"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," Faramir bowed his head politely, "I didn't expect. . . Your siblings are-"

"Out in the training fields?" King Edmund finished, turning to face Faramir with a wry smile. "I prefer. . ." he trailed off, but his smile softened and he stroked a hand over the dusty cover of a thick book on the table beside him. "At least sometimes."

Faramir smiled, relaxing despite himself and moving a little closer. "I, too."