Hello, me faithful reviewees! I'm back with the second chapter. Weeeeeeee!
Chapter 2: The Battle of Osgiliath
"Here do I swear my fealty and service to Gondor. In peace or war, in living or dying, from....from this hour henceforth until my lord release me....or death take me." Pippin spoke his allegiance to Denethor kneeling in front of him in the throne room.
"And I shal not forget it." Denethor said, standing up from his marble chair and walking over to Pippin, "Nor fail to reward that which is given."
He geld out his left hand on which his Gondorian ring was and Pippin hesitantly placed a kiss on it. Denethor gently lifted Pippin's head up so he looked into his eyes.
"Fealty with love. Valor with honor." Denethor said as he walked over to the large table to the left, "Disloyalty with vengeance."
He sat down in the marble chair and began filling his plate with the food that had been set before him.
"I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defences." he said, looking at Faramir, who stood a little off to the side as a witness to Pippin's ceremony, "Defences that your brother long held intact."
"What would you have me do?" Faramir asked.
"I will not yield the river in Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken." Denethor said.
"My lord, Osgiliath is overrun." Faramir said.
"Much must be risked in war." Denethor said, "Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?"
"You wish now that our places had been exchanged?" Faramir asked after a long pause, tears starting to form in his eyes, "That I had died and Boromir had lived?"
"Yes....I wish that." Denethor said in a grim voice, taking a sip of the red wine in his cup.
"Since you are robbed of Boromir....I will do what I can in his stead." Faramir said, fighting to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
He turned and started to walk out the door.
"If I should return, think better of me, father." Faramir said, turning back to look at him.
"That will depend on the manner of your return." Denethor said, absolutely no emotion at all in his voice.
"Wait." Pippin called, running over to Faramir as he turned once again to walk out the door, "Take me with you."
"No, Pippin, it is too dangerous." Faramir said.
"I'm a soldier, aren't I?" Pippin asked, "I wish to fight beside you."
Faramir sighed, "I do not wish for you to get hurt."
"Please." Pippin pleaded.
"Father, will you allow him to come with me?" Faramir asked.
"Go and die in what way seems best for you." Denethor answered, looking directly at Pippin.
"Can you ride a horse?" Faramir asked.
"Yes." Pippin said, nodding.
"Come with me." Faramir said.
He lead Pippin out the door an around to the stables where the rest of the soldiers were getting their own horses ready. Faramir selected a strong horse for Pippin that was trained for war, but it was also gentle and not mean. He helped Pippin to get the heavy saddle on the horse's back and put the bridle around its head. In less than half an hour, all the soldiers were ready and gathered outside the stable. Faramir and Pippin were still in the stable, making sure their horses' livery was secure.
"Pippin, are you sure you want to do this?" Faramir asked, turning back around to face him.
"I wan to fight beside you." Pippin said, "I know Boromir would have."
"Aye, that he would." Faramir said, walking over to Pippin.
He knelt down in front of the small Hobbit and placed his hands on either of his skinny shoulders.
"Pippin, I love you." he said, looking Pippin directly in the eyes.
Pippin wrapped his arms around Faramir's neck and hugged him. Faramir wrapped his strong arms around the small Hobbit and held him close.
"I love you, too." Pippin whispered in Faramir's ear.
"No matter what happens, I will protect you. I promise." Faramir said.
Pippin nodded.
"Lord Faramir." a voice said.
They parted the hug quickly and looked to the left and saw one of the other soldiers standing in the doorway of the stables.
"My lord, it is time to go." the soldier said.
"Thank you." Faramir said, dismissing the soldier.
The soldier bowed and walked off.
"Well," Faramir said, looking back at Pippin, "This is it."
Pippin nodded and mounted his horse with some difficulty, but he managed. He and Faramir rode out of the stables where the rest of the soldiers were waiting on their own horses. Without a word spoken, they rode down the white cobblestone pathways of Minas Tirith. When they reached the first level, there were the wives, children and other family members of the soldiers that were to fight. Everyone had a grim look on their faces and a few of the soldiers' wives were crying. They would drop small bouquets of flowers on the street as their loved ones rode by. Suddenly, Faramir was broken out of his thoughts by a loud voice calling his name.
"Faramir! Faramir, your father's will has turned to madness." Gandalf said, walking beside Faramir's horse, "Do not give up your life so rashly."
"Where does my allegiance lie if not here? This is the City of the men of Numenor. I would gladly give my life to protect her beauty, her age, her wisdom." Faramir said, not taking his eyes off the large gate that loomed ever closer.
"Peregrin Took, what are you doing?" Gandalf asked, noticing Pippin on a tall horse beside Faramir.
"I am a soldier; I want to fight by my lord." Pippin said.
Gandalf stopped and stepped off to the side as the gates of the City opened.
"Your father loves you, Faramir." he called, "He will remember it before the end."
The soldiers rode out of the gate and formed a long line as they rode out to meet the Orcs at Osgiliath. Pippin took deep breaths as they grew closer and closer to Osgiliath. This was the first big battle he'd been in and he could feel his heart beating in his chest so intensely that he could barely breath. He could see the Orcs positioning themselves on top of demolished buildings and behind boulders, readying themselves for the battle.
"I love you, Faramir." Pippin whispered under his breath.
"I love you, too, Pippin." Faramir whispered as he drew his sword.
Pippin drew his sword and took a deep breath to steady himself. All the soldiers kicked their horses into a gallop and Faramir let out a battle cry as they grew closer to the ruined city of Osgiliath. They could barely hear the captain Orc yell out, "FIRE AT WILL!!" A volley of arrows suddenly rained down on them, piercing soldiers and horses. Pippin and Faramir managed to avoid them and the other soldiers continued on, despite their injuries. They finally reached the city and the Orcs drew their poisoned, black swords. Pippin found it rather difficult to fight from atop his horse, but he managed. Suddenly, he felt a jolt of pain shoot through the lower left part of his abdomen. He cried out and looked down and saw a black arrow protruding from his stomach. Just then, he felt a rough hand grip his ankle and he was dragged off his horse. He groaned as his body collided with the stones on the ground. He looked up and saw an ugly Orc bending over him with its sword raised. The last thing he remembered was a searing pain shooting through is right shoulder.
A/N: Well, how do you like it? I changed it around from the movie a little bit to make it more interesting. :) PLEASE R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!