Faces of War
Chapter 15: Envisioning
Disclaimer: The genius behind the characters in this story belong to J.R.R. Tolkien....I gain nothing from this endeavor, save the joy of writing!
This story has been rated R...for violence...and for the seemingly insurmountable odds faced by all of the Fellowship...especially Mr. Baggins.
Iorhael....Dalmer is just rancid with evil isn't he? Wait until you meet his brother (oops...not to give anything away...). I think that his cruelty stems from a need to dominate and control...to shape his world with hatred the way the hobbits have shaped theirs with love, the elves with elegance and finery, the dwarves with enduring craftsmanship...and men with the need to expand their horizons. Believe it or not...the cruelty inflicted upon Frodo is to teach all of the fellowship and especially Frodo some valuable lessons later!
Becca....I'm glad you like the story...it is rather rough on poor Frodo...but the strength of this hobbit is not to be underestimated!
FrodoBaggins87....this story is sad...but through the sadness and cruelty will come an ultimate sense of love and fulfillment....I thought of the "tragedy" rating...but aren't all tragedies infused with drama? And....while this is painful now...doesn't a tragedy have a sad ending? I hope you'll stick with it...there will be much in the way of "goodness" that comes from these hard and cruel times!
endymion2...Yes, Dalmer is a little like a "8" on the Richter scale of bad guys...poor Thad is but a "5"....Frodo does "rise from the ashes" in this story...and like the Phoenix...well you know you can't keep keep this hobbit down! I am sorry that Frodo had to go through another "disfigurement"...but you will see that there is a point to this later in the story....I hope you will "stick to it"...there is a "10" lurking in the cavern......
LilyBaggins....Thank you for your kind praise....I am just "spreading my wings" in this genre of writing...and set goals to improve different aspect of the writing with each story...I am working on descriptions now...let me know if you think other images come to your mind as you read...and kindly share them so that I can further enrich my story! Frodo garners the support of an entire nation ultimately...our little one who feels unworthy of praise...will find out by the end just what it is that makes him so special!
Two days were past as Aragorn gathered what information he could from the hours Terren, Rumeil and Sam spent in the camps. Two days in which Sam, when not working himself feverishly in the camps, was pestering the King. The hobbit had packed and re-packed his gear, studied maps and tried to think of every item of comfort his Mr. Frodo would need, that would fit in his saddlebags. He had also driven Aragorn to distraction with his constant questions and queries about when they would set out and expand their search for Frodo beyond the walls of the city. The morning they were due to leave, Sam was out by the pack animals, making last minute adjustments and grumbling "where is 'e then? We're ta be gone by first light 'e said....if this is first light then I'm a Elf". He turned from his pony and nearly walked into Legolas. The Elf had heard all the rumblings of Master Samwise "An Elf Sam? " he asked with raised brow. "Well" Sam blustered " 'tis just an expression, though truth ta tell I'm becoming so rankled by these delays....I'm about ta turn to a troll!". Legolas lifted the side of his mouth in a sad imitation of a smile and laid his fair hand upon the hobbit's sturdy shoulder. " It is about the delay I've been sent....Aragorn bade me to find you and guide you to his chambers." and so saying the graceful Elf turned to walk into the palace, leaving Sam gaping in his wake. "Now just a minute there....what is the delay about now?" Sam asked as his short hobbit legs doubled their pace to keep up with the long legged Elf. Legolas did not answer, but reached the door of Aragorns council chamber and ushered Sam inside.
Sam entered the great chamber, feeling lost in the size of the room and the sudden fear that gripped him as he looked upon the faces of his friends. Gandalf and Aragorn were huddled by the map table, voices droning on in hushed discussion as Sam approached. As Aragorn turned from the table Sam noticed a bundle of papers cast upon the map, his eyes were glued to those papers and with a sinking feeling in his heart he looked up to the King. "What's happened" he whispered. When no one answered he continued "what is it ya got there then?" he asked cocking his head towards the bundled papers.
Aragorn knelt and placed a steadying hand upon Sam's hand " We received a messenger from the river garrison late last night...he brought this" he said pointing to the papers upon the table. Sam looked from one face to another, feeling like a coney in a trap as he said "what is is yer not telling me, I 'aven't seen such long faces since the Gaffer found the Sackville-Baggin's were buyin' Bag End". Aragorn took a deep breath and gestured to Faramir to bring one of the papers to him. "This came with a ransom note Sam" the King explained as he unfurled the rolled up parchment. Sam looked to the drawing with confusion, it was a drawing of his master, hands and feet bound to a cot and a look of angry determination in his eyes...he couldn't help but think what a good likeness of him it was, when his thoughts were interrupted by Aragorn. "This one also arrived Sam" The King said gently, cocking his head as he looked into his wary gaze, to be sure that he could read Sam's expression. It was a picture of Frodo, tied to the same cot. Here, there was no spirit of defiance, there was blood dripping from his lower lip and at the foot of the bed a man stood ginning with evil pleasure as he hacked away at the hobbit's foot. The look in Frodo's eyes had been captured in the likeness and Sam had not seen such terror and despair since Mordor, his head thrown back, eyes wide in terror and surprise. His blood ran cold as he waited for Aragorns next words.
Aragorn sadly gestured for Gandalf to bring forth the last paper. Sam was vaguely aware of brown stains about the paper and wondered from whence the stains were made. Sam wavered, feeling an uneasy jolt in his his stomach as Aragorn carefully opened the last paper to reveal a small bloodied lump of flesh and brown hair.
Sam stared at the object carefully cradled in the palm of Aragorn's hand, and his fear for Frodo, hatred of men and disgust all fought to overwhelm his senses. His disgust won out and he collapsed to his knees gasping and retching as the agony of his fear for Frodo was expelled brutally in the contents of his stomach . Aragorn handed the parchment back to Gandalf and carefully reached for Sam. He held his shaking shoulders and steadied him the best he could while he sent a page for one of his healers. When Sam had finally emptied himself of all the pain and discomfort his stomach could muster he moved weakly away from his sickness upon the floor. Aragorn gently picked up the still sobbing hobbit and brought him to a nearby bench as the others looked on in sympathy.
Aragorn carefully took the edge of his tunic and wiped a remnant of Sam's despair from his lips and waited for Sam to speak. "Wh..why Aragorn? Why 'im? What manner 'o beast contrives ta do such a thing ta one so helpless?" he asked shaking, and Sam's tears started again at the image of Frodo, near half the size of these men, suffering so...without him there to comfort him. Sam couldn't bear that image, nor the thought that his master might be missing him as much as he felt in his own heart the emptiness of time away from his master. His tears continued and Aragorn soothingly rubbed his back and brought Sam's head to rest against him. "Sam, these men do not contrive evil my friend..." his eyes grew dark and countenance hard "they define it". Try as he might, Sam could not stop his tears and wiping his hand across his tear stained face cried "Oh master" to the air around him "more cruel and hard times upon ye and yer Sam not there ta 'elp...oh sir I can't bear it" he moaned and then whispered plaintively "I'm sorry sir...sorry " and as he pleaded with the image of Frodo his mind had created he vowed, voice growing hard and husky "yer Sam'll be there sir, jest as soon as he's able....yer Sam'll be with ya." . Sam hid his face in Aragorn's tunic a moment, trying to harden himself, steady his quaking heart and prepare himself for the tasks he knew must come next.
The healer arrived, and as the pages cleaned the floor, Aragorn tried to urge Sam to take a calming tea, a medicine to sooth his nerves and help him to sleep. Sam looked up from where he'd huddled at the King's side, eyes flashing in anger " Sleep? Soothed? No, I'll not be coddled when my Master 'tis havin' none 'o these comforts....no I'll be in me own right mind until we can bring Frodo back where he belongs." Aragorn put the cup down and nodded approvingly, he was relieved to see the spirit of Sam rekindled, he feared it would take much of all of their anger to provide the energy their bodies would need to complete this task. "All right Sam, I will not press you to take this....but know that I can aid you if you wish." the King said softly. Sam nodded and wiped his tears one last time as he shakily got down from the bench and walked hesitantly to the map table, sighing heavily as he spied once more the drawings of his master he asked of all assembled "what treasures in all the world will satisfy men such as these?", none answered and he continued " My master walked through the fires of every man's worst nightmares ta bring light and hope to this world....ta rid these lands 'o cruelty such as this" he said angrily gesturing towards the bloodied parchment. The enraged hobbit stared defiantly all around the table, taking in the pain and fear on all of their faces he realized his anger was not the answer, not here, not now, not towards them, and he changed his tone. He licked his dry lips and asked sadly "How could there still be such evil left in the world? What more can my master give that 'asn't been given?".
Aragorn moved from the bench to the side of the lonely hobbit, he knelt down to look him in the eye " I do not have the answers you seek Sam...but I do know that none in my Kingdom will rest until he is brought back home." The King's steely grey eyes locked with the gaze of the hobbit and Sam found reassurance once more in the strength and compassion of this man.
Sudden footsteps echoed upon the smooth marbled floor and Sam turned to see Lord Faramir enter the chamber. His drawn face and saddened posture told Sam that he too knew of the ransom note. Faramir approached the King "Sire, a second messenger from the river garrison has arrived, they lost the trail in the rocky terrain of the pass." he said regretfully and gave Sam a look that spoke fully of his compassion. Aragorn nodded grimly, as though he'd expected such news. "What ransom do they seek Sire?" Faramir asked quietly as he stared intently upon the figure of his King comforting the hobbit with the proximity of his presence. Faramir felt a lump in his throat as he looked upon the quietly distraught King. He looked aged and weary beyond his years, the Steward's son was beginning to know what manner of man Aragorn was and knew he blamed himself for much that had happened over the past days.
Aragorn stood slowly and moved a few paces from Sam's side to look more closely at the note upon the table "the man who signs this note signs his name 'Dalmer' ", he said as he waved his hand in the direction of the brown stained parchment that held the bloody reminder of Frodo's torment He bent over the map table and said heavily, he asks for the full provisioning of the three Corsair ships, and to have 100 bags of gold coin included in the stocking of each ship."
Faramir mulled that information over in his mind and asked, almost to himself his voice was so quiet "three ships? How is he to fully man three ships?" he asked. Aragorn looked sharply at the son of the former Steward "I have asked that question as well, for each ships requires the work of nearly 200 slaves to man the oars." Legolas interrupted "Aragorn, where does he ask that the ships be berthed upon the Anduin?" The King pointed to the three different locations where the ships were to be left. The slim elf narrowed his eyes and looked up from the map to meet his King's eyes "He does not seek three Ships Estel, he seeks to have you believe that he has the men to man three ships, whilst taking only one." Aragorn nodded with understanding and asked "yes, but which one?". The King furrowed his brow in consternation, "they have sworn not to return Frodo to us until we receive a messenger telling us of his location...they may be upon any of the ships by then." he said his worry reflected in the tone of his words and the lowered volume of his rich voice.
Gandalf spoke up from his place by Sam, where he'd taken the task of providing comfort as he placed his hand reassuringly upon the hobbit's shoulder "do not distract yourself overmuch with these ships Aragorn, you must hold faith that our stubborn Mr. Baggins may yet aid himself in his escape." Aragorn allowed himself the briefest of smiles as he contemplated that possibility, and then pointed to the 2nd picture of Frodo "a wound such as this Gandalf, left untreated, will take all the strength and resilience of the ringbearer. " He shook his head sadly "nay, I do not feel he will be able to aid us in his rescue" he said with quiet acceptance.
Sam, who'd stood by Gandalf, sniffling and wiping away the occasional tear, was heartened by the Wizard's words. "Ye 'aven't seen Mr. Frodo determined like I 'ave, why if there is an injustice that won't be bourne, well not even one 'o Mr. Bilbo's trolls could stop 'im from doin' what's right and proper" he said proudly. Aragorn smiled gently at the hobbit's hopeful words "let us hope you are right Sam, I fear we shall need help from many quarters to bring Frodo safely back to us". Sam, nodded sadly and as he turned to climb upon the pedestal of the map table to gain a better look, he stumbled and nearly fell as the shock and worry of his mind caught up with his weary body. Aragorn reached quickly to steady the hobbit before he fell. "Sam, you are weary from this news and the strain it has caused, I know you will take no draught, but will you retire to rest of your own accord?" The Wizard added in a voice that would not be challenged "your King is right Sam, let us get you back to your chambers, a little rest would do us both good my dear hobbit." Sam sighed heavily and looked about the room, at the faces of those he loved and he missed his Frodo that much more. "Please, beggin' yer pardon, but I'd like ta rest in Mr. Frodo's quarters if I might....I 'll feel, well closer to 'im there if ya catch my meanin' " the hobbit's eyes were pleading with Aragorn. "Of course Sam, I will have food and bath supplies sent...go rest and I will summon you as soon as a plan is formed" Aragorn said and he continued "he will come back to us Sam, we shall all hold true to that hope." Sam sighed and nodded wordlessly as he allowed himself to be lead from the room by the comforting hand of the tall Wizard at his side.
Faramir walked to the map table and picked up the second parchment, something about the figure of the man positioned by Frodo's foot struck him. The blatant cruelty and evil look in his cold eyes turned his stomach and he shuddered to think of how gentle and scholarly Frodo would fare at the hands of men such as these. "There is a presence in this man that is strangely familiar to me" he said quietly to Aragorn. His mind suddenly brought Faramir back to the caves of Henneth Annun, he was reminded of another scene of cruelty towards the frail hobbit. In his mind's eye he saw Frodo brutally tossed against a wall and then dragged to his feet as Anborn placed his hands upon the frightened hobbit to 'help' him regain his feet. He recalled the cold and calculating lust he'd seen in the soldier's face and he sighed heavily.
Aragorn looked to him with concern etched upon his features "Faramir, what is it? What do you see in this picture?" the King asked insistently. Faramir rolled his eyes upward and set his lips to a hard straight line as he began his tale. Holding the parchment, he pointed to the figure by Frodo's feet, "he is the brother of my former aide, an aide whom I had sent from my side in disgrace because of the manner in which he treated Frodo." Legolas placed a supportive hand upon Faramir's shoulder 'do not place blame upon yourself Lord Faramir, as we are all wont to do" the elf said as he looked knowingly at Aragorn "tell us the tale, for perhaps within your story will be information to help us find the hobbit". Faramir nodded and told of the day he and his rangers had come across Frodo and Sam, "they were worn from their travels and Frodo especially showed signs of great weariness and worry." Faramir shook his head sadly "it was the law that all found were to be questioned and executed as needed, so I had their hands bound and their eyes covered as we marched for several hours through the woods to our camp at Henneth Annun.". He turned to Aragorn "I did as I was ordered, but my Aide, a man called Anborn, did much more that I was not aware of at the time." Faramir told of the sadistic pace that his men had forced upon the hobbits. of the sadistic pleasure that Anborn had taken from Frodo's frequent falls upon the path. He revealed that Anborn had, after each fall, taken pleasure from dragging the hobbit none to gently to his feet and that with each fall Frodo had been 'checked' for injury in such a way that had left the frail hobbit shaken and shamed. Faramir placed is head in his hands a moment and continued "it was only later, as I went to the deeper recesses of the cave to speak with the hobbits that I found out from Sam that Frodo had been taken by Anborn for 'interrogation' to a far cavern room." The Steward's son looked pale as he continued 'you must understand that the orders for this 'interrogation' did not come from me, but rather from Anborn's misguided desire to control and dominate the weakness and vulnerability that he perceived in the ringbearer, so while I did not order this 'questioning' it happened none the less." Farmir was quiet a moment, struggling with how to continue. "What happened Faramir" Aragorn prodded gently. Faramir's face was filled with pain as he completed his tale " when I came upon him at last I found that Anborn had stripped Frodo of his shirt and had tied him face down upon a table, he'd taken his belt and given him a few strokes upon his back." Faramir paused and closed his eyes a moment to steady himself before continuing. "Frodo's near helpless state and frail weariness had excited a lust, an un-natural desire to dominate....and I arrived only just in time to stop my aide from raping the hobbit." Faramir hung his head in shame, Frodo had suffered from the beating and the mistrust he'd seen in his wonderous blue eyes haunted him to this day.
Aragorn was deeply saddened by Faramir's tale, for he knew that the brutality of war and profession of killing often blurred the lines of right and wrong for some men. "Faramir" the king said gently "you did what was right for the times we were living." Framir nodded after a moment "yes, I did...Anborn was harshly disciplined in the manner of men of Gondor, given lashes and sent in disgrace from my company." Faramir shook his head "Now I fear that Anborn may be a part of this, and I saw the hatred, the contempt, the lust his felt for Frodo....I fear for our friend more than ever now my King." he said with agony in his voice.