III. Showing Quality
Fortune favors me this night! The foreseen Halfling stands here, in the wild, where a host of loyal men await my call. Neither the Ring-bearer nor his servant could stop me from taking this mighty weapon. They are too weary, too weak, too small. It would be a kindness to take such a woeful burden from the little halfling's frail shoulders.
I would bear it as a gift to my father. O, to see the look of pride he would bestow on me! His spirit, now saddened by my brother's loss, would rise. Armed with Denethor's wisdom and the Ring of Rings, we could surely drive out our foes, cast down Sauron and all his works!
Father shall love me as he loved Boromir; for I will save our realm. I shall reclaim Umbar and all else that we have lost. I will make Gondor the unchallenged queen over all lands East of the Sea, glorious in power and wisdom and commerce. The Haradrim who now assail Ithilien shall bring us tribute on their knees. I will construct great libraries and colleges. I will become a renowned lore-master such as Mithrandir…
Ah, Mithrandir. He fell. All the Rings of Power cannot bring him back, or Boromir. The Grey Pilgrim perished so that Frodo son of Drogo could escape death and complete his errand. And Boromir fell prey to the lure of this thing, this Isildur's Bane. So said the halflings; and I know that they spoke truly.
This Ring does not belong in the hands of Men. My poor brother, it was too sore a trial for even your hardihood. I shall help the halflings, not hinder them. And I will spare my father the temptation that touched both his sons, and remain, as he has called me, a wizard's pupil.