Moments of Foresight

By Songspinner

Author’s Note: Definitely written in book-canon. The dates are in SR (Shire Reckoning).

Disclaimer: The usual - these characters don't belong to me but to J.R.R. Tolkien, New Line, Peter, Fran, Philippa, etc. I make no profit from this story except any feedback I get (Please review!).

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April 6, SR 1421

To Lord Faramir, Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien

From Frodo Baggins, Esquire

My dear friend…I know that in Minas Tirith, before we hobbits left for the Shire, we spoke of many things both happy and sorrowful. One of those late nights in which you visited us was spent speaking of your hopes and wishes for Ithilien. I fondly remember Sam and Legolas spending a great deal of time attempting to explain to you how the gardens and orchards should be planted. I hope that some of those plans are coming along — I know that having Gimli and Legolas about shall help you greatly. Thank Eowyn for us, as she has told us of her plans to create a place suitable for hobbits to visit. My cousin Merry has hopes of doing just that sometime soon.

But I wander from my purpose. If you remember, on one of those cozy nights by the fire, you and I spoke of Boromir and the vision you had. And if you recall, I expressed amazement at the dreams and visions you have had since you were a child. That amazement has doubled now for me, as I have begun to see things on occasion at odd moments. I have seen Merry and Pippin living long and prosperous lives, and images of Sam, surrounded by children I can name before their birth. I shall tell him of it some day soon, I think. These things comfort me on darker nights, but I wish you to know of what came to me recently. As I stood looking at the mallorn that has grown here in the Shire, I saw quite clearly and suddenly Ithilien as it will be. It was blossoming in a rainbow of color, colors that were reflected in the marketplace as your people prospered and traded. I could see the Elves in the forest nearby, lights shining in the trees at night like small stars and I could hear their music and clear laughter in the air.

Take comfort in this, I beg of you, for I know how the future of your city and your people was troubling you when last we were together. You said that it had been long since you’d seen anything of the future, for yourself or others. I know not why I am now given this gift of clarity and foresight, but it gives me hope in moments of darkness. Give my affection to Eowyn and to Legolas and Gimli when next you meet.

I wish you joy and health.

Frodo

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July 20, SR 1421

To Frodo Baggins

From Faramir, Steward of Gondor and Lord of Ithilien

It was with delight that I received your missive, my friend. I shared your words with Eowyn that very night and her smile lit up the very room. We are well, if frantically busy, here for the moment. I spend much time travelling between our partly built home and Minas Tirith, where we reside until such time as the rebuilding of Ithilien is complete. I have sent to King Eomer for Rohirric designs for the home that Eowyn and I will share, for I do not wish her to feel too far from home. Legolas brought me some sketches of Hobbit dwellings and decoration from his last visit to your home, and several of them caught our eyes as we planned. So I suspect that the quarters for you when you are in Ithilien will bear some resemblance to those in the Shire. Legolas arrived recently with some of his people from Eryn Lasgalen and were all quite pleased to find that I speak fluent Sindarin. Flets have begun to appear in the taller trees, and small trees are planted almost daily in the newly created gardens among the half-finished houses. I enjoy climbing to see the flets as they are completed, but Eowyn says that she wishes to keep her feet firmly planted, whether it be on the ground or against a horse’s flanks. Our city now hosts a party of Dwarves as well, who come to do stonework here and in Gondor. Unfortunately, although I can read bits of it, I cannot speak Dwarvish, and I am grateful that Gimli is present to prevent any misunderstandings or inadvertent insults. All do their best to live in peace and work to create something we hope shall be beautiful. The ideas of Men, Elves, and Dwarves combine in many of the structures being built, and much trade has already begun. So you see, your vision is partly coming true already!

However, I must admit a certain amount of envy toward you after what you shared with me in your letter. My dreams have ever been dark ones, of foreboding and despair. I suppose, as Mithrandir said once when I was younger, that my mother’s gift had been passed to me at a dark time and thus so were my visions. Even my last vision of Boromir was of death, although I suppose I am grateful to have seen him at peace. It has taken some time for the darker dreams to fade. I hope that Pippin’s have as well, for I remember that he and his cousin woke many times in the nights before your departure from our fair city, in terror and memory of their darker experiences. Pippin and I spent quite a few nights in the smaller of the palace libraries, having found each other awake and unable to return to sleep after such nightmares.

As I said when we spoke together after Aragorn’s wedding, I have not had such dreams of late, nor the visions I had grown to fear. I know not the reason for this dearth of foresight, and am not sure that I wish it back. Aragorn says, in his healer’s guise, that it may return or that it may not — such things take time to heal, he tells me. I have much to concern my mind and soul just now, and suppose that I shall eventually know the way of it.

Please tell Pippin that Beregond and his family send their affection as well as myself. I wish you, Sam, and your kin peace and health, and Eowyn sends her love as well.

With respect,

Faramir

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November 21, SR 1421

Faramir laid aside the final document in the pile, signed and sealed. Stretching (and wincing at the creaking from his joints), he rose and wandered to the window. The young Steward stared out at the garden that glowed in the sun beneath him; he was amused to notice his wife carefully easing a young tree into the hole Legolas had just dug. Eowyn had at first resisted her friend’s suggestion that she do such things, unsure of her skills beyond sword-work and riding. But she had proved to be patient enough to learn these new things (enough for short lengths of time at least, fodder for teasing from both elf and man), and now she straightened with a hand rubbing the small of her back and her golden hair shining in the sunlight. Rebuilding Ithilien was hard work for all of them of late. Hard work, but satisfying.

Faramir saw her look up and returned her smile and wave. With a little sigh, he turned back to the table, shuffling through papers randomly and hoping to avoid more of such work for a while. Even getting his hands covered in dirt was beginning to seem more appealing this afternoon than getting them spotted with ink and bits of sealing wax. One hand fell suddenly on a folded letter hidden beneath a stack of petitions and lists. He pulled it out carefully, running his hands over the familiar seal with a sad smile.

It had been a fond hope of his that Frodo would come and see his city whole and complete again, but that wish had been dashed apart by Merry’s message several weeks before that told of Frodo’s departure. Precisely written letters inscribed on tearstained parchment. Faramir missed Frodo and Mithrandir, the newer friend and the old. He missed Pippin’s sense of humor so often combined with solemn understanding and he missed the long hours spent with Mithrandir over ancient books and stories. He missed the open and honest conversations only a hobbit could provide, and the comfort, riddles, and mystery the wizard had given him since childhood.

This letter Frodo had sent months before read differently now that he knew the hobbit had already known of his inevitable departure from Middle Earth. Faramir wished that Frodo could see the vision come to reality, the vibrant colors and the prosperity. Well, perhaps Pippin and Merry could visit soon.

Putting the letter down, Faramir picked up a nearby pitcher of water and poured some of the clear water into a mug. As the water splashed into the pewter cup, the sunlight that angled through the window caught in the water and fractured into tiny rainbows. His eyes were drawn to the flash and within that burst of light, he suddenly saw, quite clearly, the first dream-image that he’d seen in nearly two years.

With a jolt at the sound of approaching footsteps, Faramir was propelled back into the present, the vision abruptly ended. Stunned and slightly dizzy, he sat down hard on the nearest chair just as the door opened and Eowyn and Legolas entered. The elf instantly moved to his side with one hand gently touching Faramir’s wrist to check his pulse.

"Are you well, Faramir? You look…strange."

Faramir smiled into the blue eyes so close and concerned, and then into Eowyn’s worried face. Taking a deep, slow breath, he blew it back out with a contented sigh. "Ah, do not worry. I am fine — it is nothing but good. Just a dark thing turning into light. Eowyn, shall you and I raid the kitchen for provisions and take a walk in the forest?"

One eyebrow lifted quizzically on Legolas’ face as he looked long at both of them, and then he quickly hid a smile. "I shall leave the two of you then, and see you this evening." He kissed Eowyn’s hand as he bowed and then went off humming to himself. Faramir had to suppress another smile of his own as he realized that his Elven friend was humming the tune to a rather earthy ballad about a Ranger and his lass. Legolas must have heard it from the twins on their last visit, or perhaps from Aragorn one evening…Faramir snickered softly as he decided that he’d have to find a way to get him back for that…

Eowyn, still confused, laughed nonetheless as Faramir pulled her into his lap. "Tired of parchments and political machinations, my dear?"

"Exactly so, my lady. Shall we find other diversions for a time?" Faramir inquired with a twinkle in his eye. He tenderly brushed at a smudge of dirt on her face.

"Surely Ithilien can do without your guidance for an hour or so." Eowyn agreed and pressed a quick kiss onto his lips. Sliding off his lap, she pulled him to his feet.

"Just a moment…" Faramir said as he stood, and went to the table to retrieve Frodo’s letter. He didn’t want to lose it anywhere in the clutter. Eowyn peeked around his shoulder to see what he held and smiled sadly.

"You miss him." She slipped her hand into his and wound their fingers together.

"Aye, I do. I have to believe that he is healed and happy there, in Valinor." Faramir answered. He carefully refolded the letter and tucked it into the drawer of his desk. Then he took a slow, deep breath, glancing out the window at the sun-drenched gardens and the buildings beginning to rise beyond.

"And you, here?" his young wife asked softly reaching up with her free hand to frame the side of his face.

Faramir looked down at her and laid a hand over her heart. "This healed my own, my love. It is enough." He smiled at her, thinking of his vision. "We’ll create a new life here."