Title – The Salt of the Earth
Author: Linda Hoyland
Characters/Pairing: Faramir, Aragorn, Arwen
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Book/Source: LOTR book-verse
Disclaimer – Middle-earth belongs to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. This story was written for pleasure and not for financial gain.
Faramir picked up the elaborate silver saltshaker and sprinkled a little in his soup.
"Do you like it, Faramir?" Arwen enquired.
"I have acquired quite a taste for mushroom soup after Merry and Pippin convinced me of its merits," the Steward replied.
"I meant the saltshaker," said the Queen.
"It is very fine workmanship," said Faramir without much enthusiasm.
"A gift from the Envoy from Khand," said Aragorn. "A little too elaborate for my taste, as I sense it is for yours, but I felt we should at least use it once. They value saly highly in Khand."
"I will never forget the saltshakers we had in the nursery when I was a child," said Faramir, a faraway expression on his face. "How I loved them!"
"You loved a saltshaker?" Aragorn could not conceal his bafflement.
Faramir finished the last of his soup and put down his spoon. "When Boromir and I were children," he began, "we usually ate our meals in the nursery at a long table that doubled for our lessons. Boromir and I both liked a lot of salt on our food. This led to some unseemly scuffles over passing the salt. At Mettarë, when Uncle Imrahil came to visit, he announced he had brought us saltshakers as gifts; one each, so that we would no longer fight. Boromir and I were most disappointed, but that changed when unwrapped our gifts."
"It still seems an unsuitable gift for children," Arwen observed. "I could not imagine giving Eldarion a saltshaker!"
"These were special ones," Faramir explained. "They were made out of polished wood to resemble soldiers, Citadel Guards to be exact, their painted uniforms perfect copies of the ones worn by real soldiers. Uncle Imrahil gave us a solemn lecture that we must respect them, as our soldiers are the salt of the earth. Boromir and I loved them. We gave them names and even took them to bed with us."
Aragorn grinned broadly. "Your beds must have been full of salt!"
Faramir laughed. "That did indeed happen and we were made to do extra lessons as a punishment. Our nanny, though, bought some ordinary saltshakers from the market and told us we could play with the others, so long as we did not damage them, and they were put to their proper use when our Uncle came to visit. The paint became rather worn, but he assumed it was from shaking them."
"Do you still have them?" Arwen enquired.
"I think so," said Faramir. "I will have a look before I rejoin Éowyn at Emyn Arnen tomorrow."
"If you can find them, perhaps we could have them on the table when we next come to dine," said Arwen. "I should like to see them."
"So should I," said Aragorn, a gleam of interest in his eye. Those soldiers should march again. They say old soldiers never die."
"Nor do men ever cease to be boys!" Arwen laughed.
A/N This story is based on fond memories of a salt and pepper in the shape of two wooden soldiers set my Mother bought me when I was a small child.I loved the red and black uniforms and bearskins of the soldiers who guard the Queen at Buckingham Palace