That Which They Defend

The idea that Gondorian kings and stewards preserved and visited Elendil's remains is canon, drawn from Unfinished Tales ("The Tradition of Isildur" at the end of the Cirion and Eorl chapter). I describe this tradition in my story "<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11470456/Fanfic/How Many Years.pdf">How Many Years?</a>," which tells the story of Boromir's journey to those hallows. You can find some key quotes from Unfinished Tales in the nots section at the end of that story, if you're interested.

This is also based loosely on my fic about Faramir's and Éowyn's descendants, most notably "<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11470456/Fanfic/Only%20a%20Woman.pdf">Only a Woman</a>," "<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11470456/Fanfic/Fire%20and%20Ice.pdf">Fire and Ice</a>" and "<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11470456/Fanfic/A%20Bird%20in%20the%20Hand.pdf">A Bird in the Hand</a>." In my 'verse, Húrin becomes a father-figure for Boromir and Faramir, and one of Denethor's most intimate friends. I've toyed with making him an in-law by having him marry one of Denethor's older sisters, though I'm just as happy to have him be a figurative uncle rather than a literal one. (See "Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady" for another fic about the Húrin/Faramir relationship.)

This story is written for the 2013 BMEM challenge, built around this quote from The Two Towers:

'I would see the White Tree in flower again in the courts of the kings, and the Silver Crown return, and Minas Tirith in peace: Minas Anor again as of old, full of light, high and fair, beautiful as a queen among other queens: not a mistress of many slaves, nay, not even a kind mistress of willing slaves. War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom.