Faramir really had a choice to change this time, and it wouldn't take long
to make it either. The battle was almost over, the city beset. Faramir
had already called the retreat and directed the hobbits Frodo and Sam to
the sewers under the city.
"Only one thing," Faramir added to the litany he had started long before the insertion this time. "This Gollum creature- he is an unsavory guide. Let my men take him, and I will lead you along the path he spoke of and past the dark thing which is there. The tales say it is a monster of great strength, like to a spider in many ways. But with an able companion, it might be possible to complete this quest. I can do that for you, if you would have me."
Frodo looked at Gollum sadly and opened his mouth in the start of a protest, but then Sam met his master's eyes.
"As you wish it," Frodo sighed wearily.
And Sam smiled.
"You there," Faramir called, pointing to one of he nearer men, "take this creature into the city. Tell my father- I will repay a debt Boromir has gained for us. All will be well."
And then the three companions, two hobbit and one man, sent down into the city. Faramir plotted the course for them, leaving it imprinted on his mind. . .
And all exploded into a white light.
"Closer still. But you still killed yourself- this time, it was in an attempt to remain unpolluted by the ring's calling to you."
Faramir winced. "Not what I had in mind."
"But still the fate you created for yourself. Is that really the best you can do, Faramir?"
"Without fully changing what might happen," Faramir sighed. "I shall have to give up what I have, and simply ask to relive a memory."
And the moment played as it had before- Eowyn in his mother's robes, walking along with him. The recital of vows was as a sweet dance, but this time Faramir dared to close it with a true kiss before leaving her. And instead of simply walking away delighted, she now turned and smiled, running back to return the gesture before returning.
"Promise you'll never be too busy for me," she asked.
{ And even though I redo this memory, } Faramir smiled, { this vow I will now keep in my mind from that moment on. And I won't even know why. }
"I promise," he said with a smile.
And when he was swept back, the others looked at him. "Clever, giving yourself a mental suggestion like that. Still not quite right, but you're even closer still."
"I give up," Faramir sighed. "I don't see how a man such as I can change the fates without making it worse for all Middle Earth."
"Perhaps helping all Middle Earth will not prove to you what you have within you," the wise one he first talked to suggested.
"All I can do is change the fate of the ring," Faramir sighed, "and that I would not tamper with for all the joys in my life!" And then Faramir knew in his heart what he must replay. With his wiser self, he had certainly got a time to change and bring his knowledge to.
"I wish to return to when I met the first two hobbits," he said suddenly. "There is one thing- one thing alone- which I CAN change for the better."
"Only one thing," Faramir added to the litany he had started long before the insertion this time. "This Gollum creature- he is an unsavory guide. Let my men take him, and I will lead you along the path he spoke of and past the dark thing which is there. The tales say it is a monster of great strength, like to a spider in many ways. But with an able companion, it might be possible to complete this quest. I can do that for you, if you would have me."
Frodo looked at Gollum sadly and opened his mouth in the start of a protest, but then Sam met his master's eyes.
"As you wish it," Frodo sighed wearily.
And Sam smiled.
"You there," Faramir called, pointing to one of he nearer men, "take this creature into the city. Tell my father- I will repay a debt Boromir has gained for us. All will be well."
And then the three companions, two hobbit and one man, sent down into the city. Faramir plotted the course for them, leaving it imprinted on his mind. . .
And all exploded into a white light.
"Closer still. But you still killed yourself- this time, it was in an attempt to remain unpolluted by the ring's calling to you."
Faramir winced. "Not what I had in mind."
"But still the fate you created for yourself. Is that really the best you can do, Faramir?"
"Without fully changing what might happen," Faramir sighed. "I shall have to give up what I have, and simply ask to relive a memory."
And the moment played as it had before- Eowyn in his mother's robes, walking along with him. The recital of vows was as a sweet dance, but this time Faramir dared to close it with a true kiss before leaving her. And instead of simply walking away delighted, she now turned and smiled, running back to return the gesture before returning.
"Promise you'll never be too busy for me," she asked.
{ And even though I redo this memory, } Faramir smiled, { this vow I will now keep in my mind from that moment on. And I won't even know why. }
"I promise," he said with a smile.
And when he was swept back, the others looked at him. "Clever, giving yourself a mental suggestion like that. Still not quite right, but you're even closer still."
"I give up," Faramir sighed. "I don't see how a man such as I can change the fates without making it worse for all Middle Earth."
"Perhaps helping all Middle Earth will not prove to you what you have within you," the wise one he first talked to suggested.
"All I can do is change the fate of the ring," Faramir sighed, "and that I would not tamper with for all the joys in my life!" And then Faramir knew in his heart what he must replay. With his wiser self, he had certainly got a time to change and bring his knowledge to.
"I wish to return to when I met the first two hobbits," he said suddenly. "There is one thing- one thing alone- which I CAN change for the better."