WHISPERS OF THE RING
Storm Warnings
The Steward of Gondor often sought out the room of his brother Faramir when circumstances seemed particularly troubling, and often he had found consolation there. It was only recently, however, that Faramir was able inquire after his thoughts. Long had Faramir's extended illness kept him a silent ear for Boromir to tell of his troubles, unable to inquire or challenge. So it was that Boromir found himself surprised as he sat in deep thought by his brother's sleeping form, when his brother turned on his side, and murmured, "What troubles you?"
Boromir tried laughter, but it caught in his throat. "It is nothing to concern you... I did not mean to disturb you." He had risen halfway from his chair, but his brother reached out and grasped his forearm.
"Stay, brother. You have never kept your concerns from me." Faramir looked up at him, gaze sharp even in his washed-out face. "I... worry for you, Boromir."
"I worry for myself," Boromir said softly, but he drew his arm out of Faramir's fingers.
His brother laid his hand back down to the coverlet, skin pale against the deep red velvet. "You met the man who claimed to be King today, did you not?"
Boromir did not meet Faramir's eyes. "Yes."
"And his claim...?"
"You would ask?"
"False, then?"
But Boromir could not lie to his brother, and his silence told Faramir all that he would need to know.
Faramir struggled to a sitting position. "He is the true heir, then? You knew him when you set eyes upon his face?"
"I had dreamed once..."
His brother's hand tightened on the coverlet. He asked swiftly, "The Man come out of the North, a star upon his brow and sword naked in his hand?"
Boromir looked to Faramir harshly. "Who told you of this dream? I had spoken to no one--"
"You do not recall?" His brother seemed in genuine surprise. "Once we shared this dream, before our father passed away, and we wondered of it to him. I had it also, many times, when I was fevered. There were words spoken, as well, but I do not recall them... do you, Boromir?"
Boromir shook his head; in truth, he remembered no words spoken in his dream- only a deepening sense of fear, and a knowledge in his heart: this was the true King of Men! And always when he had the dream of late, just before awakening, he had been suffocated by an enclosing shadow that separated him from the sight of the man, filled with both relief and dread.
Faramir reached after his brother, disturbing his thoughts with a gentle touch on the shoulder. "So will you surrender the rule of Gondor to the Man of the North, brother?"
Boromir's mouth tightened, and he drew away from his brother's hand.
"Boromir--!" Faramir exclaimed, and his face seemed to grow paler than illness had already made it. "I know not what to say--"
"It was Aragorn's own wish," Boromir defended himself angrily. "He had not come to claim the throne at this time, but to deliver a message."
Faramir seemed conflicted, but he did not pursue it. "So, what of the message? Or was it something for the Steward and the King alone?"
Boromir shrugged. He would not typically be hesitant to share even such foolish summons with his brother, but likewise he did not wish to trouble Faramir with news that did not warrant dwelling upon. "Some ridiculousness concerning a magical ring of some sort, and a Halfling. He wished me to waste a good regiment of men to send to Rivendell, to join them as they cringe in fear of the Dark Lord who has fallen."
"Sauron has only withdrawn and been weakened, brother." His brother seemed distressed by Boromir's nonchalance. "All the Free People live in fear of the day the Shadow grows strong once more..."
Boromir burst to his feet, genuine insult on his face. "Gondor has no need to hide and balk-- even before the power of Mordor! The Wise are not so wise; their time has passed, now is the time for the Glory of Men!"
"So you offered him no aid at all? How cold Gondor must look in the eyes of the Free Peoples." Concern overwhelmed what sympathy and frailty Faramir had previously possessed; his voice was hard and as unyielding as steel.
Boromir scowled. "Let them think such things, I care not. Gondor must be strong, and that alone is what matters. Aragorn son of Arathorn is on a fool's errand, motivated by Fools, Faramir. I would have no part of it."
His brother grew quiet, and offered no more advice. Boromir reacted badly to the silence, stalking towards the doorway. "You may disapprove now, Faramir, but you will see; what I have done will be best for Gondor."
* * *
Outside of the city walls, Aragorn and Legolas had not left Minas Tirith immediately, pausing to refresh their supplies for the long journey back to Rivendell. That the Elf was filled with fury at the refusal of Gondor's help was no secret; he withdrew into his thoughts, and even an attempt by Aragorn to lure him out with song at supper proved fruitless.
"Why did you not remain until the Steward capitulated?" Legolas finally said to Aragorn, when they were tightening the last of the fasteners on their packs, readying them for a departure at dawn. Exasperation colored his fair voice. "He was half-mad with fear of your position and half-drunk with the taste of power, or I am no judge of Men. Boromir is no worthy leader for Gondor, and it would have satisfied me to see you reclaim your inheritance, Dúnadan."
"It is not the time, gwador," Aragorn replied, looking evenly at his longtime companion. "To have disrupted Gondor now, what good would it have accomplished? Surely you see this as well. I have not the time or the freedom to be bound to a throne now. Better I will serve the Wise and the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth as the nameless Ranger."
Legolas nodded silently, though clearly he was not in agreement. Deftly he stowed his pack by the saddles, and glanced North. "I will be pleased to be far from this place, to return to the woods. This place is too near the Sea..."
The Ranger laughed. "Too near! It is not so close. And it is not the time for you to go, my friend. I could not have endured this journey, and its result, without you at my side." Aragorn smiled, setting the last of the packs down. "There! We are complete; tomorrow we shall have to begin our return to Elrond and disappoint him with our failure."
"Still I wish we would not depart without some action. There is a Shadow over the Steward," Legolas said darkly, his thoughts far from Rivendell. His far-seeing eyes had turned to the White Tower. "When he is in my sight, something deep in my blood revolts, as surely as at the sight of an Orc or other Dark thing."
Aragorn mulled over a response, but had time to say nothing as he sensed an approach: a small detachment of guards moved quickly towards them, and in their midst, supported by one of the men, was the Captain of the White Tower, Faramir. Legolas sprang light to his feet, tensed to grab a weapon if the need to defend themselves arose, but Aragorn remained sitting. The Ranger had thought Faramir might come to them.
"You are harsh in your judgment, Legolas of Mirkwood." Faramir of Gondor stepped towards the fire, and Legolas's brows rose as he realized the man had heard his words from so far. "But my heart tells me your perceptions are not to be questioned."
"You are a keener man than your brother," Aragorn greeted him. "He is a different sort than you and your father."
Faramir looked to the man with surprise. "You knew Denethor?"
"Some time I served him in my youth as Thorongil, and on the battlefield we witnessed his brilliance many a time. He was proud, but the blood of the Westernesse was strong in him; wise and sharp he was, and a good ally. The loss of him in the War of Shadow was a deep blow indeed."
Faramir lifted his chin, and for a moment Aragorn and Legolas beheld the beauty of his father in him also. "My brother Boromir is a good man, and as noble as my father. But since the War, he has changed. In the time that I was ill and not myself, he has become a stranger to me, and I grieve for the loss of my beloved brother."
"Lust for power, and greed-- these things are why Elves should not trust mortal Man." Legolas crossed his arms across his chest, and studied Faramir with his bright eyes. "Often I was told this, but Men such as Aragorn-- and you perhaps?-- make me doubt the words of my Elders."
Faramir laughed at this. "And yet you travel at Aragorn's side. Truly he must be a gem among Men for you to suffer this torment of his Mannish presence."
At this Legolas broke into a smile, and it seemed that the cloud over him had been lifted, however briefly. "I am intrigued, and so I stay; Men have become a delight to me, and an irritation, for you are a puzzle once solved only to be revealed as an enigma again."
"My brother has become an enigma to me now," Faramir said sadly, "But it was not always so. No secrets did we keep between us before the War and my illness, but now he tells me only half-truths or nothing at all."
Aragorn nodded. "He kept much from us as well, when we spoke with him, but truly who are we to him but strangers threatening the peace of his great city? I would blame him not. This change in him towards you, his own brother-- that disturbs me more deeply."
Faramir looked away from Aragorn. "Nothing is so precious to me as my brother, except perhaps Gondor. But these days, I fear -- a strange Shadow has fallen over his heart."
Aragorn looked at him strangely, wondering at this. "Peculiar we thought it when Gondor swept under her protection so many of the neighboring lands, without regard for their wishes. But Boromir's strength was admired on the battlefields when we took on the Horde, and it seemed of some sense that he might lend that same strength to his neighbors." He did not voice the suspicions of Elrond, who thought that fear and illusion of victory had doubled his Mannish greed for power.
Faramir bowed his head, and the next words he spoke were long, and with great difficulty. "I sought you earlier today out not only because of my portent, but also because of this change in him; a secret he will not tell, and even the men who serve him loyally trade questioning looks when he leaves a room. The shadow of Mordor may have withdrawn from the borders of Gondor; but in his eyes and his heart, the fear of it is still sharp and clear as when it loomed and threatened to consume Ithilien.
"Always he is gazing east, towards Mordor, Beregond tells me. Has fear of the Black host driven my brother mad? I cannot say. But what he does, he claims for the good of Gondor, and yet I feel within as if it is to be for the good of none.
"Indeed, if I may reveal my heart, I had hoped with all my strength that you would not be the true King; for my thoughts now turn to darkness, and I fear for my brother."
"Fear perhaps, but I think worse things, Faramir son of Denethor." Legolas glanced to Aragorn, who said nothing, and continued. "In him I sensed the taint of Mordor, a black touch threatening to consume him."
Faramir looked to the Elf with desperation. "Can nothing be done? Has some darkness infused him as I thought it might do with me, when I lay wounded by the foul blades of Sauron's black creations? Poisoned of mind is my beloved brother, but to say it aloud feels like treason on my tongue."
"Perhaps Elrond--" Legolas began, but Aragorn stopped him.
"Boromir would not come, and we cannot make him, Legolas."
"Surely, we cannot allow a Man poisoned by Mordor to rule Gondor, Dúnadan! Your humbleness is too much."
Aragorn shook his head again. "We do not know it for truth that he is Mordor-touched, Legolas. He has done well by Gondor thus far. We can only ask Faramir to watch him, and search for what might have poisoned him thus."
"Please," Faramir exclaimed, and the Man and the Elf looked up at him, for the desperation was so deep in his voice. "If something might be done for my brother, let it be done! Even if I must wrest him from this city and bring him to Imladris myself!"
But Aragorn remained steadfast. "If you were to do this, and certainly it should be the only way we could force the Steward to abandon his city, who would rule Gondor in this time of needed vigilance?"
Faramir fell to his knees, and took up the hand of Aragorn, pressing it to his lips. "I beg of you, my King! Edhelharn Aranen le nallon! Avo awartho vuindoren!"
Gently Aragorn drew Faramir to his feet once more, and looked at him as kindly as a father might a heartbroken child. "We did not come to cause turmoil in Gondor, Faramir. It would do all of us best if Boromir cares for Gondor that he loves, and you care for your brother that you love; and when the time comes that we shall need to call upon your people once more, perhaps you will have softened his ear to our causes."
Legolas had said nothing at all this, but merely watched silently, his lips pressed into a thin line. Finally he spoke, "Alas! Aragorn, I fear your judgment is flawed by your desire to see good in the heart of that Man. Great must be the change in Boromir, that it drives this loyal Captain to ask for the removal of the brother he loves so much."
"We have already been so deeply stricken by the forces of darkness, Legolas; it would not do to have us quarrel among ourselves now."
"Then let Faramir come with us, so that he might describe what he has seen to Elrond and the Wise, and hope that they know of some cure?"
Surprisingly it was Faramir who rejected this. "I would not leave my brother's side, not in his madness! He did not leave mine."
"And unwise it would be for us to leave him, if indeed he is blackness touched, without the voice of reason." Aragorn paced, restless. "No, Faramir, you must stay and keep your brother as whole as you can, and we shall bring what we have seen to Imladris, and send you word of what solution might be found, if any."
"Please, Aragorn --"
Aragorn turned from them, and began unrolling his blankets. "It is what we can offer, Faramir. I am sorry. Legolas and I shall leave, come dawn, and travel with haste to Imladris, and with hope help shall reach you with haste as well."
A guard came then to Faramir's side, bidding him to return before they were missed and he nodded. "So be it then, Aragorn son of Arathorn. May your messengers return with speed, and may we meet in fairer circumstance some day. Navaer."
But Legolas caught the eye of the Captain of the White Tower, and dipped his chin.
"I wish more time to speak to Faramir," he said to Aragorn, but did not take his eyes from Faramir. "My thoughts are many and restless. I doubt I shall find much peace tonight."
For some time, Aragorn looked thoughtfully at his companion, but in the end he simply shrugged. "Wander not too far, and be here by morning, or I shall depart without you, Elf!"
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Mini Glossary
gwador - blood brother
Navaer - Farewell. This is actually from Ryszard Derdzinski's translation of Galadriel's Lament, and not an "official" Sindarin word. It is R. D.'s reconstruction of the word from the Quenya "Namarie", and probably as close to genuine as is available.
Edhelharn Aranen le nallon! Avo awartho vuindoren! - My King Elessar, to thee I cry! Do not forsake my brother! (literally: Elessar (Elfstone) My-King to thee I-cry! Don't forsake my-brother! (lenited muindoren))
As always, corrections of Sindarin translations wanted and welcome; I'm a newbie at the language.