Also known as: Prince Of Ithilien, Steward Of Gondor
Faramir, younger son of Denethor II and brother of Boromir, was Captain of the Rangers of Ithilien and, like all his house, of nearly pure Numenorean blood. Where Boromir was a warrior before all else, Faramir was a man of wisdom, learning, and gentleness, no less brave but ruled by mercy and foresight; he loved lore and music, and had sat at the feet of Gandalf, whom he called Mithrandir -- a friendship that earned him the cold disfavour of his father, who prized Boromir above him.
Leading his Rangers in secret war from the hidden refuge of Henneth Annun, Faramir took Frodo and Sam in Ithilien and learned of their errand and the Ring; yet, tested as his brother had been, he let them go free, declaring that he would not take such a thing if he found it lying by the highway. Returning to a Minas Tirith ruled by his despairing father, he was sent to a near-hopeless defence of Osgiliath, fell back grievously wounded by a dart and the Black Breath of the Nazgul, and was almost burned alive upon Denethor's pyre before Gandalf and Pippin bore him away. Healed at the last by the hands of Aragorn in the Houses of Healing, he met there Eowyn of Rohan; the two found love and healing together, and after the war he was made Prince of Ithilien and Steward to King Elessar, ruling the fair province he had so long defended.