"Saving Prince Theodred
Part 1
by Beryll

 

The heat was oppressive. The sun stood right above the deck, drenching it in glaring white light. Everything seemed to hang down limply, ropes, the reefed up sails and the men, too. Those men who where above deck. The sea around them was as still and flat as a mirror, reflecting the glaring sunlight as well.

Faramir silently thanked whatever gods might be responsible that they had made it back to Hawk's Nest before the calm hit. They could have been stuck on the open sea for days and they had been short on fresh water.

Under the shade of his hat, he squinted at the other ships in the harbor. He counted five. Obviously, other pirate captains had decided that it was too hot as well. He did recognize Captain Elladan's 'Siren' and made a mental note to look for him in the evening. Maybe he would be able to dodge jealous Boromir to spend some time with the sexy elf.

Right now, the man from Gondor, who had been Faramir's lover for nearly a year, was ashore with Eomer. The captain thought it was insane to venture out in the killing heat of high noon, but on the other hand, Eomer's sister Eowyn could be just as killing if she thought her brother was neglecting her. So he had decided to visit her the moment they docked. Why Boromir had volunteered to accompany him was beyond Faramir.

He leaned back into the scant shadow the afterdeck cast and tried to think of something cold.

The only thing that came to his mind, was a couple of extremely unpleasant nights he had spent as a recruit in the Gondorian army. They had been on the march from some battle to some battle in the middle of winter and the noble commanding the troupe had thought it acceptable losses if a couple of men died from the cold on the march. Faramir tried hard to recall how his icy, numb feet had felt, how he had constantly rubbed his hands, huddling in his woolen cloak so as not to freeze solid, but the sweat slowly running down his brow made that rather difficult.

In Gondor it would be winter now. Maybe it would be snowing. For the first time in years, Faramir thought of the family he had left behind, wondering if his parents still worked the same farm, bowing to their lord. Or if his brothers had taken over by now. Or if they had been as stupid as he had been and joined the army.

With a sigh he took off his hat and started fanning himself with it. It was a pity he was wanted by the Gondorian authorities for piracy. Otherwise he could have paid them a visit and enjoyed the cold of winter. Maybe even gifted them with a few extra coins. But, they probably wouldn't even recognize him and - even thinking hard - he could not come up with a reason why he would want to see them or give them any of his hard earned money.

Looking out over the sea Faramir considered a swim to cool himself down. The water was as warm as any bathtub after the long hot summer, but at least he could wash off the sweat and peel off the clothes sticking to his skin. Then again, maybe he should wait until dusk and take a certain elf along.

With a grin, he remembered what Isildur had told him about his brush with the elven twins. He had carefully kept quiet about his own experiences with Elladan. After all, they knew each other quite intimately. Something that was difficult to circumvent when one was stuck in a boring prison cell awaiting execution and the only thing to keep your mind off the gallows was fucking. But, that had been a long time ago. Though the elf probably hadn't changed one bit. In his looks as well as in the generosity he bestowed his affection with.

"What puts that seedy smile on your face?" a voice interrupted his thoughts and Faramir guiltily looked up at Boromir, who had come back on board unnoticed and now stood over his Captain, frowning.

"Just thinking of you." Faramir answered smoothly and was rewarded with a tired smile.

"Yeah, I bet." Boromir sat down next to him, wiping sweat from his face. The frown did not ease from his brow and Faramir realized that it had nothing to do with him.

"What is it?" he asked, unable to imagine anything but the heat that could be bothering his lover and self-appointed bodyguard. "Is Eowyn okay?"

Boromir nodded. "Yeah, she is as fine as ever. Cursing and spitting cause of the weather but apart from that her usual cheery self." He pulled off his boots and allowed his feet to cool in the shade.

"So?" Faramir asked again.

"So what?" Boromir asked back, trying to look nonchalant.

"Boro, you're a horrible liar. What's wrong?"

A deep sigh answered him. "I... Fara... I need to tell you something. But you won't like to hear it and I don't know where to start."

That did not exactly sound assuring. Faramir tried hard to look reassuring and remain quiet.

"Please just hear me out before you kick me off this ship, okay?" Boromir continued, which did nothing to ease Faramir's mind.

"What the hell is it? You sound like you committed a major crime... apart from piracy that is..."

Boromir laughed humorlessly. "Yeah, you could say so. I lied to you."

"Really." A dangerous edge was stealing into Faramir's voice now and Boromir noticed.

He sat up straighter to face his Captain.

"I... I told you I was serving in the Gondorian army before the elves took me prisoner, remember?"

Faramir nodded, a very bad feeling starting in his gut.

"That's only half the truth. I was a commander in that army. A pretty high one actually. When I was wounded in battle I managed to strip off my rank insignia before I was captured. So the elves just thought me a regular soldier not a... prince."

Faramir tried hard to keep his face carefully neutral at this revelation, but some of his feeling must have shown cause Boromir hesitated a moment before he continued. "I am King Theoden's youngest son. I... I never wanted to be a commander or have a life at court, all those restrictions are just... well... when the elves took me I thought they would surely kill me as I had heard they did with their prisoners of war. Instead, they put me to work as a slave. And when you showed up... I was speaking the truth when I said I didn't want to go back. I wish I could just stay with you..." His voice trailed into silence, as he looked down at his hands, not able to face his Captain.

For quite a while, Faramir remained quiet as well, trying to comprehend what he had just heard. A prince of Gondor? This really was a rather ridiculous joke, right? How had Eomer and Boromir come up with such a sick idea?

But, Boromir was sitting right in front of him, nervously fingering the frazzling hem of his pants. Looking like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Not like a proud noble. Not like all the nobles Faramir had cursed almost as long as he could think back.

He caught himself desperately hoping that it was just a joke. That Boromir would look up laughing to see if he had managed to convince his Captain with this nonsense, but when he finally did look up it was with fear in his startling green eyes. Fear of how Faramir would judge him now.

What the hell was he supposed to do with this information? And why was Boromir telling him now? Now that was an interesting question.

"And why do you tell me this right now? Why not keep quiet?"

The pained expression in Boromir's eyes threatened to soften the edges of Faramir's anger at being deceived. "I... I've heard news in the 'Dead Gull'. Faramir... the elves killed my eldest brother Denethor in the same battle I was taken prisoner. But I didn't worry cause there still my brother Theodred. But now he has been captured as well. The throne of Gondor is without a heir. I have to go back. I can't stay a nameless pirate and enjoy my life when my father and my country need me."

That was simply too much. Faramir gave in to his anger and punched Boromir in the face. Hard.

Boromir did not try to dodge the blow. Instead, he slowly raised his fingers to his now bleeding lip, then swallowed hard. The sadness in his eyes was threatening to spill over. "I'm sorry." he said, his voice tight, "I never wanted you to know. I would give my right arm to stay... to stay with you. But I can't. I just can't..."

His eyes were begging for any sign of forgiveness but Faramir was to busy fighting down his own rage. He felt the urge to rip something or someone apart. When Boromir got up and walked away, he just stayed where he was, trying to come to terms with the sudden pain. His pride fought like a wounded animal but his heart only felt the pain of his lover leaving. Boromir was nearly down to the dock when he finally regained control of his raging emotions. He jumped up quickly.

"Boromir!" he called after the other man.

He stopped but he did not turn to face Faramir.

Faramir followed him. "We are not through yet. I have not given you permission to leave my ship."

A shudder ran through Boromir's body but still he did not turn. "I beg permission to leave the ship, Captain." he said stiffly.

A slow grin spread on Faramir's face. "Denied." he said, walking up behind Boromir, putting a heavy hand on his shoulder and turning him around, so he had to face the pirate captain. "You will not get away that easily, 'prince'" He put all his sarcasm in that one word. "I will not let you walk out of my life, Boromir." he continued, his voice much softer now. "I have no idea how, but I will find a way to keep you. And I always get what I want." With that he drew the other man in his arms roughly, to kiss the blood from his lips.

---

"So what do you think?" Faramir asked, gazing at Captain Elladan who was sitting across the table, nursing a large mug of iced tea, pressing it against his brow to cool himself. He still looked incredibly good, his glossy black hair held back from his face by several braids. Only wearing a pair of frazzling sailors trousers hacked short at the knees he looked more like a sailor out of work than a pirate captain, but the rapier at his side was the weapon of a noble man and Faramir was rather sure that it was made of mithril.

The pretty elf smirked at the human opposite him. "Apart from the fact that I think you are mad as a dog on a hot summer day?"

Faramir snorted. From anybody but the elf he would have considered this an insult, but the merry sparkle in Elladan's eyes made it impossible to be angry with him. One of his worst traits actually. "Yeah, apart from that."

Elladan leaned back in his chair, taking a sip from the tea, some seriousness in his face now. "I think you will die. I know you have pulled off a lot of stuff others would have burned their fingers on. But this..." Elladan shook his head, "this will get you killed."

"That's not what I asked." Faramir replied, frowning now. He knew full well that he would be taking a ridiculously high risk. But what the hell. One had to live life to the fullest. At least he would die doing something heroic. And monumentally stupid of course.

The elf sighed. "Umbar. They would have taken him to Umbar. It's were the Lord Cirdan rules. Anywhere else would have been too risky. And it is the best fortified elven city south of the Misty Mountains."

"Fuck." Faramir commented dryly. He raised his own mug and took a sip of his ale. That was bad news indeed.

"You'll never get in there, Faramir. And if you do, you got a snowflakes chance in hell to get out again. Not even mentioning rescuing a Gondorian prince from the dungeons. He'll be guarded double, triple... whatever. He's the ultimate prize. As long as they hold him they have Gondor by the throat. And Lord Cirdan rules with an iron fist. He's feared even among elves for his merciless discipline."

Faramir remained silent, staring off into nothing. And it had been such a nice idea. He went and rescued prince Theodred and brought him back to Gondor and got to keep Boromir in exchange. But Elladan was right. It would be madness to try and enter Umbar. So that left him with the options of chaining Boromir to his bed and never ever letting him out again or allowing him to return to Gondor to become heir to the throne. And then he would never see his lover again. Neither option was particularly attractive though Faramir heavily leaned towards the 'keeping Boromir chained to the bed' version.

He did not notice Captain Elladan's thoughtful look and he also failed to notice the sudden adventurous twinkle in his eyes. So he was caught by surprise when the elf spoke again.

"Unless of course you had an elf to take you in." Elladan said. "A noble elf who is highly respected and wouldn't be questioned about bringing his human slaves along..."

"What are you talking about?" Faramir asked, trying to stomp out the desperate hope suddenly blooming in his heart. "If I recall correctly you are wanted for high treason, piracy, murder, theft, robbery and rape in several cases as well as insulting several elven nobles, including your king."

The wide grin on Elladan's face could only be called reckless. "Yeah, true. But my brother Elrohir is not."

"Oh..." was all Faramir was able to reply when it dawned on him what the elf was suggesting.

"You think you're the only one around here who takes care of his reputation?" Elladan asked, obviously warming to his idea quickly. "If we can pull that off... my name will be inscribed in lead on some column to forever remind younger elves of my shame."

"Elladan has anyone lately told you that you are insane and dangerous?" Faramir asked seriously.

The elf nodded vigorously. "Not a day passes without Hama telling me so. But whoever listens to his first mate..."

At that comment Faramir had to grin. "Yeah. What do you think? Will they call it theft or will they invent a whole new name for your crime?"

Elladan just laughed. "So what do you say?"

"I say that I will blame you when I swing from the gallows in Umbar next to you." Faramir answered and raised his mug of ale to toast the elven captain, who raised his own mug to toast him back.

 

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll

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