The Fourth of July

Éowyn was gone – with her brother – back to Edoras.  In his heart, Faramir knew their parting would not be forever.  Their time together had been fleeting – having just met it seemed, and now she was gone.  They had made promises, before she left. He would be patient.  He was hoping she would return for the wedding of Elessar King and Arwen, daughter of Elrond.  He was more than hoping; he had spoken to Aragorn of the matter.  Aragorn had agreed and sent errand riders to Rohan with the invitation for Éomer, but also one for Éowyn.  Faramir sighed in relief as he watched the errand rider, the one who carried the invitation to his beloved, start for Edoras.

The new Steward walked to the parapet near the Houses of Healing.  This was their spot – a treasured spot.  On days such as this, when he missed her most terribly, he would come to this place.  Yet today, the nearness of her memory could not dispel the disquiet in his heart.  He felt lost and alone.  Aragorn was busy with the business of the newly rejoined kingdom of Gondor and Arnor.  Arwen was working feverishly with his mother’s sister and other women of Gondor on wedding preparations.  His men were in Ithilien and he was alone.

For the moment, he was not needed by any, it seemed.  Any leisure time Faramir’s King might have had was taken as soon as Aragorn left his royal chambers.  His counselors would swoop down upon him with questions about guests and seating and refreshments and entertainment.  The poor man stayed as long as possible in his chambers, but it was all for naught.  Eventually, the affairs of the kingdom must be addressed and he would commence to the Great Hall and allow himself to be pounced upon.  Sometimes, he would call for his Steward. Today, he had not.

Shaking himself from such melancholy thoughts, Faramir turned his mind to other things. He smiled at the fury that had overtaken Minas Tirith.  Elves and Dwarves were flocking daily to Minas Tirith, working diligently to help with repairs.  Faramir had never seen such fervor for a task.  The people of the City were at first astonished at the great influx of these strange peoples, but soon were caught up in the excitement of restoring Gondor to its former glory.

Yet, even thoughts of the Dwarf, Gimli, could not dispel this mystifying feeling.  What could be the cause of this disquiet?  Frowning, he tried to remember the date.  Time had done strange things these last months since Mordor had fallen.  First, he had been too ill to count one day from the next. Then, she came into his life and time had stood still.  He searched his memory.  She had been gone almost two months now.  It must be July.  His brow creased and the smile that had been on his lips as he thought of his beloved, vanished.  Tears sprang to his eyes and his gut spasmed. 

“Boromir,” he whispered.  “Boromir, my brother.”  He slumped against the wall and slid to the ground, knees bent.  His folded arms rested on his knees. He laid his head on them and wept bitterly.

“Boromir!”  It was the fourth of July – the last day he had seen his brother alive just a short year ago.  A hated day!

~*~~*~~*~~*~

Pippin was compelled to wander the streets of Gondor.  Some Hobbit sense told him he was looking for someone, but he wasn’t sure.  His feet led him towards the Houses of Healing.  He had not been here for sometime.  Merry was healed and back with his cousins.  All was well.  Yet, here he was wandering the streets.  Pip knew it was close to elevenses.  His stomach knew it; yet, he could not find it in his heart to go to the dining hall.  He could not stop himself; he walked towards those Houses where he himself had been healed.  There, by the parapet where he had watched untold horror on the Pelennor, he found Faramir.  He stopped short.  The hairs on the back of his neck rose.  Fear gripped his heart.  What was Strider’s Steward doing sitting on the ground?  He ran forward, shouting Faramir’s name. 

Through his misery and sorrow, Faramir at last heard his name being called.  It seemed the sound had been going on for some time.  He looked up and a little Hobbit stood beside him, concern washing over the sweet face.  He blinked and recognized him. “Pippin!” he cried in anguish. 

Pippin quickly knelt and held his friend’s hand. 

“What ails you, Faramir?” he asked, stunned by the tears that cascaded down Faramir’s face.

“I have lost him.  I have truly lost him.  What will I do?  How will I survive this?”

Faramir’s anguish touched Pippin’s heart. Tears of sympathy rolled down Pip’s face.  “Who have you lost, Faramir?”

“My brother.  I was his little brother, did you know that, Pippin?  And I have lost him.”  Sobs shook the man’s broad shoulders. 

Pippin sat next to him; words escaped him.  Such anguish on his new friend’s face.  He held Faramir’s hand and sobbed with him.  The last time he saw Boromir alive still burned in his memory.  Thoughts of the tall man who had saved his life on so many occasions swirled through his mind.

“Why today, Faramir?  Why has this come to you today?”

The uncontrolled tears continued to fall.  “Because it was a year ago today that I last saw my brother, mounted on his steed, a smile on his lips, and an eagerness in his eyes for the journey he was about to take.  Yet, he looked at me and frowned.  ‘I will not be gone long, little brother,’ he had said.  ‘I will find this Imladris with all haste, bring back aid for Gondor, and take back my Captaincy.’  He had laughed.  ‘It is not yours forever, little brother.  Do not get a swelled head at the title I leave you!’  He had bent down to clasp my shoulder in farewell and then, something came over him, and he jumped off his horse and hugged me hard.  ‘I will return, little brother, I promise. One way or another you will see me again.’”

Faramir’s lip started to quiver.  “The next I saw him was in an Elven boat on the Anduin.  He was dressed as for the grave.  His hair pushed back, his broken sword laying on his chest, and his eyes forever closed.”  Sobs convulsed him.

Pippin found it impossible to stop his own sobs. 

That is the way Merry found them.  Two of those he held dear, sobbing.  Meriadoc took one look and ran to the Citadel. 

Aragorn looked up in surprise as the Hobbit, normally one who made a quiet entrance on his Hobbit feet, rushed noisily into the Great Hall. 

“Aragorn!  Aragorn, you must come quickly.  Something is wrong with Faramir and Pippin.  Please,” he wailed, “come quickly!”

Strider jumped from the throne, threw the papers he was signing to the floor, and strode as quickly as his long legs would allow to Merry, unceremoniously dragging the Hobbit after him as he picked up the pace and headed out the door.

“Where are they?  What has happened?” he shouted as he ran.  Fear was in his heart.  Was there no respite from sorrow?  He had been so busy with the affairs of the kingdom, he had not seen these two for days.  Now he chided himself.  Friends were more important than anything.  Had he not learned that during his time with the Fellowship?

They turned the corner and came upon the scene that had so filled the Hobbit with horror.  Their two friends had not moved since Merry last saw them. 

Aragorn stepped in front of Merry and walked slowly forward. “Faramir!  Pippin!  What ails you?  Are you hurt?” He gasped as the two turned tear-streaked faces and swollen eyes towards him.

Faramir colored slightly.  “All is well, Aragorn.  I am sorry; we are not injured.” 

Aragorn knelt by his friends.  “Then what is causing this pain?” 

“It is an anniversary of sorts.  I would that you forget it and leave us.  We will be along shortly.”

“I will do no such thing, my friend,” Aragorn said softly.  Elessar King sat on the ground next to them while Merry came over and quietly stood at Pippin’s side.

“We are your friends, Faramir – Pippin,” he said with sorrow in his voice.  “What causes you pain causes me pain.  Please – what hurt has come upon you?  What anniversary is this that you speak of?”

Faramir told him and Aragorn hung his head.  Swift images flooded his mind of the friend that he had failed.  Faramir told him of the vision of Boromir in the boat and Aragorn told him how they had sent him over Rauros in his funeral bier.  He spoke of Legolas and Gimli and how the three had stood on the shore and sang a lament for their lost friend.  Tears glistened on Aragorn’s face as he recounted their sorrow. 

“I am the one who should be sorry, Faramir.  You have suffered grievous loss and have had no time to sorrow.  The people of Gondor have suffered grievous loss.  And what have I done to help them lessen it?”

“You have done all you could!”  Faramir was appalled.  “How can you say you have done nothing?  Your own Crowning, the revival of the City, the plans for our King’s wedding – all these help dissipate the sorrow of our people.  Do not chide yourself for any failing.  This is just something that I must do for myself.”

“Yes, and something I should have shared in.  Boromir is not the only loved one you have lost, my friend,” he said quietly.  “There is Denethor also.” 

Faramir sighed heavily.  “And Damrod, my lieutenant and trusted friend, along with all those Rangers, good and true and trustworthy men, who I lost on the Pelennor when we tried to hold Osgiliath.”  He would not think of his father nor the kind of death that had taken him.

Aragorn stood.  “Come, we will go find the others of our company, feed this half-starved Hobbit, and speak of days gone by and the valor of our friends.”

The four walked away from the Houses.

Ioreth, watching from one of the nearby windows, her mouth stopped in this rare moment, shook her head as she watched them go.  Four men whom she had come to love.  Gondor was indeed in good hands.

~*~

A/N - for some, it might seem incongruous of Faramir to be so distraught, but I blame it on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome). Not only that, but incredible grief - he's almost been burned alive by his father, his father dies a gruesome death, he loses many friends on many battlefields, and the one anchor he has just come to rely upon is gone from him - if only for a time. His friends seem distant and preoccupied and Faramir is alone.