Mission Secured
by gustaf
Chapter 4: What Dreams Lead To
Once Faramir had left, Denethor started saying to Boromir, “You
know the reason why I picked you to go on this trip instead of Faramir?
I was loathe to make this decision because Gondor needs you to
safeguard her, but this matter is of utter importance. My son, what I’m
about to tell you, do not tell Faramir. Agreed?”
“Yes, of course! How could I not after what you’ve done for me?”
“Right, now listen carefully. I know more about the words in this
dream than what I told your brother and you together. But I need you to
understand how important this mission is and what I want you to do. As
you said in the meeting, the ‘sword that was broken’ could be Elendil’s
sword and on this point I agree with you. So if it indeed is and we are
able to claim this for Gondor using it to rally our men, wouldn’t that
be what we need? Don’t you think Sauron would be scared of us now that
we have the sword that hurt him many years ago? Would he forget that
sword that pained him so much? Indeed, no. He will remember it and fear
us. Elendil’s sword is a powerful thing. Boromir”, Denethor lowered his
voice, “I want you to go to Imladris...”
“And acquire the sword”, finished Boromir.
“Yes my son!” said Denethor in delight. “You would do that but you
see, Faramir would not do that; he would not claim things just like
that. He would want to seek out the rightful owner and get permission!
We cannot allow that to happen. We need that sword and I trust only you
to do that.”
“You can count on me father. I will do that for the good of Gondor.”
“Good. As to Isildur’s bane, take note of that too. If it is
something of power we could use, then take that as well. Gondor needs
all the tools she can have to build up her strength against the enemy
in the East. Well, you understand clearly, so go now. And remember, do
not mention this to your brother”, concluded Denethor.
Boromir removed himself from the room and headed out in hopes of
finding Faramir. How angry he must be! After all, it was Faramir that
should have rightfully gone. But he knew he could have his way with his
father which was why he made known to his father his desire of going on
the mission. And indeed, it had worked; his father had let him go on
this mission but he still had to deal with his brother. How mad his
brother must be right now. Boromir sighed; perhaps that matter should
be dealt with another time.
Meanwhile, Faramir was thinking hard to devise a plan to somehow
convince his father to let himself go rather than Boromir. Faramir was
no fool; he knew how stubborn his father was and how he would honor
Boromir’s wishes over his own. But this mission felt like it was his.
He absolutely had to find a way to go on this mission. How? There was
always a way to do things, thought Faramir dryly. And especially facing
a double edged sword with mini spears sticking out from the flat of the
sword which actually was his father and brother combined in a joint
force. They were nigh impenetrable. Yet it was odd that his father
would want to pick Boromir instead of himself. Denethor thought Faramir
incapable of handling matters of war and also loved Boromir more as
well. So why would he risk sending Boromir and take the risk of having
a so-called incapable commander commandeer the defense of Gondor?
Three minutes later Denethor sank into his bed. It was still early
in the day but he hadn’t slept a wink the previous night so he decided
to might as well rest up since for once he felt he could instantly fall
asleep the moment his head touched the pillow. And indeed that occurred
but more than just that happened. He dreamt. Did he dream Faramir’s
dream? No indeed; Denethor dreamed something he long dreaded and he
hardly dreamt at all. This is what he dreaded: he dreaded Boromir’s
death, and in this dream Boromir went on the quest and arrived at
Rivendell safe but suddenly his son appeared amongst a group of unclear
wanderers then later in a different land a band of orcs assailed them
and Boromir fell. In slow motion the sword in the orc’s hand punched
downward straight into Boromir’s heart as he slowly gasped
and...Denethor woke with a start.
This could not be true! All thought of sleep vanished immediately
but instead was replaced by an urge to look for that sight in the
palantír. He knew the palantír did not lie and though he usually could
never see his sons he knew he must check this very one time. Ascending
swiftly into his private tower where the palantír lay untouched, he
fumbled with the lock then swung the door open wide and flung the cloth
upon the palantír away in one smooth motion then without hesitation
looking into its fiery depths for the vision he just saw in his dream.
Denethor put all his will into searching for Boromir in what his
horrific dream described in hopes of seeing Boromir unhurt in some way
to disprove his dream. But appallingly the first thing he saw was
Boromir lying bleeding among bodies that now seemed blurred to Denethor
as his eyes filled with tears of anger and fear and sadness. It was as
if the palantír wanted to cause this grief to Denethor. And now
Denethor knew that his son would die going on this mission. So he must
prevent it. For once, Denethor who hardly turned on his word was going
to turn.
~~~~
A/N: First, don't blame me!! Okay...so by now you're probably
thinking "what on earth?!" (and I bet A4R is about to kill me too), but
hey, there's a chance Boromir won't die. I mean in the dream the sword
was to his heart but that was the dream. The palantir thing was just
Boromir bleeding with a wound near his heart. So he may or may not die.
And then the dying scene in the palantir is actually not at all related
to the quest since Faramir's going and since the palantir doesn't lie,
it's impossible for Boromir to get hurt on the quest. So the thing is
Denethor knows the palantir doesn't lie but he's just too caught up in
his emotions that he misinterprets. His dream isn't 100% accurate but
he thinks it's true which is why he's about to change.
And I actually have no clue whether palantirs can see into the
future but oh well...right now it kind of has to. Also about Denethor
seeing Boromir, I did read your posts Agape on the palantir and
Denethor's sons, but I guess I need 'poetic license' and this is AU
so...
Sorry for the long-ish A/N, but I think it's totally necessary to clarify some things!!
