Final Farewell
by North-took

Hobbits planted their dead in the earth, but Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took were unconventional in life. It suited them to be laid it rest in carved boxes of white marble. They seemed over-grand tombs to Faramir Took, but he imagined his father found his last resting place amusing.

He watched as his wife Goldilocks laid fresh flowers on the tombs. Stargazer lilies. They were his mother's favorite flower. Diamond and Goldilocks had been close and in tribute to her mother-by-marriage, the Gardner's daughter always saw that the lilies bloomed at the Great Smials each spring.

They were surprised to find the flower in Minas Tirith, for the inhabitants of the city did not hold the lilies in great esteem. The Queen herself helped Goldilocks cut flowers to deck the beds of Pippin and Merry. She told them that Pippin brought the bulbs with him to Gondor, and after his death, she removed them from his small garden to those of the palace so that she would always have lilies to strew atop his tomb.

Tears slipped down Goldi's face as she stepped back from the tombs. Faramir put a comforting arm around his wife. While his father rested on a stone bed leagues from home, it was a place within this world. He could visit and pay his respects. Goldilocks would never have the opportunity to lay flowers on her own father's grave.

"Do you want to go now?" Faramir asked gently. It seemed odd that his visit was more difficult for her than for him.

She nodded. "I'll wait for you outside."

They both knew he needed a moment alone with his father. As the sound of Goldilocks' footsteps receded, Faramir approached Meriadoc's tomb. He laid a hand on the frosty surface. It was difficult to imagine Cousin Meriadoc within.

"Farewell, cousin," he said before he moved on to his father.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, father, to visit before your death" Faramir whispered. "I always thought there was plenty of time and the duties of the Thain…" he allowed himself a hard smile. "I understand now what you meant by the snare of duties. When you announced your intention to leave the Shire, I knew I would never see you again. Its strange but my anger at that feeling kept me away until it came to pass. Forgive me father."

Tears slipped down his cheeks. Faramir closed his eyes as he remembered the hobbit who had raised and guided him with such love. The wind shifted to brush across his face, surprising warm for the season, and Faramir's eyes snapped open. Was it the wind? His father had often mopped up his tears after the other lads teased him with such gentleness.

"Thank you, father."