I instinctively want to write Denethor as evil...but Boromir's not dead? So would he be?
Maedhros just wanted to adopt Faramir and I couldn't stop him.
They arrived in Minas Tirith several days later, after much hard riding and sleepless nights. Boromir was smiling as he looked on the city, humming under his breath. The large gates opened and a rider came out to meet them.
"Faramir!" Boromir called, and the rider smiled back.
"Hello, brother. It seems you've returned after all."
"I promised, didn't I?" Boromir laughed. "The city is quiet today." He remarked as they passed the first set of gates. Faramir's smile lessened.
"We are evacuating the city." He said. "The lower circles are all but empty of inhabitants."
"Really." Boromir frowned. "It's quite different…are you sure we are going to right direction?"
"Yes, yes." Faramir laughed quietly. "There was much rearranging to get all the people out. Follow me, I know the way." He glanced at Gandalf, then at Pippin, and his face froze.
"A Halfling." He murmured.
"Yes." Gandalf said. "You have seen others?" Faramir tore his gaze away.
"We will speak later, once you have seen Lord Denethor." He said, and led them to the palace within the city.
Denethor was seated at breakfast when they entered his hall. His dark eyes pierced them as they entered. At first, his face was creased in a frown, but he smiled broadly when he saw Boromir.
"My son, you have returned!" He cried. "Ah, Boromir, I feared you were lost."
"I may have been, if not for Faramir." Boromir laughed, but Maedhros thought it sounded forced. "The city is quite different from how I remembered it; I couldn't get past the second level without getting turned around. Luckily, Faramir was here to guide us. You have evacuated most of the people, then?"
"Yes." Denethor said. "But let us not speak of the darkness now. This is a joyous day indeed."
"Father, I have urgent news from Ithilien." Faramir said quietly. "When you have time."
"Not now, Faramir." Denethor said sharply. "Are you not glad that your brother is back?"
"I am very glad." Faramir said, dropping his gaze.
"We also bring news." Gandalf said. "And celebrations can wait." Maedhros nodded. They suspected an impending attack on the city. They needed to speak with Denethor quickly so that the defenses could be prepared.
"We have little time left, Mithrandir." Denethor said, scowling again. "And you would have me sully it with ill news and bad counsel."
"Not so." Gandalf said. "I bring news of hope."
"Of who?" Denethor scoffed. "Rohan has deserted us. You have taken our hope, the One Ring, and sent it to Sauron. With your right hand you use me as a shield against Mordor, and with your left you seek to supplant me! Yes, Mithrandir, I have heard of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, this low-born Ranger form the north. King. Hah! The line of kings is dead."
"Aragorn is the true king, Father." Boromir said.
"Do not speak so, Boromir. They have deceived you." Denethor said. "I would have expected such talk from Faramir. But you are not a wizard's pupil. You do not fall for the enemy's tricks, or break laws at your fancy."
"I do not." Boromir said. "And I am not deceived. The sword that was broken has been reforged. Elrond, lord of Rivendell, has supported his claim. Aragorn is the rightful king." Denethor's face soured.
"I never should have let you go to Rivendell." He said. "Faramir should have gone."
"And he would have!" Boromir said sharply. "But you insisted that I go."
"Boromir." Faramir said softly. "If Father will not hear my report, then you should. It concerns your companions; Frodo and Samwise."
"You have seen them then?" Gandalf asked, urgently. "How long ago?"
"A few days." Faramir said. "We escorted them and their companions on their way and gave them provisions and directions. We could not do more."
"Do not give confidential reports to strangers, Faramir." Denethor said, with an air that reminded Maedhros of Turgon. "And especially not to Mithrandir." Faramir sighed.
"Yes, Father." He said. "I would not. There is urgent news I bring, but I only wanted to tell Boromir of his friends."
"Leave us." Denethor ordered. "Boromir and I will speak. I will hear your report later, Captain. And your news, Mithrandir. Go."
They left Denethor and Boromir in the great hall. Faramir brought them through the vast corridors and to a set of guest rooms that had been prepared for them.
"These are for you." He said. "And if you need any assistance here, just ask. I'm sure Boromir will be glad to show you around, but if he is busy I can do so."
"Pippin and I will be fine for now, thank you." Gandalf said, and looked to Maedhros.
"I would like to speak with you, if there is time." Maedhros said to Faramir. "Whenever you're available if not." Gandalf and Pippin left, but Faramir shook his head.
"I'm not busy." He said. "I cannot rest until I've given my report, and there is nothing else I must see to. What do you need, my lord?"
"You do not need to speak so formally." Maedhros said. "I only have a few questions."
"I will do my best to answer." Faramir replied. Maedhros nodded.
"You mentioned that Frodo had companions." He said. "Who were they?" Frodo and Sam should have been alone. Even if Gollum had somehow followed them, they shouldn't have been travelling with others. Faramir hesitated.
"I cannot divulge much." He said. "But yes, there were three others with Frodo. Samwise, whom I named, and an odd creature they called Gollum. But there was another, my men swear it. We saw him only briefly, but he saved many lives by slaying a crazed mumak." Faramir paused. "I do not know whether he was Man or Elf or something else entirely. He was clothed in gold and blue. His eyes shone and he fought like a king out of the old stories. I cannot tell you more, for Frodo and Sam denied having ever seen him at all and I could find no information about him from them."
"What did he slay the beast with?" Maedhros asked, frowning. Who would willingly follow a Hobbit into Mordor?
"Arrows." Faramir said. "Made of a light, silver wood and feathered in red. I brought one back, because it was strange to me. Would you like to see it?" Maedhros hesitated. This sounded Elvish. But the colors were an odd mix—blue for Nolofinwë, red for Fëanor, gold for Arafinwë. Or…perhaps one of Fingon's people. Maybe. Then again, perhaps Maedhros was wrong and it was something completely different.
"I would." He said finally, intrigued. Faramir led him away to his own rooms, bringing a wrapped parcel from his bag. He unwrapped the cloak from around it and held the weapon out. Maedhros took it, turning it over in his hands.
"I know this." Maedhros murmured, half to himself. The arrow was uncannily like Fingon's, down to the way the fletching was arranged on the shaft. "Perhaps one of Elrond's people have come upon them." He said finally, looking back to Faramir. "And if that is the case, they will be in good company."
"I am glad." Faramir said. "I did not believe him to be one of the enemy; for he was…unlike them. He was bright and though he was almost…fey, he seemed to have the light of the Eldar about him."
"Good." Maedhros said. Faramir hesitated.
"He had the light that you bear." He said. Maedhros froze.
"What?" Because…no. There weren't enough Elves left who had seen the Trees and who would carry these colors.
"The light in your eyes. The way they shine. He bore the same light."
"The Trees." Maedhros murmured. "He is one of the Calaquendi then." He gave a quick nod, shaking off any speculation. "Yes, they are in good hands, then. All the Calaquendi would have Þauron destroyed, and anything he made as well." He looked at the arrow, hesitating—it looked so much like Fingon's—and then handed the arrow back. "Keep this." He said. "It will show you an Elf-friend and a worthy man."
"I am not Elf-friend, my lord." Faramir said, biting his lip. Maedhros shook his head.
"You are a friend of Gandalf and you have aided our quest. You are an Elf-friend, you just have not been named such."
"I am honored by your words." Faramir said.
"And yet you do not believe them." Maedhros said softly. He was good at recognizing evasion like that. He did it all the time.
"No, I—"
"Elf-friend I name you." Maedhros said. "Bear the protection of the Quendi if you will it."
"I am truly honored." Faramir said, regarding Maedhros with surprise.
"Few would have done what you did. You have the gratitude of Fëanor's House." Maedhros said. "You have given hope to Middle-earth."
"I only did what was right."
"Yes." Maedhros said. "And that is a great thing."
"Not all would agree." Faramir said softly.
"Ah. Will your father be greatly displeased?" Maedhros asked. Faramir hesitated, fear sparking in his silver eyes.
"Gondor is my father's first priority, although perhaps Boromir may draw his attention equally." Faramir said carefully. Maedhros nodded.
"We did not bring the Ring to Minas Tirith because we wished to keep your people safe." He said. "It would only destroy them."
"My father will not understand." Faramir gave a heavy sigh. "It is treason; to withhold such a weapon from my lord." He avoided Maedhros' gaze.
"Would he harm you?" Maedhros asked. Faramir lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug.
"He may relent. Boromir will ask him to do so." He grimaced. "I do not know if that would be better. He is a noble man, but he is stern and his anger is fierce."
"A noble man would not harm his son for doing what is right." Maedhros, sharply because Fëanor…Once, Maedhros would have said Fëanor could've done no wrong. Then he burned the ships. Then he nearly killed Amrod and he had abandoned their family. It was wrong. He hurt them, he left them alone in a strange place, he nearly killed Amrod and he'd changed. He wasn't Atar anymore.
"It may have been right, but it broke the law." Faramir said. "He has the authority."
"He may." Maedhros said. "I do not know the laws of the Edain as well as I once did. But I will not stand aside again. And I do have the right." He added, because he wasn't going to just break the law without knowing it. "Elf-friend and friend of my house as you are. You are under my protection; I cannot allow him to harm you."
"I would advise against it." Faramir said. "If you wish your mission to be successful."
"We are here to protect Pippin." Maedhros said. "I came with because I could be of use as a tactical advisor, but it does not look like I will. Your father seems quite reliant on his own counsel. Gandalf and Peregrin shall know nothing of this."
"It may not matter to my father." Faramir said. "For their sake, you should—"
"Let you suffer?" Maedhros hissed. "No. No, not ever again."
"My lord—" Faramir started, but was interrupted by the door opening.
"Captain Faramir, the lord Denethor will see you now." A servant said. "He bids you come quickly."
"I must leave you, my lord." Faramir said, and hurried out.