A/N: As you will notice i made up some of my own bits of history-only because it's needed, but i have a warning for all of you Denethor fans: do NOT read this story, if so, the consider yourselves warned. :)

Uncertain Fates

Chapter One: The wedding Aftermath

It had now been a day since Boromir, son of Denethor the steward of Gondor, and lady Eowyn, sister-daughter of Théoden lord of the mark had said their wedding vows and had been pronounced husband and wife. Faramir had come to Minas Tirith to be there for his brothers wedding, for he was currently in Osgiliath, fighting the ever menacing orcs. But all was not right, as Faramir knew all too well. It was the sixth hour in the morning, and Boromir had come into Faramir's room, for he desperately needed to talk to someone.

"I cannot believe that I let father convince me to go through with this!" Boromir exclaimed.

"You did what was best, brother; or it could have jeopardized the new peace," Faramir said, trying to soothe his hot-tempered brother.

What he was referring to was a new peace treaty that had been agreed between Théoden and Denethor. The two lords had had a feud, which had caused great tension between the two lands. But they finally had agreed to resolve their differences after a large fleet of orcs had arrived in Osgiliath, outnumbering the small number of soldiers that were there. Gondor called upon Rohan for aid, and thus they agreed to resolve their differences. And as a token of their agreement, it was agreed that Denethor's eldest son, Boromir, and Théoden having no daughter, agreed that his niece Eowyn would marry Boromir. And so they only had the chance of meeting once before they became husband and wife.

"You are not the one who has been bound to a woman that you had previously only met once!"

Faramir sighed, knowing that his brother was right; chances were he wouldn't feel the same way if he were in Boromir's boots.

000

The man was clearly shaken as he stood before Denethor.

"They drove back our forces, scattering the men, and then hunting them down as though they were wild beasts, and then they killed them. I am lucky that I escaped with my head! For there are few others that survived; they took us by surprise lord. Although I am sure that their numbers were not half as great as ours; after I escaped, they left soon after, and I watched as they set their course for the Harad road; I never did see them clearly, but I do recall that they looked like dark shadows passing down the road. After seeing those things, I came here at once, although I was weary and wounded."

Denethor said nothing, as he fingered his white rod in thought. Who could have done this? It was most likely the Haradrim; after all, they were traveling the Harad road. But nonetheless, this enemy had to be tracked down and defeated; they had killed almost two hundred of his men!

"I thank you for the information that you have provided, you shall stay here in Minas Tirith in the houses of healing until you have been healed, body and mind, you may now leave me," said Denethor.

When the man left, his mind was hard at work. He could not have these Haradrim or whoever they may be, roaming freely through Gondor, killing scores of men as they go. He would need to send someone with and a small army to combat these men. Although it was likely that very few would return, if any, and then it struck him; he knew exactly who he would send: Faramir. He turned to one of the guards and said:

"Send for Faramir immediately."