Finduilas panted as she tried to catch her breath. It had been nearly four hours since labor had begun and the baby was taking its time. The pain was excruciating coming every few minutes.

"You must relax, my lady", the midwife said. "You've gone into labor far too early. I am worried for your and the baby's safety."

"Will my child be alright?" Finduilas asked.

"It'll take a miracle for the child to survive the winter. Being born this early, will make it very weak. I doubt it will survive even a month."

"Don't say that! Please don't say that!"

Finduilas screamed as she felt a contraction.

Boromir sat outside the door trying to fight his tears back. He had no idea what was happening. After his parents stopped fighting, his mother was in pain. He didn't know why though. Right now Finduilas was alone in the Houses of Healing with the midwife while Boromir waited outside with Denethor who was pacing back and forth.

"Papa, what's going to happen to Mama?" he asked.

"She is bringing your sister into the world", Denethor said.

"I'm scared", Boromir said.

"You shouldn't be. You are a warrior. Warriors do not carry fear within them."

"But Mama's hurting bad", he continued. "Is Mama going to die?"

Without warning, Denethor turned and slapped Boromir across the face hard enough to knock him to the floor.

"Don't you ever say something like that", he said in a low voice.

Tears came to Boromir's eyes as he gently touched his cheek that was turning red. Denethor struck him…he had struck him for the very first time. Denethor didn't even apologize. He just went back to pacing back and forth. Boromir sighed as he turned back to the door as Finduilas let out another scream.

"Breathe, my lady", the midwife said. "The baby needs the air."

Finduilas gasped for air as she gripped the bed sheets tight. She didn't remember Boromir's birth being this painful. The midwife placed a damp cloth on her forehead as she sweat from the labor.

"My lady, it's time for you to push now", she said.

Finduilas cried from the pain of the next contraction. She screamed as loud as she could as she began to push.

"Push, my lady! Come on!"

"I can't do it!" she screamed.

"Yes, you can", the midwife said. "The child's head is coming through. It has plenty of curly hair."

Finduilas cried in pain as she panted. She gathered all her strength and pushed again.

"Almost done", the midwife said. "The head is out. The shoulders are coming through. One more big push."

She watched as Finduilas pushed one more time. The baby fell into her arms. The midwife cut the umbilical cord noticing the baby wasn't breathing.

"My baby…" Finduilas weakly said. "I…don't hear it crying…is it alive?"

The midwife wrapped the baby in a blanket and cleaned it up trying to get a reaction out of it. The baby let out a weak cough as it began breathing. The midwife sighed in relief. She brought the baby to Finduilas.

"You have a son, my lady. He is very small and weak, as are you, so I would prefer you and him stay here until he gains enough strength."

"Can you send in Denethor and Boromir?" Finduilas asked fighting the urge to sleep.

The midwife nodded and opened the door. Boromir came running in with Denethor walking behind him.

"Are you in pain, Mama?" Boromir asked.

"Not anymore", Finduilas smiled. "Boromir, meet your baby brother."

"I have a brother?" he asked.

"It is another son?" Denethor asked. "It cannot be. We only needed one son."

He looked at the baby noticing how tiny it was. He was much smaller than Boromir when he was born. He heard the shaky breaths the baby took as it slept, showing it was not as strong or healthy Boromir was.

"He's nothing but a weakling", Denethor said refusing to even touch it.

"What is his name?" Boromir asked.

Finduilas looked at Denethor seeing he wanted nothing to do with their newborn son. She looked at Boromir who smiled at his little brother.

"Faramir", she answered. "His name is Faramir."

"Faramir?" Denethor asked. "But that is the name of the son of one of the kings of Gondor. That child is not fit for a king's name."

"Denethor, you chose Boromir's name. It is only fair that I name our second son. I choose to name him Faramir."