Elessar paced nervously in his personal bed-chamber at Minas Tireth. Beregond
was deserving of death. What he had done, he had done for the love of Boromir.
In Beregond's eyes, Elessar saw reflected back to him, the man's love for
Faramir. Beregond and he were mirrors of one another. Both of them had been
enslaved by the sexual prowess of Gondor's stewards. He could not kill what he
pitied.

A knock at the door signaled Faramir's arrival.

"Come in." said the King.

"Hail my King." Faramir entered and bowed deeply, his sword clanked loudly on
the floor.

"Remove your sword Faramir. You will not have need of it here. Leave it with
the guards." The King replied.

"As you wish" Faramir rose unfastening his swordbelt, turning quickly he moved
to hand it and his scabbard to the men at the door. He scratched his arms and
smoothed the front of his pants. It made him a bit nervous not to have it by his
side.

"Make sure we are not disturbed" the King addressed his men as they closed the
massive doors, bolting them from the outside.

Nervously Faramir licked his lips and his voice shook slightly as he addressed
the King.

"I cannot thank you enough Elessar for sparing the life of Beregond. He is a
noble and righteous man, if a bit headstrong. He will serve the needs of Gondor
well."

The King turned to him arching one eyebrow "The needs of Gondor and your
personal ones….are one in the same it would seem." He said openly.

Silence.

Elessar moved to a small table pouring each of them a glass of wine. He gulped
his glass and then poured himself another.

Turning he handed a glass to Faramir. "Drink, I would have your tongue loose."

Faramir took the glass and drank it empty.

Elessar gestured to the table, Faramir moved to take up more wine and swiftly
downed another glass.

"Sit Steward and servant of Gondor, let us talk of personal needs." Elessar said
as he sat down into a chair.

Increasingly apprehensive, Faramir poured another glass and moved to take up a
chair opposite the King. He purposefully slowed his speech and tried to allow
himself to relax. What was going on here?

"Well I am soon to be wed and Eowyn and I." He stopped abruptly seeing
Elessar hold up his flat hand.

"No Faramir, you will not speak of Eowyn, nor I of Arwen."

The King's blue eyes smoldered into his. Faramir saw the flash of sudden desire
in the face of his King. He wondered if Beregond had told him their secret. No,
he was sure he would not divulge it. Elessar was casting at shadows.

"Please Elessar if their is something that you wish to know. Some errand for the
Throne you wish to send me on. I will oblige…." Faramir began.

"No,… well not in the way that you think." The King replied. How so like his
brother he is in this. So quick to let another take the lead. So seemingly evasive.
He wondered if his naked body would look like Boromirs'.

"Tell me Faramir, what was it like….I mean to say……what did it feel like to
have Beregond serve beneath you?" Elessar asked. He let his eyes dart quickly
to the huge bed that dominated the room.

Faramir was struck dumb. He knew. He was elven raised; had spent time as a
Ranger in the north. It could have been just a look that tipped him. This King
gave new meaning to the word 'astute'.

He would not allow himself to consider it. Even one so beautiful. Sleeping with a
monarch was dangerous. A good way to get your head chopped off. Of course
not sleeping with a monarch was dangerous too. Faramir allowed his eyes to
roam a little over the King's muscular frame.

"Beregond has been my friend for years, there is nothing he would not do for me
if I asked. I enjoy both his friendship and his service to me." Faramir replied.

"Are you my friend Faramir?" Elessar said "For the service I require of you is
best suited if we are friends. Did I tell you that your brother and I were friends?
At times I served under him as he at times served under me, though we were not
friends for long. I loved him deeply Faramir, maybe as much as you love
Beregond, maybe deeper. Do you understand me Faramir?….he stood up and
began to pace. "I miss him terribly Faramir and who is like my Boromir?… only
you. I would want us friends in this but here me Faramir. You will serve your
king in this way whether you are willing or not."

Faramir reached for his sword unconsciously. His eyes were caught and held by
the King's.

In one swift movement the King was to him with the knife from his belt held fast
to Faramir's throat. "Do you wish me harm Faramir?" he queried.

Faramir's breath halted as he gathered his thoughts. The knife was cold.

"Do you wish me dead Elassar. For I live and not my Brother." Faramir replied
tautly feeling the sharp edge of steel resting against his throat.

"Nay Faramir" Elessar moved back sheathing the knife. "I do not wish it."

He moved to the bed to lay back against the soft feel of the sheets. "Go Faramir,
If you will not lay with me of your own accord, I will not force you. We will not
speak of it again. The look of you, your manner of speech…I was grieved with
passion and want of your brother Boromir. I yearn deeply for him."

Elessar rolled on the bed to look at him extending his hand "Please Faramir
come and lay with me…I beseech you."

Faramir rose from the chair and strode stiffly to the King's bed. "Show me how
my brother served you my liege. I will try to do it in the exact same way." He
smiled thinly "But know this my King", and he bent down to look closely into
Elessar's face. "I am better with my tongue than he ever was" he whispered.

He even quips like his brother, Elessar thought. Reaching up, he pulled Faramir
down into a kiss.