III

The cave was behind Henneth Annun, fairest of the falls in Ithilien.

Henneth Annun was what Faramir called a cave fit for a king. During sunset, the sunlight filters through the falls, making amber specks upon the damp floor.

I set Samwise the Hobbit down. My shoulder ached from carrying him. Faramir stared at them.

"Should I unbind them, Faramir?" I asked, touching his shoulder lightly. Faramir brushed a wisp of red-gold hair out of his eyes and shook his head.

"No Eorl. They might be orc spies. Hobbits, they say they are. If only Mithrandir were here," Faramir said and gave a great sigh. Faramir is a great admirer of the Grey Pilgrim. We have not seen him in Gondor. I wondered where he was, many a time. My captain smiled. "Come Eorl. You must be weary. We will eat. And then, we will decide their fate."

The rations were skimpy. Five hundred men sharing a four hundred men ration. Did Lord Denethor, steward of Gondor Faramir's father, mean for us to starve? He does not care for Captain Faramir's company. He gives the best to Boromir's company. I have served one year in that company. I had more than enough to eat. Many a time we must hunt for our own meat and forage for our own food, here in Faramir's command.

Faramir never took his eyes off the hobbits. The fat one Samwise kept squirming. I popped a piece of dried fruit into my mouth. Elhor kicked the fat one. "Keep still you!"

"Elhor!" Faramir said sternly. Elhor looked up in alarm. He was a excitable man. He has served as a Ranger since the days of Denethor's youth. "Let them be, Elhor. Unbind them, Kairdros." Kairdros slit their bonds and took off their blindfolds.

Frodo looked tired and weary. Almost as weary as Faramir. "Who are you, m'lord?" Frodo Baggins asked.

"I am Captain Faramir. This is Henneth Annun, fairest of all falls in Ithilien." The corners of Faramir's mouth twitched with amusment. "Are you orcish spies?"

Samwise scoffed. "Orcish spies indeed! Mr. Frodo an' I ain't spies, Captain. We are hobbits."

"You said you are on an errand of secrecy," said Faramir. "What might that be?"

Frodo bit his lip and said, "We are going to Mordor." I stifled a gasp. Mordor, the Black Land where the air itself is poisonous. The Dwelling of the Dark Lord himself!

"Where is the other, your skulking friend? He had an ill-favored look on his face," Faramir said.

Frodo trembled. Samwise looked at Frodo. "There is no other," Frodo finally said. "Just Sam and I."

I leaned over and whispered in Faramir's ear, "He lies."

"Aye. I know." Faramir called to Kairdros, "Give them some food, Kairdros. Make them comfortable for the night. They leave at dawn." Kairdros nodded. Frodo bowed low. When he did, a gold ring on a slender chain spilled out the front of his shirt. Faramir leaned forward. He had a strange twinkle in his eye.

I was choking now. I couldn't breathe. I knew what the ring was. The One Ring, weapon of the Enemy.

One Ring to rule them all...