Two chapters in a row! Any way... In this chapter Faramir sort of explains why he allows his father to do what he does. This one is a bit longer than the last ones. Enjoy!

Chapter Eight

One morning, after they had spent the night walking, Gandalf stopped at the crest of a hill, and stood still, looking east. Faramir watched as Frodo walked up to the wizard, and look up at him, then back to the glimmer of pink showing on the horizon. Faramir, let out a breath at the sight. It was the first real sun-rise they saw the entire trip. The clouds that were covering the sky had vanished, leaving a light icy blue sky showing. Faramir watched as the others began talking, discussing the path ahead. He let the talking fade into the back ground, as he stared at the sunrise, drinking in the colours. The Stewards youngest son snapped back to attention as the conversation drew to a close, and the others began walking down the hill. Gandalf's voice cut through the sudden quiet

"We shall stay here today, and tonight as well."

After they had set up camp, and, for the first time since the trip had started, had lit a fire, the company settled down around the fire, eating the meal, and talking. Pippin turned to Faramir,

"Tell us something of your childhood. I think that you would have many stories, having grown up in a city of men."

Faramir smiled and stuck a stick in the fire, then looked up, looking at each of the company. They all seamed interested except for Aragorn, but he was acting that way the whole time they were sitting by the fire. After giving the king a speculative look, Faramir turned back to the hobbits and leaned back

"When I was younger, me and my brother were visiting my uncle. We did something, took some sweets from our uncle's room. We hid our selves in the wine cellar. We thought we had gotten away with it, but soon our father found us..." Faramir laughed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth "We learned to not do that again."

Eight year old Faramir followed as his brother led the way down the steps into the cellar of their Uncle's home. Faramir opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, Boromir turned around, and Faramir saw that the thirteen year old had his finger on his lips shushing him. Boromir turned back, and slowly opened the heavy wooden door, and slipped in, holding it open for his brother. As soon as Faramir was in the cellar, Boromir closed the door, and the younger boy, took in a sudden quiet breath as he heard the latch click. Boromir quietly let his brother to the corner of the room and settled him, so he was sitting on a wooden crate behind other crates stacked up. He then, with another admonishment to be silent, slipped to another corner of the room, and hid himself, blowing out the lamp, casting the room into darkness. Faramir bit his lip, stifling a whimper as the last of the light disappeared, leaving darkness. After what seemed like hours later, the door opened, revealing their father holding a lamp. Faramir, forgetting why they were hiding, ran to him with a joyful cry, relived to be released from his dark confinement. Faramir's father, went down on one knee, and put a arm around him.

"Shh. Faramir."

Faramir buried his head in his fathers shoulders, grateful for a moment of comfort, before the punishment he knew they were going to get. Denethor put a hand on his youngest son's shoulder, and watched as Boromir slunk out of the dark corner he was in.

"Well Boromir my son. What have you to say?"

Boromir bit his lip "Sorry. I was wrong."

Denethor nodded, "Yes. You know what to do."

Boromir sighed and unbuckled his sword belt, as he was handing it to the steward, he hesitated "Father...Sir. Couldn't I just get spanked like Faramir? I won't do it again. I need my sword!"

Denethor shook his head "You know the rule. You are to old to get spanked. You care about you sword, and you need to learn a lesson. Which will happen better if you don't have something you want."

Pippin bounced, "You got spanked?"

Faramir laughed "Yes. There is something about spanking, that even though it hurts for only a little bit, that makes it stick in your memory. I never tried to hide from punishments again. And soon I became to old to be spanked."

Marry leaned forward, warming his hands on the fire "Your father sounds nice."

Faramir froze looking up and meeting Gandalf's eyes, "Some times he is very nice." he noticed Legolas looking at him, and guessed the question that the elf asked.

"What do you mean 'some times'?"

Faramir sighed, stirring the fire with a stick "My father...he is under the power of something evil called a palantír. When he is under the darkness, he can be very...angry. But every time he comes out of the darkness he always apologizes for what he said or did to me."

Aragorn hissed out a breath "Why do you allow it? I assume that you have men under your command. You can always just deal with it, or leave."

Faramir stood, eyes flashing "I will not 'just deal' with my father. He may be deluded, but he is my father. He is to be honored and respected. And if him dealing with me will protect my brother, or the servants, then so be it. I will not have someone hurt when I can do something about it."

The steward's son watched as Legolas, who had stood up with him, to hold him back if need be, looked at Gandalf with incredulous eyes, and sat back down. Faramir sighed, and sitting down, bending his head, spoke, his voice muffled.

"I apologize."

Gandalf got up stiffly, and after patting Faramir on the shoulder, went to sit right by the fire, settling down for the day of sleep "Do not apologize. I think that it might have been good for some people to see what you are like." He emphasized the 'some' glaring at Legolas as he did.

Hope you enjoyed, and have a good day/afternoon/night.