Trick-or-treat for j_flattermann

[splix]

Trick-or-treat for j_flattermann. Microficlet, more angsty and melancholy than I'd originally intended.




*


Boromir wrinkled his nose as Faramir slipped into his room. “Sweet mercy, what’s that stink?”

“That,” Faramir informed him, dropping a pile of folded and sealed vellum sheets onto Boromir’s bed, “is the mingled perfume of a score of lovelorn ladies, all of whom are grief-stricken at the thought of your departure.”

“Ah.” Boromir paused in the act of fastening his cloak and moved to the bed. He broke the seal of one of the letters, unfolded it, keeping it a fair distance from his nose, scanned it, and smiled. “Ahh.” He opened another, then another, murmuring fondly over each.

Faramir watched, amused. “I’m impressed.”

“At my popularity?” Boromir grinned. “Fie.” He stacked the letters neatly and laid them away in a carved wooden box filled with a quantity of similar notes.

“No, that you seem to remember them all.” Faramir dodged his brother’s mock punch and walked to the window. He caressed the worn leather of Boromir’s saddlebags. “It’s strange, is it not, that you and I have not yet married? And yet Father has not chided us for it. That is, he hasn’t chided you.”

Boromir shrugged. “He married late, and so, I suppose, shall we.” He took a clean shirt from his wardrobe and folded it haphazardly, stuffing it in the saddlebag. “But in truth, little brother, there is so much ripe, sweet fruit just waiting to be plucked. Why settle for one?”

“Oh-ho. You might enjoy fooling any number of gullible folk with that sentiment, but you cannot fool me.” Faramir peered mischievously at Boromir. “You are a romantic to the core; you wait for true love.”

A flush spread over Boromir’s face, and he lightly struck Faramir on the shoulder. “Nonsense.”

“Perhaps you’ll find some lovely creature in Rivendell.”

“An elf maiden? Never. Too dainty and fragile for my tastes. And can you imagine Father’s reaction? He’d perish of apoplexy were I to bring an elf maid to Gondor. Besides, with what I’ve been charged….” Boromir shook his head. “Finding a mate is not a preeminent concern. It would take an extraordinary individual indeed to distract me on this mission.”

“Well, if it should present itself to you, do not refuse.”

Faint vexation knitted Boromir’s brow. “Why do you persist?”

“I had a dream last night,” Faramir said, “that you found love. And then….” He hesitated.

“And then?” Boromir prompted gently.

Faramir frowned, seeking in memory the last grey-misted tendrils of the dream that had dissolved before waking, leaving him with the ragged edges of a vast and nameless terror. “Then it was lost.”

A sweet smile transformed Boromir’s countenance. He ruffled Faramir’s hair. “If I find true love in Rivendell, I promise not to lose it, just to please you.”

Faramir tried to smile in return, but a shadow passed across his heart. “Perhaps it will preserve you, and keep you safe.”

“I doubt it. Love is the most perilous thing of all.”



*



Faramir clasped the broken Horn close, and wept.

Perilous, indeed.

Comments

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

How well Faramir knows his brother... "you are a romantic, you wait for true love." Oh how true that is, and Boromir's reaction. Blushes. You know them... oh you know them.
This is absolutely delightful,and telling, You span such a time, between Boromir's setting off that time, to, oh dear, when only the broken horn returns.

What magnificent pictures too. Quite perfect. Faramir is really extraordinarily beautiful here, his eyes...

Sorry am commenting before Flairis, but am out for the day and couldn't not. I hope she will forgive.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

Course she will. Love’s you. BIG HUGS.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much. It really is a lovely relationship between the two of them and I tend to return to those bits in the appendices that give even the smallest details.

And I loved that moment between them in the film. It makes me cry every time.

I'm really glad you liked it.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh, and no need to apologize; the treats are for everyone to enjoy. :)

[govi20.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful and yet so sad story. The love between the brothers is so evident, which makes Faramir's grief even worse. Wonderfully written as always, Alex. * cries*

[splix.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, dear. I'm glad the love is evident in the story; I'm so grateful to PJ for giving us a little glimpse of them in the film. But I'm so firmly in the Boromir LIVES camp it's hard to return to canon. :(

[mooms.livejournal.com]

*sigh* So very poignant and beautiful. Poor, tragic, romantic Boromir. :(

I agree that the pictures are perfect illustrations.

[splix.livejournal.com]

It made me so sad. Thank you very much. And I love those pictures. Such tenderness.

[eve_n_furter]

Beautiful imagery, sad story. Thanks!

[splix.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

This is so wonderful Alex, it is perfect. You have waved your magic wand and produced an enchanted tale of the two loving brothers.
I love the sentiment between them and the way they are open with each other without being fully open to spare the others feelings. But then they are so close they don’t need much words for the other to understand.
You have managed to catch Faramir’s true spirit and his love and fear for his brother. And Boromir who hides his own fears just to make his brother feel good and stop worrying.
It’s such a lovely tale, Alex, I can’t thank you enough for it.
It shall find a place in my memories. THANK YOU, DEAR HEART.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I loved that you caught the openness, and the protectiveness as well. Their relationship is such a poignant one to me. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and you are most welcome. :)

[sneezer222.livejournal.com]

Oh good gracious, I should not have read this at work. I think I must hug the kitty for a good hour to cheer myself up. :)

Wonderful bit of brotherly love there.

[splix.livejournal.com]

It made me sadder than I'd anticipated! I'm in such denial. Thank you so much, Linda!

[peersrogue.livejournal.com]

Wonderful - sobs. Beautiful moments between two loving souls about to be torn apart and not reunited in this world. Too sad and very moving lovely little piece.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much. I found myself sad writing it as well. Boromir. :(

[alex-quine.livejournal.com]

The moments before parting for these brothers are suffused with love, some teasing, and although Boromir tries to hide it these must be some apprehension on both sides and a sense of their being caught up in something so big, so terrible in the old sense of the word, that they could be crushed by events over which they'll have little control - and so they joke and at the end grope for the words to say what they truly feel. A very poignant scene.

[splix.livejournal.com]

It's business as usual for them, on the surface anyway, and they're protecting one another, which is also business as usual, but the undercurrents are most definitely there. Thank you for your thoughtful comments.

[suechosethis.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful Alex :)

I did find myself hoping it would have a happy twist while at the same time the poignancy of their exchange pointed otherwise. You do this so well, make me smile and cry at the same time.

Love the pictures too xx

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much, Sue! I'm glad you read, and appreciate your comments. :) And yes, lovely pictures indeed. :)

[kimberlite.livejournal.com]

Faramir frowned, seeking in memory the last grey-misted tendrils of the dream that had dissolved before waking, leaving him with the ragged edges of a vast and nameless terror. “Then it was lost.”

Wow, that's lovely and heartbreaking. Such a beautiful moment between brothers.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much! <3

[helena-s-renn.livejournal.com]

i found it amusing that you made boromir something of a womanizer, what with all his perfume-drenched letters. (appropriate! at least he remembered who was who)

but yes, so sad. book- and movie-verse faramir loves his brother so deeply that... well, it was horrible when boromir died, and then to see faramir's reaction was like bleach in an open wound. those dreams. weren't they often shared? i wonder what boromir is not revealing here, or if he was mercifully unaware of this one.

[splix.livejournal.com]

I don't think Boromir would have a problem connecting with the ladies. :D

You're right, the dreams were shared, and I feel like Boromir must have felt something, even if he didn't articulate it so as not to worry Faramir. Thank you for the kind comments.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

This is such a heartbreaking, lovely story. I would weep with Faramir...always for Boromir.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Thank you so very much.

[honscot.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. The combination of that last line and the picture brought tears to my eyes. Lovely fic, though, once again. You know I love me some Faramir (mmmm), and I had to chuckle over Boromir's reaction to the mingled perfume of a score of lovelorn ladies. :)

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you. That final exchange of looks between the brothers always brings me to tears. :( I'm so glad you liked the story - thank you very, very much!

[shegollum.livejournal.com]

so heartbreaking and what wonderful pictures to go with it. i've always felt that david wenham was overlooked as a wonderful faramir (of course, all of the 'second tier' of characters, for want of a better descriptor, were often overlooked). everything in his eyes and the set of his mouth makes clear all that he felt and feared for his brother. i love that you show the lightness of the two brothers and then show even more deeply the love they had when boromir is lost. really well done!

[splix.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I marvel at the cast as a whole - whatever Peter Jackson did, it was magic, you know? Everything seemed just so perfect, and everyone was stellar. I've been thinking of Boromir and Faramir lately and their great affection for one another, so much love. Thank you again.