Chapter 20
Teleziel staggered under the weight of his armor as he straggled behind the fanned column of Faramir’s Rangers. The men, dressed brown and gray, were barely visible as they flitted from shadow to shadow among the trees. He knew they’d stick to the trees for as long as possible before heading out into the open fields, where the tall grasses would not so easily hide them. His dark eyes scanned constantly, searching for signs of the traditional red and black that the Haradrim wore. He was not surprised that he saw none, for Faramir had told him that the troops filtering into Mordor were lessened. He knew what that meant, and so did Faramir and his Rangers.
Beside him walked Damrod with Mablung a few paces ahead. Damrod seemed cheerful enough as he moved silently through the trees, but Mablung’s shoulders were rigid and he glanced back frequently as if checking up on Teleziel. The Haradrim wanted to tell Mablung he had nothing to worry about for he could barely heft the weapon he’d been given and against the likes of Damrod, he was certain he’d never stand a chance. Bringing his weakness to Mablung’s mind did not seem wise and so Teleziel bore the dark looks patiently.
Somewhere at the head of the column, Faramir waded through the thickets and tangled vines toward Osgiliath. Teleziel knew little of Gondor’s history and relied on Faramir to explain it to him. He’d learned only the night before that Osgiliath was the remains of a city long ago destroyed and never rebuilt. He wondered why Faramir thought it was so important to defend, but he could only gather that the former city was nostalgic, not political.
He swiped his hands over his eyes, feeling the greasy sweat rub off against his palm. His lips were dry and, as Damrod explained, the fatigue he felt was normal. Knowing and accepting were different things and he felt frustrated as his heart pounded unevenly in his chest and he knew for certain that he held up Damrod and Mablung. Behind and beside him, too, were those too injured to travel by foot and they were carried in litters. Teleziel was grateful, at least, that he could walk and was not toted like a helpless child. His pride would not have suffered that final humiliation, although it might have to endure something worse, he mused sourly as he tripped over a hidden root and staggered. He gave an appreciative nod to Damrod as the other caught his elbow and prevented him from falling on his face.
Ahead of him, he saw a break in the trees and he became aware that the others were slowly trickling away and that sounds became more muted around him. He slowed down, uncertain as to what to expect. Every nerve tingled as he imagined the possibilities of ambush or surprising an enemy patrol. When Faramir appeared from the shadows, Teleziel started and placed his hand on his sword hilt.
“We’re preparing to rest,” Faramir whispered against Teleziel’s ear. His lips brushed the outer shell and Teleziel shivered. “The forest ends here so from now on, we will be in the high grasses.”
“How long will we stay here?” Teleziel forced his voice to remain steady and not betray his fatigue.
“This is our camp for the night, at first light, if we
can, we’ll strike out over the plains.”
Faramir brushed a damp lock from Teleziel’s forehead. “The rest
will do you good.”
“I’m not tired,” Teleziel lied and then glanced down when Faramir arched a brow at him. “I do not wish to hold you back.”
“You do not hold us back. There are wounded who need rest. After we gain Osgiliath, they will be sent on, so they should rest now, while they can. Damrod will take you to where I’ll be. I have the rest of the men to see to.”
Teleziel watched Faramir stride away from him and felt his heart swell with love and pride that he’d never felt for Imiro. Faramir was a natural born leader, one who could be fierce or protective, but always loyal. He took care of those around him first and when he made decisions, he weighed each side carefully. Teleziel longed to be like Faramir, to be respected and loved, not out of fear, but from genuine fondness. He wanted to be the type of man Faramir could love without reservations, someone the captain could always be proud of. He thought back to his previous actions, the cutting of his flesh, his attempt to take his own life, and he felt ashamed. How could Faramir love someone like him?
“Come along, Teleziel,” Damrod took Teleziel’s arm and forced him from his musings. “We’ll be able to eat and rest in a moment.”
*~*
As the last rays of the sun sank below the horizon and turned the foliage from green to gold to red, Teleziel stared in wonder at the land around him. The rich soils and tall trees were unlike any thing he’d ever seen before. His own land was arid and the trees stunted by lack of rain. In Gondor, where many rivers flowed together toward the sea, the lands were verdant and rich and smelled of living things and gentle decay. When the orcs took it, and now Teleziel had no doubts they would, the land would become filthy and corrupt.
Faramir sat beside Teleziel and put an arm around his shoulder. They’d not attempted to make love again, since that first night. Faramir had no time to be gentle and coax his lover to a response and Teleziel was not ready for frantic groping in the dark. “What do you think of my land?”
“There is much beauty here. I can see why you are so eager to defend it.”
Faramir sat quietly watching Teleziel’s profile. At last he asked the question that had been brewing in his mind for many days. “What will happen when you come face to face with your own people?”
Teleziel stared at the sky, counting the stars that replaced the sun. “I will not run.”
“But can you really fight?”
“You do not believe I can,” Teleziel accused. “You believe I am weak.”
“I believe I’d have a hard time fighting against my own people. I do not propose that you are different.”
“The orcs will come first. My people will waste none of their precious time on the ruins of an ancient city. They will leave that for the orcs and then walk across the river on the corpses. Orcs I can kill. I despise them for they are foul. The Haradrim ally with them only for the sake of the Dark One. By the time my people come, I will either be dead or –I will face them.” Teleziel turned and glared at Faramir, as if daring the captain to gainsay him.
“Your determination inspires me,” Faramir said as he moved his arm around Teleziel’s shoulders.
At first, Teleziel was too stunned to speak so he sat with his head lowered and his hands clasped around his knees, trying to think of something appropriate to say. At last, he raised his head and stared into Faramir’s eyes and, instead of offering banalities, he leaned over and kissed the captain’s lips. “You inspire me, Captain of Men. Because of you, I am brave.”
Faramir gripped Teleziel by the back of the head and held him still as he thrust his tongue between the Haradrim’s lips. His erection grew immediately and he had to force himself to remain still. For many days, he and Teleziel had played a strange game of kisses and touches that led to nowhere but frustration. He knew that Teleziel wasn’t ready for more, but that did not stop Faramir from wanting, nor did it stop his body from responding. He broke the kiss after a moment and gulped air into his lungs. A tentative brush against his manhood brought him back to the present and looked quickly at Teleziel.
“What are you doing?”
“I do not know,” Teleziel answered as his hand stroked over the bulge in Faramir’s trousers. His own cock was equally hard, but he didn’t think about that. “I enjoy your kisses and touches, but I fear more intimacies. You are patient with me.” His palm flattened against Faramir and he pressed down.
Faramir groaned and then captured Teleziel’s hand. “You push when you should not.”
This caused Teleziel to pause for a moment and glanced into Faramir’s eyes. He saw no danger, only passion held firmly in check. “I want only to touch you.”
“Teleziel…”
Teleziel ignored Faramir as he wriggled his hand free from the Ranger’s grasp and again began stroking up and down the rigid length. When he felt a warm palm against the front of his own pants he moaned. The hand kneaded and caressed him and built a slow fire deep in his groin. He dimly heard Faramir groan and when he opened his eyes stared for a moment at Faramir before looking down at his hand, now cupped protectively over the captain’s erection.
“If we do not stop now,” spoke Faramir, “we will not stop at all.”
Pressing himself against Faramir’s hand, Teleziel let
the sweet ache wash over him. “I do not wish to stop.”