July 1st, 3018, Minas Tirith

Faramir and I had audience with Father and told him of our dream. He did not dismiss it, but asked us many questions about the images in the dream, and oft had us repeat the words. He knew that Imladris was an Elvish word for a far northern dale where lives Elrond the Halfelven. Of Isildur's bane he knew little, saying only that he was shot by an orc arrow after an ambush in the Gladden Fields by the river Anduin to the north. Few survived the skirmish, save Isildur's son, who was too young for battle. From this son descended the kings of the north, "but the North Kingdom is no more, and the descendants of that line are a ragged people, wanderers bereft of lordship."

Faramir wanted to leave at once and seek for Imladris and further meaning of the dream, and Father would have let him go, believing it something suited for his uses, but for my protest. I saw it as a way of doubt and difficulty and of grave importance to Gondor. I desired to take this errand upon myself to seek the broken sword and Isildur's bane, and a Halfling too, if it would aid Gondor. The debate went back and forth, for Father was loth to see me go, but it pleased him to displease Faramir, and he finally stated that he had little use for Faramir, neither here nor there, and wished only for two Boromirs. I rebuked him for saying such a thing, and regretted that Faramir had to hear it, but such is the heart of our father, and we cannot change it. Seeing that I would not be dissuaded, Denethor gave me leave and appointed Faramir to serve in my stead. He has little confidence in Faramir, but I know that Faramir is a capable captain, and leaving him here in charge will give him a chance to show his quality.

I have decided to leave three days hence, on July the 4th. I need time to study the maps we have of Arnor and areas south, and there are several matters I must attend to with Faramir.

Boromir