Faramir Fiction Archive

Second Prize (R)

Written by Liz

04 April 2004 | 7656 words | Work in Progress

Part 4

"What did you just say to me, your majesty?" Imrahil asked.

The question hung in the air until surprisingly Imrahil looked away. "Faramir does not belong with you; you already have Arwen. It would not be fair that one man gets the most beautiful of either gender in his bed. Especially not you, who can't seem to be faithful to even one. Tell me, why is it that you gave in so easily? It is the one thing that I do not understand."

Another hanging question, and this time it was the king who broke eye contact. "I care for Arwen; I love her deeply. There have been...difficulties in the past, however. But those are no concern of yours. As long as you remain close mouthed over what has occurred, there will be no need to involve her in any of our...dealings."

"No?" Imrahil asked wryly, raising an eyebrow. He then caught the look from his king and realised quickly that he was beginning to strain whatever friendship with Aragorn he had left. "No, of course not. There is no reason to involve the Queen of Gondor in any of this."

Aragorn gave him a long, measured look before accepting that Imrahil would keep quiet. He was still at a loss to explain his actions with the Prince, for they had made no sense. If Aragorn had merely refused him, rebuffed his actions than there would have been no blackmail to speak of. He had asked himself this many times, and had yet to come up with an answer for his illogical behaviour. A hand on his cheek brought him out of his musing.

"I do not believe that you have slept with my nephew; your actions have proven it." Imrahil said softly. He trailed a finger down his king's face in a proprietary movement before rubbing it softly against Aragorn's mouth. When the king moved his face away, he let his finger drop down to his lap. "You would not have reacted the way you did, had you been."

The statement made Aragorn open his eyes. He had felt drowsy for a moment when Imrahil had touched him, but the potential for an answer to his problem woke him up. "I would not? And why would that be, Imrahil? You think that I would react differently otherwise?" Aragorn asked cautiously, unsure if he wished to know the answer.

Imrahil threw back his head and laughed; apparently Elessar wasn't aware of his own desperation. "Do you know why you came so willingly to me? Why you didn't fight me off at all? I assume that you don't, so I shall enlighten you. If you had Faramir, as you say you do, you would not be yearning for a touch by a man. Even if you do not realise that it is what you want."

The king froze at the idea of such a thing, instinctually denying the statement as impossible. Surely not; for he cherished Arwen and had spent many nights loving her in their bed. He did not lust after Imrahil, and would never have instigated what Imrahil had coerced from him. "You are wrong." He said grimly, turning away from the man's mocking laughter before leaving Imrahil's bed in search of his clothes.

"Believe what you wish, your majesty. It does not change the actions of what you have done. If you wish to delude yourself instead of accepting facts, I shall not stop you. By the way, your socks are under the bed." Imrahil stretched languidly, enjoying the glare that Elessar had shot at him.

---

"You didn't have to do this, you majesty." Faramir said softly, looking at the queen as she turned from dismissing the servant who had brought tea and cakes.

"I know I did not have to, Faramir. But I wished to; there are not many opportunities that I am allowed where I am not cloistered with maids and ladies of the court." Arwen sighed and looked at Faramir with tired eyes. It was rare that she would show such weariness in front of another but she and the Steward were close, and she trusted him deeply.

"When I came to Minas Tirith from my father's home, I understood that the transition would be difficult. Not only because of my heritage, but from the lack of contact here. I knew no one when I first arrived and even now I am aquainted with few whom I can rely upon to keep my thoughts to themselves. Now, I have you and several ladies of the court who are like minded in my way of thinking. Still, it can be quite isolating living in Minas Tirith when Estel is away in council or at Osgiliath."

Faramir smiled softly. "The king is a great man, your majesty. I understand what you mean. There have been many times when the daylight seems dimmer without his presence. He has been a guiding light in all of our lives."

"But especially yours, has he not? He brought you back from death; I feel at times Faramir, that he has become almost a part of your family." Arwen asked him.

"Aye;" Faramir answered, glancing away from his queen. A shadow passed over his face as the thought of Imrahil came back. "Perhaps in a way that was needed and could not be given by another."

"Enough." Arwen walked over to where Faramir sat and tilted his chin up, before sinking her fingers into his hair. A strangely intimate gesture, but one that she had picked up from her grandmother. "Do not worry yourself over this, for it too shall pass. Imrahil... whatever Imrahil's motives are, he shall not harm you or anyone else. He is only as powerful as you let him become. Do not let him trouble you, young one."

A soft sigh came from below her, and Arwen felt her Steward rest his forehead underneath her chest. A wave of memory washed over her, of when she and Estel were in Imladris and he was feeling overwhelmed by his destiny and her father's pressure of taking the throne. Warm breath, the same as this; yet different for where in Imladris she had felt desire she now experienced affection and tenderness. *Like holding a young man of my own body,* she mused and stroked his face.

Long had she wished for a child of her own; last night she had stared at her stomach, envisioning it swelling with a new life before putting out the light and going to bed. Aragorn's desire for her body was still as strong as it once was, but the nights where he would stay up with her and talk of everyday events were over now. Being High King of the West currently swallowed up much of his time, to the detriment of their marriage. Arwen understood, not liking the change but knowing that it was one of the many things that would occur when she took up the title as Queen.

The only thing that had truly surprised her, was Aragorn's attraction to men. It was obvious that he had no idea that the attraction even existed but it was there. She had known since he had taken up the chieftainnship that his place was among men; and when he led Gondor and Rohan to the gates of Mordor she perceived men would love him. But she had not known that her husband would be a lover of men.

Oh, not physically; never that. But it was there in the way he had smiled at Éomer's invitation to go riding; in the way he looked at Faramir when the Steward was reading quietly. It was there in the quiet glares he would bestow upon Imrahil when the Prince was with his children. One of these days she would take him aside, and tell him that perhaps he should do some self reflection on where his desires wished to lead him. It would only be fair, for she did not want him to suffer in ignorance; even if he was not aware of his own suffering.

"It is evening now; I should leave you to your thoughts your majesty." Faramir said, finally pulling away from his queen.

"Dinner will be soon, Faramir. Imrahil will be there; I hope you are ready for it." Arwen cautioned him.

The Steward smiled and nodded. "Between the King, uncle Imrahil and the two of us, I'm sure it will be a rather memorable dinner!"

TBC

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