Letters from Faramir
Letter Ten
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Brother,
I have spent long hours this night
with Pippin and he will tell me nothing of our father - nothing to
assuage this dread I feel. He only told me one thing - that he swore
himself to father and to Gondor in thanks to you - for your sacrifice
for him and for Merry.
And then he pulled his chair close to
my bed, pulled out this long, outlandish pipe, packed it with some leaf
and lit it! He saw the look of surprise on my face and proceeded for
the next quarter of an hour to describe all the joys and the makings of
Longbottom Leaf, the best pipeweed, according to him, in the
Southfarthing.
I am getting used to this Hobbit - he
cannot say something in one or two sentences. He takes two score at
least to say anything at all. I think back to Frodo. It took all my
skill to learn what I needed from him and, most times, it was his
companion, poor Sam, who fell into my trap and told me what I needed to
know - much to Sam's horror. My heart went out to him. All he saw
before him was his Master, and all he tried to do was protect him, and
yet all he did was give up the secrets Frodo would keep hidden.
I have asked Pippin to start from the
beginning and tell me about you. I need to hear of you. And this little
one seems to have a love for you. I fear it will take all night. He has
set himself up comfortably.
And so it begins…
The Halfling has been speaking for
well over an hour now, telling me of your journey towards home. You did
no less than I would expect when you joined the Fellowship and my heart
is proud and sore for it led you down paths I would not have you trod.
I am grateful to this little one for befriending you. It seems mayhap,
he was the only one who did, though Frodo, bless his heart, said you
were his friend.
Hullo, Boromir –
It’s Pippin again. Your brother is kind and has given me tea and cakes
to refresh myself and I am ready to begin again. Frodo and Sam must
have taught him a little something of a Hobbit’s needs.
As for friends, I have told him you earned many before our time
together ended – not the least was my friendship, though I wish somehow
that friendship could have saved you. So I will continue my story...
Brother,
This dear, dear friend of yours. He
has collapsed into my arms in tears after telling me of your trials in
the Golden Wood. How can I comfort him when my own heart is breaking?
Somehow through his wailing, he said he even tried to teach you how to
smoke pipeweed. I can see the look on your face as you tried to do as
he said and puff on the pipe he gave you. He said you hated it. The
lengths he went to try to help you; the love he has for you makes me
weep.
He asks me what do you do when you
see someone you love shriveling up inside, dying little by little, day
by day? And yet this young Halfling kept on until he could go no
further. He has such guilt Boromir, how can I help him see he saved you
in the end, for that is what Gandalf told me.
I’m better now, Faramir. If you’d like, I can continue...
Brother,
I fear we are coming to a part of
Pippin’s telling that I do not want to hear. I have sent him off to
find a snack and hope that the kitchen is still open. The fever is
still upon me and I know the Warden would have Pippin’s head if he knew
we were both still awake, but tomorrow he leaves with Aragorn for the
Black Gate. I must know what befell you, even though it makes my blood
run cold at the thought. That perhaps your honor was saved, that you
had a moment to redeem yourself – this is my only hope. I cannot
believe a lifetime of honor, bravery and courage could be wiped away in
one moment. I need this moment to collect my thoughts before the
telling of your last moment. So much has happened since I met Frodo and
found that my life had changed forever. His warm regard for you did not
hide the fear in his eyes. Though he spoke of your valor and your
friendship, I knew tragedy had befallen you. Now I will hear it from
Pippin’s lips and my heart quells at the thought of your fall. Frodo
has told me you tried to take the Ring. His kindness and his mercy
towards you fill me with joy and grief.
Why did the ring not whisper to me?
Why did it wreathe itself around your heart and your mind? I have no
answer and I surmise that Pippin will have none either. And what am I
to tell father about this moment? Ah, Boromir – would that you had
listened to me. Would that father had listened to me and sent me on the
quest instead of you. I would have done anything to spare your life,
and yet – that is why you went. To spare mine. If father only knew – he
still believes it was your pride that drove you to take this on. I know
better, dearest Brother.
Pippin returns with a satisfied smirk
on his face – he has found food! I will let him continue his tale - I
pray I have the courage to listen.
Hullo, Boromir,
Your kitchen is quite fine. I found wonderful cakes and tarts and am
quite full, for the moment, so I will continue. I’m very glad to have
had a moment to rest before my thoughts go to that day - that day we
lost you. I try constantly to remember you as you were to me on
Caradhras, in Hollin, and Moria, but all I see…. I must start at the
beginning...
Brother,
I hold this dear Halfling in my arms
as he cries his heart out. My tears join his. And yet my heart
rejoices. You have been saved! Your honor is intact! My brother has
been returned whole to me. And I thank the Valar that this little one,
as he says you fondly called him, has come to me. He has healed my
heart even more than the herbs of the Warden. I will send him to his
bed now. He has a grievous path ahead of him tomorrow and my heart
sickens at the thought. How strange – one moment my heart is filled
with joy and now it is filled with sorrow, fear and concern for my
newest friend. May the Valar protect him at the battle. He is so small
in frame, so large in heart.
I love you, dearest Brother. Be at
peace now. My heart is.
Faramir
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