Faramir

Lineage and youth

Faramir was born in 2983, the younger son of Denethor II, Ruling Steward of Gondor, and Finduilas of Dol Amroth, and the brother, five years younger, of Boromir. His mother died when he was five. He grew up in Minas Tirith as the son his father valued less: where Boromir loved arms and command, Faramir loved lore, music and the old tales of Númenor, and he sought out Gandalf whenever the wizard came to the city and learned from him, which Denethor resented. He was in looks and in mind of the same Númenórean stamp as his father, tall, grey-eyed and grave, and those who knew both men said that Faramir had the same gift of reading the hearts of others but with gentleness where Denethor had scorn. He was as brave as his brother and a better judge of when to fight; Boromir, who loved him without jealousy, was his protector and champion throughout their youth.

Captain of the Rangers

Faramir became Captain of the Rangers of Ithilien, the companies of Gondor's soldiers who crossed the Anduin in secret to harry the enemy in the lost province and who kept the hidden refuge of Henneth Annûn behind its waterfall. In June 3018 he fought beside his brother at Osgiliath and held the last bridge with him until it could be broken. It was Faramir who had first dreamed the dream that sent Boromir north, and it came to him again many times; he would have gone himself, but Boromir claimed the errand. Later, watching the river below Osgiliath, Faramir saw his brother's funeral boat pass in the moonlight and knew him dead, and he took up the cloven horn from the water when it washed ashore.

Frodo in Ithilien

On 7 March 3019 Faramir's Rangers ambushed a column of Haradrim on the road through Ithilien, and in the aftermath they took two strange travellers who were watching the fight: Frodo and Samwise. Faramir questioned them and learned that they had been companions of Boromir, and from Frodo's evasions and Sam's slip he came to understand what they carried. The test he faced was Boromir's, and he passed it. He said that he would not pick up Isildur's Bane if it lay in the road, and that he had no wish for such a thing; he gave them food and rest at Henneth Annûn, spared Gollum at Frodo's plea when the law of Gondor demanded his death, warned them against the pass of Cirith Ungol, and let them go on with his blessing. It was the most consequential decision of the war made by any man of Gondor, and he made it knowing that his father would call it treachery.

Osgiliath and the siege

He rode back to Minas Tirith on 10 March, outrunning the Nazgûl to the Gate with Gandalf's help, and reported to Denethor before Gandalf and Pippin. His father, learning that the Ring had been within his son's grasp and let go, told him that he wished the brothers had changed places. The next day Denethor sent him to hold the ruins of Osgiliath and the forts of the causeway against the army of the Witch-king. He held the line as long as it could be held, brought his men back in a fighting retreat across the Pelennor, and was struck down on the last mile by a dart from the Haradrim while the fell shadow of the Nazgûl swept over the rearguard. Imrahil brought him in over his saddle, and he lay in fever in the White Tower with the Black Breath on him while the city was assailed.

Denethor, believing him dying and the city lost, had him carried to the tombs and ordered a pyre for them both. Beregond held the door and Pippin fetched Gandalf, and Gandalf took Faramir from the pyre moments before Denethor set it alight. He was carried to the Houses of Healing, where he lay near death until Aragorn came from the field and called him back with athelas. Faramir woke, looked at the man bending over him, and knew him for his king.

Éowyn and Ithilien

In the Houses of Healing, while the armies marched to the Black Gate, Faramir met Éowyn of Rohan, who had killed the Witch-king and was healing slowly in body and not at all in heart. They walked the walls together and watched the east, and on the day that Sauron fell they stood hand in hand on the walls as the Eagle brought the news. Faramir's love and patience won her from her wish for death, and she consented to be his wife.

When Aragorn came to the Gate to be crowned, Faramir, now Steward, met him and surrendered the white rod, and Aragorn returned it to him and confirmed him and his heirs in the office. He proclaimed Faramir Prince of Ithilien and gave him the hills of Emyn Arnen, his ancestors' ancient home across the river, where he and Éowyn made their house and set about cleansing Ithilien of the memory of Mordor, with Legolas and his Elves for neighbours and Beregond's White Company for guard.

Later life and legacy

Faramir served King Elessar as Steward through the long peace that followed and ruled Ithilien as a prince; his son Elboron succeeded him. He died in Fo.A. 82 at ninety-nine. He was remembered as the wisest of the Stewards, the one who had the strength to refuse the Ring, and his character, the warrior who loved peace, was Tolkien's own ideal of a man of the West.

Ruled Ithilien as its Prince and served as Steward to King Elessar; died in Fo.A. 82.