Henneth Annûn Story Archive

Is this your month? Post your theme here, we'll be watching for it!

 

OK, well, I was a January baby, so here goes.

Coming out of the Don't Worry, Be Happy challenge, I would like to see pieces in which Denethor and Faramir exhibit a functional father-son relationship. Faramir does not need to be a child still.

 

Happy belated birthday!

Patrimony

All Gondor lies before him, black and red, smelling of yellowed age.

"Tell me all of them!" the boy demands, imperiously. Behind him, his father laughs, and ink-stained fingers trace the line:

Cair Andros. Henneth Annûn. Osgiliath. Minas Tirith. Pelargir. Dol Amroth. Anduin that runs throughout, past Tol Brandir to the sea.

"And that one?" the boy asks, pointing to the tower in the mountains. Silence, ere his father answers:

"The enemy took it long ago."

"I shall get it back!" Faramir declares.

The arms about him tighten, draw him back into a proud embrace. "One day, Faramir. One day...."

 

Splendid. Thank you

 

Faramir does not need to be a child still.

Thanks for that line, Altariel. It provided me with much-needed inspiration.

Fealty and Service

"Here do I swear fealty and service …"

The words flow from his lips with a certainty I have scarce heard from him. Surely he is his brother's brother. But more than that he is his father's son.

Faramir. Sufficient jewel I named you, but you have proved me wrong. Much more than sufficient.

Old hand covers new as I lay my palm on the hilt of your sword. Our eyes catch, and we both see each other as never before. Kindred flesh, men of Gondor. The bond we share is now cemented by oath.

My son.

"And this do I hear…"

 

Oh splendid, Marta, an excellent moment to choose. Thank you!

 

Oh splendid, Marta, an excellent moment to choose. Thank you!

You're very welcome. And glad you liked the moment ... thank you for the inspiration.

Marta

 

Well, it's a little late, but mine was January 7th. My first love is the twins, and I write about them more than any other character.

Jay

 

A Valediction

The horn’s call faded and Faramir watched the Steward’s fingers tighten on the stone. “Do not regret you choice,” he searched for comfort as they walked towards the Tower, “his strength has always been our hope.”

The hall offered sanctuary from the pitiless glare outside. Denethor poured the wine, cool and fragrant, and turned towards his son. “So, it seems we must seek to fill your brother’s place as best we can,” he said, and Faramir felt cheered by his father’s ghost of a smile.

Their cups chimed fleetingly together. “To Boromir!” their voices joined in the ritual of farewell.

****

Many happy returns, Altariel! I hope they’re being sufficiently functional in this and sufficiently father-and-son. The title might seem a little familiar to you. It really did creep up on me unawares – after I decided that ‘Toasting Together’ was inappropriate to the tone – then I tweaked a little here and there

 

Love it, Alawa. Thank you. Functional and even affectionate.


‘Toasting Together’

ow!

 

Jay, curse you! ;-) I should be doing a million other things but instead I got bitten by your wee nuzgul and so, if you don't mind a quickly very beta-ish written drabble, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!

*********************
They say we must choose when our father leaves, choose to stay and die a mortal death or sail to those who love us and wait… choose to be mortal or Elf, we who have never been either.

Father does not ask but we see him watch and know that he wonders. Perhaps he does know - but does not want the knowledge that tears him between us and Mother.

We made our choice when we rode into battle on the Pelennor, rode with a star for Elendil bound to our brows, rode with our brother, Estel… hope of mortals.

**********************

Avon

 

Splendid. Thank you

No problem. Denethor's a frightening addiction.

And Avon: wonderful!

 

Jay, here's another drabble on the twins. Evil nuzgûl.

We stand with you cradled in our arms and you laugh up at us. Mother and Father named you well. Little sister, the stars shine in your name.

***

We could not prevent your father’s death, but you we will protect. Darkness will not be your end.

***

Forever is too long a time for mortals to comprehend. You have both passed beyond the boundaries of Arda and there is no longer anything left for us here. We go now to join our parents, to wait for the ages to pass and for forever to come.

Eru willing, we will meet again.

 

Thank you, Avon and Elvenesse!

I love both drabbles - and get to see both possible fates of the twins, mortal or elf. The drabbles are so sad, whichever fate they chose - but whatever it was, I know they chose together.

Thank you.

Jay

 

Another twins one for Jay (you've obviously picked popular characters )

A decision

The decision is made.

Although father cautions us to be careful and tells us it will not bring back that which was lost, nor restore our broken family, I can tell he would do the same in our place.

Arwen cries, for she does not wish us to leave. But home will never be the same again and there seems little point in staying. There is nothing for us here any more.

The decision is made and we will ride out tomorrow. We will not rest until we kill all orcs so no others will suffer what our mother did.


Nic

 

Nic, you as well! Thank you! This is the best belated birthday I've ever had.

Thank you, all of you.

Jay

 

Avon and Elvenesse, were your drabbles finished? Did you have titles for them?

May I move them to the January chapter in "HASA Birthday Cards"?

Thanks,

Dwim

 

I just want to edit it, sorry - there's a line there that isn't IMO working. I'll try to get to it soon.

Avon

 

Sorry, I meant to post it, but it don't have a title. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Avon, no problem. You know how to get into HAWriters, so whenever you're ready.

Elvenesse... er... "Cleaving"? Has that nice set of contradictory definitions that both seem appropriate. On the other hand, that may connote Appendix A 's Tale of Aragorn and Arwen too strongly.

 

I've been working on this because I thought the middle section was very weak. I don't know it is a lot better now but would anyone like to look at the two and see if they tdo think the second version is better? Thanks.

First version:
They say we must choose when our father leaves, choose to stay and die a mortal death or sail to those who love us and wait… choose to be mortal or Elf, we who have never been either.

Father does not ask but we see him watch and know that he wonders. Perhaps he does know - but does not want the knowledge that tears him between us and Mother.

We made our choice when we rode into battle on the Pelennor, rode with a star for Elendil bound to our brows, rode with our brother, Estel… hope of mortals.

New version:
They say we must choose when our father leaves… choose to stay and die a mortal death or sail to those who love us and who wait… choose to be mortal or Elf, we who have never been either.

Father does not ask - why ask for knowledge that will tear him between us and Mother - and we do not tell.

We made our choice when we rode into battle on the Pelennor - rode with a star for Elendil bound to our brows, rode to save the world of Men, rode with our brother, Estel… hope of mortals.


Avon

 

A late request:
I would like to see a meeting between Gilraen and Elrond, any time, any topic.

Imhiriel
...who shares her birthday (3rd of January) with Tolkien...

 

Happy (very late) Birthday, Imhiriel. It just so happens that I've been thinking about Gilraen a lot recently:

Sons

Elrond found Gilraen in the garden doing nothing. He sat beside her and waited for her to speak.

"I got used to having him at home," she said, "but now..." she trailed off.

"Do not worry, Elladan and Elrohir will protect him."

"The last time Arathorn went out with your sons he didn't come back."

There was silence.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply they were responsible."

Elrond turned to look her in the eyes. "I cannot promise you your son will return and I cannot promise mine will either. We share the same fears."

Gilraen smiled in understanding.


Nic

 

Happy (very late) Birthday, Imhiriel. It just so happens that I've been thinking about Gilraen a lot recently:

Oooh, thank you *so* much!

For a long time I hesitated to request a Birthday drabble of my own, because I hadn't "shown" myself much in HA/HASA. Now, however, I think I feel like I'm more involved and thus part of the group.

I very much like how you found, despite all the differences, a common bond between Elrond and Gilraen: being a parent and sharing their concerns about their children, especially when they already have grown up.

I have, however, one question:
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply they were responsible."

I assume that it is Gilraen who says this? Shouldn't it say "irresponsible"?

Oh, no, wait a minute... Now I get it : The "responsible" refers to whether they are responsible for Arathorn's death! I'm sorry, I was a bit slow on the uptake ! D'oh!

Thanks again for this lovely present!

Imhiriel

 

I'm so glad you liked this, Imhiriel and that you feel part of the group.

I was running out of words on this drabble, which is probably why some of it isn't so clear. But I think Gilraen could equally say irresponsible - it makes sense either way, even if the meaning is slightly different.


Nic

 

Happy belated birthday, Imhiriel.

Leavetaking

Gilraen and her escort mount and prepare to depart. Dawn is near, but the grey mist of morning hides it.

The Master of the House has come to see them off, and she gives him her hand in farewell. "My thanks are little enough return for years of shelter, yet I offer them nonetheless."

"They are more than sufficient, Gilraen. But will you not remain?"

"There is no longer any victory it is possible for us to share, Master Elrond. In the end, one of us will lose a child. I will not stay to see who it must be."

 

Oh, that's so sad Forodwaith, especially the line that says:

In the end, one of us will lose a child

I hadn't thought of that but it is true.


Nic

 

Thank you Forodwaith! That's how I look like at the moment:

I very much like how you show Gilraen's backbone and strength. Her seriousness, maybe even grimness. I don't see her as a woman who is much given to laughter or light-heartedness (how could she), and this is much evident in your drabble. As well as the respect she must have evoked in anyone who knew her, whether Men or mighty Elves.

Imhiriel

 

But I think Gilraen could equally say irresponsible - it makes sense either way, even if the meaning is slightly different.

Thanks for indulging me .

Imhiriel

 

To Imhiriel-

Happy Belated Birthday! Hope you have a great year


Inheritance

The lady’s countenance is grave. Mayhap she guesses the reason of my summons?

‘Gilraen-’

‘Before you begin, my lord, I will ask if you’ve seen him.’

‘I have. He’s become all I had hoped he’d be.’

She nods, her gesture revealing lines of care I hadn’t noticed. I reach for her hand. ‘He is ready.’

Gilraen winces; her hand tightly clasps mine.

‘It’s time, for him and for us.’

‘Is he, then, to become his father’s son,’ she gives me a fleeting smile, ‘to be Estel no more?’

‘Nay, my lady. He will be Estel still- now more than ever.’

 

Happy Belated Birthday! Hope you have a great year

Thanks, Starlight. My year is improving daily - no wonder with these wonderful drabbles !

I like how you have managed to use all these contractions to your advantage and so that they at the same time still fit the protagonists.

And I love the last line!

Imhiriel

 

Oh Starlight, that last line is just perfect in so many ways.

I loved the way you showed what Gilraen's feelings were about it all - she wanted to keep him safe forever but now he's grown up he's all ready to go out and follow in his father's footsteps - although hopefully not with the dying part.


Nic

 

Imhiriel, I'm very glad you enjoyed it

The contractions were definitely an issue. I wasn't sure about them, but I wanted to preserve a few bits of information that I thought were important and insightful, so I decided to go along with them. I'm glad to learn you thought they worked.

Many happy returns!

Starlight

 

Thanks, Nic. I thought of you and Elrond when I wrote it I'm very glad it worked for you.

Thanks!

Starlight

 

 

To Altariel

Investment

The man flattens his palms on the table, looks at them briefly then back at the chessboard, studying the perfect, almost artistic arrangement of the few remaining pieces: Black corners his White.

His gaze shifts to the man opposite him whose palms are also flattened upon the table, eyes deep and dark as his own, and he smiles, faintly. ‘You have improved, Faramir,’ he says.

‘We- I’ve not played in ages.’

‘You play this game every day of your life.’ The smile broadens. How could I ever regret all those hours I spent teaching you? ‘Well done, son. Well done.’

***

The inspiration for this drabble came from Altariel's 'The King is Dead,' one of my favorites from her works. I've re-written it several times, but I think this is the most functional of them all. I couldn't, however, bear to part with the title...

Happy Belated Birthday, Altariel!

Starlight

 

Not happy but functional, IMO.

Tidings of Death
It was just after the fifth hour that you suddenly stopped and turned pale. The goblet in your hand slithered to the floor in a pool of spilling red.

“Faramir?” I asked

You scarcely breathed but in a thread of voice said, “Boromir… I hear his horn. He is calling, Father.”

I stepped to where you stared unseeingly out a window and watched you anxiously.

Suddenly your head went down.

“It blows no more, Father.” You turned and looked at me, eyes blind. “He is gone.”

Tremors shook you and I reached for you and held you… my only son.


***********************

Happy belated birthday,

Avon

 

Starlight, I didn't check this forum for a couple of days, and almost missed this!

I was really hoping that someone would write a chess-related drabble. This is wonderful:

How could I ever regret all those hours I spent teaching you? ‘Well done, son. Well done.’

Thank you so much!

 

Avon, that's a great moment to pick.

Tremors shook you and I reached for you and held you… my only son.

Definitely functional. Thank you, very much.

 

Thanks, Nic. I thought of you and Elrond when I wrote it

Ooh, thank you, I'm honoured


Nic

 

Combing through the old challenges. For Altariel - better late than next year Reach Hastening to the armsmaster for a report on my second-born son, I caught sight of the boy himself on the wall above. "Faramir! What are you doing?" Spitting over the parapet, I could see, as every yokel in the city had done before him. He stepped back. "Bor'mir said I could not hit the enemy from here." I waited. He lifted his eyes. "I thought I could." Those grief-grey eyes, the straight set of the jaw — like his mother… like his brother. "You need a weapon with a longer reach," I said. I glanced below. Yes, the armsmaster still waited. Gemma

 

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