Chapter Three:
The next morning, Faramir hurried to his father's study, knowing from experience that his father would most likely have spent the night in the room. He knocked on the door, and opened it, slipping inside after his father's voice called him to enter. He hurried to stand in front of the desk where his father was still sitting, looking haggard and weary. "Father, I request that you would sent me to Rivendel. I can travel there, and see that is the meaning of the rest of the riddle. We can ask advice from the Elves."
Denethor stayed silent, watching his younger son with shrewd eyes. "Tell me, why would I send you, and not Boromir, your Brother?"
Faramir looked at him hard, then smiled slightly, "The way is dangerous. But not as dangerous as either of our positions in the army. Boromir is injured, and he must heal before he can leave, we need to head towards Rivendel as soon a possible. I am a ranger. I know the ways of the wild better than Boromir dose." He watched as Denethor gave a satisfied smile, and relaxed slightly; he got his point across. Abruptly the door behind Faramir swung open, and Boromir dashed in, disregarding any sense of propriety .
"Father-" Faramir smirked when his brother broke off suddenly noting him, "Faramir! What are you doing here?" The younger brother watched as Boromir shook his head, and turned to Denethor, "Father, don't listen to any thing he says! You must send me to Rivendel instead of Faramir." Denethor raised his eyebrows, and Faramir stood back, ready to enjoy, and interject if need be.
Faramir's father cleared his throat, "Why do you suggest this?"
"The way is dangerous. I would rather put myself in danger than Faramir-"
"Faramir would be in danger either on the trail, or in his command. As evidenced by his wrist." Denethor motioned to Faramir's bound wrist. Boromir hesitated, looking confused, then gathered him self.
"I am the eldest. It is my duty." Boromir looked hopeless as his argument fell flat with Denethor's next words,
"Your duty, it to follow what your Father, and Commander tells you." Faramir shifted, looking down for a moment before looking up to his Father and brother again.
"Who will you send?" Faramir watched the thoughts cross Denethor's face, and he could understand. But he knew that he needed to go to Rivendel. He was given the vision first, and the ways visoins worked was that the person who was given the vision, it affected them personally, and if there were commands, they were for the recipient. Denethor looked hard at each of them, then nodded.
"I will send Faramir."
Boromir sat up strait "Father, if it is dangerous than surly I should be the one to go. Faramir can stay here, and-"
Denethor cut him off with a raised hand "Enough. Your brother is going." He turned to Faramir "You will do your duty to your commander?"
Faramir took in a sharp breath, and held it, thinking of how to answer, "I will do my duty. I will do what is right." He watched Denethor's eyes narrow, but it was the best he could do. He would not take the ring back to his father, and that is what his father meant by Duty.
Boromir broke the moment, by stepping slightly forward, "Father..." He trailed off as Denethor turned to him,
"Enough Boromir. I have decided , and my decision will stand." He turned back to Faramir, "Be ready to leave after breakfast."