be able to enter their dreams. But be prepared to see anything…"
"Right…" he reached for the light dagger and kneeled next to Strider. He nervously glanced about the body and lifted the bright weapon right atop the man's heart.
Taking deep breath, his arm shook. Not because of fear, but uncertainty. "Do I really need to stab him in the heart?" he looked back at the figure.
"Yes. Their hearts are shrouded in dark. You need a piercing light to break that darkness. Now go on."
"R-Right…" he was still nervous and lifted his hand once more. "I can do this… I have to…" glancing now at the man now at the weapon, he closed his eyes.
"No, I can't! I just can't!" he quickly lowered his arm and his eyes opened wide when he saw what happened. The light dagger connected with Aragorn's chest and before he could do anything, the world around him changed.
And now the big change =D xD