Possession

Possession

Chapter 12
Author: Frosty the Micro Machine
Rated: NC-17
Codes: Aragorn, Elrond, Faramir, Eowyn, OC, AU, N/C
Summary: After Arwen's death, a visit to Gondor reveals something unexpected. Canon-oriented; takes place after Sauron's defeat.
Author's Notes: Translations are in parenthesis after the Elvish.

Okay, what's really odd is that I uploaded Chapter 12 a few days ago, but it has since disappeared. Am I just imagining things? Was it never there? I KNOW I did it, though - I wrote in "Chapter 12 Up". Stupid thing. Okay, here's the chapter. I hope everyone likes it. REVIEW! Give me a happy New Year and review, please. :)

Thanks to both Freya and Sandra. Freya - I'm not sure if we'll ever find out who's behind the palantir - I haven't finished writing the story yet. But if we don't find out, just imagine that it's Boromir AND Haldir, huddled in a cave somewhere messing with Aragorn's mind. ;)

*

Captain Faramir raised the glass to his lips and drank deeply. Aragorn followed suit, finishing his ale and sighing heavily. The fire burned brightly in the King's hall as they sat in silence, having just arrived back from bidding the elves farewell.

The King looked over the man sitting across from him. It was obvious the Captain was exhausted. His eyelids weighed heavy as he gently sloshed his drink in circles. The heat in the hall threatened to claim both their awareness'.

"The day is over, Faramir," he said as the Captain finished his ale, "The elves have gone."

He nodded, setting down the glass and leaning back in his chair. "Did they say anything about wanting to know what happened?"

"Yes. They were understandably upset when I told them we had found no evidence of foul play. I suspect they will examine Elrond's body once they arrive in Imladris." The King titled his head and eyed the fair-haired Captain. "Does it lessen your worry to hear that?"

"It does. I will not deny it."

Aragorn shook his head. "Until they inform us of their findings, I don't think we should concern ourselves over it. You must relax, Faramir. You are more tense even now than you were before."

His eyes lowered as he looked to the fire. "I have much on my mind."

The King leaned forward. "You burden yourself with more than your share."

"I only wish for some joy, Aragorn. I can't help that I grieve the world that used to be."

"There is no longer anything to grieve." The King smiled when Faramir looked up at him, a question in his eyes. "I wish to show you that which I had promised."

The Captain's eyes held a measure of interest. "I wondered when you would speak of this again."

Leaning to the side, Aragorn picked up a box that had been hidden discretely under the table. He set it in front of Faramir and gestured to it. "Open it."

Readjusting his seating, Faramir looked down at the box and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"The answer to everything." His eyes glittered as he added, "It is joy."

Faramir was hesitant. Aragorn could see it in the expression upon his tired face. Glancing at the King once more, though, convinced him to open the box.

The lid creaked slightly as it revealed its contents. Faramir blinked several times before looking up at the King. "I don't understand. What is it?"

"Hold it." When he frowned and looked back down, the King narrowed his eyes and watched the Captain struggle with himself. Faramir was a wise man and Aragorn knew from experience that he was not easy to tempt. "Do you not trust me, Faramir?"

The younger man's eyes shot up. Aragorn smiled to himself when he say guilt flicker across Faramir's expression. "This has nothing to do with trust," he sighed heavily, looking back down. "What will this ball of glass tell me that you cannot?"

"More than you know," he answered.

Relenting, the Captain dipped his fingers into the box and gently lifted the palantir from its cradle. Aragorn relaxed and sat back as the crystal sparked in colours of green and blue. It reflected in Faramir's wide eyes.

The effect was obvious. A struggle was being waged in the man's mind as he held the object that would change the direction of Gondor forever. Aragorn knew Faramir wouldn't know what plans those that spoke through the palantir had formed. Weakness and temptation would leak into the Captain's mind. That was the beginning. It was for all beings.

With a sharp breath, he placed the crystal back in its container. "What was that?" he asked breathlessly as he looked up at the King with an expression of something akin to horror.

Aragorn clenched his jaw. He was resisting. "The beginning of a new era," he replied calmly, judging his tablemate. Faramir's blue eyes were wide with uncertainty and distortion. There was no clarity there, no matter how hard the Captain tried to void what had happened.

He closed the box angrily. "What is the matter with you? You speak in riddles and attempt to persuade me to do...what? I don't understand what this is," he gestured to the container, "And I don't understand what is going on. Does this have something to do with Arwen's death?"

"I will not lie to you. It does have something to do with Arwen, as well as Elrond. What you have experienced is a gift. If you would simply allow it to teach you, everything could be that much more simple."

Faramir's eyes widened in shock. "What has happened, Aragorn?" he asked quietly, "These are not the words of the King I have grown to trust."

"Worry not. You will grow to trust your new King."

The Captain stood up. He glanced at the box before stepping back from the table. "I-I must leave," he said before turning and exiting the hall.

Aragorn pursed his lips and sighed, taking the box and returning it to his room. He glanced out the window into the dark evening, deciding there was a late-night visit that must occur.

*

Valawen awoke to fingers stroking her jawline. It was dim in the room, the only light a silvery glow from the moon and stars, but she recognized him immediately. "Aragorn?" she breathed, trying to sit up. He pushed her shoulders down to the bed and held her. Swallowing, she followed his eyes as they moved to the princess sleeping next to her. With a gentle smile, he pressed a finger to his lips. She nodded.

"I have missed you, Valawen," he whispered, placing a soft kiss to her lips. Every fibre of her being wanted to reach up to him, but she held herself still. "I need you now. I need you to do something for me."

"Anything," she breathed.

"You must slip away from this room and visit Faramir. He has held the palantir, but will need you to sway him. Can you do that for me?"

She could never deny him. "Yes."

His smile made her heart flutter. "Go tonight. Be back in this bed before morning. Eowyn must never know."

When Aragorn went to stand, she reached out and grasped his arm. "When will I see you again?" she asked weakly.

"I will come to you tomorrow." She nodded and let go of his arm, watching him as he silently left the room. Her gaze travelled over the sleeping form of Eowyn after he left. Clenching her jaw, Valawen carefully got out of bed and wrapped a cloak around herself, knowing she would not be able to change without waking the princess. With one last look at the girl, she left the room and headed to Faramir's quarters.

It was a short walk. A calm chinook swept her hair away from her face as she entered the building that normally housed both Eowyn and her husband. Valawen wondered what she would be facing. Aragorn had said nothing of what Faramir's mood was like.

With a steady hand, she knocked upon the door. When there was no answer, she tried the handle. It opened easily.

"Captain Faramir?" she called softly, closing the door and looking around the dark room. Candles were lit, but she frowned when there was no reply. "Are you in here?"

A tired voice came out of the dark. "Why are you here, Valawen?"

He came out from around a corner, drink in hand. Cocking his head, he stood looking at her with an expression that was not entirely surprised to see her. "Aragorn sent me," she replied.

Faramir laughed. It was devoid of mirth. "So you are in this as well? I shouldn't be surprised." He walked to the far side of the room and set his drink upon a table before kneeling down and lighting a fire in the flue.

Valawen watched as it crackled to life. When Faramir looked up at her, she could see the exhaustion on his face. "You are upset," she said as he stood up and took his drink, downing the contents.

He shook his head. "I am not upset. I am actually not quite sure what I am." His eyes swept lazily over her. When he spoke, his voice was weak and unsure. "What has Aragorn done to me?"

She stepped forward, her heart sorrowed for how uncertain he felt. She knew that emotion well. "He has saved you. Believe me when I say that what you are feeling will end. There is happiness to be found."

"He did this to you." The statement twisted her abdomen into knots. "I should speak out. I know I should. Why am I standing here when I am supposed to be saving this city?"

"Aragorn will save this city," she whispered.

He came forward quickly, pointing a finger in her face. "What he is doing is not saving. I am not so far gone as to not realize that he is twisting this so we will follow him into darkness. That thing is not Aragorn. He is no longer the man I trusted. And you," he said, his voice quieting, "I am sure you are no longer the elf Elrond loved."

She hit him. It had been an instinctual reaction, and she had done it before even realizing she had meant to. The slap was sharp and swift, and Faramir recovered quickly. He did not retaliate, choosing instead to look down on her with sad eyes that Valawen soon looked away from. "You don't know me, Captain," she said, staring at the fire, "Do not speak as if you do."

He grunted and stepped back, sitting in a chair that was opposite the fireplace. "I can feel it growing within me. The paranoia, the need to understand. I know what's happening." He looked up as she met his eyes. "Why am I not fighting back?"

"Because this is the right way. Deep down, you know you will find the truth once you accept this."

His eyes glittered in the firelight. "And why are you here, Valawen? Really?"

"I am here to help you with that acceptance." She kneeled down at his feet, never breaking eye contact. "Eowyn never need know."

He laughed softly, though his eyes betrayed his true feelings of interest. "Why seduce me? What good will that do?"

Valawen's hand touched his knee. "Aragorn and I want all of you, Faramir. Every part of your essence. You are invaluable to us."

"I can't do this to Eowyn," he replied softly.

"I know you're tempted. I can feel it. Can you not see that we are kindred souls? Aragorn took me, and I will take you. It must be this way." She squeezed his knee and smiled. "You are doing nothing to Eowyn that she will not understand once it comes time for her."

He was weakening. "Don't do this to her. Please, leave Eowyn out of this."

"Shhhh...," she breathed, standing and taking his hand, pulling him up from his chair. "Don't worry about that now. It will all become clear soon."

Wrapping her hand around his neck, she drew him down into a kiss. His tongue held the bite of alcohol as it traced her lips before searching her mouth slowly. He was hesitant, but she had been the same with Aragorn at first.

She could feel him wanting to pull away. "Stay with me, Faramir," she breathed, leading him towards the bed, "Prove to me your need." Sliding the cloak from her shoulders, she disrobed smoothly and stood nude before him. "I know you want me."

His blue eyes moved lustily over her body. She knew he was conflicted. The will to deny his growing need was breaking, though. He took a step towards her. "Eowyn need never know," he muttered softly to himself as he reached a hand to brush across Valawen's collarbone. His gaze met hers and it was more steady than she had seen all night. "This is wrong."

His hand brushed the hair over her shoulder as he kept her gaze. "This is right," she answered with a smile.

Faramir stepped forward, now close enough that his body brushed up against hers. Running his hand through her hair, he cradled her head and leaned down to capture her mouth in a fiery, heated kiss. He was very responsive as she slid her hands up over his shoulders and squeezed, returning the gesture by pulling her close with a hand around her waist. His mouth was warm and hungry as he lapped his tongue along hers, groaning eagerly.

It seemed he no longer had any doubts. His hands swept over her body, cupping her full breasts and squeezing as their kisses became more desperate. Faramir pushed her back and she lost her balance as her legs hit the bed. She fell upon the mattress and looked up at him as he began removing his clothes.

The seduction was working. Valawen pulled herself into a sitting position and waited as he stepped out of his pants and bared himself. He was ready, she noticed, and wasted no time in continuing their act. "Get up," he said, and she did so. His eyes raked over her body once before he turned her around and added, "Bend over."

Valawen did as she was told, leaning forward. Faramir jerked her hips up and kicked her feet apart, then entered her without warning. She cried out in surprise, her arms weakening as they tried to hold her up. He didn't stop to allow her to adjust to the feeling, instead beginning a rapid pace that made it difficult to keep her balance.

His groans of pleasure filled the room as he used her. She had expected him to be more gentle, but guessed that he was using sex to release all his anger. She understood, and it was not unpleasant for her. As he jerked into her again and again, Valawen began to feel the effects upon her body as well.

Faramir's hands reached forward, pulling her body up slightly as he took hold of a breast and pinched. She whimpered at the pain, then gasped as he shoved her back down again, holding her in place with a hand to the back of her neck. His breathing was rough, but what Valawen found most disconcerting was that he did not speak. Not one word was uttered. The sounds of his pleasure, though, and her own desire threatened to push her over the edge.

His pace increased. She could hold back no longer and screamed out her pleasure, climaxing under his rough hold. Her bliss only increased his and he soon thrust heavily into her, groaning and releasing into her body. When he stepped back and pulled himself from her, Valawen fell forward upon the bed.

She looked up through blurry eyes as he blinked back what had just occured. Running a hand through his moist hair, Faramir glanced at her briefly before moving back to the chair in front of the fire.

"How do you feel?" she asked, sitting up to look at him. He looked worn.

"I feel nothing," he answered, his voice low and dark. He ran his finger around the edge of the empty glass on the table beside him. "How should I feel?"

Valawen reached to the floor and gathered her clothes. "I don't know," she breathed, pulling her nightgown over her body.

His eyes met hers. They glinted with amusement. "You should get back before Eowyn realizes you're gone."

Frowning, she nodded and stood, pulling her cloak around her shoulders. "Do you need anything before I go?"

His countenance was a mystery. He seemed content, but guarded. "No," he said, looking up and down her frame and smiling, "Nothing I can't get after you leave."

Valawen knit her brow but said nothing. Nodding once, she turned and took leave of him, feeling his eyes watch her until the door closed between them.

*

TBC