I came looking for this story after I heard it praised elsewhere. The stakes at the beginning: incredibly intense, with Faramir running for his life from a mounted horseman, and being borne back forcibly to face, not only Wormtongue (who we can expect to see in a villainous capacity) but a wrathful Theoden and Eomer as well. This is a story that circumvents the usual expectations: seeing force being used to wring the “truth” from Faramir is a lot more disturbing, coming from a friend. And then, as it was for Faramir, it is kind of amazing to see how Eomer put the situation to rights, through the novel approach of going to Theoden and telling him the truth. How much he told, you leave ambiguous, but the fact that Theoden decrees that Faramir is not to see Eomer again for the remainder of his stay is telling. Yet the old king is still willing to free him, and to protect what remains of his privacy: “As you can see, the seal is unbroken.”

It is probably telling that I should be so surprised (and grateful) to Theoden for his forbearance – after all, no one should have to fear the kind of censure and ill-treatment that Faramir fears on account of his sexual orientation. But under these circumstances, that little feels like a lot. So much so that, for me, Theoden’s role toward the end actually became the most interesting part of the story.

You could have gone for a “safer” ending, with Eomer simply riding out to Helm’s Deep and Faramir left to lick his wounds, relief to have escaped a crueler fate tempered by a sadness for what might have been and a lasting scar on his sense of self and sexuality. But I’m glad you went the way you did, with the night interlude between the two men.

Morwen,

I’m glad you like this story and Faramir’s portrayal. I find him a difficult character to write. Thanks for your ocmments.

I loved every piece of this! Thank you thank you thank you… it was so good! you’re a talented one – I love how portrayed Faramir’s emotions and feelings, and so many details. Lovely!