The horse thundered across the ground, its hooves churning up wet soil and dead leaves. Its rider rounded a bend too fast, almost falling off, before righting themselves and galloping on. Despite their too-fast pace, the rider urged the horse to go faster, bending low over their steed's sweating neck.
Finally, the white towers of Minas Tirith came into view, and both horse and rider nearly collapsed in relief. Asking their panting horse for one final push, the rider was rewarded with a final burst of speed that brought them to the guarded entrance of the citadel.
"Halt!" one of the guards cried out. "Who goes there?"
In one fluid motion, the rider dismounted, flinging back their hood and revealing a man with shoulder-length blond hair and kind gray eyes.
"Captain Faramir," the guard said, shocked. "I apologize, I didn't recognize-"
"There is no time for that now, Turgon," Faramir said, cutting him off. "I have a matter of utmost importance that is to be brought before the King."
The guards exchanged a glance. "The King is in the middle of a council meeting-" Turgon started.
"This is a matter worth disturbing the King," Faramir said sharply. "If you do not remember, I outrank both of you, and I am demanding to be brought before King Elessar."
After a brief pause, the guards nodded, and reluctantly let their Captain pass. Looking at his retreating figure, Turgon let out a low whistle. "I wonder what's got the Captain in such a state."
His partner shrugged. "Whatever it is buddy, it's above our pay grade. I just hope the King doesn't blame us for lettin' the Captain through despite his orders."
Turgon let out a small laugh. "I'll back you if you back me?"
"Agreed." Turgon heard the smile in his partner's voice, and the two turned back to guarding the entranceway.
Faramir hurried down the dimly lit passageways, knowing the way to the throne room like the back of his hand. He burst into the throne room, interrupting some lord in the middle of his rant - something about raising taxes.
"Sire, I apologize for the interruption, but this matter is of utmost importance." He waited until his King gave him permission to continue. "I've just returned from a patrol, my lords, near Amon Hen. I bring grave tidings. I fear-I fear that the Necromancer is rising again," he said, the words tumbling out of him, but halting when his King rose.
Three years into his reign, Aragorn had started rebuilding from the devastation the War of the Ring caused. Aragorn believed that a King should be on the front lines instead of giving orders from behind his soldiers. It was one of the main differences that separated Aragorn from Denethor and other past kings, and one of the reasons he commanded the respect of the many races of Middle Earth. It was also a preliminary cause of why he clashed so often with the other lords and nobles of the Council.
Upon hearing Faramir's announcement, the throne room erupted in a cacophony of noises, each noble trying to make their voice heard.
"Got to act quickly-"
"Move while he's unprepared-"
"Yes, but what of the losses-"
"SILENCE!" Aragorn roared, his voice cutting through the lords like a boulder slicing through water.
Aragorn looked around, frowning. "Now," he said, his voice calmer, but still holding a hint of danger. "We must gather all of the necessary information before jumping to conclusions and charging in with a half-cooked plane that will get men killed. Captain Faramir-" here Faramir straightened his shoulders beneath Aragorn's steely-eyed gaze - "please tell us the report, in full." Aragorn sat back on his throne, which was on floor level, as Aragorn said a king should not be above his people and had the steps removed, and gazed expectantly at his friend.
Faramir cleared his throat before beginning. He told of his three-man patrol which was following a group of Haradrim - men who had fought on Sauron's side during the War of the Ring. He told of a great earthquake, and how, when it cleared, there stood a boy - just a child really. Faramir explained how the Haradrim had advanced on the boy, only to be met with shaking earth and undead warriors.
"The Haradrim attacked, only to be met pushed back by the skeletons," Faramir said. "The ones who attacked were slaughtered. The others retreated."
After a few moments of shock, Aragorn broke the stunned silence, saying, "And what of your men?"
Faramir looked down. "When they realized he was a Necromancer, they attacked. I tried to stop them, but I failed, My Lord." Faramir cleared his throat before continuing. "Beleg is dead. Killed by one of the skeletal warriors. And Hirluin, I left him in the care of a competent healer in a nearby village, before rushing here at once. He was wounded by the hands of the Necromancer himself. Despite his age, he is skilled with a sword and a formidable enemy My Lord. We would do well not to underestimate him."
"What more is there to talk about?" Malvegil, a noble, cut in. "We must take out troops and kill him straight away!"
Aragorn frowned. "Lord Malvegil, it is not as simple as that."
"Well, what else is there to consider?" Lord Dervorin interrupted. "Any person who follows in the steps of Sauron-" he all but spat the name "is a danger to the free people of Middle Earth!"
The other nobles murmured in agreement, but Queen Arwen, who had sat quietly on her throne beside Aragorn until then, joined the discussion. "My husband is correct. We cannot go in there unprepared. For one thing, we do not know if he is acting alone; we do not know how powerful he is, or if our army can kill him, or if we will be just sending them to slaughter. We do not know if he is truly a threat, as we are unaware of where his alliances lie." She looked, steely-eyed at the men around her. "And until we determine his allegiance, Gondor will not be held responsible for the murder of a man - a boy - who might very well be innocent."
If there was one thing that could be said about Lady Arwen, it was that she could hold her own in a fight.
Lord Malvegil cleared his throat and addressed her. "My Queen, be that as it may, we cannot wait until he reveals himself. By then, it will be too late, and he will take over Middle Earth one by one.
Arwen stared at the man in front of her. "Lord Malvegil, the only thing this boy had done is defend himself from an attack. I will admit, not in the usual fashion, but he is doing what any of us would have done, albeit with his … skills."
Arwen had barely finished speaking before Lord Dervorin jumped in. "My Lady, I must agree with Lord Malvegil; we do not have the time to wait. The first Necromancer, Sauron, attempted to take over Middle Earth; who is to say this one will be different? No, we must act before acts against us."
Faramir had never trusted Lord Dervorin. He was a sly speaker with a silver tongue, who would capitalize on the recent war to connect this new Necromancer to Sauron and spread panic. The only hope now was with Aragorn, who, as the King, had the final say in all matters.
The King looked thoughtful as he contemplated his options. Finally, he made a decision. "I will ride out with a few guards to determine how great of a threat this boy is. I will not attempt to engage him in a conflict, however…" he paused. "However, it may be necessary to eliminate this threat. Captain Faramir, will you escort me on this task?"
"Of course, My Liege," Faramir bowed.
"Then gather some men to escort us to Amon Hen." Aragorn turned back to the Council. "Queen Arwen will be in charge here until I return." The notes of finality in Aragorn's voice were a dismissal to all present. As everyone rose, another younger soldier burst into the throne room, dropping into a low bow, and drawing the eyes of everyone in the room.
"My Lord, I apologize for interrupting, but we have just received word…" he looked up eagerly, his nervousness shining through anxious eyes, "King Elessar, the earthquake that Captain Faramir witnessed? It was not the only unnatural anomaly. A lightning storm and the flooding of many rivers were spotted around the same time as the earthquake."
There was a stunned silence in the room before Aragorn remembered to dismiss the soldier, who bowed and scurried out of the room. There was another pause while everyone pondered this recent development.
"If the earthquake brought the Necromancer here, and there have been more unnaturally occurring incidents…" Aragorn began.
Arwen finished her husband's thoughts. "Then the Necromancer did not come here alone."
Alright so I know I'm changing it but Weathertop is way too far from Gondor for Faramir to make it to warn them, and it just doesn't make sense.
Amon Hen is the mountain where the fellowship split up, and it houses the seeing chair.
While the skeleton soldiers would have no problem killing someone, I think Nico would not want to kill anyone, because demigods don't usually fight humans, they fight monsters who don't really die, just go to Tartarus and regenerate, so the idea of killing a human would not be ok with him and he would aim to injure instead.