Minas Tirith - Legacy of the Ring Bearer

Fic Name : Minas Tirith - Legacy of the Ring Bearer.
Chapter Name : Mithrandir's Discovery
Pairing : Faramir/Boromir, Faramir/Frodo, Faramir/Aragorn, Aragorn/Frodo,
Rating : NC17
Beta : The wonderful and stouthearted Hel! Thank-you v.much!
Timeline : During the War of the Ring, in the final days and the year afterwards.
Synopsis : Faramir learns from Gandalf that he is pregnant with Frodo's child though love does not exist between them, or so the Prince of Gondor believes.
Special Note : Eowyn will figure prominantly in this tale as she is someone that Faramir will lean upon, but this is a slash story. There will be no sex between mir mir and Eowyn. Sex will all be slash.
Disclaimer : I don't claim to own anythor mor make any money. Suing me will not do any good, you'd get a quarter at the most. Tolkien owns all the pretty men.


CHAPTER TWO “Minas Tirith -- Legacy of the Ring Bearer”

Mithrandir's Discovery

Twenty-four hours of fighting later the city had truly been lost as orcs poured into it. Faramir and his company had been forced to flee, chased down by unstoppable creatures, the Nazgul, and then rescued by Mithrandir.

Faramir reined in his horse, hardly believing that they had made it back alive to Minas Tirith. The Nazgul had taken many lives yet strangely, they had spared his. He turned to the White Wizard and his eyes opened wide with surprise when he saw the small burden in front of him. He’d never thought to see another, and certainly -not- now. He swallowed nervously as Gandalf caught his expression.

“This is not the first hobbit that you have seen recently.” The wizard fixed Faramir with a hard stare and the young man flinched, shaking his head.

Pippin Took’s eyes widened and he broke out into an excited smile, “You’ve seen Frodo and Sam! Are they okay? When did you see them? What happened….W…”

“Enough, Peregrin Took. Captain Faramir will explain in due time, cease your questions now. That’s a good lad. When did you last see them?”

“Only a few days ago.” Faramir glanced at Gaellyn who was studying him with a worried air. He looked back to Gandalf and explained that they had taken the passage to Mordor tgh agh a secret way under Osigilath “They seemed very well.” he swallowed. “Master Gamgee has taken care of him.”

“Tell me everything.” Gandalf commanded, containing the young Took’s excitement by putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Not yet.” Gaellyn interrupted, “Begging your pardon, Mithrandir, but the Captain is wounded, we must get him immediately to the Healing House.”

“Its alri-” Faramir’s pale face belied his assessment of his own condition. He looked down under the wizard’s intense gaze heeding his lieutenant’s words.

Gandalf did not see a wound that would be of any worry to the Captain, but then again. He eyed Gaellyn who was obviously holding back and then nodded. “I see. Then we shall accompany you. I have some skill at healing, perhaps I can assist.”

Apart from Pippin’s chatter they were silent for the most part on the way to the Healing House. It was just as well that they were not going directly to his father for Faramir did not want to deal with Denethor, not yet. He did catch the young hobbit staring at him in calculation several timewevewever, as though he reminded Pippin of someone else. Boromir…no. No, he did not want to know. Faramir grimaced, feeling slightly lightheaded. The hard ride had done little to ease the flow of blood from his wound and the tightly bound cloth was beginning to become redder.

Finally they arrived and the wizard gave an order to the hobbit. “Take Shadowfax back to our quarters, Pippin, and let me tend to the young Prince.”

“But I-” Pippin pouted, clearly bursting with questions for Faramir, but at Gandalf’s look he obeyed.

Once the hobbit was out of sight, Faramir attempted to dismount, aided by his lieutenant. He practically slid off the steed, and stumbled into the other man, blinking unsteadily.

“Easy, Faramir. Clearly there is more to this wound than meets the eye, you were right to get him here quickly….” Gandalf looked to the lieutenant who was practically holding up Faramir. “Can you walk?”

“I am able to walk.” Faramir protested, but just as soon as the young man tried a wave of nausea forced him to clutch his friend and gasp for breath. His face almost as white as sheet it took the wizard no time at all to insist that he be carried inside.

Once laid on a bed, his bandage was opened to reveal the arrow wound, the head had been taken out earlier, but it had not stopped bleeding. Gandalf frowned as he studied it, wondering if there was something internal causing such a thing as the healers hovered around the Prince. They stripped his shirt and leather jerkin and making certain he was comfortable despite his weak objections.

The pale young man was bathed in warm water from the fireplace and his wound was dressed. Gandalf spoke quietly with the healers as particular herbs were mixed into a congealing paste and carefully spread over the wound, forming a crust that would stop the blood flow. Once his color began to return he accepted a bowl of soup and some bread under the watchful eyes of the wizard.

“I think he’s comfortable now.” Gaellyn said carefully, stepping back so that the wizard could sit near Faramir.

“Leave us.” Gandalf asked the healers, “I can take care of it from here. You have done your duto teo tend to the other wounded.” He indeed sat near the young Prince, studying him gravely.

The intense glare did not sit well with Faramir and he had been trying to avoid it ever since the healers had got a hold of him. Did Gandalf -know-? Was it so obvious on his face? He had tried to bury it, sure that he’d never see Frodo again. “I should think I am well enough to speak with you now,” he said softly, setting the bowl down after only a few spoonfuls and one bite of bread.

Gaellyn was still hovering nearby, earning a disproving glare from the wizard who did not like interruptions. “You need to eat more than that, Captain,” he urged.

“Lieutenant.” The Wizard said abruptly. “I am sure that Faramir realizes this. If you would be so kind as to leave us for the moment, I would be most grateful.”

“As you wish.” Gaellyn knew better than to argue with Mithrandir for everything the wizard -had- done. “I’ll be back later,” he said to Faramir before doing as bid and leaving them alone.

“Your brother would be very proud of you, Faramir.” Gandalf began after a short silence followed Gaellyn’s departure. “For letting them go. There is hope for men when they can still resist the power of the one ring.”

“I wanted it.” Faramir said softly. “I almost took it from him, but something held me back.”

“Your love for the Ringbearer is what stopped you.” Gandalf said simply, not allowing the young man to protest the statement. “Come, come, I may be old, but I am not blind. I know how endearing he is to men. If it were another age, perhaps I too might have held an interest.” he chuckled at Faramir’s wide eyes. “Now, tell me. How came you to understand what so many do not? Whose words touched your heart?”

“His companion’s.” Faramir admitted, casting his eyes down. “I was ready to turn them over to my father, but the Nazgul attacked. He stood, ready to step into the world of shadow and faced the Ringwraith. His friend stopped him and he was about to give up to me when Sam spoke of why they were doing this. I listened, and I remembered my brother, and how he spoke of Osgiliath. Of why we were fighting so hard and so long. I let him go. It…” It had nearly broken him to do so, but he had done it, and he had forfeited his life because of that. “When Father discovers what I have done I am done for.”

“Hrm.” The wizard cleared his throat, listening quietly to the short tale. Faramir was not one to elaborate, apparently. There was a great deal more to this than the young man was saying. Indeed, Gandalf was already beginning to suspect something else. There was something else just a bit peculiar about Faramir and he could not yet put his finger on it. “He will not harm you. You have done nothing wrong.”

“It is the law of Gondor, the law of my father.” Faramir said woodenly, his fingers working a piece of the bread off the small loaf.

“Your father’s laws be damned. I go to speak with him now and leave you to rest. You need it.” Gandalf spoke harshly, earning a glare from the young man. Mithrandir may be Mithrandir, but this was Gondor, and Faramir would not hear words against his father, no matter how harsh the man had treated him in the past. The wizard rose then, as if he was about to leave. The young man’s temper flared, how dared he say such a thing about Denethor and then just leave. He surged to his feet, despite a wave of dizziness that passed over him.

The Captain stood, his legs somehow managing to support him despite the loss of blood he’d endured recently. “Do not presume to make judgment here, Mithrandir. My father rules this city, not you, or the Valar. Our laws have been passed down from generation to generation and they have served justly before. So shall they serve now, with my death if need be.” He moved as though to stop Gandalf from leaving the room, but as he did the dizzy spell hit him in full force and the room began to spin.

And so, the Captain collapsed, for the second time in twenty-four hours, falling to the floor in a heap as the wizard moved to his side.

***

Darkness…Blessed wonderful darkness….

It was so dark, so very dark. He shook his head, not wanting to open his eyes even at the gentle prodding. It was safe here, and he did not have to think. He could just exist in the abyss that surrounded him, float endlessly…without memory.

“Faramir…” a voice broke his reverie and his body was shaken again.

He recognized that voice. The beloved voice that he thought he would never hear again.

“Faramir, you must wake up, it is not your time yet.”

When?

“Not now. You have someone else to think of.”

Someone else?

***

Faramir’s eyes fluttered open and he whimpered at the pressure to his brow, “Boromir…” But it was not Boromir who was pressing the cloth to his forehead, it was Mithrandir. “Gandalf?” He blinked in confusion, wondering how the wizard had come to be there and were exactly he was before memory sank back in and he frowned.

“Easy does it.” Gandalf regarded the young man, his expression much gentler than it had been before. “You’ve been unconscious for several hours.” he explained. “But lie back, for there is something I must ask you, and you must tell me the truth.”

“Several hours…” Faramir attempted to rise, but his head hurt so much that he lay back instead in defeat. Denethor would be livid…he had been kept waiting long enough. He was taken aback by the look in the wizard’s eyes and nodded mutely.

“When you were with Frodo, did you enjoy relations with him?” The words were directly spoken, yet they forced a blush upon the young man’s cheek as he nodded without speaking. “I see.” Gandalf stroked his beard. “Have you had relations with anyone else recently?”

“What business is it of yours?” Faramir finally found his voice. How dared he ask such things? “What is this about?” At the look in the wizard’s eyes he shrank back into the pillows and shook his head in answer. “No, no, there’s been no one else recently.”

“Well.” The wizard shook his head, “I believe your father is about to run into a grave problem should he attempt to order your death.”

“What do you mean?” the young man’s eyes widened in confusion.

“I do believe that congratulations are in order, if a bit premature. For these things are never certain, especially given the circumstances.”

“You speak in riddles!” Faramir was beginning to get angry again, wishing the wizard anywhere but in his room right now.

“I have been accused thus. As such, I will speak plainly. Your father will be obliged to let you live because the rules of your land state that when another life is at risk, the perpetrator of a crime cannot be punished. It generally pertains to females, but in this case, they will have to make an exception. You, Faramir of Gondor, are going to have a baby.”

The ease in which he said it rang in Faramir’s ears. As though it was the most natural thing in the world to hear.

*You are going to have a baby.*

He groaned, hoping that he had heard incorrectly, it was impossible. Wasn’t it? He was male? No…no it wasn’t impossible. He’d heard stories. He’d simply assumed they were all lies. He’d always been different. But this! How…how did the wizard know. “Are…are you certain?”

“Quite certain, yes. A wizard always knows. I would not have thought about it, but when you fainted, your wound began to bleed again and required my assistance. By happenstance the magic that I used gave me access to the information. I have told no one yet.”

Faramir could hardly grasp it. His senses began to reel out of control, after everything that had happened, Boromir’s death, Frodo…and now this…he was truly a failure. Even in being a man. It was no wonder that Denethor hated him. “I don’t believe you.” Faramir shook his head wordlessly. “I don’t believe you. Get out. Leave me alone!”

It wasn’t true, it couldn’t be true.

**TO BE CONTINUED**