V

Samwise plunged his head in the copper bowl of water I brought him. Water sloshed out. I was laughing. He looked up and gave a sheepish grin. I had expected him to wash his face, not give himself a hair-wash.

"Where's Mr. Frodo?" he asked.

"With Captain Faramir."

"What's your name?" Samwise asked, accepting the threadbare towel I handed to him. He dried his neck and his face. Then, he rubbed his curly hair vigorously.

"Eorl, Ithran's son, my lord."

"Oh, don't call me that," Samwise said and blushed. "My name's Samwise Gamgee, Hamfast's son. You can call me Sam, thank you. Like my ol' Gaffer used to say, 'Samwise is too big a name for a silly hobbit like you, Sam. Sam you shall be. I dunno why your mother named you Samwise.'" We laughed together.

"Sam then," I said. "Come Sam. Frodo and Captain Faramir is waiting in the other room. Your friend is there too?"

"Gollum?" Sam exclaimed. "The little Stinker?"

"Aye. They caught him not an hour past. Hurry Sam. The captain is waiting."

It was dawn, yet the rain fell down steadily outside. It was grey, cold, and dank today. Faramir sat on his chair, a lamp in a crevice above him. Kennith and Kairdos stood next to Gollum, as Sam called him. It sounded more appropriate than Smeagol. I stood next to Faramir. Poor Gollum still clutched the fish like it was his anchor. The sack was still over Gollum's head, his hands were still bound with sisal-rope.

Frodo was saying, "Please untie him, Faramir. He is our guide, without him we would be lost."

Faramir's voice was cold. He motioned to Kennith. Kennith lifted the sack off the head but still kept the bonds on. "He is your guide you say?" Faramir inquired. Frodo nodded.

"He is leading us into Mordor, so that the One Ring might be destroyed."

"You are far from the Black Gate. How exactly is this Smeagol going to bring you into Mordor?"

"He says there is a path that runs by Minas Morgul. That is the only way, says he. I believe him." Frodo was practically begging. Faramir raised an eyebrow.

"The Morgul Vale?" Faramir asked. He glared at Gollum. "Is that its name? The Morgul Vale?"

Gollum grinned sheepishly. He had a pale gleam in his shiny eyes. "No! Of course not! Good Smeagol will never take Master by that way."

Faramir gave a signal and Kairdos cuffed the vile creature. Gollum choked. A green gleam touched his eyes. "Yes! Yes it is that name." The pale gleam returned. "But what's wrong with that? Master says take the hobbitses into Mordor and good Smeagol is doing so! It is the only way. Gollum, gollum, gollum." The captain turned to Frodo.

"Frodo, a terror dwells in the paths above Minas Morgul. Do not go that way! I don't trust this creature, and I think you shouldn't."

Frodo looked at Gollum, still being held by the neck by Kairdros. "I'm sorry Captain Faramir. We have no other way." Faramir leaned back into his chair. He gave a weary sigh.

"We shall see you off to the borders of Ithilien. I hope you know what you are doing, Frodo son of Drogo."

We Rangers were masked, with bows in hand and swords at our sides. The hobbits trudged with us. They made less noise than we did. Gollum crunched leaves as he went. Faramir stopped us.

"This is the border of Ithilien, the border closest to Minas Morgul," Faramir said. He palced a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "Go Frodo. Go with the good will of all good men." Frodo bowed low, almost kissing his feet. Sam smiled at me. I smiled back but I knew he could not see it.

"You have shown true quality, Captain," Sam said. "Like my ol' Gaffer used to say, 'The best quality ever!'"

Faramir smiled and he bowed one last time. We turned and walked off, leaving the hobbits staring at us from behind. Goodbye Sam, go with the good will of all good men.

When we returned to the cavelater thatnight, Elhor said, "We have received a message from Gondor, m'lord. Denethor is taking us out of Ithilien and stationing us at Osgiliath. Kendar's company is to come to Henneth Annun."

"At Osgiliath?" Faramir said. It was a captain's dream and nightmare to be stationed at Osgiliath. The dream because it is your responsibility to guard the river garrison that guards Minas Tirith. The nightmare because the weight of the survival of Gondor crashes down on you. If a captain should fail to guard Minas Tirith, he will be put to death.

Elhor smiled. "Aye, Captain Faramir. At Osgiliath. Lord Denethor, your father, wants us at the garrison by noon tomorrow. Kendar's company arrives at noon here. Your father doesn't want to risk anything unprotected."

"We have to set out tonight," Faramir said. He turned and smiled at me. "Imagine, Eorl. My father wants me to protect Osgiliath. He is finally--" Faramir was laughing so hard he could not speak.

However, I was not so excited. "I don't know, Faramir. There's something not right about it."

"Ah. One of your 'feelings' again."

"Aye. When have I been wrong?"

"When have you been right? Come, Eorl. Let us not worry lest we waste time. Come on, let's get ready, shall we?"

I could almost hear Sam say, "Like my ol' Gaffer said, 'Somethin' ain't right!'"