For the Tolkien_weekly "Tree" Challenge

[lady_branwyn]

Title: Three for the White Tree--Part 1
Author: Branwyn
Rating: G
Universe: Bookverse
Characters: Denethor, Faramir


As he strode across the courtyard, guards scattered before the Steward like dry leaves. “What is this foolishness, Faramir?”

Crouched under withered branches, the child held out a watering pot. His tunic was soaked and bedraggled with mud. “Maybe the Tree just needs water.”

Denethor closed his eyes for a moment then spoke as gently as he could. “I fear it has been too long. The Tree has been dead for years.”

“But I want it to live!” Faramir wailed, clutching the watering pot to his breast.

“So do I,” Denethor murmured as he gathered his son in his arms.

Comments

[shirebound]

Ohhh, this is so moving. What a rare and precious moment between father and son.

[lady_branwyn]

I am glad you liked it--Denethor did show the ability to be disarmed by youth and vulnerability when he met Pippin, and that was later after he had been further worn down and warped.

[raksha_the_demon]

Very nice! Little Faramir and his father find a common interest and a common regret. It's very telling that Faramir does more than want the Tree to live; he actually tries to restore the poor dead thing to life with water. He's the kind of person who perseveres, even in the face of difficult/impossible odds, even as a tiny boy. And we know he will live to see a living White Tree!