Faramir Fiction Archive

Waiting on the Moon (PG-13)

Written by Lucky

20 June 2009 | 7836 words

Chapter 4

Haldir is awakened instantly by these words. Grabbing the nearest clothing he can find he dresses quickly. Barefoot, he grabs his weapons and runs out the door. Ahead of him there is a blaze of light and he heads that way. He’s passed by a few soldiers but they are headed the other way and he does not try to stop them for information. Mentally he’s going through his mind about who would have been on duty during this time and why they were not able to stop the assassination. But the names that come to mind, Echarad, Thenithim, Magorlas, and Rodongol, are all loyal followers and have served under him for years. Briefly he wonders where Faramir is, but his lover is a man by many years and Haldir is positive that wherever he is, he is safe.

He is, therefore, completely caught off guard by the scene he encounters when he enters the great hall. It is as though night has become day, for every available light has been brought into this one room and there can be no hiding the terrible scene that Haldir sees in front of him. Faramir is kneeling upon the floor, Queen Arwen stands above him, she has a sword in her hand and the tip of it rests against the back of Faramir’s neck. There is an angry glint in her eye and Haldir braces himself for what is to come next.

Boromir surges forward but he is grabbed and held in place both by guards of Gondor and Lothlórien. “Please my Queen, I beg of you to spare him.”

The sword in her hand never wavers. “Even were we to return him to Gondor the outcome would be no different. Though he deserves it, at least at my hand he will not suffer.”

Haldir finally finds his voice, “Is justice so swiftly served without a trial?”

Arwen ticks her gaze to him. “You are his lover, I could hold you complicit as well.”

Haldir goes cold but before he can reply a male voice rings out.“You would be both judge and jury my Queen?”

The throng parts as Aragorn comes walking forward. Haldir can see the ripped shirt and the bloody bandage, so an attempt was made but the King still lives. He is grateful for that. To have a murder here in such a peaceful place would ruin the sanctity that Celeborn and Galadriel has worked to achieve all of these years. But he is still confused, for Faramir has never hinted of such thoughts and Haldir has ever known him to be a seeker of peace.

“He tried to kill you, my King. You suffered greatly to prove your worth before you took the throne and many years I waited for you to prove to my father that your intent to be my husband was sincere.” Her hand still never wavered and that point remained sharp upon Faramir’s neck.“Natural death will take you one day, but until then I will kill any who tries to take you away from me.”

Aragorn placed a gentle kiss upon her brow. “Justice is Gondor. We will deal with actuality first.” He removes the sword from Arwen’s hand.

Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel came to stand beside Aragorn and Arwen. “We have failed to keep you safe and we are to blame here also.”

Gravely Galadriel intoned, “I had perceived that there was one among your group who was planning ill, but the person masked their intent well and I only ever picked up on fleeting glimpses.”

Aragorn tested the heft of the blade in his hand, “We will solve this here and now. Arwen is correct that death is the only allowable outcome here. We will have stained your land with blood and I deeply regret this.”

“NO.” Both Haldir and Boromir surged forward once again. But it was Boromir who reaches Faramir first. “Please my King, though this attempted deed was done by my brother’s hand, it was not his idea.”

Haldir only catches Boromir’s words in passing as he kneels beside Faramir. Carefully he reaches out with one hand and places it on Faramir’s shoulder. Beneath his hand he feels nothing; Faramir’s psyche has made its final retreat.

He gives a thoughtful look to Galadriel, but he does not remove his hand. Instead he focuses on what Boromir is now saying.

“For years after you took the throne father waged a never ending war with me. Kill the King and the house of Denethor will once again ascend the throne.”

He turned sad eyes from Aragorn down to his brother. “He was like a sickness, his whisperings were insidious, ubiquitous. When I refused to do his bidding he turned his attention to Faramir.”

Boromir knelt beside Faramir, gently he ran a hand over his brother’s head. “The failing is mine, my King. I should have come to you years ago and told you what was happening. But I only know what happened with me for of these arguments between father and Faramir, Faramir only mentioned in passing and any time I asked that he come to you only resulted in physical confrontations between us. I did not have proof of anything more. If you take his life, then you must take mine also, for even by proxy I am complicit in these events.”

Boromir laid his head down upon the floor by Faramir’s.

Aragorn shifted his gaze from the brothers kneeling at his feet over to Arwen, and then to Galadriel and Celeborn. All he had other than Faramir’s atrocious actions were Boromir’s words. He had heard whispers of Denethor’s plotting, but all his discreet questioning led to naught. There had simply been no proof other than muttered hints here and there. That Faramir had been badly used was obvious given his actions both during and after the attempted assassination. But other than that, there was no evidence of anyone else being involved.

As if reading his mind, Haldir gained his feet and surged forward. He looked directly at Galadriel.

“I invoke the right of Illuvenolodo.”

Every elf in the room goes still. Boromir raises his head up questioningly. The air is heavy, like right before a lightning storm, and he can feel the silent struggle of wills between Haldir and Galadriel. He hadn’t realized the depth of the attraction between Haldir and his brother. By the Valar, he hadn’t even been aware they were lovers. His heart clenches in pain. What other things does he not know about Faramir? But of one thing he is very sure, Haldir is the only one who can save Faramir.

Galadriel looks at Aragorn. “Illuvenolodo is an ancient rite, where the memories of the accused can be transferred into another being.”

“NO.” Faramir jerks away from Boromir and tries to stand, but Boromir falls on him, pinning him to the ground.

Haldir is on his knees instantly beside Faramir. “Please beloved, it is the only way.”

Faramir slams his head into Boromir’s face. His brother rolls away, groaning, one hand clamped over his nose as blood begins to seep between his fingers. Faramir tries to stand but both the guards of Gondor and Lothlórien are on him instantly and he is roughly jerked to his feet.

Wild eyed, he looks from Aragorn to Galadriel. “No, It was only me, this was all my idea.” He pleaded, “I’ll swear it on anything you want me to.”

“Please,” his knees give way and he sags back to the ground once more. “Please, just kill me now.”

Had Faramir reacted any other way, Aragorn might have executed him out of hand, right then and there, but in his heart, he knows there is truth to the rumors he has heard. But proof is still needed, more than one life is on the line here.

Aragorn turns to Galadriel. “If you accept Haldir’s petition of Illuvenolodo, then I do as well.”

Faramir goes ballistic, “NO, I WILL NOT ALLOW IT.” He fights fiercely, almost winning through,but at the last moment both Boromir and Haldir get hold of him. Faramir goes down with an audible woof as the breath is knocked out of him. Haldir and Boromir are solid muscle and he cannot throw off their combined weight.

“Please brother, none will judge you harshly.”

Faramir swings his head around, aiming for Boromir’s nose again. “You have no idea brother, and I will not have my memories judged by another.”

Boromir dodges Faramir’s blow, pulls back and slaps Faramir hard across the face.

Faramir’s head jerks back against Haldir’s chest, the struggling stops but his eyes narrow dangerously.

Haldir is a warrior and he understands Boromir’s action. Keeping his arms wrapped securely around Faramir (and feeling the frantic beating of Faramir’s heart beneath his arm) he leans forward carefully, mindful of the fact that Faramir might just as easily turn on him at this moment.

“Your King has spoken and you must do as he asks.”

Faramir looks at him out of the corner of his eye but says nothing.

“This is an elven ritual and I will be the one to whom your memories will be given.”

“I will not have you responsible for the things in my head.” Faramir twists out of Haldir’s arms, aided no doubt by the sweat that covers his body. He makes a desperate lunge for Aragorn but Arwen intercepts him and Faramir finds himself lying flat on his face with one arm twisted behind his back.

Haldir, Boromir, Aragorn and all the guards are openly gaping at what they have just witnessed. “I will explain later my husband,” came her terse reply.

Aragorn hoisted his jaw off the ground. “Aye.”

“Listen well Faramir, the king has made a decision and you WILL abide by it. If you cannot stand for your brother or lover to know what has come before, then I can stand in their stead.” Her voice is low, steady but very commanding.

Faramir tries once more to struggle, but Arwen twists his captured arm and he immediately subsides.

“I also give you my word I will not reveal what I have seen, I will only confirm or deny Boromir’s story.”

Many long moments pass but then Faramir finally takes one deep breath. “Do you swear this, my queen?”

Arwen releases his arm. “To the day of my death I swear.”

“I accept your offer.”

Arwen moves away as Faramir rolls over. Both Haldir and Boromir go to him. They each take a hand and pull him up. He embraces both of them, but buries his head into Haldir’s chest.

“Please, don’t be angry. I just can’t bear for either of you to know the truth.”

Haldir presses a quick kiss onto the top of his head. “I would never think less of you, no matter what the truth is. Faramir brother of Boromir, you are a good man; the Moon would have brought none but the best.”

Boromir drops his head onto Faramir’s shoulder. “Brother, the fault is mine. I knew what father was trying to do, but you always seemed so strong.” His voice trails off for a moment. “Whatever the truth is, I wish you would let me share it with you.”

Faramir raises his head. “I cannot bear the things I might see when I look in your eyes, should you know all that happened. Please brother, this is for the best.”

They stand together, the three of them close, Haldir and Boromir sending what strength they can via touch for the trial that Faramir is about to face alone.

They stay that way, unmoving, as Galadriel orders out all but the players in this terrible game of truth and dare out the door. Illuvenolodo is a private ritual and too many about will muddle the waters of memory.

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