Castles in the Air: the Farewell Between Brothers
by Dandy
Castles In The Air: The Farewell Between Brothers
Story by Dandy Baggins; Italics Song by Don MacLean.
And if she asks you why,
you can tell her that I told you.
That I'm tired of castles in the air,
I've got a dream I want the world to share.
And castle walls just lead me to despair.
I stood in the livery stable making the last
preparations for the journey. My mind was running through the list of
supplies that I normally took on an extended trip by horseback. Most of
my supplies fell along the lines of survival skills learned at
Osgiliath. My shield, horn, and sword being the key ingredients needed
there. The bits of twine and hook for fishing in the rivers. The flint
and steel against the cold of nights, the bedroll that I could bundle
everything up into; and a bit of traveling food to use when hunting and
fishing game was scarce. A change or two of clothes that would see me
through the best and worst of times, I had learned long ago that one
could not be worrying about possessions when the orcs patrolled the
shores. I had just finishing the storing of my gear when Faramir
arrived. Was I surprised? Not really. My brother saw many things hidden
to normal men. He had entered quietly as was his way. But as sure as I
knew my own hands in front of my face; I knew that he stood behind me.
“So he gave you the quest?” His question was filled with remorse.
“Yes, I convinced him that I was better
suited for the journey than you. One of us must seek an answer to the
riddling words. The orcs have done little more than patrol the shores
since we pushed them back at Osgiliath.”
“Since you pushed them back, you mean.”
“Well I did have a hand in it. As did you.”
“Father will never see it that way. Either way, I am glad we won in the end.”
We walked out of the stable together, leading
the horse, down the long silent road towards the gate. The flush of
pride in our victory at Osgiliath, and the winning of the crossing back
from the enemy still preyed upon my mind.
Hills of forest green where the mountains touch the sky
a dream come true, I'll live there till I die.
I'm asking you to say my last goodbye.
The love we knew ain't worth another try.
I had a few final things to take care of before I rode out on my quest.
“Faramir,” I stopped walking and turned
towards him. “You know why I need to go don’t you? As soon as I heard
those words in my dream, I knew it was a call to me. I know you had the
dream several times before, but you are always had the gift of seeing
things that aren’t there. This one was aimed at me! I can feel it! When
you first told me about the dream it was as if my whole life had been
designed around this one quest! Everything I have done in the past will
be nothing compared to this.”
He nodded. “I knew you were going to go as
soon as I saw how your eyes lit up when I told you about it. I also
knew that father would choose you over me. He always does.”
The joy at the thought of the quest left my
face, and we resumed our trek. That was true. I was always the one
chosen by Father. The first born, the first in his heart, little love
did he spare for poor Faramir. They were too much alike, Father and
him. Both were thinkers, while I was a doer. This seemed to be one
battle that I could not fight with a sword.
“You will take care of him while I am away, he will have need of you, though he doesn’t realize it?” I asked.
More slowly, and painfully he nodded again.
Save me from all the trouble and the pain.
I know I'm weak, but I can't face that girl again.
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain,
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain.
“Are you going to tell the Lady D’Mira?” His words broke through my thoughts and I shook my head at his question.
That was the furthest thing from my mind. It
didn’t matter anyways; she would find out soon enough that I was gone.
As it was I couldn’t tolerate any of her clinging ways for very long.
Another reason to go on this quest, the ladies of the court. Father was
continually trying to remind me of my Stewart’s duty to provide him
with an heir. Bah! I had a lifetime to do that. I glanced at my
brother.
“Would you do me the honors of saying
farewell for me? I couldn’t handle it if she broke down in tears over
me riding out again. Just make sure you tell her when I am well away
from Gondor. I definitely don’t need her following behind.”
He chuckled. Seems he too remembered the last
bit of chaos that erupted in the Hall of Denethor that day. What a
nightmare of a scene she made. No, it was better to just slip off and
disappear.
But how can words express the feel of sunlight in the morning.
In the hills, away from city strife,
I need a countrywoman for my wife;
I'm city born, but I love the country life.
My mind was frantically searching for the
right words to speak to my brother. How could I tell him that I
understood what he was going through? Another vision of his, trampled
under our father’s stern feet. How could I tell him I believed that he
could hold our men together and how that belief allowed me to take this
chance? At least, this time, Father was willing to permit one of us to
ride out to search out the answer to the riddling words. Seek the sword
that was broken. How could a broken sword help us? Did it matter? The
quest was the thing. I was feeling idle again, and the walls felt like
they were closing in on me. What if I were able to bring back great
armies of elves to aid us? Like Elendil of old? Boromir! Of the Great
Alliance! That would be me. We would sweep old Sauron and his orcs back
to his black land to shiver in fear! What a splendid dream, no one
would then deny that a mere Stewart wasn’t equal to a King. If only we
were like the Men of Rohan and didn’t shut ourselves up behind walls of
stone. How can one be King if he doesn’t even travel about to see what
his people were doing? That was something that Father never could
explain to me.
Unfortunately we continued our trek in silence.
For I cannot be part of the cocktail generation:
Partners waltz, devoid of all romance.
The music plays and everyone must dance.
I'm bowing out. I need a second chance.
To soon we reached the quarter house near the
gate. I tied the horse to the post and we went up the stairs towards my
chamber. Now at last I might be able to get at least some of the words
to come out. Normally I had no problem expressing my thoughts. Why had
it suddenly gotten so difficult to tell him what I needed to? Well most
of it will have to wait until I get back, the sense of urgency that I
felt seemed to increasing.
“Faramir, hold strong to your beliefs. Father
will come to understand in the end. Take care of the lands and our
people while I am away. And mostly take care of yourself. I would not
have you lost before my return.”
“I will, take care of yourself too, Boromir.”
The final rituals of my quests were drawing
steadily to a conclusion. I went to my locker and withdrew my horn and
greatcoat. I also drew out the papers that I had filled out a quarter
century ago, when I left on my first quest, the scroll of my last will
and testament. Once again I placed them into his safe keeping. As
reverently as he took them when he was ten and I was fifteen, he
accepted their charge again.
Save me from all the trouble and the pain.
I know I'm weak, but I can't face that girl again.
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain,
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain.
We returned back to the courtyard. I nearly
leaped on my horse when I paused again. Tears filled our eyes as I
hugged Faramir goodbye. Placing my hands on his shoulders I pushed him
away to take a good look at him. Yes, he was a good man.
“Tell me with your Sight, little brother, that you will see me again.”
With a hint of sorrow he spoke the words. “Yes, Boromir. I will see you again”
"Well then cheer up little brother."
That was all I needed! Cheerfully I lifted
the Horn to my lips and blew a loud blast that echoed across the
courtyard. With the last of the parting ritual completed, I climbed
upon my horse and rode away.
And if she asks you why, you can tell her that I told you.
That I'm tired of castles in the air,
I've got a dream I want the world to share.
And castle walls just lead me to despair.
