Faramir sighed as he sat in archives of the library. Denethor was giving Boromir another lesson that would take up more of the day. Faramir decided to pass the time trying to learn how to read. He gasped as he heard footsteps.
"Do not be frightened", the voice said. "I mean you no harm."
"Who are you?" Faramir asked.
He watched as a tall man dressed in gray and a hat came into the archives. He had a long gray beard and carried a wooden staff.
"You may call me Gandalf", he answered.
"Are you a wizard?" Faramir asked.
"What makes you say that?" Gandalf asked.
"You have a staff and I've never seen people carry staffs like that."
Gandalf smiled as he took off his hat. He took a seat next to Faramir.
"You're the son of the Steward, aren't you?" he asked.
"The second-born son", Faramir answered.
"Ah, Faramir."
Gandalf looked at the scrolls of paper Faramir was trying to read. Faramir ran his finger along the paper trying to make sense of the markings. Gandalf read the markings and smiled.
"Learning about the history of Isildur?" he asked.
"Huh?"
Gandalf points to the scrolls. Faramir shrugged.
"I don't know how to read", he said. "I'm trying to learn."
"Would you like me to help you?" Gandalf asked.
"Will you?"
Gandalf nodded and pointed to the markings helping him begin to read.
Boromir looked around the area for Faramir. His lesson was over and now he needed to find Faramir before supper. He wasn't in his room and he wasn't outside.
"Faramir!" Boromir called. "Little brother!"
"I am here!"
Boromir looked ahead to see Faramir reading with a tall person. He had never seen him before and wondered who he was and why he was in the Citadel.
"Who are you?"
"This is Gandalf", Faramir answered. "He's teaching me to read."
"I've never seen him before", Boromir said. "What is your purpose here in Gondor?"
"No purpose", Gandalf said. "I just come and go as I please."
"Which is not something I allow!"
Denethor came down the hallway looking angry as always. Faramir backed away scared and hid behind Gandalf.
"What do you want here in Gondor?" Denethor asked.
"Is an old man not free to enter this city in peace?" Gandalf asked kindly.
"Not in my city", Denethor said. "I don't allow outsiders here."
"Father, Gandalf was just helping me read", Faramir said.
"You don't need to read", Denethor growled. "You are not my successor, Boromir is. He will take over my duties. You will amount to nothing."
"Father, stop it!" Boromir said. "Faramir is your son. What if I choose not to be the next Steward?"
"You will be, whether you like it or not!"