Mission Secured
by gustaf
Chapter 2: The Counsel Session
Morning dawned on Minas Tirith. The streets bustled with activity
as everyone prepared for the day. Children rushed around looking for
their friends and running off to play. It was high time to be busy as
it was in the month of April, the summer of 3018. Faramir too, was
preparing for the day’s activities. He planned to find Boromir, then go
together to their father and request for his counsel. Faramir laughed;
he could never find Boromir. Boromir was always busy running around
everywhere and venturing here and there.
As he came out, he dealt with a matter that needed to be done then
went searching for his brother. After much searching, Faramir
eventually found his brother, broke their fast, and together walked to
the Citadel where the Steward was. They greeted the guards at the door
and gained entry to see their father. When they went in, Faramir sighed
in relief as his father seemed to be in good spirits that day.
“Well, if it wasn’t my sons together again,” Denethor chuckled, “Good morning Boromir and Faramir.”
“Good morning, father”, they replied in unison. “Why did you summon us so early, Father?” added Boromir.
“I didn’t summon you”, replied a rather puzzled Denethor, “Instead, you two came of your own accord!”
“Indeed Boromir. I just dragged you along together with me because you
would want to know what I’m going to talk about now. Father,” said
Faramir without any delay, “I would like to ask your counsel on a
strange matter...”
“Faramir!!” Boromir scolded in jest, “And exactly why didn’t you
warn me what I was in for before I came with you? And why didn’t you
tell me first?”
Faramir scowled at him, “It’s not like you need to know everything
first. Plus, if this goes well, it should take not much of YOUR time,
Boromir. So, if you would please permit me to go on so that...”
“Here boys, sit down. Go on, Faramir”, interrupted Denethor.
“Okay, I shall go on now. The night before last night, I had a strange dream...”
“My, oh my”, teased Boromir, “another one of your dreams? I think I will either fall asleep or leave immediately!”
“And how are you supposed to get out of here unless you stop interrupting?” said Faramir. His brother loved teasing.
“You two”, sneered Denethor who shook his head at them, “But I do
apologize for myself and for Boromir for interrupting, now please go
on”, said he with mock solemnity and respect.
“Apology accepted. No really, that’s fine”, Faramir replied in full
jest. He quickly sobered and said, “So, as I said, I had a dream 2
nights ago. I saw the eastern sky grow dark and there was thunder, but
in the west, there was a pale light and out of it, I heard a voice,
quiet but clear saying,
‘Seek for the Sword that was broken:
In Imladris it dwells;
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul-spells.
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand,
For Isildur’s Bane shall waken,
And the Halfling forth shall stand.’
Father, I can make no sense out of it. Also, last night again I had the same exact dream coming to me. What say you?”
Boromir listened with his mouth agape. “Faramir, you’ve got to be kidding. I had the exact same dream last night! Now that is something.” He muttered something under his breath.
Faramir sighed...would his brother ever be serious. “Dear brother,
Boromir, now is NO time to jest, thank you very much. Although I must
say that was one of the most real fakes you’ve ever done.”
“What?!” Boromir replied, “I wasn’t joking this time. I’m saying that for REAL my very nonbelieving brother!”
“Well then, that IS something”, said Faramir then quickly added, “Oh
and in that case you still haven’t done a real fake once in your life
bro”.
“Oh please”, said Boromir.
Denethor laughed, “Now, Faramir, I shall address what you said after
all that nonsense. I must agree with you that it is indeed very
strange: the dream itself and how it came to you twice and to Boromir
once. I have heard of Imladris before.” By now the air had once more
become serious.
“Please go on, father.”
“Yes, yes, I’m thinking...ah yes”, said Denethor after much thought.
“Now I have it. In Imladris, there dwells a half-elf called Elrond. He
is wise and is a master in lore. Imladris is also called Rivendell as
far as I can remember. It is very far north of us. Extremely few know
where it is. And neither do I; I only know that it is north of us and
very far.”
So, thought Faramir, that place does exist. Maybe the dream was not altogether wrong. I surely hope that father would let me go.
“Father”, said Faramir, “thank you. But what of the rest of the riddle?”
“That is all I will say Faramir”, said Denethor though knew more than
just about Imladris, and the other things he knew disturbed him.
Faramir sensed something so he asked, “Father, what sword could it be and the token, and...”
Denethor raised his hands, “No more should be said. For nothing is certain.”
Boromir interjected, “Father! Even Imladris' location isn’t certain is
it? Or Elgroan or whatever his name is? Tell us more of what you know!
Because I think I shall go on the journey and seek out the riddle!”
“Folly!” shouted Denethor, “These dreams of yours are not meant to be
important enough that I would risk Gondor’s defense to let you wander
off.”
“But father, both of us had this dream and I mean it is exactly as
Faramir described it, also Faramir had it twice! Do you not deem that
it could be a matter of importance? Perhaps it is a kind of, sign to
tell us to go there? And the ‘Sword that was broken’, could it be the
sword of Elendil? I am not a scholar, but I know about the kings of
Gondor; and what broken sword would remain unforged yet be kept in an
elvish place save that of importance?”
“Brother, whenever did you start thinking these things? I marvel at how
much light you shed to this matter. Indeed, after you said that, I deem
it even more important than before and firmly believe that I should go
seek it out”, commented Faramir.
“Brother, are you mad? It is I that should go, not you. Although, I
agree that we should search out this riddle and discover its true
meaning. I believe that I must go and not Faramir. But as to this
riddle, perhaps the El-whatever that father spoke of would know the
answer to the riddle?” said Boromir.
“Boromir, I believe it is now I that must say that someone is mad”,
said Denethor dryly, “First of all, you think that Elrond wouldn’t
know? And secondly, you think I would let one of you go on this
mission, seeing that Gondor already needs you both?”
“Father!” the boys exclaimed in unison.
Denethor sighed. Would his sons ever grow up? “Now, now, don’t you go
off complaining. You must understand; Gondor needs you two, and I’m not
about to let either of you run off like that. Especially you, Faramir,
you don’t need another Mithrandir in your life although I expect Elrond
to be better than the grey fool.”
This was getting hard for Faramir. How could he hope to convince
father? Now Boromir was talking...“Right, of course you are right
father. Gondor needs her best soldiers of which I am one”, Boromir
smirked, “Oh and of course Faramir is the other best one.”
“Is not”, said Denethor.
“Is too”, said Boromir. And they went on like little kids.
“Oh you’re too funny. Denethor is in jest Boromir, just let him
win. Or perhaps I should add a “is not” to the pool”, said Faramir.
“And I, son, and most definitely NOT in jest. You don’t even like
killing things! You spend more time reading books and hanging out with
that fool Mithrandir than you spend time practicing for battle. And
everyone knows you don’t like fighting and Boromir fights many times
better than you.” replied Denethor.
“FATHER!” exclaimed Boromir, “you have got to be kidding. Madness! Know
you not his abilities as a fighter? Remember Osgiliath, and how only 4
of us continued fighting, of which Faramir was among? As I recall in
that battle, he slew even more orcs than I did and he was less afraid
of the shadow lurking there as well! And...”
Faramir laughed, “Peace, dear brother. Father was only jesting was he not?”
Denethor exhaled, “What did I just say?”
Boromir was exasperated; always his father was this way picking on
Faramir. He couldn’t stand it, yet he could do nothing to change his
father’s view. If anything, he still wanted to help his little brother.
“Father, that is not true at all! My brother fights as well as I do and
there’s nothing wrong with not liking to kill things. When it is
necessary he fights, and does it well too, but you are wrong in this
father. Also, aren’t you much the scholar as well father? Isn’t that
why Faramir came to you about this matter? Why then do you try to
prevent him from what he likes doing that is also useful?”
“Boromir,” said Denethor, “I was only kidding as Faramir said.”
But everyone in the room knew that he was not. Denethor truly thought what he did about Faramir.
Boromir broke the awkward silence saying, “Well then, let us get to
the matter. You absolutely MUST let me go on this mission father. We
both had this dream and we both think that this matter should be
searched out. Let us come to a compromise, seeing that you wouldn’t let
both of us go together as is fit”, eliciting smiles, “But this matter
must be resolved and Father, please let me go.”
“But father”, complained Faramir, “I had the dream before Boromir
and more than Boromir as well. Also, Gondor needs to be well secured
therefore Boromir should stay. And therefore, you should let ME go.”
Denethor sighed, “Come back tomorrow before you break your fast and
we must talk more on this matter. Do not expect me to let you run off
on this”, here he gestured wildly, “This foolish ‘mission’ as you so
call it.”
