Thanks for all the lovely reviews of the last chapter—it seems there are a lot of Boro/Fara fans out there! Unfortunately, we won't be seeing much of Faramir for the next few chapters, but I think Tolkien deserves at least some of the blame for that. :-)

This chapter was a lot of fun to write—it has a little bit of everything; action, drama, angst, and even a little humor. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 16

Gandalf rose suddenly and began walking quickly up the hill toward the second level. "Come, Pippin," he said brusquely, "we may not to able to help Faramir, but I doubt the other son of Denethor is beyond our aid."

Taken by surprise, Pippin had to run to catch up with Gandalf, "Where are we going to look for Boromir, Gandalf?"

Gandalf shook his head uncertainly, "Faramir said he was not in his room, but lacking better options it might be best to check there first in case he has returned."

Pippin sighed, "I don't understand what could have happened, Gandalf. He was fine yesterday when I left you all in the Houses…" Pippin's eyes widened, "Gandalf! What about…"

Gandalf glanced at Pippin, his eyes alight, "Of course! Morloth should know where he is, or can at least tell us when last she saw him." He nodded decisively, "We shall ask her first."

When they arrived at the Houses of Healing a short time later, they went straight to the room in which Morloth usually worked and found her with a patient. She looked up when they entered, but instead of her usual smile her face was strained and anxious.

She finished with her patient and hurried up to them, Gandalf addressing her first, "Morloth, we must speak to you, it is urgent."

Morloth gave a small gasp and said, "Of…of course, Gandalf, let me find someone to watch my patients." She left the room and returned with another healer; she quickly gave him some instructions before rejoining Gandalf and Pippin. They found a small seating area in a secluded corner of the House antechamber, and she turned to them, worry clouding her eyes, "What is it? Please tell me! Do you know what's wrong with Boromir?"

Gandalf squeezed her hand to reassure her and said, "Morloth, as far as I know nothing is wrong with Boromir, but we need to find him. Have you seen him today?"

"No, I haven't, Mithrandir, that's one reason I'm so concerned," Morloth replied. "After all that happened yesterday, I was certain he would come to see me or at least send a message—so I was hoping you could tell me what is amiss."

"All that happened? I have heard nothing of this!" Gandalf said in an exasperated voice. "Please, my lady, tell me everything, from the beginning."

"Of course, Mithrandir, I…I will do my best," she said, her brow furrowing anxiously. "After you and Faramir left us, Boromir and I went to his rooms; there was something he wanted to tell me. While we were there Lord Denethor…" her narrative stumbled to a halt and she reddened, giving Pippin a questioning look.

Realizing what the problem must be, he took her hand and gave her his most reassuring smile. "It's all right Morloth," he said in an undertone, "Gandalf knows Boromir very well too. He understands."

Her answering smile was a little unsteady, "Thank you, Pippin." She met Gandalf's eyes, "I suppose it doesn't matter so much now, but it's still difficult to talk about." Morloth took a deep breath and went on, "Boromir and I were sitting together in his room and Lord Denethor just burst in—with his guards!—without any notice. Duinor and Beregond say they both tried to stop him but he refused to let them knock or announce him."

She closed her eyes briefly and sighed before continuing, "It was obvious to Lord Denethor that Boromir and I were…together. He started to say things about me—very unkind things—" she added, her voice shaking slightly, "and that he wouldn't have Boromir 'entangled' with me. Boromir became very angry, and was defending me, but it only seemed to make matters worse." She looked up at Gandalf, tears standing in her eyes, "I would prefer not to repeat what Lord Denethor said, unless you feel it is necessary."

"No, Morloth, I will not ask that of you," Gandalf said gently, "there is no need for me to know what was said. I can certainly imagine it," he added in a hard voice.

Morloth finished her tale, relating how Faramir had been summoned to speak to his father and commanded to retake Osgiliath. Suddenly she started, looking up at Gandalf, her eyes wide, "What happened with Faramir, Mithrandir? Did he…"

Gandalf sighed heavily, "He is on his way to Osgiliath, Morloth."

She gasped and shook her head in dismay, "Oh no! This is terrible! Boromir was so certain that he could prevent it—he's going to be heartbroken when he learns of this. And Faramir in such danger—for no good reason, according to Boromir."

"Boromir is right, which is all the more reason why we must find him. I simply do not believe he would willingly allow Faramir to be sent into danger so needlessly. What prevented him from acting and where is he now?" Gandalf asked sharply.

Morloth looked at him eagerly, "I didn't quite finish telling my story, Mithrandir, Boromir might be in his room." Before Gandalf could question her further, she went on, "When I didn't hear from Boromir this morning, I was surprised and concerned, so I went to his room before coming here." She took a deep breath, "There was a guard there—a Tower guardsman—that I didn't recognize and he refused to let me enter to look for Boromir or even Duinor. He said that Boromir was ill and no one was allowed to see him. Of course, I explained that I was Boromir's healer and if he was ill then I certainly needed to see him immediately!" Morloth shook her head, "Then he became quite rude and offensive and again told me that no one was allowed to enter. I was going to search for Beregond later to see if he knew what had happened, but you found me first."

Gandalf sat back in his chair looking puzzled for a moment, then his face hardened and he said resolutely, "Come! They will not easily prevent me from entering. I mean to get to the bottom of this."

"Wait, Mithrandir," Morloth cried, "there is something else Boromir wanted you to know, and I think it may be important. Yesterday Beregond told us that after Boromir left for Rivendell his father requested his own guardsman—men that would be specifically assigned to guard him with no other duties. It was done over Captain Meldir's protests, and now the Lord Steward has a dozen men that report directly to him, some of whom were hired by the Steward himself and are unknown to the other Tower Guards."

"Oh, I don't like the sound of that at all," Gandalf muttered. He shook his head, "What possessed Denethor to do such a thing?" He glanced up after a moment, saying, "Thank you, Morloth, that may indeed be important."

He started toward the door with Pippin trailing behind. "Just a moment," Morloth called, "let me get my bag."

"Oh, you're coming with us, Morloth?" Gandalf asked, one eyebrow raised inquiringly.

She snorted, "Of course I am, Mithrandir. Do you think I'd stay behind when Boromir might be hurt or ill? Don't you dare try to talk me out of it!"

A smile crossed Gandalf's face and was gone; he said solemnly, "I wouldn't dream of it, my lady."

-ooo-

Pippin peeked cautiously around the corner to get a better view of Boromir's door. "One guard in Tower livery," he reported in a whisper to Gandalf and Morloth who were standing behind him. "I don't recognize him, but then I don't know too many guardsmen yet. It's definitely not Beregond."

"Hmm," Gandalf pondered, "we need a way to get past him."

"Couldn't you…" Pippin mimed bashing someone on the head.

"I could," Gandalf replied, giving Pippin an exasperated look, "but there are times when guile is more desirable than brute force."

"May I look?" Morloth asked. "I'll be careful." Gandalf nodded and she glanced quickly around the corner. "He looks familiar to me; he may be one of the men the Lord Steward selected from the other guardsmen. But it's not the person who was posted there earlier."

"Interesting," Gandalf said, "he must have relieved the first one. The other guard refused to let you enter, you say?"

"Yes, and he was very definite on that, and quite rude as well. I can't imagine a real guardsman behaving like that," she huffed.

Gandalf smiled, "I have an idea; follow my lead and be ready to move. We may have only a few minutes with Boromir—if he is indeed in there."

"But Gandalf, what if we do get inside and there's another guard?" Morloth asked apprehensively.

Gandalf snorted, "I'm hoping that is not the case. But if it is, then we may have to use Pippin's suggestion."

"Right!" Pippin said cheerily.

"Pippin, try to keep out of sight," Gandalf instructed, "I can provide a reason why Morloth and I are here, but there is no explanation for you."

"That's what Merry always says!" Pippin replied in an aggrieved tone. Morloth stifled a giggle.

Gandalf strode boldly out into the corridor and up to the guard in front of Boromir's door. Taking her cue from him, Morloth followed with her head held high and tried to look more confident than she actually felt. Pippin remained where he was, waiting for an opportunity to join them.

The wizard fixed the guard with an imperious look and said, "Lord Boromir's personal healer is here to tend him." He gestured toward the door, "If you would be so kind…"

The guard glanced nervously from Gandalf to Morloth, "Mithrandir," he stammered, "I have been instructed that he is to have no visitors."

Gandalf nodded sagely, "Very wise." He raised his eyebrows and looked at the door meaningfully, "Now?"

"I'm afraid I can't let you enter, my lord. Lord Boromir is ill," the guard told them, growing more uneasy by the moment.

"Yes, we know that, and this lady is his personal healer," Gandalf repeated slowly and carefully, as if explaining something to a particularly backward child. "Or are you suggesting that Lord Denethor would not want his son and heir cared for during his illness?"

"Oh, no, my lord…" the guard began.

Before the guard could finish speaking, Gandalf turned toward the door and put his hand on the door handle, saying, "Good. Well then, if you'll excuse us…"

At the same time Morloth turned to follow Gandalf and—seemingly inadvertently—struck the guard with her bag. She began apologizing profusely to him. While the guard's attention was diverted by Morloth, Gandalf, his hand still on the door handle, closed his eyes and muttered a few words under his breath. The door shook slightly and came open. Seeing his chance, Pippin dashed forward just in time to follow Gandalf and Morloth into the room, over the protests of the surprised guard.

"I…I thought that door was locked!" the guard sputtered.

Gandalf smiled serenely at him, "Evidently not."

"I'm going to have to report this!" the guard exclaimed.

"You do that,' Pippin replied with a smile as he shut the door in the man's face.

Boromir's sitting room was empty. They made their way into the bedroom, and Morloth gave a sharp cry when she saw that there was someone lying on the bed. She rushed to the bedside—it was Boromir. He was lying on top of the bedcovers, and although his boots had been removed, otherwise he was dressed exactly as he had been the night before.

Morloth gave a quiet sob of relief when she saw his chest rise and fall, and quickly examined him. There were no new wounds—he merely looked to be asleep. She shook Boromir gently and called his name, but he did not awaken.

She turned to the wizard, "Mithrandir, it seems that he's just sleeping, but I don't understand why he's not waking." She shook her head, "It's almost as if he were given a sleeping draught of some sort."

Gandalf glanced at her sharply, "Is that possible? Where would one get something of that sort?"

"We have them at the Houses of Healing, though only a few are this powerful. They are used sparingly since patients can become dependent on them." Morloth looked up, her eyes troubled, "Only fully trained healers are permitted to dispense them."

Gandalf eyed her speculatively, "I can think of only one person in whose interest it would be to temporarily disable Boromir and prevent him from disputing Faramir's orders—the man who gave those orders. And I'd wager that if the Lord Steward were to request such a potion, a healer would provide it for him. Does the Steward have a personal healer?"

Morloth sighed, "Yes, his name is Narion, I know him slightly. But I…I cannot believe he would condone this! There is absolutely no reason why Boromir would need to take a powerful sleeping draught."

"He may simply have provided it to Lord Denethor in good faith without knowing how it was to be used," Gandalf reminded her. He laid a hand on her shoulder, "Morloth, if we want answers we need to wake Boromir and ask him. How long should the effects of the potion last?"

She shrugged, "Without knowing precisely what he was given, and when, and how much, it's very difficult to say. It could be hours yet."

Gandalf's eyes narrowed. "Hours we do not have. The guard may be back with reinforcements at any time." He gestured to Boromir, "If I may?"

Startled, Morloth replied, "Of course, Mithrandir. What are you planning to do?"

"Awaken him, if I can," Gandalf said shortly. He sat on the bed next to Boromir and placed his hand on his forehead. After a few moments of concentration he said some words in a language that neither Morloth nor Pippin understood. A shudder ran through Boromir's body, he gasped and opened his eyes.

"Boromir!" Morloth cried joyfully, clasping his hand tightly. "Dear Boromir, are you well?"

His eyes focused on her face, "Mor…Morloth?" he asked, clearly still a little befuddled. Boromir looked around to see Gandalf and Pippin standing by his bed, "What is happening? Why…why are you all here?" He put a hand to his head, "What time is it?"

Morloth's face fell, "It is morning, Boromir."

He stared at them and shook his head, his face stricken, "Morning? No! That is not possible! I would not have…" He looked wildly from face to face, demanding, "Tell me! What happened with Faramir?"

Their expressions told him all he needed to know. Morloth murmured, "He…he is gone, Boromir. Faramir is on his way to Osgiliath."

Boromir put his head in his hands, tears starting in his eyes. He said despairingly, "I failed him! I promised I would aid him and fell asleep instead. How could I have been so careless, so…callous and irresponsible to let him imperil himself to no purpose?"

"Boromir, you have not failed him!" Gandalf said briskly. "This is not your doing! You did not simply fall asleep; you were given a powerful sleeping draught by someone. We suspect that it was your father or another at his bidding."

"My…my father? How?" Suddenly Boromir's face cleared, "I remember now—the cordial! He was quite friendly and welcoming when I went to see him. He asked me to try some rare liquor he'd recently acquired… I thought it was a good sign that he might listen to me!"

He looked up, his face set and grim, "So it was a trick…a trick and a foul betrayal by my own father, a man who has always claimed to love me. And for what, to prevent me from protesting his heartless treatment of Faramir, someone he should love?" He shook his head. "His cruel behavior toward you, dear lady, was bad enough," he said, clasping Morloth's hand, "but now…this time he has gone too far, this time there will be a reckoning!"

Boromir started to rise from the bed, fury building in his face. Morloth grabbed his arm with an alarmed cry, "Boromir, please! There may be lingering affects from the sleeping draught. Please wait!"

'Morloth, I am fine; I must do this! If he has chosen to make me his enemy, by Eru I will be one! And I will make certain he knows that!"

"Boromir, stop!" Gandalf cried in his most commanding voice, "Stop and think! According to Morloth the potion given to you is not easy to come by; Denethor would have had to ask a healer to acquire some for him. It is surely no coincidence that he had it close to hand when you went to speak to him last night—what does that tell you?"

Boromir ceased struggling and fell against the pillows, his face pale. When he spoke it was barely above a whisper, "He planned this—he knew what I would do. Father expected me to challenge him about Faramir."

Gandalf nodded, "That much is clear. He may have been hoping that you would blame yourself and assume what you did indeed think at first—that you had simply fallen asleep. But also ask yourself, if you did realize the truth, what would he expect you to do?"

Boromir met Gandalf's eyes, his face bleak, "He would expect me to confront him in a rage, as I almost did." He swore under his breath, "But why, Gandalf, why? Does he want me to hate him? What does he gain from this?"

Gandalf sighed heavily, "I do not know, Boromir, I can only guess. But think on this; if you were to go there now in a fury, making outrageous accusations about him dosing you with a sleeping draught, it would give Denethor a ready-made excuse to discredit you. He could even remove you from your post as Captain-General."

"But…" Boromir replied, bewildered, "he doesn't need an excuse, I serve at his will. He can remove me at any time if he wishes."

"If he removes you as Captain-General for no reason there will be questions, Boromir, you know that. Your Uncle Imrahil would certainly protest, and even the spineless fools on the Steward's Council would be moved to ask why."

Boromir's mouth set in a hard line, "But if I go there in anger, accusing him of having tricked and betrayed me, I will look like a wild and ungrateful son, and he will have his reason." He blew out his breath in frustration, "I see that, but by Eru it galls me that I can do nothing to bring him to account!"

"I advise you to do nothing—for now. Gondor needs you too much to risk losing your leadership to your father's scheming. But if we survive the coming battle you may yet have your reckoning."

Suddenly they heard the door open in the outer chamber; loud voices and footsteps as several men crossed to the bedroom door. "Quick, Boromir, lie down," Gandalf hissed, "we may learn more if they think you are still asleep."

Boromir lay down and they just had time to pull the bed curtains closed before the bedroom door opened and four guardsman burst in.

The guard in front gave an ugly laugh, "Still here, I see. Well, that was a mistake." He glanced over at the bed, "Trying to wake the Lord's son, are you?" He shook his head, "I'm afraid we can't have that."

Gandalf's eyes narrowed but his tone was deceptively mild, "As I told that other fellow, we are here to tend Lord Boromir."

"That fool?" the lead guard said dismissively with a glance at the man in question who was among those standing behind him. "You may have able to talk your way past him, but that won't work with me! You are unneeded and unwanted—leave with no trouble, or we may just decide to clap you in irons."

"You are truly a fool if you think you have either the power or the authority to do that," Gandalf replied with a disdainful glance at the group.

The guard that had been at the door when they arrived blanched and muttered worriedly, "I'm not sure this is a good idea…"

"We have our orders," the leader growled, "they are not to be here—take them!"

"But he's a wizard!" the second guard protested.

"Naught but an old man—and a meddlesome one at that!" the leader scoffed. "We can take the woman at least; we were told particularly that she was not to see Lord Boromir." With that, he grabbed Morloth's arm and began pulling her toward the door.

Gandalf moved swiftly to assist, "That is unwise," he growled. "Release her!"

While the guards were distracted by the confrontation with Gandalf, concealed by the bed curtains Boromir rose from the other side of the bed with Pippin's assistance. Bootless, Boromir padded silently around the bed before the guards realized their danger. Their first warning was the unmistakable sound of a sword scraping out of its scabbard.

In the next moment Boromir's blade was at the leader's throat. His voice was calm, but no one could mistake the deadly threat in it, "I will say this once, and once only. Let. Her. Go."

The man dropped Morloth's arm as if scalded, "My…my lord," he stammered.

"Guards of the Citadel laying hands on a woman and threatening honored guests in my presence?" Boromir went on, his blade never wavering. "No, that will not do."

The leader met Boromir's eyes and wilted visibly under his gaze, "But my lord, I…we had orders…"

"So you have said," Boromir noted, "and the name of the person who gave you those orders?"

The man opened his mouth but then glanced around to the other guards uncertainly. After a moment he dropped his eyes without speaking.

Boromir laughed, a sound with very little humor in it, "As I suspected. An odd thing about following orders that no one wishes to acknowledge; it is almost as if they were never given." His voice hardened, "Especially if there are ever questions about why you acted as you did."

He dropped his sword point and walked forward until he was standing eye to eye with the leader. Boromir was both taller and broader than the man and his fury made him even more menacing. After a long moment Boromir addressed him, "Now as High Warden of the White Tower and Captain-General of Gondor, I will give you an order—one I will be all too happy to acknowledge. You and your fellows will stay away from here, and from me, and cease to trouble any of those I hold dear. If you disobey this order I promise you will live to regret it—very, very briefly. Is that understood?"

"Yes, my lord," the guard murmured, his face white. Boromir gazed at the other men in turn until they had all done the same.

"Now get out of my sight!" Boromir said contemptuously. "You are a disgrace to the uniform that better men wear with pride."

The men turned to leave, but Boromir called to them, "Wait! Tell my father…" He stopped abruptly with a grim smile on his face, "On second thought, let him wonder. Begone!"

The men left hastily, with more than one worried look behind them. When the door closed after them, Boromir sank onto the bed. Morloth immediately joined him and he pulled her close.

"That was well done, Boromir," Gandalf said, putting his hand on Boromir's shoulder. "If they had not considered before the cost of their willingness to do Denethor's bidding, they surely will now. They must know he will never admit to his part in all of this."

Boromir met Gandalf's eyes, shaking his head sadly, "For three thousand years this city has stood for honor and courage—all the good that men can do. How did it come to this?"

Gandalf sighed, "I do not know, Boromir, but I mean to find out. But however it happened, together we must set it right."

Boromir nodded, "Give me a few more minutes, then I'll be fit to take up my duties again." A look of pain crossed his face, "I must do what I can for Faramir." He pulled Morloth tight against him with a heavy sigh.

"We will leave you two alone then," Gandalf said before steering Pippin out the door and closing it behind them.