The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate. No profit has been, nor will be made from this story.

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light. –

James R Lowell

A/N

You can read a slightly different and longer version of this chapter on my site at

http://www.freewebs.com/lindahoyland/comesthemoment.htm

Faramir waited outside the door of his father’s study. He fidgeted nervously, his apprehension growing. His father had summoned him to an urgent meeting well over an hour ago, but there was no sign of the Steward.

Faramir was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to seek his bed and rest. The retreat from Osgiliath and the flight from the Nazgûl had drained him more than he would admit, but first he must face his father’s wrath, which would take all his wits.

His father had been in a strange mood of late, spending hours alone in the topmost room in the tower. His temper had grown increasingly uncertain and there was even talk of him frightening the servants, which if true, was most unlike the usually icily controlled Steward. The look in his eyes earlier when he had learned of Faramir’s encounter with the Ring bearer and his companion had been truly terrifying to behold.

A stern voice called “Enter!”

Faramir went into the room and knelt before his father, kissing his ring of Office. The Steward did not bid him to rise, so he remained kneeling at his father's feet on the cold stone floor. Denethor’s office was as austere as the man himself, a simple desk piled high with papers and two hard wooden chairs. The walls were devoid of tapestries adorned only by several ornate swords and a riding crop. The floor was equally bare save for a somewhat worn hearthrug, which lay before the meagre fire, the room’s only concession to comfort.

“What have you to say for yourself?” Denethor asked sternly. His haggard face looked even more careworn than ever and was grey with fatigue as if he had been engaged in some great struggle.

“I did only what I believed to be right,” said Faramir.

“And who are you to say what is right and what is not?” Denethor persisted. “Are you Ruling Steward now?”

“No, my lord, you hold rod and rule in Gondor,”

“Yet, you would conspire with Mithrandir against me?”

“No, my lord, I did not.”

“Do you know what you have done?” Denethor demanded, his tone like ice. “You have sent the weapon that could have saved us all straight into the lands of the Enemy! Boromir would have brought it to me and given me the mighty gift!”

“I would not pick it up if I found it lying on the highway, far less wrest it from the hand of a helpless Halfling. It led to my brother's doom,” said Faramir, his calm tone belying his inner turmoil. “Mithrandir’s words were wise. It is wholly evil. How can evil be defeated with evil?”

“Mithrandir! Always it is Mithrandir you speak of! I see more than you suspect, foolish boy. Beware of Mithrandir! With your help he is seeking to supplant me and place that upstart Thorongil on the throne!”

“No, sire, never did I seek to supplant you!”

Denethor glared at his son. Curse the boy; he even looked like Thorongil with that air of scarely veiled insolence disguised as superior knowledge. “Yet you have spoken of your desire to see the King return and the White Tree bloom again. Fool! How could a dead tree blossom?”

Faramir’s eyes lit up.” I have seen the King in my dreams, the tree blossoming at his coming!” he said in a rapt tone.

Something inside Denethor snapped.

Faramir struggled to repress a shudder.

“It is time to teach you a lesson you will not forget!” Denethor ordered. “You are not only a fool but a traitor! You are fortunate I have not ordered a traitor’s death for you, but punished you will be!”

“No, father, I am loyal to you and to Gondor,” Faramir protested.This was not only his father but also his liege lord.

He knelt patiently awaiting his father's will.

“Why was Boromir taken and I left with such a puny excuse of a man for a son and defender of our land?” Denethor raged, eyeing Faramir with contempt. ”Traitor! Coward! Weakling! Wizard’s Pupil!”

The words struck the young man like blows.

After what could not have been more than a few moments, but felt like an eternity, Denethor slumped back on his chair. “Go, sleep while you may. The enemy march upon us, the hour of doom is at hand, Minas Tirith will fall! I have seen it!” He buried his face in his hands.

Faramir staggered from the room. He struggled to reach his chamber, at times forced to clutch the walls for support. Reaching his room, he collapsed on the bed.

Although Faramir was exhausted, sleep was slow to come. His mind was in turmoil. What had happened to his father to cause him to react so violently? Was he truly a traitor? He had indeed been commanded to slay all who were found in Ithilien without his father’s leave, but how could he harm two helpless Halflings with whom the fate of Arda lay? Why could he never please his father unlike Boromir? Why did his beloved brother have to die? He dared not think of it. There was no time to grieve. Tomorrow he would redeem himself in his father’s eyes. He would ride out and die for Gondor.

A/N

You can read a slightly different and longer version of this chapter on my site at

http://www.freewebs.com/lindahoyland/comesthemoment.htm

When I first started writing LOTR stories, three years ago, I had unfortunately read far too many evil Denethor and poor abused Faramir ones, which coloured my perception. I have changed many of my ideas since then . I have endeavoured to portray his actions in this scene are the result of the madness which will destroy him a few days later.