Faramir Fiction Archive

A Steward’s Desire (NC-17)

27 February 2006 | 13627 words

Chapter 2

Faramir reached his study and threw himself down in the chair at his desk. Putting his head in his hands, he let out a huge sigh before shaking off his thoughts for a final time, and taking a paper off the top of the pile on the corner of the desk.

He read the paper, crossed out a few lines, signed it and placed it in a new pile on the floor, before reaching for the next one. A process which was repeated many times.

It was a knock at the door which first roused the Steward from his work. He looked up as he heard someone enter the room.

“Aragorn!” he exclaimed, surprised to see the king standing there.

“I have come to collect you for dinner,” stated Aragorn, “You did not hear the bell?”

Faramir frowned “Is it that time already? I did not hear any bell. Go on without me, I’ll just finish this. I feel like I’ve hardly started my paperwork.” he said, rather flustered.

“From the look of this pile,” said Aragorn bending down to pick up the heap of papers which had now amassed on the floor. “I would say you’ve done plenty. Leave the rest for tomorrow. Come on.”

Faramir sighed, reluctantly placing the paper he was reading back on his to do pile, and followed Aragorn along the corridor to his private dining hall.

It was much smaller than the Great Hall in which they normally ate, but still quite large. It seemed to him that there was enough food on the table for a banquet, but there were only two places set.

“Sit. Eat.” said Aragorn as he noticed Faramir pausing by one of the chairs, “And that, is an order.” he added with a grin, and a twinkle in his eye.

Faramir sat. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for that smile. He looked over at Aragorn, his eyes coming to rest on those perfectly formed lips. He could not help wondering how it would feel to kiss them, to brush his lips against them, and how they would taste.

A stirring in his groin forced him to abandon his thoughts and to return to the present. He was suddenly glad he was seated; he would hate his arousal to be noticed, especially by the King.

Trying to act as normal as possible, he grabbed a piece of bread from a bowl and started to eat, pulling it apart into bite sized chunks as he did so. After a while, he realised that Aragorn was watching him and immediately felt uncomfortable. Putting the bread down he spoke slowly, “So what did you wish to see me about?”

Aragorn had become mesmerised watching the younger man eat. “Does he know how seductive it looks when he does that?” he thought to himself as he watched Faramir’s tongue wrap around each piece of bread, taking it into his mouth. The Steward’s question startled him, breaking the trance he was in.

“Does one need a reason to have dinner with a friend?” he asked in response.

“When I have been invited to your private dining hall, the one you hardly ever use, because you much prefer to eat with your subjects, yes.” chuckled Faramir.

Aragorn laughed too. “Fair enough, I see I’ve been caught out once again.” he said. “There are a couple of little business matters I want to discuss with you. But they can wait. You have been working solidly for days now, when was the last time you so much as looked outside?”

“Well.. I ermm…” spluttered Faramir “I have been busy. There is plenty of time to enjoy fresh air when I have finished assigning funds for the restorations.”

“I see,” said Aragorn slowly. “And when will that be? I thought we might go out for a ride sometime. In a couple of days perhaps?”

“I need fresh air even if you do not.” he added

“Of course Aragorn. That would be good. I should be almost finished by then,” agreed the Steward whilst secretly thinking how he might get out of it. A day’s riding with Aragorn, was definitely not what he needed right now. “And what of these business matters? I always find it is best to get these things out the way early in the evening.” he added, desperate to change the subject.

“I would like for you to help captain the White Company for a while,” said Aragorn. “Some of the new recruits drafted in from the other regiments are proving to be a handful. And the Captain, Beregond is somewhat inexperienced in such matters. I know I already ask too much of you, but this would be a great help, and only for the short term. Beregond just needs a bit of guidance for a while.”

“Well, I guess I can try. I owe him much. But what makes you think that they will listen to me when they will not listen to him?” asked Faramir, unsure he could do anything to help.

“Faramir, have some faith in yourself. You are the Steward of Gondor, Prince of Ithilien and an accomplished Captain. Of course they are going to listen to you,” snapped a frustrated Aragorn. “If I did not think you were capable, I would not have asked.” he added more gently. He could not help getting annoyed, although he knew it was not Faramir’s fault he has such low self-esteem. Silently he cursed Denethor for causing this.

“Yes, My Lord,” replied Faramir quietly, looking at his plate. He was unused to the King speaking to him in quite that tone. “Was there anything else?”

Aragorn was about to lecture the young man once again about addressing him formally, when he realised that they were talking business, and that some things would never change. So instead, he moved on to his next matter.

“I have received a letter from Éomer, he wishes to discuss trade possibilities. I have invited him to meet with us. It has been said that he drives quite a hard bargain, and since I know you got on quite well with him while he and Éowyn were here before, I wondered if you had any idea about what sort of deal he might be after.” Aragorn said, watching for Faramir’s reaction to Éowyn’s name. They had obviously cared about each other a great deal; he wanted to know why it had not worked out between them.

“Éomer?” Faramir said, turning quite pale, and choking on the wine he had been drinking. Recovering quickly he said “Well, horses from Rohan are always worth bargaining for. Éomer obviously has something in mind, although I have no idea what I am afraid. Will he be coming here?”

Aragorn was surprised to see Faramir react so badly at the mention of Éomer. “Did they part on bad terms,” he wondered. He could not remember seeing any tension between them, but now he thought about it, Éowyn had seemed quite upset over those last few days. “Something must have happened,” he thought, knowing how protective Éomer was over his little sister.

With business over, they finished eating while talking about nothing in particular. At the offer of joining Aragorn in his quarters for a few more drinks, Faramir had made his excuses and returned to his own. Knowing that the Steward clearly had something on his mind that he wished not to discuss, Aragorn let him go, feeling disappointed that Faramir still would not confide in him.

Back in his room, Faramir could not help thinking about his earlier conversation with Aragorn. How did he feel about seeing Éomer again? Part of him wanted to hate the King of Rohan, knowing that he was the reason he had not married Lady Éowyn, but he found he could not. It would never have been fair on her anyway.

He had only ever told one person about his preference in bed partners; his brother Boromir. He of course, just laughed, and poured some more ale. “Well then, Little Brother, we best make sure I find myself a good maiden then,” he had said with a wink.

Faramir had thought about this a lot since his brother’s death. He knew that unless he married and had children, then it would the end of the bloodline. The end of the Stewards. It was in the Houses of Healing that he finally made his decision. To put his desires to one side and to do his duty and marry.

With this in mind, he had made an honest go at courting Éowyn. He was extremely fond of her. She was smart, witty and beautiful, and most importantly to him, a good friend.

He thought back to the night of Aragorn’s coronation. The evening had been lovely. Wanting to get away from the partying and drinking, he and Éowyn had gone for a walk in the royal gardens. They had talked about many things, laughed and joked. She had lent over and kissed him shyly, and he knew then that if he was to marry anyone, it would be her. He had walked her back to her room, before returning to his own quarters. And that is when Éomer had ruined it all.

As he opened his door that night, he had found Éomer sitting there waiting for him. He could still remember the seductive voice Éomer had used as he had walked over to him. He had said, “Are you sure that it is my sister you desire and nothing else?” And that is when Éomer had kissed him, and awakened all the feelings which he had been determined to keep locked away.

Faramir had returned the kiss, being unable to pull away, even though he knew he should. It had been incredible. Éomer dominated the kiss, and while his tongue was exploring every inch of Faramir’s mouth, he had guided him over to the bed.

From that moment on, they had been unable to keep their hands off each other. Both knowing it was only lust. Faramir taking everything Éomer was willing to give, but knowing things would never be the same again.

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