In the Streets of Minas Tirith

Everyone is afraid. We've always lived in the shadow of the Black Lands and Mount Doom but now it seems that Sauron has returned. His great eye watches from his tower behind the Black Gates. Everyone whispers about it in the streets and the Lord Steward is foretelling the doom of us all.

There has always been war with the Orcs and Wild Men to hold the City of Osgiliath. They say that there was once a Palantír there, and that the King once lived in that Fort of Stars. Those things are almost legend now. Gondor has always been called upon to protect the rest of Middle Earth from the Black Kingdom that sits on our border. They say now that the King shall return and once again there will be a lord sitting on the White Throne. What king would return in such dark times? Long have the Steward reigned. Will Lord Denethor give up is throne so easily? People in the market place fear a civil war. What army would this King have in his following? Would Rohan ride to his aide? Would they march on this city?

What hope is there left, Captain Boromir is dead. He left for Rivendell, to attend some meeting with the Elves, and only his horn returns, cleft in two. Whispers in the shadows say that he was killed by the Elves, but those are only slanderers. All heard the horn sounding and it was heard long after the meeting was called, yet none had guessed that it had sounded the death knell of the Captain of Gondor.

The rumors only deepened when the White Rider burst through the gates, sending his strange horse galloping through the streets. They say the small person who rode with him, although looking like nothing more than a child is a full-grown halfling from the Shire. Some are saying that the Rider is a great boon, a sign that a true king will soon come to Minas Tirith, reclaim the throne and save us from the Dark Lord.

The White Rider brought only more ill omens. The night of his arrival a new light rose up from the Black Lands, a bright white tower of light flooded the sky. I've heard that it rose from the dead city of the Witch King, the mightiest of the Black Riders. They say that the Lord Steward is beginning to lose his mind. He sends Faramir to his death tomorrow. Those who have been chosen to go and attempted to reclaim the river are saying goodbye to their families.

It's a dark day when the Steward sends his own son to his death. If the son of the Lord of Gondor is to die then what hope is there for the rest of us?