After Denethor regained consciousness he walked back into the house. He looked upon his son and sighed. It is hopeless. He is dead. Everyone is gone and left me. Finduilas, my wife, my queen, has left. Boromir is gone. Father left when the boys were very young. Faramir…why must he leave me too? Why must he leave me all alone? Even though we NEVER, and I mean NEVER, saw eye-to-eye on anything, at least he was someone who hadn't left me (until now that is). All right that does it! We shall be buried side by side!
"Guards!"
"Yes, milord?"
"Bring my son. We're going to tend to the fallen."
"Yes milord. Right away."
The four guards he summoned, along with some servants of the house, past the tree, and headed for the Silent Street carrying Faramir upon the stretcher that he was brought up to his father on with the lord Denethor. Denethor was saying, more to himself than to anyone else, "I am steward of the house of Anarion. Thus have I walked, and thus now will I sleep."
Then glancing down over the wall at the battle down below, he saw the army beginning to retreat to the higher levels of the city. With tears in his eyes, he stopped walking and asked himself "Why do the fools fly? Better to die sooner than late, for die we must" and proceeded on walking.
At last they came to the House of the Stewards and opened the door. Denethor walked about the room while telling his company "No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No long slow sleep of death embalmed. We shall burn like the heathen kings of old." At that moment he stopped walking and turned to his company and ordered "Bring wood and oil."
The servants did as they were told without question. They fetched the wood and oil as he demanded. They piled the wood on top of the table that was in the middle of the room. They placed the lord Denethor's son on top of that and placed more wood around the table.
Denethor placed his hands upon his son's face and said more to himself than anyone else, "The house of his spirit crumbles. He is burning. Already burning."
At that moment the halfling, Peregrin, came into the room and said "He's not dead."
Denethor looked up at him and the halfling again declared "He's not dead!" this time attempting to move the wood away from the table. But, Denethor stopped him before he could accomplish it. He dragged him away toward the door ignoring Peregrin's protests of "No!" and "He's not dead!"
As they reached the door Denethor told him "Farewell Peregrin, son of Paladin. I release you from my service" before releasing him causing him to fall on the ground. "Go now and die in what way seems best to you." He ordered his servants "Pour oil on the wood!" as he closed the doors behind him.
