Chapter 9: Honor To Reclaim

Faramir and Boromir were with their father when news reached Gondor that Elrond of Rivendell was reconvening the Fellowship of the Ring.

“Faramir will go,” Denethor said, not even looking up from what he was working on. Then he pierced his elder son with a look. “I will not lose you again.”

He looked down again, the decision in his mind made. “Perhaps Osgiliath won’t be lost then either,” he muttered, half to himself.

Faramir withstood the abuse stoically as he usually did. He looked at his brother, but Boromir’s gaze was focused on their father.

“I am going, Father,” he said. “I don’t know how any of this happened, but I’m not going to let the chance slip be to redeem myself. My personal honor is at stake.”

Faramir looked at his brother curiously, but Boromir’s eyes did not waver from their father. Denethor looked up again, sternly. Boromir didn’t flinch and it was the older man that looked away first after a long moment.

“I thought I understood that you died honorably, defending the halflings.”

“And I will do so again, if that is to be my fate.”

Denethor looked up. “I’d rather you lived honorably instead.”

“That is my wish also, Father, and why I must go.”

The old man looked down again to his work. “We’ll talk about this later, Boromir.” 

The younger man bowed, knowing himself dismissed. Faramir bowed as well, though Denethor didn’t look up as either man left.

Boromir did not look at his brother as they exited the room. Faramir ran a couple steps to catch up with his brother’s long strides.

“Boromir!” he called as they turned into Boromir’s rooms.

“I need to go, little brother,” the older man said, beginning to gather what he would need for the journey.

“Why? Stay here. Please. I don’t want to lose you anymore than Father does.”

Boromir stopped and looked at his brother’s anxious face. “Perhaps you won’t, but I must do this. I betrayed Frodo and myself and the honor of Gondor last time. Father sent me to claim the Ring, but the Ring claimed me. I would have killed Frodo for it, but thankfully he escaped and I came to my senses. Too late. But I must not fall this time. I must regain what I lost. If I am to die again, it will be without the stench of betrayal or the stain of dishonor. I will meet my end cleanly.”

Faramir’s eyes had widened in horror as he had listened, stunned into silence, then he said words he didn’t think he would ever speak to his brother. “They will not trust you. They will remember last time. Let me go. Father won’t let you.”

“Which is why I must make haste now,” Boromir said. He finished his preparations and looked at his brother and clasped him on the shoulder. “I have no doubt, little brother, that you would do Gondor and our house proud if you went, perhaps even better than me. Don’t think that is why I don’t want you to go, but this is my journey to undertake.”

“Then at least let me take it with you. I can’t lose you, not again.”

Boromir looked back into his brother’s pleading, earnest eyes. He placed his hands on Faramir’s arms. “No, your place is here. Prepare our men, protect our land. If there is any way I can come back, I will, but please understand, I must do this. I have been given another chance to prove myself. I cannot let it go.”

Faramir nodded in reluctant understanding. They embraced each other and Boromir gently pounded his brother’s back, then they walked to the stables where Boromir mounted and made ready to ride off.

“Remember this day, little brother,” Boromir said, then galloped off.

Faramir watched his brother leave through the gate, and he feared greatly, once more out of his life. And he was just letting him go, even though everything in him screamed to jump on a horse and go after Boromir.

Everything but the honor and sense of duty Boromir had and Faramir had ever tried to emulate.