"Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor. In peace or war, In living or dying. Fr-from-from this hour henceforth till my lord release me or death take me", Pippin swore to the steward.
Denethor responded to the young halfling with "And I shall not forget it nor fail to reward that which is given". He extended his hand with the ring of the steward out to him to kiss which he did.
"Fealty with love", he continued, "Valor with honor. Disloyalty, with vengeance". He spoke the last part to his son in particular.
He sat down and started to place his noon meal on his plate before he started speaking again, this time to Faramir.
"I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses. Defenses that your brother long held intact." He spoke with anger, impatience, and disapproval in his voice.
Faramir's short reply was "What would you have me do?"
"I will not yield the river and Pelennor un-fought. Osgiliath must be retaken" he replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"My lord, Osgiliath is overrun".
"Much must be risked in war". What is he THINKING ?? We are not going to forfeit that city to Mordor!!
He continued with "Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lords will?" with the kind of 'are you going to follow the orders of your leader or not?' attitude.
Faramir looked at him for a moment before asking with the kind of voice that suggested that he was trying to hold back tears "Do you wish now that our places had been exchanged? That I had died and Boromir had lived?"
Denethor gave but a moment's hesitation before replying "Yes. I wish that" before taking a sip from his goblet.
Faramir, still tried to hold back his tears, replied with no less confidence replied "Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead" before making a slight bow and turning to go.
In Boromir's stead? No one can live up to his standard. What are you talking about boy??
Faramir turned around for a moment and said "If I should return, think better of me Father" before turning around again and walking out of the room.
If you can manage to do as I told you and once Osgiliath is back in our hands and Mordor is overthrown.
"That will depend on the manner of your return" was his reply that pretty much summed up his last thought to himself.
He won't return. It's hopeless. The war is over. None of them will return. Well at least I won't have to put up with his helplessness anymore. Why couldn't their places have been exchanged? Then we would have some hope in this war. Where is this Theoden King? That wizard said that he would come with the lighting of the beacons. The beacons are lit, and where is Rohan? I don't see any Rohan here. They have betrayed us! Middle Earth will fall beginning with us! It's hopeless.
Denethor was kept to his thoughts as Faramir and his men marched down the streets and on to the battlefield back to Osgiliath and to certain death. Denethor may have been right. It was pretty much hopeless. Soon their last chance of hope in winning the war would be diminished.
