Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee wondered how things had gone so wrong. They had been captured by Faramir, Boromir's brother and found him severely different to his brother. While Boromir had pushed Frodo to leave with the ring, Faramir insisted that the Ring go to Gondor and his father. Although this did not change their opinion of the Captain, they knew he was a good man but even good men could be corrupted by the Ring if they lacked the strength. The Ring was powerful and could even turn the strongest of Men.
They were laid next to each on the floor of the cold cave next to each other, Sméagol laid close by them. They found comfort amongst each other although for Sméagol, all he felt at that moment was hate and betrayal. Master said he would care and always protect him but he let him be hurt and captured by the stupid humans. Master lied to Sméagol.
Each of them were lost in their thoughts. Frodo on their journey, Sam on Frodo and Sméagol on his Precious. A precious that still called for him.
"I do not know if we will make it out of this, Sam." Frodo told his greatest friend, a sense of reluctant defeat settling on his shoulders but Sam would have none of that. The Hobbit grabbed roughly onto his friends shoulders and shook him as if thinking that would clear his mind of his stupidity. "Do not give up now, Mister Frodo. You can still go, use the Ring and leave us here."
Frodo shook his head. "I cannot. I do not fear that Sauron will see me but if I use it then he will be able to find me," he told the plump Hobbit, grabbing onto his hand for comfort. "He will send his riders and we do not need that besides, I could not imagine leaving you behind." Frodo smiled wryly at his friend before turning to speak to Sméagol.
He was interrupted from speaking when Faramir barged into the cave, his men followed close behind him. The Captain marched towards Frodo, his blade pointed at his neck. The Hobbit tensed under the blade, watching with wary eyes as the tip of the blade coaxed the Ring into the open for all eyes to see. They could see the looks of greed and want and shuddered under the intense emotions on their faces.
Faramir almost seemed enthralled by the Ring as he gazed upon it. "This is it," the man muttered to himself as the Ring spoke to him of the glory and the pride his father would have in him. "A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality." Frodo angrily pushed the blade away from him and ran to the far side of the cave, away from the Men.
"Stop it! Why are you doing this? Can't you see what it is we have to do? He has to destroy it! We have to! That's where we're going, to Mordor!," Sam shouted at the stunned Men before he broke down crying, moving his body in front of Frodo's to protect him. "Please, will you not help us like your brother did? Will you not let us go..." He turned his eyes to the mans, silently begging him to let them go but when the Hobbits looked into his glazed eyes, they knew that he would not help them.
"I have no time for your pitiful words," Faramir snarled before turning his back to them and announcing, "Prepare to move for Osgiliath, the Ring will go to Gondor."
"Faramir! Faramir please! Let us go!" Frodo screamed at the Captain but he just kept walking away with his Men, leaving the Hobbits and Sméagol alone with their fears.
They moved out from Henneth Annûn to Osgiliath. The Hobbits seemed to lose all fight and had accepted their fate. They were going to Minas Tirith. As they approached a city, they saw the fires and heard the screams of people dying. Osgiliath would soon be run over by orcs, the blood of the soldiers would soon stain the battlefield red.
"Osgiliath burns. The forces of Mordor have come." A voice from the Men spoke aloud to the group.
Frodo and Sam could only stare in horror and slight resignation as if they knew that this would happen sooner or later. "This is the fate of Minas Tirith, of all Gondor. The Ring cannot save your city or people, it only has the power to destroy," Frodo looked at Faramir pleadingly. "Please, let me go."
Faramir only stares at him before motioning with his hand for the Men to keep going. "Faramir! You must let me go!" His protests fell on the deaf ears of the Gondorians.
They arrived in Osgiliath and are immediately seen to by another man. His name is Madril, a high ranked commander who comes to Faramir and says, "Faramir, orcs have taken the eastern shore. Their numbers are too great. By nightfall we'll be overrun."
Frodo tried to listen to the words that was being spoken around him but he stumbled and suddenly felt faint as the Ring around his neck became heavier, almost to the point of where he felt as if his neck would break under the weight. Sam shakes him, trying to keep him awake. "It's calling him Sam. His eye is almost upon me." Frodo told him, the fear plainly seen in his blue eyes.
"Do not let him get to you, Mister Frodo. Remember what Miss Eleniel said; think of everything you love, Bilbo, the Shire." Sam practically shouted at him as Frodo felt his body become numb, gaining the attention of the Men around them. Frodo fought against the strength of the Ring, the taunting as it tried to take over his mind. His thoughts immediately thought of the Fellowship as his mind cleared the influence of the Ring but he knew that it was still calling to its Master.
"Take them to my father. Tell them that Faramir sends a gift, a weapon for Gondor." He tells some of the Men, pointing at the Hobbits and creature. The fear became apparent on Frodo's face as he thought of what fate awaited them.
Feeling the rage rise in him after looking at his friend, Sam yelled at the Captain, surprising everyone in the room. "Are you so angry at your brother and being in his shadow that you would condemn your people so?," The Hobbit irately yelled at the stunned Men, his anger clear in every word. They had heard of how their father treated Faramir from Boromir and how Boromir wished for better for his brother. "Are you not the Faramir that Boromir spoke so highly of? A man twice as great as I, Boromir said."
"Please, do you not understand? Boromir wished for us to make it to Mordor so your people could survive. Do not disrespect nor disappoint him so by doing this."
Faramir stared at the group, the words of the Ring screaming at him to take them to Minas Tirith. He was about to tell the soldiers to take them when his thoughts turned to his older brother. They were sat in the watch tower overlooking the city when Faramir asked his brother why he had to go to Rivendell. "I must go, little brother" he said, his eyes never leaving their borders, checking for danger always. "The most important things to me in this world is you and this city, our people. Remember this little brother, I would die before I see you or the White City fall so I must go."
"Cut their bonds," Faramir told one of the guards to the befuddlement of some of them in the room, his mind finally feeling clear. "You are right small one. My brother would be very disappointed in me and that is something I cannot allow." Some of the Men protested his decision, telling him that if he did this then his life would be forfeit. Faramir readily accepted his fate.
Frodo gathered his thoughts to thank Faramir when they all heard that painful, dreadful screech. Frodo felt a massive weight settle on him once more, his will fighting against that of the Rings. "Nazgûl!" Faramir shouted before sending the Hobbits a sorry look and taking them to cover. "Stay here then leave when it is safe. No one will stop you."
Looking around at the flying Nazgûl on their steeds, fear began to invade Frodo's mind before it was quickly replaced with determination when he remembered the words Eleniel had spoke to him at Lothlórien.
"Even the smallest of us can change the course of history." She had said to Sam and him that day and because of those words, he would make sure that he made it to Mordor and destroyed the Ring.
Nothing was going to stop him.
So what did you think? I had to change some things because I left Boromir alive but yes, I still let Faramir almost take them to his father because although he loves his brother, there is bound to be some jealousy. Honestly, I feel like it would be a given that he'd harbour some jealousy and ill feelings but his love for Boromir far outweighs that. Also what do you think about Frodo and the Ring? Because of what the Valar told Eleniel in the other chapter about how her time with the Fellowship ensured that they would succeed and that Frodo wouldn't want for the Ring, I also had to change some things. He will still be tempted but more able to fight against the Rings influence, I guess you could say she blessed him in a way... I know that concept of love being able to defeat the One Ring and Sauron sounds stupid. Kind of like Dumbledore in the first book and movie but I never said that it could, only that it would help which is what I'm going for. Love is a strong motivation which is why Frodo really needed to hear that from Eleniel. It always felt to me like he was the ring bearer because he felt like it was the right thing for him to do but now at least he has motivation and something to fight for. Anyways, rant and explanation over.
Hope you enjoyed xx