Faramir rushed through Rivendell’s halls, turning this way and that, seeking someone who could help him. At last he spotted someone he recognized from the night before. “You are called Strider, are you not?” He paused to catch his breath and survey the Ranger.
The man inclined his head, his eyes puzzled. “Are you going somewhere, Captain?”
Faramir shifted his pack. “I need to find Lord Elrond and discuss an urgent matter with him. Do you know where I might locate him?”
Strider realized that he would get nothing from Faramir and, realized also, that something deeply troubling had happened. “We should try his study first, I think. Follow me.”
Faramir and Strider wound their way through the halls, passing elves and dwarves, and the halflings. Without the Ranger to guide him, Faramir knew he would be lost in minutes and wondered at the man’s apparent familiarity with the elven valley. This man, he thought to himself, must be trusted indeed. As he thought about trust, images of he and Boromir came to mind. A red fog descended over his mind as he considered how little he could trust his uncle, or for that matter, his father. No one had told him his true heritage. Why? Why was he not allowed to know that his father ruled Gondor and that he had a brother? What was so wrong with him that he couldn’t be trusted with that information? Why was he judged unworthy?
They passed through an archway and went down a shallow flight of stone stairs and came to a wooden door polished to a high gloss. Strider lightly touched his knuckles too the wood and waited. Faramir scanned the hall as he continued his internal struggles. When at last the door opened, Strider bowed, and nudged Faramir. The captain blinked, noted Erestor, and also bowed.
“Captain Faramir has asked to see Lord Elrond,” Strider’s eyes cut sideways and he viewed the distraught man at his side. “He says it is urgent.”
Erestor tucked his hands inside the sleeves of his robe and studied Faramir. The delicate skin beneath the green eyes was bruised from lack of sleep. Nor did Faramir’s eyes quite meet his. “Come inside, Captain, Lord Elrond has been expecting you.”
Strider instantly melted back, giving Faramir room to pass him. Faramir was surprised that he was expected, though, with what he understood of elves, he should be anything but. Imrahil had warned him that Lord Elrond would know more than Faramir would be comfortable with. Had his uncle’s oblique reference been to Boromir? But then, how could Imrahil know that he and Boromir would meet and that there would be an instant attraction between them that would end in disaster? He entered the chamber and the door closed quietly behind him, leaving him alone with Lord Elrond.
The noble stood facing a window with his arms folded behind his back. Early morning sunlight outlined him, giving him an ethereal halo. His head turned slightly as Faramir entered and he inclined his head a fraction. “Good morning, Captain Faramir. I see you are packed for traveling.”
“I feel I should leave at once, my lord. I beg your forgiveness for cutting my visit so short. I have enjoyed your hospitality.”
At last Elrond turned from the window. “You mission is not complete, Captain, for there is much you do not know.”
Faramir’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “For all my learning, my lord, I seem to be the most ignorant man in all of Middle Earth. Imrahil sent me to discuss with you my dreams, but I doubt now that I need an interpreter.”
Elrond glided forward, his feet making no sound on the intricate wooden floor. “Obviously the knowledge was kept from both you and Boromir for a reason, though even I cannot see what the reason may have been.”
Faramir’s normally quiet voice rose. “What Boromir and I—I cannot face him across a council and keep my emotions hidden. The shame overwhelms me, my lord.”
Elrond placed a soothing hand on Faramir’s shoulder. “There is no shame, for you neither knew the other’s identity. However, you must not speak of this any more. You must put it from your mind and concentrate on that which is important. You say you’ve had dreams? Does it occur to you that others may have had them, also? There are portends, Captain Faramir of Dol Amroth, that should be heeded. The fate of Middle Earth and of all men now hangs in the balance.”
Faramir lowered his head. “I dreamed of the Halflings, my lord, and I dreamed of the great Isildur. There is an ancient riddle, about a sword that was broken being remade and Isildur’s Bane found. I look around Rivendell and I know what is to come. I am no fool. The one who brought me to you—Strider, his familiarity with your home speaks more than your elven tongue. A Ranger, a Dunedain, wandering among the elves? He is the one, isn’t he? He is Isildur’s heir? My bro-Lord Boromir- will never take my father’s rod and rule Gondor. And I, I will remain in Dol Amroth. I will serve Prince Imrahil’s heirs as faithfully as I have served Prince Imrahil. And I will pretend that I do not know the truth, for in ignorance I found bliss but in knowledge I find only misery.”
“You are wise, Captain, for you see the truth that is before your eyes even as others do. Yet, unlike others, you do not deny what you see but embrace it. I cannot force you to remain in Imladris any more than I can force Denethor to share your legacy with you. Yet, what will you say to Prince Imrahil when you return to Dol Amroth? What will you say when he says, what council did Lord Elrond give?”
Faramir met Elrond’s eyes. “I will tell my prince what I saw with my own eyes. I will tell him that I met Isildur’s heir. That I have seen in passing the sword that was broken. I will tell him that I –dined with my brother.”
Elrond shied away from the pain and anger simmering in Faramir’s eyes. There was no room now for reason in Faramir’s heart. He’d been wounded far more deeply than any orc arrow could penetrate. Denethor, proud, noble and stubborn beyond mortal men’s ken, had dealt a blow to his son that would never heal. Although it was not his place, he felt he had to try one more time to heal the rift he felt growing between Faramir and Boromir. “Have you spoken to Lord Boromir?”
Faramir’s eyes shifted to the window and his cheeks turned pink. “Aye, we spoke last night but could not resolve the problems between us.”
“I would imagine that it would take more than a few moments to resolve such issues as you two have faced upon your first meeting. Reconsider, Captain, and at least speak with Boromir before you depart for Dol Amroth.”
Faramir swallowed and lowered his eyes to hide the tears shimmering in his eyes. How to acknowledge a love that should not be, but was, and how to remain true to everything one was taught to believe? There was no easy solution; and certainly the one hinted at by Boromir was no solution at all. Eventually, someone would discover the truth and there would be no turning back. He stared at his boots and words escaped unbidden from his lips.
Elrond frowned and let his hand fall to his side. He now believed he had answers to his own riddles and visions. “I will ask Erestor to have a page saddle your horse while you break the morning’s fast.”
“Thank you, Lord Elrond.”
*~*
Boromir stood outside the stables and watched as Faramir hurried from the balcony. When the sun rose, he had gone to Faramir’s room only to find it empty. He’d come to the horses, knowing that Faramir would seek permission to depart from Rivendell as soon as possible, council or no. He did not want Faramir to leave and knew he was the cause of it. His heart sank as he saw the determined look on Faramir’s face as he all but ran along the gravel path leading to the stables from the main house. Faramir was as stubborn as their father, judging from the look of grim determination stamped upon his features.
Boromir stepped from the shadows just as Faramir entered the corral. “Captain? You are leaving so soon?” He made his voice sound casual in case others were listening, but it took great self-control to keep his emotions in check. On the one hand was anger that Faramir would leave without saying anything. Gondor was under attack and only her allies could save her and Faramir was captain of a well-trained group of those allies. What he felt the most was sorrow at Faramir’s parting. Looking back on their brief time together, Boromir had to admit he would trade nothing; change nothing. Not only had he found a brother, but he’d discovered a friend, an ally and, finally, yes, a lover. He knew Faramir would be all those things and more wrapped in one.
Faramir stopped but he did not turn around. His head remained high and his shoulders squared. A squire brought out his saddled and bridled horse and waited a short distance away. “My business in Rivendell is satisfactorily concluded and I must return to my uncle and make my report. I will hasten to tell him of Gondor’s need of his Knights.”
“Satisfactorily concluded?” Boromir’s voice dropped an octave and came hissing from his throat like steam from a teakettle. His lips thinned and his eyes narrowed and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. Catching himself, he looked around, aware that elves were clever and cunning enough to be hidden anywhere and observe all that was done between he and Faramir to Lord Elrond. “I will ride with you a ways, Captain, so that you and I may discuss strategy.”
Faramir gave Boromir a look that would have withered a lesser man, but Boromir was not a lesser man. He was a man full of pride and anger and with a will to dominate all who came into contact with him. He was not a man used to bowing to others or having others deny his wishes. Boromir was a man born to lead and he would not allow Faramir to dictate this course of action to him. There were more things at stake than kingdom and legacies.
After a long pause, Faramir spoke carefully. “I do not require an escort, Lord Boromir.”
“I did not suggest that you needed an escort, Captain. There is much to plan, for even I know that war will come to Gondor, I do not need elves for that. But when I return to Minas Tirith, I would know that my allies are well prepared.” He motioned to the stable hand and the elf disappeared inside the stables. “My horse has all ready been made ready, Captain, so your departure will not be delayed long.”
Faramir marched resolutely forward and slung his saddlebags over his horse’s shoulders. He adjusted the girth and then stroked the animal’s nose. The horse neighed softly, sensing his rider’s distress and did not understand. His hooves stirred up dust as he shuffled his feet. Hearing jangling behind him, Faramir turned and watched Boromir climb into his own saddle. Faramir followed suit and soon they were cantering from Rivendell.
*~*
Silence stretched between them as the day grew from morning to noon. Weak autumn sun did little to ward away the crisp air. Little was said between them as they road. At most, their conversation consisted of generalities and vagaries of warfare and siege and the problems faced by both Dol Amroth and Gondor as they prepared for whatever evil would soon pour like water from a spout from behind Mordor’s gates. They crossed the River and climbed higher until they overlooked the valley. A light haze hung over Rivendell; a perpetual mist that hid the secret valley from prying eyes yet never seemed to darken the sprawling house with shadows. Faramir turned his horse towards Dol Amroth, certain that Boromir would continue to follow.
The rode slowly along the Greenway, letting their horses chose a comfortable pace. At last, as evening approached, Faramir turned to Boromir. “Unless you intend to abandon your own quest and follow me to Prince Imrahil’s very door, you should consider turning back.”
“I am loath to part company with you, after having been separated from you for so long,” Boromir spoke amiably.
Faramir faced ahead and did not say anything for a minute as he digested Boromir’s ridiculous words. At last he cleared his throat. “How do you miss something that you did not know you had?”
Boromir smirked. “I was not referring to my brother, Faramir. But rather to the man I met afternoon last and with whom I spent a pleasant hour or two. All of my life I felt empty, yet I could not name the emptiness nor could I fill it. Perhaps I did know, somewhere deep in my mind, that I had a brother lost to me by the will of another. Or perhaps I sought a kindred soul, one whom I could respect and love above all others. Then, too, maybe I’ve always known you were out there waiting for me as I have waited for you.”
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