Chapter 10: You are to join the tower guard, Master Hobbit, Pippin's allegiance to Denethor
The travelers, upon the mountainous borders of Mordor, continued to climb the steep stairs of Cirith Ungol, clinging with desperate fingers, forcing their aching knees to bend and straighten. Gollum took the lead, followed by Lilly, Clementine, Duck, Frodo, Ben, Travis, and Sam. It was a long and weary ascent for them all. The passage seemed to go on for miles with the stair cutting its way deeper into the sheer mountain and the walls rising higher and higher above their heads, and the chill air flowed over them, rising as they went on to a bitter wind.
The steps were narrow, spaced unevenly and often treacherous, with worn, smooth and broken edges. Lilly was the most wearied, yet the most frightened of the group, suffering from a little vertigo, fearing great heights underneath her, daunting her to turn back, or to let the mountain's deadly breath blow her away into the darkness below. Climbing up and up, the travelers all became aware of the long black fall, the great ravine at the head of the Morgul valley, from behind them.
Suddenly…
A part of the steps cracked as Frodo set foot upon one of the nearly broken steps, nearly falling off the mountain.
"Frodo!" Ben and Travis both called out in concern for Frodo.
Lilly peeked down a bit, then snapped her head back up, turning hastily away, remembering their fear of heights, that she reluctantly had to overcome… in order to make it to the Black land, since Lee wasn't with her for his help.
"Careful master, careful! Very far, to fall," Gollum cautioned, as he finally found… and climbed upon a ledge able to fit the others, after endless hours of the weary climb upon Ephel Dúath, "…very dangerous, are the stairs."
Lilly was the next one to reach the ledge, trying to overcome her fear of falling. Gollum then grabbed her hand… and began to pull her up, which didn't bade well for Ben and Travis as they saw, grimacing in disgust, from where he was, the ghoulish Hobbit helping her onto the ledge.
"There, mistress," Gollum said to her, "good Sméagol always helps."
"Thank you, Sméagol," Lilly nodded approvingly at the creature standing up, a little groggily.
Clementine and Duck were next to reach the ledge, trying to overcome their fear of falling. Gollum grabbed both their hands... And began to pull them up.
"There, pretty children," Gollum said to them, "good Smeagol always helps."
"Thank you, Mr. Smeagol," Clementine nodded approvingly at the creature.
"We appreciate your help, Mr. Smeagol," Duck nodded approvingly at the creature standing up. A little groggily.
Frodo was next as he continued struggling heavily against the treacherous climb… to reach and settle upon the ledge for all of them to rest upon…
"Come master!" encouraged Gollum… but Frodo was too weary to climb up.
"Sméagol," Lilly suggested, "I think you should help Frodo up. It doesn't look like he's going to make it."
"He's about to fall, Smeagol," Clementine suggested.
"You help him up, Smeagol," Duck suggested.
Gollum nodded positively, as he went to pull up Frodo…
Then the ring fell from underneath his shirt, showing itself in front of Gollum and Kaoru… as its powers began to entrance them greatly…
"…Come to Sméagol," Gollum said, desirably… as he began to extend his hand towards Frodo…
Lilly also looked at the ring for a while and also at Gollum… who apparently was reaching for the ring. Continuing to eye Gollum's movements, she, Clementine, and Duck remembered what Ben, Travis, and Sam were saying about him earlier… of his trap within the mountains…
He means to murder us, Miss Lilly! Miss Clementine! Mr. Duck…!
He's a villain…!
He's still after the ring, Lilly! Clementine! Duck…!
Still after the ring, still after the ring…!
Fearing that they might be right about the creature, as those words continued to echo in her mind… Lilly slowly grasped her wooden sword, intending to stop Gollum, if he tried to grab the ring…
"Lilly, what are you doing," Clementine and Duck called out her name.
Gollum's hand moved even closer to Frodo as Sam, Ben, and Travis moved up closer to the struggling Frodo and peered over to see Gollum, with his hand apparently going for the ring…
"Mr. Frodo!" Sam cried out in alarm as he, Ben, and Travis drew their weapons.
"Hey, creepy!" Ben called out angrily…
"Back off, creepy!" Travis called out angrily...
Gollum then turned his attention to the angry expressions of Sam, Ben, and Travis…
"Don't even think about it," Ben warned Gollum.
"Don't ever you try to take it from," Travis warned Gollum.
"Get back, you!" Sam ordered Gollum, impotently swinging his sword, "don't touch him!"
The miserable creature grimaced at them in response, but was unwilling to listen to their warnings as he tried to reach out at Frodo. Sam, Ben, and Travis growled under their breaths, gripping their weapons tightly, as did Lilly…
Gollum lowered his hand further…
And grabbed Frodo's arm, pulling him up onto the ledge. Lilly relaxed herself, releasing her wooden sword, then noticed Sam, Ben, and Travis with their weapons in hand.
"You can put those away now, people," she said to Sam, Ben, and Travis, "it's over."
"Lilly, are you okay," said Clementine.
"What's wrong, Lilly," said Duck
Upon seeing that Gollum didn't take the ring, Sam, Ben, and Travis put their weapons away, growling unsettlingly. Lilly took Frodo into her lap as Gollum went to the ledge offering his hand.
"Come precious, Sméagol will bear you up," Gollum offered.
"No thanks, creepy!" Ben yelled his refusal.
"No thank you!" Travis also yelled his refusal.
"We'll manage just fine without you, Stinker," Sam also refused.
Gollum felt very embarrassed hearing their names for him and turned back to Lilly, Clementine, Duck and Frodo saying miserably, "why does they hates poor Sméagol, Mistress, little Children's? What has Sméagol ever done to them?"
"It's the way they are, Sméagol," Lilly reasoned, "you sort of get used to it, after a while."
Gollum then looked upon Frodo, who apparently was restless beyond restlessness, feeling cold and clammy, shivering and sweating due to all the climbing within the chilly air upon the mountain.
"Master?" he inquired earnestly.
"Frodo," said Clementine, asking, "are you alright?"
Frodo didn't answer… only grunted in response.
"No… he's not okay, Little Girl," said Gollum sympathetically, smoothly caressing Frodo's back, "Master carries heavy burden. Sméagol knows mistress. Heavy, heavy burden."
"…I know it too, Sméagol," Duck sadly admitted, "Frodo's been burdened with the ring when he first began this journey."
"…Yes Little Boy, Sméagol knows," purred Gollum, "fat and impulsive boys cannot know."
Gollum then turned to Frodo and soothed with, "…Sméagol look after you, Master. He's the only one who can."
"Sméagol," said Lilly, a little perplexed, "…I know you mean well. But we also have Sam, Ben, and Travis, no matter what they may think of you. Why would you imply that only you could take care of him?"
"Because mistress and little children's," began Gollum…
Before turning towards Ben, Travis, and Sam, who were helping each other on top of the ledge, lowering his eyes at them… then turned back to Lilly, Clementine, and Duck…
"…They wants it," Gollum replied, grimly, in a small but captivating voice, "…they needs it, Sméagol sees it in their eyeses!"
Frodo also heard Gollum's allegations of Ben, Travis, and Sam as he slowly turned his head at Gollum…
Gollum turned to Frodo and added darkly, "…very soon, Master, they will ask you for it. You will see…
"…The fat one and impulsive boyds… will take it from you," ended Gollum smoothly, yet deceptively.
In response… Frodo quickly clutched the Ring protectively and looked at Sam, Ben, and Travis suspiciously with cold, emotionless eyes. The sight of Frodo's behavior began to worry Lilly, Clementine, and Duvk, as they turned to look at Gollum.
Gollum turned to Lilly, Clementine, and Duco as he nodded at her and said wickedly, "you will see, Mistress, Little Children's… you will see."
Lilly, Clemneitne, and Duck continued to look at Gollum, with their eyes filled with worry and doubt. Lilly did believe him when he said that somebody wanted the ring. But didn't believe that it was Ben, Travis, or Sam…
At the now Orc-occupied city of Osgiliath…
The dreaded Witch-King of Angmar sat upon his Fell beast, perched upon a ruined wall, as Gothmog came over and stood by his leader, observing Minas Tirith with him…
"Send forth all legions," the Witch-King ordered Gothmog, in his deep, gauntly, ghost-like voice, "do not stop the attack until the city is taken. Slay them all."
The Fell beast wiggled its neck a little, in eager anticipation to shed the blood of Gondor.
"…What of the wizard?" inquired Gothmog.
"I will break him," the wraith grimly assured Gothmog.
The guards of Minas Tirith, in turn, observed Osgiliath, from the battlements, as more Orcs poured into the city, preparing the last stages of their invasion of Gondor. Conditions were indeed becoming grim each moment for Gondor. Gandalf went to join the guards in their watch. They, as well as Gandalf searched the distance for a sign of Théoden and the Riders of Rohan.
"Where are Théoden's riders?" asked one of the guards.
"Will Rohan's army come?" asked another solder.
Gandalf pondered the question for long moments, knowing that Mordor was moving fast against Gondor…
"Mithrandir?" the guard implored Gandalf for an answer.
Gandalf paused for a moment before he responded, "…courage is the best defense that you have now."
In the citadel…
Pippin Took, Katjaa, and Glenn sat upon a bench in a hall clad in the outfits that the servants gave them, for service to the Steward. Doug stood next to one of the black-marbled pillars, with his arms folded, firm his face was as ever. Pippin's face was overly troubled, as it was near the hour, that he would make himself presentable to Denethor for his first day of service…
"What were you thinking, Peregrin Took?" Pippin asked himself, breathing nervously, "what service can a Hobbit, offer such a great… lord of men?"
Doug turned to Pippin and said, deadpanning, "there's no point in fretting yourself over your decision now, Pippin. If you don't like being here, you can always remember that you brought it on yourself."
Pippin nodded to Doug in defeat, knowing that he was saying truthfully of his own pert folly to try and offer service to Denethor.
"I don't know exactly what put it in your head, or your heart, for that matter, to do it," added Katjaa sternly, "but I did not hinder your decision, nor do I wish to. Even though Denethor and I have our differences, what you did greatly touched his heart. And the only thing I can do, is to give you some support and prepare you for your new service, as I have prepared many others as leader of the group."
"There is much in what your friend says, Master Hobbit," a voice came from the hall…
Doug, Katjaa, Glenn, and Pippin turned… to see Faramir entering the hall, walking towards them. Pippin jumped up from his stool attentively, seeing that he was in the presence of a higher-ranking soldier.
"Faramir," spoke Glenn, surprised to see him.
"…Your boldness was well-done," Faramir added to Pippin encouragingly, giving more confidence, "a generous deed should not be checked with cold counsel… you are to join the tower guard."
"…I didn't think they would find any livery that would fit me," said Pippin.
"Once belonged to a young boy of the city," Faramir told Pippin, in a humorous tone, "…a very foolish one, who wasted many hours slaying dragons, instead of attending to his studies."
"This was yours?" Pippin guessed, with a twitched eyebrow.
"Heh, yes, it was mine," confessed Faramir, "my father had it made for me."
"…Well," Pippin noted, as he looked at his new uniform, "…I'm taller than you were then, though I'm not likely to grow any more, except sideways."
Faramir laughed a little gaily, with Pippin joining along.
"I'm amazed that you would laugh so much, Pippin," interjected Doug, "especially when Carley told me about how you were able to grow so strangely after drinking the Entdraught."
Pippin sighed sheepishly, remembering his time in Fangorn forest.
"You seem very gloomy, Doug," said Faramir, in a complimenting voice, "have you never even laughed before?"
Doug paused a moment as he answered, "…unfortunately I've never had that time or luxury available to me when I was a guard of Edo Castle."
"Ooh, that's not good Doug," criticized Pippin, lightly, "you should laugh once in a while. And Carley's very eager to hear you laugh some day."
"…I'm sure she that she is," Doug replied plainly.
"Well… to tell the truth, this has never fitted me either," admitted Faramir, as he adjusted the shoulder collar of Pippin's uniform that was once his, "Boromir was always the soldier."
Faramir's expression lowered a bit suddenly as he added, "…they were so alike, he and my father… proud, stubborn even…
"…But strong," Faramir said in praise to the last.
Pippin, Doug, Katjaa, and Glenn sympathized with Faramir and how he viewed his own comparison between Boromir and Denethor.
"I think you have strength, of a different kind," said Pippin, with stern optimism, "and one day your father will see it."
Faramir gave a bittersweet smile at Pippin's gesture of hope for reconciliation with his father. Doug, Katjaa, and Glenn, unfortunately, could not share the same feeling of sanguine, though he fully believed Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn that Faramir has a different kind of strength.
Pippin, Doug, Katjaa, Glenn, and Faramir entered into the great hall of the Citadel, where Denethor awaited the Hobbit and the two People. Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn knelt in front of Denethor, while Doug and Faramir stood and watched, while servants were preparing the Steward's daily meal.
"Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor," Pippin said formally, "in peace or war, in living or dying. Fro… from-"
Pippin stuttered for a moment, trying to remember his lines. However, Denethor sat still in his seat, with a smile, as he was amused at the Hobbit's not-so-perfect memory…
The Hobbit regained his composure and continued, "…fr… from this hour henceforth. Until my lord release me…
"…Or death take me," finished Pippin.
"Here do I swear helping injuries people service to Gondor," Katjaa said formally, "from this hour henceforth.
"Here I do swear protecting the city service to Gondor," Glenn said formally, "from this hour henceforth.
"And I shall not forget it," Denethor responded merrily, as he stood from his seat and went over to Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn, "nor fail to reward that, which is given."
Denethor slowly extended his hand towards Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn, on which there was a ring. Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn looked at it for a brief moment… and reluctantly kissed it. As Gandalf said, Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn would now have to do as they were told.
The Steward lightly grasped the Hobbits Katjaa, and Glenn's face as he said to him, "…fealty with love."
Denethor then walked over to a small table where food was prepared for him adding, "valor with honor…"
As Denethor reached the table, he looked disdainfully at Faramir ending, "disloyalty, with vengeance."
Faramir shrugged at his father, who had always believed Faramir to be a hindrance to him, instead of an asset to his needs. Doug turned his eyes away after hearing that snide remark from Denethor, blasting his son. It almost made doug sick to hear Denethor saying something bad about his own son. Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn then stood as his new lord and master, Denethor, sat down at the table, starting to eat the prepared food.
"I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses," Denethor firmly suggested to Faramir, "defenses that your brother long held intact."
"What would you have me do?" Faramir asked earnestly.
"I will not yield the River in Pelennor unfought," declared Denethor sternly, "Osgiliath must be re-taken."
"My lord, Osgiliath is overrun," returned Faramir ardently, trying to be reasonable.
"Much must be risked in war," Denethor coldly informed his youngest son.
"You have risked too much already," interjected Katjaa, "as it is, trying to recapture Osgiliath is suicide. What you need to do is save the men that you have and prepare for the Orcs that are making to invade Minas Tirith."
"I do not recall asking for your advice, my lord Katjaa," Denethor smugly rebuked Katjaa, "while you are a guest here, you are still an outsider. You say you've come to help, but you deal out such support according to Mithrandir's own designs. The Lord of Gondor is not to be made a tool of other men's purposes, however worthy they seem to be. Counsels may be found that are neither the webs of wizards, nor the haste of fools, and I have more wisdom than you or Mithrandir could ever conceive."
"What would be your wisdom then," inquired Glenn, "if you would not have either of your sons follow or take advice from a wizard?"
Denethor fixed his scornful gaze at Glenn and replied, "not that it is of any concern of yours… but I would have my son be his own master when I leave my chair to him after I have departed from this world. If you speak out of term once more, I shall have your tongue cut."
"You would have to catch me first," said Glenn, darkening his expression at the bitter Steward.
Ignoring that statement, Denethor continued to fumble around his food, his will unwavering to any other suggestions, but his own. Pippin had noticed the strain that was slowly increasing between Doug, Katjaa, Glenn, and Denethor, almost as if he saw a line of smoldering fire that might suddenly burst into flame. He had noticed the same tension with Gandalf, but the tension Denethor had with Doug, Katjaa, and Glenn was even stronger, as their glances were like blades from eye to eye, flickering as they fenced. Lastly, Faramir was being torn apart, hearing his father putting him down like an unworthy servant…
"Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?" Denethor asked openly.
Pippin, Katjaa, and Glenn looked upon Faramir in confusion, bewildered about what Faramir's intentions would be.
Faramir paused a moment, then said, in a breaking voice, "…you wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived."
Denethor took a cup in his hand as he paused, with an unsettling expression of seriousness and pressure upon his troubled brow…
"…Yes," he answered, murmuring silently, yet firmly, "…I wish that."
Faramir was being torn apart even more, eyeing his father eat and drink… as tears had begun to form in his eyes, never questioning his loyalties and allegiances to Denethor. After all his attempts to make Denethor proud, even now, he felt that he had failed his father, that he was right to criticize him…
"…Since you are robbed of Boromir… I will do what I can in his stead," Faramir reluctantly resolved with his voice breaking even more, as he bowed, willing to take his father's orders without question.
Faramir then started to walk away, with Pippin, Doug, Katjaa, and Glenn watching in pity. Pippin became crestfallen fearing that Denethor would never see Faramir's strength, like he could. Denethor merely sat at the table with the wine goblet in his hands and was silent, unwilling to rethink his orders.
"If I should return," Faramir said, stopping to look at his father one last time, "think better of me, father."
Denethor eyed Faramir, replying pointedly, yet coldly, "…that will depend on the manner of your return."
And with no more words said… Faramir left the citadel… not looking back.
Disclaimer: I do not own Telltale Series The Walking Dead or Lord of the Rings. TWD is the property of Darrell Rodriguez and Lord of the Rings is the property of Professor J. R. R. Tolkien