A/N: Not my characters; they're Tolkien's. Of course I haven't given up Tolkienverse! I just have more alternative posting venues for this fandom, and have become rather lax in adding them here at the Pit recently. This one, for instance, was written for Contests-Realm, part of the Tolkien's Realm community on LiveJournal (and won first, by the way).
I knew that when I agreed to become Faramir's wife, it meant more than marrying the man I loved. It meant leaving behind my home and my brother to come to a land still in the process of recovery. I accepted that. What I had not prepared myself for was finding a place within a new family.
Not long after Cormallen, Prince Imrahil came by the Houses, supposedly to ask after my health and my studies. "You will find Lord Aragorn to be a fine teacher," he said, some time after the initial flurry of news and pleasantries. "He did well, to heal you and my nephew."
"I hear that he is involved with the two holbytlan right now," I said. "Surely, he is much too busy with those worthies' care to teach." I poured two glasses of water, looking for something with which to occupy my hands.
Imrahil leaned against the window, glancing briefly towards the sun-drenched courtyard. "Aye, but they progress. They are not yet well, but they are better than we might expect. Besides, there is no better teacher one might have than an opportunity to practice." He accepted a cup, raising it to me in brief salute.
"This is true," I agreed with a soft nod. "And Lord Aragorn is one worthy of respect, as well."
"He is worthy of our respect and honor for many things," Imrahil said firmly. "But I do wonder if he has our love, as well."
I started. "He shall be your king. What subject would not love him?"
Imrahil swirled the water in his glass, watching as it spiraled towards the whirl in the center. "He is a good man. I trust him to be an honorable king. I respect him, but he is not my kin."
So he had heard. Eomer had told him, most likely. "There is a difference between compassion and companionship. I love him merely as a vassal should love a just ruler, no more. Not any more or less than that."
"That is good to hear," Imrahil said, drawing a smile across his features. "I have seen what too much love can do to a heart, when it is pulled in too many directions. The shadow out there is gone," he said, motioning to the window behind him. "But there are other shadows to be wary of."
"I trust I can handle them." I set my glass aside, clasping my free arm over my sling.
"Aye, Shadeslayer," Prince Imrahil said. "I expect you can."