Letters from Faramir
Letter Twelve - An End and a Beginning
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Boromir,
Forgive how this is written, my
beloved Brother, for time and emotions have all become jumbled in my
mind during this past week. I have tried to write everything of import.
Aragorn is now Elessar, King. It
feels fitting and right that Gondor, after all her long years of
suffering, should finally have her king in place – sitting on the
throne. I had not realized until now how empty the Great Hall had been.
I have watched him for many days and my heart is filled with joy and
peace. He is putting our City back to rights, and bringing a sense of
stability and hope to our people. Gimli has promised to bring craftsmen
from the halls of the Dwarves to help repair the stonework and Legolas
has offered the services of the Elves in rebuilding our City. I have
even seen Sam puttering around the gardens near the Houses of Healing
and in front of the White Tower. He stays away from the White Tree
itself. I believe his heart aches to see it dead. So does mine.
In a few days time, Éomer and
Éowyn will leave for Rohan. Before they go, I have planned a
small ceremony, with the King’s consent. It will be held in the
Steward’s chamber, though Elessar had offered the Great Hall. I cannot,
in peace, do this in that Hall. It is now and finally, the King’s Hall
and what I have planned does not seem to fit that place.
I have only invited a few of our
friends: Elessar, Gandalf, Frodo and Sam, Legolas and Gimli,
Éomer and Éowyn, Imrahil, Merry and last, but with the
deepest fondness, our Pippin.
I have taken Sam aside, that most
faithful friend and ally, and have explained to him what I want to do,
what I have in mind. For it is Sam who has suffered most terribly and
who has shown the greatest quality and I cannot, I will not let him go
into this unawares. So we spent the greater part of a night speaking of
you, the journey and the Ring – you know, he held it for a short time
himself – became the Ringbearer and was able to give it up. To give it
back to Frodo – to be a gardener of the Shire again. That, to me, is a
great thing. He is so unassuming and yet so clear-minded. Because of
that, and with his permission, I am now able to do what I planned. You
see, Boromir, I also needed his approval. I would not have him uneasy
or fearful over what we are about to do tonight. And so it begins.
The servants had lit the fire and the
torches around the room. The wine had been put in flagons and set on
the tables. New pipes and pipeweed had been laid on the side table. The
chairs had been pulled into a tight circle as our friends began to
arrive.
First, Elessar, King – though he had
every right to be last to enter. Yet he deemed this important enough to
place his full weight behind it. Tears sprang to my eyes at his
presence, at his whole-hearted support of this.
Following him was Gandalf with his
staff clicking on the stone of the floor and a smile upon his face, his
pipe in his hand.
Imrahil, our dearest uncle, entered
next and his embrace was strong and warm. I was reminded of my rescue
at his hands- I could hardly breathe as I thanked him again. Never has
he turned against us, dear brother, never has he said a harsh word
against our father or you. My gratitude is overwhelming. He ruled the
City for a time, the Lord of Dol Amroth, until I had recovered from my
wounds. A lesser man would have, perhaps, begrudged me the Stewardship,
but not Imrahil. I remember how he stood by Aragorn’s side as my King
tended my wounds. Nor can I forget that it was he who saved
Éowyn’s life, as she lay, mistaken for dead by the soldiers of
Rohan. He recognized that life was still in her and had them rush her
to the Houses of Healing. I cannot forget that, nor thank him enough.
Legolas and Gimli never seem to be
apart and they come in next, together. It would make you laugh to see
them inspecting the White City and making plans for its restoration.
They are a sight. I do not believe our people understand at all what a
treasure these two are and will be for Gondor.
Éomer and Éowyn, dear
friends and dear comrades-in-arms – yet my heart turns towards that
fair lady and I feel my cheeks flush again, even as I write this
missive. There is something about that woman – besides her courage in
battle. There is a beauty of soul... I would spend more time with her,
but she leaves soon. She, more than any other, has helped heal my
heart. Éomer – I have not met him before, except in the stories
you have told me of your times together, but his love for you, his
respect, shine out at the mention of your name and he was the most
enthusiastic when approached with my thoughts for tonight’s ceremony.
Gandalf told me of your defense of Rohan at Elrond’s council and I have
shared that with Éomer. Further up in his esteem you could not
go, but this brought tears to his eyes.
The four Halflings burst through the
door – and it did not fit them all. I can only laugh again at the
warmth and cheer they bring with them. It was so good to see Frodo and
Sam healing so quickly. Merry grinned at me as he flopped in a chair,
but Pippin, dearest Pippin, ran to me and hugged me. I cannot speak;
his love is so true and pure and so needed. Where now would I be if he
had not helped me through, writing these letters for me when I myself
was unable, helping me to heal from this terrible loss, weeping with
me? He was precious to you; he is precious to me.
Now that we were all gathered, now
that peace had come to our land, I proceeded. I stood and lifted my cup
– the others joined me. "To Denethor II, last Ruling Steward of Gondor.
Hope for Gondor during all his long years of service, ever faithful and
true to the Tower of Guard, even to the very end. I do not believe it
was my beloved father in that place, ordering our final doom. I
believe, rather, that his mind was already destroyed, that some
creature stood in his place. For he was wise, far-sighted, learned in
lore, and masterful. I will not here speak of his failings. They are
all too clear to us joined here tonight, perhaps more so now, as we see
the return of Thorongil, the Brave, to his City. But I speak now as son
of a beloved father, as one who learned too late the full extent of his
father’s love, as son of Finduilas, beloved wife of that same father,
mourned beyond words, and as Captain of Ithilien, devoted soldier to
his lord. May he find peace." I drank the cup empty; the others did the
same. We then sat in silence.
The servants refilled our cups and
Elessar stood, lifted his cup and we rose. "Long have I known this man
whom we have come to honour and farewell. When last I saw him alive, it
was in a distant age past. My only love was for Gondor and her people.
He did not understand and mistook my heart. Mayhap if I had left
earlier, he would have taken Mithrandir as his counselor and much that
was turned to evil might have been saved. I had hoped that my coming at
this time and in this manner, bringing hope to our City in its darkest
hour, would have healed the wounds in his heart. Alas, it seems my
coming made them worse. I would have brought healing – he chose death.
But his heart was good and noble and I would have had his end more
glorious. So I take up this cup, in memory of his blood, his sacrifice,
his love for Gondor, and I lift it in his praise – trusting that
perhaps, at the last moment, he was saved. To Denethor."
Brother, Aragorn has taken my heart.
He is now my liege lord. I am overwhelmed at his kindness. To hear him
raise our father’s memory up, knowing that father treated him ill so
long ago, and yet to put that aside and praise his memory in front of
those assembled, my heart was so full. I believe Gondor now will
flourish. There is no other King in any of the writings in the Great
Library that I have read that can outshine this man.
Imrahil stood. Of all those present,
he knew our father best. "I speak as brother-in-law, as uncle, as
subject, and as comrade-in-arms. This man was not an easy man. This man
was not without flaw, but this man loved his country and his people. He
fought many a battle to protect her. He gave of his wife and his sons.
He gave of himself to the point that he became weak and tired and lost
his greatest battle against the Enemy. Because of his love for my
sister, his love for his sons, and his love for Gondor, I raise my cup
and praise his name and also wish him peace."
Before any of the others could stand,
I rose. "Your kindness and fealty to my father touches my heart. I
could not, in good conscience, have this night begin in any other way.
But now we come to the most important part. I lift my cup to my
brother. To Boromir the Brave." The others stood. "We were inseparable.
I would that I had gone with him... not instead of him... but with him.
No one, no thing, could overcome the sons of Denethor when they were
together. His love and protection of me when we were children, left
with no mother and abandoned by a father whose total commitment was to
his country, continued throughout my life. If ever a person would dare
to harm me or treat me with disrespect, he would fly to my defense. And
yet he was the first to push me towards greatness, the first to teach
me love and loyalty and honour. Those who would look at him and see
failure, do not see him as he truly was. Great was his pride; yes, but
great was his love and devotion, his passion for Gondor and its people,
his utter dedication to this land. Great was his love for his brother.
Great beyond telling. I would that you, who knew him only from the
beginning of the Quest, had known him before. Had seen his ready sword,
heard his great laugh, witnessed his conquest of the Orcs at Osgiliath
– when all hope of victory was gone. There is so much I would share
with you of Boromir, son of Gondor. Let it suffice to say that there is
no equal to this man in my eyes. No soldier more fit, no captain more
able, no son more obedient, no friend more passionate, no brother... no
brother more loved, more missed, more mourned than Boromir of Gondor.
My life, my love, my memory of him knows no bounds. To Boromir –
beloved Son of Gondor – beloved brother of Faramir."
I raised my cup, drank and quickly
sat again in my chair, my hand covering my eyes. I knew my friends
understood the depths of my feelings – that they had overwhelmed me. I
blessed them for their silence. I blessed them for their support – it
permeated the room.
I heard the rustle of cloth sliding
across cloth and the sound of little feet hitting the floor. Pippin
stood by my side. His hand touched mine and I felt the warm wetness of
tears falling on my hand. I looked up into that beloved face and my
heart broke for his was breaking before my very eyes. He tried to
speak, but words did not come. Merry came and stood by his side. I
smiled through my tears at the love these two have for each other. My
heart was stabbed with pain – their love reminded me so much of ours,
dear brother.
Finally, Pippin spoke. "No other on
this journey has shown me such compassion, such love, such acceptance,
such protection. When Faramir spoke of Boromir’s protection of him, my
mind went to Parth Galen. Here and in many other places, Boromir put
himself in front of me to protect me. This man was the greatest man I
have ever known. From the very first moment of our meeting, he judged
me not, but loved me. I think we Halflings perplexed him, as he called
us, but he took us under his wings, especially Merry and I, and he
watched over us and loved us. I can’t tell you the number of times that
Merry and I would trick him into giving us some of his food. Those long
marches that Gandalf forced upon us were particularly hard upon us
Hobbits... no long meals, no elevenses, no afternoon teas, only endless
marching. Boromir would always seem to have an extra apple or a piece
of bread or some cold cheese stored at his side and when it seemed I
might faint from hunger, there he would be, with a scowl and a piece of
food. He tried to seem so frightening, but I knew better. The only flaw
I saw in Boromir was his total lack of appreciation of pipeweed. I
tried a number of times to encourage him to take up this wonderful
habit, but he would have none of it. He was stubborn. I will always
love this man. I will always remember the look in his eyes when he told
me he had tried to take the Ring. Yes, Sam, he told me. He had three
arrows in him already, I think, and he turned and told us to run. I
didn’t want to leave my friend, but he said he needed to win his honour
back. And he told me why. Otherwise, I would not have left him. His
heart was broken, his pride dashed on the rocks covered by his blood,
and his honour, he thought, was gone, but I only look upon his memory
with honour. I cannot bear the thought of what he did for us that day,
of what he did for us the entire time we were together. I will always
love him. And I beg you all to love him too. To Boromir – dearest
friend."
I grasped Pippin in my arms. Such a
little thing. Yet so large in heart. I would that I could bring you
back in some way, dear Brother, but this will have to do - the love
that Pippin and I have for you.
But no, we were not finished. Aragorn
stood and bid us all do the same. "What words can I say to honour my
friend? There are none in the language of elves, dwarves or men. Yet I
cannot let this time pass without a word. You, Faramir and Imrahil,
have known him far longer than we who walked with him the last few
months of his life. You were witness countless times to his courage,
his strength, his fealty to his people and his Steward. You above all,
know the extent of his passion for Gondor and his pride in Gondor and
all it stands for. Yes, his pride – perhaps it was his downfall, but it
was also his great strength. Because of his pride, I was able to see
what serving Gondor meant. I was able to know the need for her King. I
was able to begin to take on that Kingship as we walked the fields of
Hollin, the Mines of Moria, and the great land of Lothlorien. My heart
broke as I beheld him amidst the corpses of the many Orcs he had slain.
Valiant unto the end was this man, my brother. I will not have it said
of him that he failed. He rose above more than I have had to endure.
Legolas, Gimli and I, at the Falls of Rauros, declared his worth in
song. Now I will declare it in a tangible way. My first duty as King is
to proclaim Boromir 'Lord of Gondor,' and to have erected in a rebuilt
Osgiliath, a statue in his honour. For this man was a true Son of
Gondor and a true friend of his king."
The servants then brought in food and
more drink and pipeweed. Pippin squealed in delight and I laughed
openly and the tears were banished from my eyes. We spent the rest of
the night laughing and singing. We mourned you well that night, dear
Brother, sharing your life both in word and in stories and songs and
laughter.
I drew Éowyn aside, before the
night was over, and asked her to remember me while she was in Rohan.
They will be back for Elessar’s wedding and to take Theoden’s body back
to Edoras with them. At that time, I hope to ask her something very
important. Don’t smile at me, brother. You knew this day would come for
me. I will not forget you, but I think my letters will now be going
somewhere else. Bless you, dearest brother, for your love. Bless you
for your memory. Bless you for being always with me. And bless you for
loving me,
Faramir
He took this final letter, folded it carefully, and placed it in the
strong oak box that he had brought back with him from Henneth
Annûn. Gently, he placed it on the topmost shelf of his cupboard,
and walked from the room.
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