Chapter Two:
Faramir sat back, studying his brother for a moment, before picking up his own food and taking a bight. "The usual, stumbling across orcs, and men of Saruan, and attacking them. Being stumbled over by the same, and being attacked." Boromir's eyebrow raised, and Faramir shot his brother a smirk. "What?"
Boromir shook his head, "Nothing, nothing at all brother. You are just so strait forward. One would think that you didn't purposefully stumbled across the enemy. And that they just happened to stumble across you. "
Faramir shrugged, and grinned, "Well, it's not like you're any better. You said the orcs attacked suddenly. Don't tell me you didn't know they were coming close to you." Boromir looked a bit sheepish, and Faramir raised his eyebrow, "Care to tell me what actually happened?"
"They did attack suddenly, but it is true that we knew that they were there. We were surprised at the suddenness of the attack. They must be getting wise to our tricks, and found out that we knew they were there."
The younger man frowned, "That is troublesome. It makes more sense now, how the orcs had such a strong upper hand as they did the last time they attacked us. We will need to strengthen our forces, and be ready at all times."
Faramir fell silent, and began eating with gusto. It had been to long since he had a meal this good, and he suddenly felt ravenous. Across from him, his brother began eating as well, and Faramir took a second to grin at his brother. After the quick meal, the two brothers sat back, with contented sighs. Faramri lay his head against the chair back and closed his eyes, relishing in the warmth of the room. He slipped into a doze, and let the sudden silence of the room sooth him. The door opening startled Faramir to full alertness, and he sat up strait, as a servant hurried in bowing to Boromir, than to Faramir, before facing Boromir again, "My lord. Your Father, the Steward, has requested your presence." He turned to Faramir, "He also has requested for your presence." With one last bow, he hurried from the room.
The two brothers stood up, and moved down the hall, with quick steps. Just as they reached the door to their Father's study, Boromir hesitated, turning to Faramir, "Brother, are you sure that we should tell Father about the visions?" He looked closely at Faramir, who had stood strait in preparation for the meeting with their father. "Won't it cause more problems?"
Faramir sighed, and closed his eyes for a moment, it was true that it might cause more problems, but it still needed to be done. His father was wise, and he knew more old lore than Faramir. He shook his head, "It needs to be done Boromir, you know how wise Father is, he will be able to help us." He motioned to his brother's arm, "Besides, it has caused you injury. It could be that it will not leave us alone, until we act. If it is sent to you again it could be that it will cause more danger to you than this time, with you not being used to having visions." He reached passed his brother and opened the door, subtly pushing his brother through.
Denethor, looked up from the papers spread out over his desk, and let a small smile cross his lined face, "Boromir, my son. I am glad to see you well." Faramir stepped in, and nodded to Denethor,
"Father, we have something important to tell you, we need your advice." He swallowed hard as his father looked hard at him, no emotion on his face. His father finally nodded, and motioned to the chairs that were by the fire in the office.
"Very well." He stood, and moved to the chair, sitting down, he motioned towards the chairs again, and Boromir glanced at his brother. Faramir nodded at him, and moved to stand behind the remaining chair as Boromir sat. Faramir watched his fathers reaction as Boromir began talking.
"Father...for the past few weeks...Faramir has been having visions. And just before..." he trailed off, as Denethor shifted his pearsing gaze onto Faramir. The younger son shifted his weight, and met his Father's eyes. Denethor frowned, and sat back, studying his sons.
"What visions has Faramir been having?" He glanced up at Faramir once more, before turning his attention back to his oldest son. Faramir straitened his back slightly, at his fathers over looking him, but sighed, and turned his attention back to the conversation.
Boromir twisted his head to look up at Faramir, and the younger brother smiled at him, and nodded towards their father with a raised eyebrow, telling him to continue the conversation.
"My company had suffered some losses earlier, and I went to sleep early. I had the same vision. I don't understand it, but it has me confused and worried. It wont leave my mind till I have learned the meaning of it." he stopped for a moment, letting his father think through what was said. Denethor was frowning slightly, and Faramir could tell he was worried, about what exactly he didn't know though. Boromir continued, after a moment,
"There were words...'Seek for the Sword that was broken
In Imladris it dwells; Stronger than Morgul-spells. There shall be shown a token That Doom is near at hand, For Isildur's Bane shall waken, And the something forth shall stand'-"
Faramir smiled slightly at Boromir's attempt at saying the words, "No Brother. It's
'Seek for the Sword that was broken
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand,
For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand'"
Faramir watched as Boromir blushed slightly, and cleared his throat with a small sound, "Yes, brother. I suppose if you've heard it twice you would remember it better than me."
Faramir shrugged and shot a quick glance at his father who was watching them both silently, Denethor finally looked away, and spoke to Boromir, "What else was there son?"
"Well...it was dark in the east. And in the west a slight light, the words came out of the west, and thunder out of the east. Father, what do you make of this mystery?"
Denethor frowned, looking into the fire, "Imladris... I know that name. It is Rivendell. One of the homes of the Elves."
Faramir looked up sharply, his eyes growing bright at the mention of Elves, now he remembered where the name had come from. His mind began working and the rest of the words began making more sense.
Denethor looked to Boromir "You should leave to get some rest my son. I thank you for telling me this." Boromir stood, and headed to the door, Faramir following quietly. Denethor's voice stopped him abruptly "Faramir. Stay."
Faramir slowly turned back, walking towards Denethor "Yes Father?" He didn't know what his father wanted of him, but he knew that there was something haunting his father, he had not been himself lately, being more cool and harsh towards his son.
Denethor sighed and bowed his head, looking weary and worn."Faramir, why didn't you come to me with the vision the first time you had it? You and I both know the results of ignoring a vision."
Faramir sighed as well, and nodded his head, "Yes, I do know. And I was reminded of it when Boromir told me how he came by his injuries-" Denethor looked at him sharply, and Faramir rubbed his face, "Boromir was not prepared to have the vision, he doesn't know how to push through them till it is safe." Denethor's frown lined his face, and he stood, moving behind the imposing desk,
"We have no hope to win this war that is coming, and yet you do not seem to care. You withhold from me, your commander, precious information that can help us win this war."
Faramir frowned, and stepped forward so he was standing in front of the desk, "What do you mean? Father, I had no knowledge of the meaning of the riddle. How is it precious information?" He looked hard at Denethor, and felt his heart sink as he saw another part of his father fall away with his next words.
"The Bane of Isildur,is that long ago lost ring of power, the only weapon strong enough to defeat the armies of Sauron. If I can weld it, I will be able to win the war, and be as powerful as the King!" Greed and something darker flashed across Denethor's face. Faramir took in a breath,
"Father, but what of Sauron himself. You said the ring of power will defeat the armies of Sauron. But will that not just delay the inevitable. Sauron will go into hiding till he has gathered a army grater than the one he is gathering now."
Denethor shook his head, "Defeating Sauron is pointless. It will be better for me to live out my days in power than to die in battle." He scowled, "There is no way to destroy Sauron. He put himself into the ring. There will always be some of him" Faramir listened to his father's words, and made his own thoughts,
"There might be a way..." He trailed off as Denethor's face darkened,
"Even if there is a way, it won't come to pass. The ring is coming to me."