Faramir Fiction Archive

Scars (R)

08 October 2005 | 9762 words

Part three: Imrahil Intercedes

Aragorn left him then, and the moment was forgotten for several days until Faramir found himself in the library sorting books and browsing passages that he found interesting.

"I thought that I would find you here, you always seemed to end up in the library when you were a child. One of the things that Boromir and I could always count upon." Imrahil's voice was soft and reflective, but it still startled Faramir from his reading.

"I apologise uncle; I did not hear you come in." The steward quickly put the book down and made to stand up before Imrahil waved him to sit.

"I did not come here to have a discussion with the steward of Gondor. I came to visit with my nephew, who has been hiding himself from me for several days." Imrahil raised an eyebrow, daring Faramir to deny the truth.

When no denial seemed forthcoming, he sighed and sat down to join the younger man. "Faramir, you and your brother were close but you are not the only one who mourns him. I too feel his loss and wish he was here with us in these moments of peace."

"He never knew that Minas Tirith would survive," Faramir said softly. "He died alone and in despair, his honour gone and his family away from him."

"No." Imrahil stated firmly before moving his chair to face his nephew. "He died knowing his honour was restored by fighting for the Halflings. He died in the arms of his king, aware that his city was going to be held firm by the heir of Isildur. Faramir, you were always in his heart; he died with you in his thoughts."

"He loved me, uncle. We were always together, to the anger of our father but we did not care. It was more important to be with one another than to have the approval of the Steward." Faramir closed his eyes, Imrahil's fingertips lightly brushing his temple.

"Yes, I know how deeply you and Boromir loved each other." Imrahil's tone, more than his words, made Faramir open his eyes and look at him.

"I am not sure as to your meaning, uncle. Of course we loved one another; we were brothers." Faramir said carefully. He was unsure of the certainty he saw in Imrahil's eyes, but it made him wary nonetheless. Very few were aware of the true reality between the Hurin brothers, and those that knew kept it close to themselves telling no others.

Imrahil smiled gently and put his fingers to rest on top of Faramir's hands. "Your brother came to me once, and asked why there were limits to one's love of certain people. I told him that there should not be, and that in dark times many things happen which would not have occurred in happier circumstances. He grew sad at my answer and told me that he would have loved the same, had peace been present at that moment. It was then that I understood his meaning; he was younger at that time but even then he was in love with you. Faramir, I was not happy but only because I thought that he would spend his life trying to replace you with some unfortunate woman. I am glad that you and he... that you both were happy through the war.”

Faramir's hands shook so badly that it was only when his uncle covered them completely and held them that they stayed still. "Did father..." Faramir could not complete the sentence, the words stuck hard in his throat.

"No; I think that he never found out, nor had the suspicion of it. His grief was born from something else, Faramir. Do not blame it upon your brother or yourself." Imrahil said.

Faramir looked at him, the confusion in his eyes making Imrahil wish he had more skill in bringing his nephew out of his self-imposed darkness. "Why? Do you know? Why was he so unhappy? I always understood that I could never be the son he wished, for he had Boromir and that was all he wanted. Perhaps if mother..." Faramir trailed off, realising too late that Imrahil might not wish to discuss the death of his sister with his nephew.

Imrahil closed his eyes; yes if only Finduilas had lived. He blamed himself for that, a secret that he had kept from even his own sons. "Finduilas died from lack of the sea, Faramir. There was nothing she could do short of return permanently to live in Dol Amroth and she could not do that and remain the Steward's wife. If I had known..." Imrahil swallowed before continuing. "If my family had been aware that her need of the sea was so deep we would have suggested your father look elsewhere for a bride."

"Denethor missed her a great deal, Boromir did as well. When we were children, Boromir used to cry when her birthday came and she was not there. Or at least, I believe it was her birthday when he was crying, my memories of those times are hazy." Faramir admitted. He had no clear recollections of Finduilas at all, and those he had were suspect. Boromir had told him so often of his own memories of her that Faramir no longer was sure of whether they were simply ideas his brother had planted in his memories.

A hand on Faramir’s shoulder caused him to look up and see his uncle gazing at him with regret. "There was never enough time for you and your mother. I would not hold it against you if you do not remember her well, for you were so young when she died. I only wish that you had a memory of your own to recall; I take it Boromir consoled you a great deal with memories of his own?"

Faramir's eyes widened at Imrahil's words. Was it true, that Imrahil could indeed look into the hearts of men just as his father could?

"Aye, he told me of the many times when mother would sit outside her window and stare in the direction of the sea. Nothing would make her happy; not even father."

Imrahil glanced away, trying not to recall the time that Denethor had come to him all but demanding that Imrahil take Finduilas and bring her back to Dol Amroth. The new Steward could not rest knowing his wife was miserable, and with his father now dead Denethor had no one to turn to.

"The king made your mother happy; but he left after Lord Ecthelion passed on. Elessar had gone to Gondor to serve under your grandfather, and after the defeat of the corsairs he departed to return to the wilds. They were close friends once, and I had hoped that he and Denethor would become close as well but that was not to be. Looking back I am not surprised. For Denethor, there could only be one Captain of Gondor and it could not be Thorongil when Denethor was still the Heir of Gondor. Your father was ever insecure about his power, I deem."

Faramir stared at him, letting Imrahil's statement settle in. "I...was not aware that my mother and the king knew each other. In what way did he make her happy? I mean, how did they-" Faramir broke his gaze and stared at the floor, unsure of what he was trying to ask.

"Finduilas and Aragorn had a friendship which formed when he served her father in Dol Amroth. When she came to Gondor he fought under the Steward and became good friends with him as well, and so the friendship between your mother and the king continued; though that was all it was. Unlike the situation now, I would guess."

Faramir looked sharply at his uncle and when he saw the raised eyebrow and knowing expression on the prince's face he quickly looked down again. "I am not sure of your meaning," he said softly.

Imrahil snorted and started laughing. "You know quite well my meaning, nephew. You served in the army so do not pretend you do not know what two men may do in the privacy of the night."

Faramir tried to appear innocent but with the continuation of Imrahil's laughter he flushed and looked down. "The king is a married man, uncle. It would not...be appropriate if he took up a lover or dishonoured his marriage vows."

Imrahil reached out and held Faramir's hands, tightening his grip when the young man tried to remove them until his nephew gave up the fight and let them lie there. "The queen understands that there are many types of love in this world, and that humans may only experience a part of it in their lifetime. We're both aware that his majesty desires you; he has ever since he came to Minas Tirith and brought you back from death." Imrahil cleared his throat before continuing. The memory of his nephew lying close to death before him was too painful to recollect.

"You think he would want me like this?" Faramir asked angrily.

"I think that you should do what feels right for you and your king, nephew. If that is to go beyond this self imposed darkness and be happy, then yes. And Faramir;" Imrahil added, squeezing his hands before letting them go, "He does want you. We both know he does. The question before you now is, do you want him?"

Silence answered him, and Imrahil left Faramir to his thoughts. The seed had been planted. Time was needed now to let it grow.

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