Chapter 36: The Window on the West
Meanwhile at Henneth Annûn, the captain of Gondor confers with one of his men, Madril and unrolled a map of Middle-Earth, poring over it, discussing the current situation.
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"What news?" asked the captain.
"Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan," answered Madril, while indicating places on the map, "Théoden's people have fled to Helm's Deep. But we must look to our own borders. Captain, Orcs are on the move, Sauron is marshaling an army. Easterlings and Southrons are passing through the Black Gate."
"How many?"
"Some thousands," Madril replied gravely, "more come every day."
The captain then pointed to another spot on the map as he asked, "who's covering the river to the north?"
"We pulled 500 men out of Osgiliath," Madril reported, "but if the city is attacked, we won't hold it."
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The captain looked at Madril with concern, knowing that conditions were now worsening in Gondor. The leader then turned back to the map.
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"Saruman attacks from Isengard… Sauron from Mordor," the captain said while pointing and tracing at Isengard and the Land of Mordor.
"The fight will come to men on both fronts… Gondor is weak," the captain added, poring over the map in deep despair, "Sauron will strike us soon… and he will strike hard. He knows now, we do not have the strength to repel him."
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Elsewhere, in the cave, Ethan and Sam's bonds were cut and their blindfolds were taken off. They look around in the cave and see a waterfall behind them.
Just then, the captain approached the travelers, standing in the middle of the hustle and bustle of his men.
"My men tell me you are Orc spies," he informed the captives.
"Spies?!" queried and exclaimed Sam indignantly, "now wait just a minute."
"…Well if you're not spies, then who are you?" Faramir asked seriously as Frodo and the others remained silent for a moment.
The Captain sat upon a rock before the captives and said insistently and impatiently, "…speak."
"…We are Hobbits of the Shire," Ethan answered as he pointed to himself and Conner, "Ethan James Baggins is my name and this is Conner Mcknight Gamgee."
"Your bodyguard?" the Captain asked.
"His gardener," Conner answered, a little offended.
"and where is your skulking friend?"
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The captives lifted their eyebrows in surprise and confusion to the Captain's latest question.
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"…That gangrel creature," he clarified for them, "…he had an ill-favoured look."
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This question shocked the travelers greatly. They knew he was talking about Gollum. Conner tried to look at Ethan with out seeming to, from the corner of his eyes.
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With slightest hesitation, Ethan answered, "…there was no other."
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Ethan went on, "we set out from Rivendell with seven companions… one, we lost in Moria.
Ethan explained further, "two are my kin. A Dwarf there was also, and an Elf. And two men; Trent Mercer, son of Arathorn, and Shane Clarke of Gondor."
The last name seemed to shock the Captain as he paused for a moment before asking, "…you were friend of Shane?"
"…Yes," Ethan answered sadly, "…for my part."
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The captain felt insulted by that last remark. He stood up and looked away from the captives, lost in though for a moment.
Moments later…
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He turned to face them and replied, "it would grieve you all then… to learn that he is dead?"
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The statement made by the captain shocked the captives greatly as they gasped.
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"As one of his companions," the Captain returned tightly, "I had hoped you would tell me."
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The captives waited in sympathy for why the captain acted like this.
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"His horn washed up upon the riverbank, about six days past… it was cloven in two," the captain told the captives of what befell Shane, "but more than this, I know it in my heart…"
Porter then walked away from the two travelers, leaving them with the shock of Shane's death.