[Mithalwen]

And neither the lost heirs apparent had heirs of their own despite being of full age and more which is perhaps also a deepening of the despair. Somewhere it says that part of the decline of Gondor was due to them thinking more of their ancestors than their children. Now Boromir wascstill rather younger than Denethor was when he married but it does seem in part a failure of hope. Imrahil's eldest son although a decade younger already has an heir of his own as well as his younger brothers. (UTagain). Although a minor character in himself Imrahil does serve as a good example in his behaviour to Faramir, in deferring authority to Gandalf, accepting Aragorn as king as wwll as doing his duty to posterity! There was a good thread once on characters who served as foils tomothera..must try to find it.

To get back to Theodred, he was a barrier to Saruman's attempt to control Theoden which is why he was specifically targetted at the Battle of the Fords of Isen and despite Grima's efforts Eomer was as loyal to his cousin as Faramir was to Boromir.