Immortalitui // Faramir 🥀

Chapter Thirty-Four - Worthy

Word Count: 2,536 words. 

Warnings: None. 

Gondor... years ago...

"Are you leading me astray Faramir, son of Denethor?" Arathiel posed as he led her from the town.

By the walls of Gondor, vines of ivy ran up the rocks, curling around the white brick and pulling at the mortar that had been used to fuse them together. They had not lasted eternity as Elendil had believed they would. 

"I shall never lead you into danger, my lady," he returned, hand poised on the hilt of his sword as he glanced around.

In a similar position, Arathiel followed his gaze, but did not see, nor sense, anything of worth. "Is there something wrong?"

His eyes met hers. "I need you to trust me."

"I do not."

Tilting his head, Faramir smiled. "How can you know I am unworthy of your trust when you have never placed your hand in mine?"

Pushing away a falling bundle of the ivy, he revealed a hidden entrance. It was not one that Arathiel remembered nor had heard of before. At the base of Gondor, where they stood now, there should be no entrance.

With his other hand, Faramir gestured for her to take it. The she-elf hesitated but did as he requested, linking her fingers with his as he led her into the unknown.

"What is this place?" she asked as darkness encompassed them. The light that shone through the ivy was enough for her to make out the ground beneath her, but Arathiel was not worried of becoming lost. Faramir seemed to know exactly where he was going.

"A secret," he returned.

"That much is clear. I have not snuck round since my youth," Arathiel told him with a smile that she knew he could not see.

"And how long ago was that?" Faramir asked then.

She thought for a moment. "I do not remember."

Faramir stopped and turned. Gently taking her other hand in his, the man looked down at Arathiel with a matching smile. "Close your eyes," he requested.

"And have you kill me when my greatest sense is hindered?" the elf countered.

"It is only for surprise," Faramir explained.

"I do not like surprise, did I not tell you that?"

Rubbing his calloused thumb across the top of her hand, Faramir regarded her fondly. "I shall never lead you astray, my lady," he promised.

Laughing, Arathiel truly smiled for the first time in a long time. "Very well." She closed her eyes.

Allowing Faramir to lead her further underground was perhaps a mistake. While Arathiel knew this, she couldn't ignore the overwhelming sense of safety with his hand in hers. She feared it.

"Faramir," she attempted.

"We are almost there, Arathiel," he assured her.

She shook her head despite not being able to see. "It is ever so improper for me to be here with you unchaperoned."

He stopped and, with her other senses, Arathiel took note that he faced her. Faramir stepped closer, analysing her calmed expression. He rose his hand, reaching out towards her face, but stopped himself short of allowing his unworthy fingers to find her cheek.

"You can open your eyes now," he told her.

Arathiel's gaze was on the Second Son of Denethor as she allowed her eyes light. She saw then how his gaze had been pinned to her expression.