Faramir was sick of wandering aimlessly in this strange,
foggy land he seemed to have entered. All around him was greyness and
he had done nothing but walk through it for hours and hours, weary of
mind and tired of body. His limbs ached and felt heavy but he could
not stay in one place. Something made him move.
It felt as though an icy cold hand lay over his heart for
a nameless fear clawed away at him unabated. With each passing second
he felt greater and greater dread wash over him.
What was happening? Where was he? He had been fighting he
remembered that. His city had been under attack. He remembered pain
and blackness but nothing later. Then he had found himself in this void.
The strangeness of it had worried him and he had arisen and moved around
trying to find his way out, but now after countless hours spent doing
so, he was still inside it.
Then it struck him. They had been fighting the shadow from
the east and had lost. Minas Tirith had fallen under the shadow as had
been feared. All was lost.
But he still could not stop wandering. He moved on and the
mists continued to close in on him.
Where was everyone else? Why was he here alone?
Father, where are you?
He felt a cold breeze fall on his face and shivered. There
was something ahead of him, something like water, on which floated a
boat. He knew that boat. He had seen it before.
Boromir!
He tried to call out to his brother. How could the boat be
back here again? It should have reached the sea by now. What trick of
the shadows was this?
Father? he called out again, fearfully.
He had been calling for his father for so long, but to no
avail.
Are you still angry with me father? I am sorry for all
I may have said and done. Forgive me and tell me you are here. I cannot
lose you too.
There was no reply.
Suddenly the cold wind shifted to be replaced by a hot current
of air, so hot it seemed to singe his hair. Where was he?
Father!
Where was his father? Where was everyone? Were they
all under the shadow? Why was he still here?
The mists continued to swirl around him as unbidden images
sprang up in front of his eyes, his brother, his father, even his mother
whom he barely remembered. And then he realised they were there with
many others who seemed familiar but could not be placed.
Boromir, my brother, you are alive! He called out
delightedly, but the man did not seem to hear him.
Father! Mother!You are all right? I knew you would not
leave us! I am here. It is I, Faramir!
No one responded.
They cannot hear me. I must go to them.
He moved forward pushing through the fog. He walked on and
on towards them.
It seemed he just moved and moved but never got closer to
them. No matter how much of the fog he delved into, he was not getting
any nearer.
What wizardry is this? Father! Boromir! I am here. Help
me! I cannot reach you. Why do you keep moving away from me?
His limbs grew heavier and heavier and he felt heat course
through his body. He was tired. So tired that he wanted no more than
to close his eyes and let a deep slumber overtake him.
But he could not do that. What if they left while he was
sleeping? He would be completely alone. So he moved on, stumbling exhaustedly
through the thickening fog towards the direction he had seen his family.
He hurt everywhere now and he felt the warmth build up in
his body. It seemed the cold mists were pressing in around him but he
still felt an insufferable heat coursing through his veins. Then the
fog seemed to clear a little and a dark shape loomed before him. It
seemed the land fell away in front of him. He stared blankly ahead.
I am lost!
Then he glanced up. They were there in the distance and they
were looking at him now. He smiled in relief.
I am coming to you! He called out happily. Stay
there. I will come over.
He could not understand why Boromir looked so unhappy. He
was saying something but his voice would not carry over the space between
them. His father cried out something too. His mother simply seemed to
be crying. Behind them, many others stood silently, watching him.
He moved to the edge of the looming hole, trying to see if
there was a way across, and realised that it was full of water, black
and forbidding. He walked down along the edge, all the while turning
around every few seconds to keep his eye on his family. They moved alongside
him on the other side continuing to call out to him. But he still could
not hear them.
There was no way across. It was simply a wide, dark expanse
of water. He looked across at his loved ones. He had to join them! There
was no other way than to wade across. He moved closer to the water’s
edge. Around him the blackness increased.
I will join you soon. Then I will be free of these shadows.
Suddenly the darkness seemed to lift. He started as the black
fog started moving away. Ahead of him, the dark waters too seemed to
be fading away with a receding mist.
No!
His family too moved further and further away.
He turned around. There was more of this light now; an inviting
light that seemed to call him towards it and away from his loved ones.
He turned towards his family.
Wait for me, Boromir! he cried out and moved toward
them.
The light grew stronger and they moved further away from
him.
No!
“Faramir.”
He heard the word clearly. It cut into his head and made
him turn towards the light.
Someone stood there; a tall man of noble mien and kingly
bearing.
Who are you? What are you doing here? Faramir asked
rapidly, even as he tried to turn and see where his family was.
“I have come to take you away from the shadows. Come with
me, son of Denethor. Your city needs you.”
My father, my brother! he said desperately, turning
around again. They were even further now. The water too had receded
far away from him. Boromir seemed to be waving sadly at him.
I must go to them.
“You will, but not now. For now, there is much else to be
done. Your people need you, Faramir.”
My people?
“Come with me,” coaxed the man gently, coming closer to him.
Faramir gasped as he saw the handsome face, so noble yet
gentle; a face from his dreams.
You have come, my king?
“Yes, I have Faramir. I have come to return you to your city.
Come with me.”
Nay, I will not leave my family.
He turned toward the water but it had vanished. The dark
mists were far, far away. All his family had vanished!
Wait for me. I shall come with you! he called out
desperately into nothingness.
The dark mists behind him rolled away completely. The light
surrounded him in all directions. The water was gone. His family was
gone.
Boromir! Where is he? My father? Where are they? I am
completely alone! he sank to his knees.
He shied away as a hand was placed on his shoulders. Raising
his head apprehensively, he saw that the man now knelt in front of him.
“You are not alone. As long as I am here, you will never
be alone again I vow.”
They have left me!
“You will see them again, but after you complete all that
is left for you to accomplish.”
What is left for me now* he said, anguished, I
am alone. They are all gone. The shadows have overtaken us. I could
not keep your city for you my king.
“No, the shadows have not won. You have kept them at bay.
And they will soon be destroyed. I promise you that. But I need you
by my side to ensure they do not return. Will you not come with me?”
By your side?
“Yes, I can think of none other I would want by me when the
shadows has been destroyed. I shall need you as I shall need no other.”
The king leaned forward and brushed his forehead with his
lips. The weathered face looked into his.
“Come,” his king urged once again.
Faramir looked back into the grey eyes uncertainly and then
turned towards where he had last seen Boromir waving.
A faint voice seemed to float in from very far, Go with
him, my brother. Serve him loyally and faithfully for as long as you
can. We will always wait for you.
Go with him my little one, came his mother’s loving
words.
And then what he had so longed to hear. There is much
left for you to do, my son. Go. You have been brave and done many great
deeds but there is much more to be done. Your king needs you and Minas
Tirith needs you. Go, my beloved son. I do not command you, but I ask
you to do so, his father’s voice was full of love.
He nodded silently.
I will come, my liege, he said quietly to the man
in front of him.
“Aragorn,” his king said smiling and helped him up.
I need you too, Faramir said as he held onto his
king for support, I have no one else.
“You will always have me,” Aragorn promised gently, “You
are weary. Can you walk a little more?”
Faramir nodded tiredly. Do we have far to go, my liege?
“No, but I will lend you strength nonetheless,” Aragorn said
and pulling Faramir close pressed his mouth onto the younger man’s lips.
Faramir felt the tiredness in his limbs lessen and the weariness
that lay heavy on his mind vanish. The fever coursing through his veins
seemed to ebb out as Aragorn’s lips continued to press down upon his.
He let himself be wrapped in an enveloping embrace as they moved towards
the source of the light.
The mists swirled in once more, but this time it induced
no fear for Aragorn’s arms around him gave him reassurance.
“Do not worry,” the king’s lips brushed his forehead once
again.
The mists parted and he found himself lying on abed in a
room, light streaming through the windows onto white sheets and the
faces of his uncle and Mithrandir and other familiar ones.
But his eyes remained on the one leaning over him with great
love shining through his eyes. His king.
“My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?”
he whispered softly, his own voice reflecting the love and reverence
he felt for this man.
“Walk no more in the shadows, but awake,” replied his king
gently.
He was no longer alone.
The end
