Chapter 5: Pharazphel's Rescuers
Word of the darkness in Rohan had reached the ears of the people of Gondor. The tale of these fierce creatures struck a new terror in the people. They knew it was only a matter of time before the creatures bearing the white hand and Wild Men burnt their way to Osgiliath and then the white city of Minas Tirith.
The word had not escaped the ears of Boromir and Faramir. The noble brothers wanted to help their brethren in Rohan. However, their father vehemently refused.
"They say that these creatures run with great speed through sunlight," Faramir told his father.
"There is word that this new devilry comes from Isengard. Saruman has turned traitor. These creatures bear his white hand," Boromir explained.
Their words did not sway Denethor, who simply said nothing and glared.
"Father, the Wild Men have sworn their allegiance to Saruman. They along with these creatures of the White Hand are burning everything in their path and killing at will," Boromir argued.
"If they are unchallenged then they will only burn their way to our white city," Faramir added.
"When I want the advice of a wizard's pupil, I will ask for it," Denethor said callously. "What business of ours is it what goes on beyond our borders?"
"Father, Saruman the Traitor will not stop his slaughter in Rohan. He will continue his blood-soaked path until he has destroyed everything and everyone in the world," Boromir argued.
"We must send aid to Rohan," Faramir said urgently.
"Rohan!" Denethor growled. "Does Rohan feel that Saruman the Traitor is a greater evil than Sauron? Where was Rohan when this darkness began? Rohan was never there when Sauron first attacked us. Why should we ride to aid those who did not aid us? We owe nothing to Rohan."
"Father, these people are our brothers and sisters! We cannot leave them to slaughter," Boromir protested.
"No, my son," Denethor said gently. "Time has changed the world. The time of brotherhood is over. The alliances made in the time of Sauron are dead and buried. We cannot aid Rohan if they will not give aid to us."
"Father, please, we must help them!" Faramir protested.
"No!" Denethor snapped. "I will not be pestered into submission by the words of a wizard's pupil! Get out of my sight, and relieve me of your foolishness!"
Faramir trembled.
"Father, Faramir is only saying what is right," Boromir said.
"I trust only your wisdom because it is pure, not polluted by the spells of a wizard," Denethor said.
Faramir quitted the room, his face unreadable.
"Every day, all he does is aspire to please you, and you do not even recognize his efforts," Boromir said angrily.
"Do not trouble me with your brother. If that is your intention, then you may go as well," Denethor said.
Furious, Boromir bowed to his father and followed Faramir.
Faramir and Boromir met in a corridor where they could speak in secret.
"At least your words reached Father's ears while mine were lost," Faramir said ruefully.
"Father heard your words clear as an Elvish song, even if he chooses to lie," Boromir said in comfort.
"I do not understand how Father could be so cruel as to leave our brethren to die," Faramir said in shock.
"His wisdom is right. The Rohirrim soldiers have never troubled to ride to us in our time of need," Boromir said.
"Oh, no. Not you too, brother!" Faramir groaned.
"Do not worry yourself, brother," Boromir said calmly. "I am simply saying that Rohan has never come to our aid. That does not mean that we should not ride to theirs."
"In our situation, brother, it is not a question of should not, but can not," Faramir countered. "How can we help Rohan when Father demands that we do nothing?"
"We do not need Father's approval to do what is right," Boromir said earnestly. "We will ride for Rohan."
"How?" Faramir asked.
"Muster only a few of our men as you can," Boromir instructed. "Our secrecy will serve us better if we have a small number of soldiers. We will ride at dawn."
The next morning, dawn's light crept over the peaks of the mountains and showed its head to Minas Tirith. True to their word, Boromir and Faramir made ready to ride to Rohan in secret. They gathered as many men as they could and rode off in a thunder of horses.
The ride to Rohan was a three day ride. By dawn on the third morning, Boromir and Faramir's company reached their destination. They saw the horror that had befallen the country. Villages burned, black smoke polluted the sweet air, and innocent people were being slaughtered at every turn.
"Kill anything in your path, men!" Boromir said. "Do not show them mercy as they will show none to you!"
Boromir, Faramir, and their handful of soldiers spurred their horses and rode to battle. The company rode with on and their swords rung through the air, meeting the bodies of these creatures. At every turn, Boromir and Faramir's company killed any foe that crossed their path. Victory seemed to be in reach.
Alas, the small company could do little to hold back the peril. Thousands more of the creatures of the White Hand flooded into the villages. The Wild Men continued to rampage through by the hundreds. The company was quickly overwhelmed.
"We cannot hold them back," Faramir cried. "There are too many of them!"
"Fall back! Fall back to Minas Tirith!" Boromir shouted.
Riding hard through the enemy's path, Boromir and Faramir took their soldiers, now lessened to only a few, backward to Gondor. While riding through the forest, they heard the horrible growls of those creatures.
"Why do these creatures hide in the forest?" Faramir asked, bewildered.
"Faramir, we cannot hold them back," Boromir protested.
"I just want to know why these creatures hide if they do not fear sunlight," Faramir said. "Something is not right here."
Boromir signaled his few soldiers and followed Faramir on foot. From the safety of the trees, Boromir and Faramir beheld a horrific sight. The creatures growled and cackled as they tortured a young woman.
Faramir looked at his brother, waiting for a response.
"We cannot leave her to this torment," Boromir said resolutely.
Boromir signaled his men, and with a nod, they sprung from their hiding place and attacked the band of creatures. Thankfully, Boromir and Faramir's company outnumbered the band of foes. They quickly overtook the creatures without trouble. Then, they hurried to the victimized woman.
"She's alive," Boromir said in relief.
"What shall we do? We cannot leave her here," Faramir said.
"And we shall not. We will take her to Gondor. Hurry," Boromir replied.
Boromir gingerly mounted his horse with the wounded woman and he as well as his men rode with all haste to Gondor.
Boromir and his company rode night and day until they reached their city. Boromir and Faramir quickly raced to the Houses of Healing. They saw to their wounded and then focused on the woman.
"Faramir, quick, fetch a nurse. Hurry!" Boromir instructed.
Faramir hurried away with speed quicker than lightning. Boromir stayed with the woman. His heart broke for this woman as he took notice of her numerous wounds. Boromir grazed his hand over the white hand of the young woman's. Suddenly, she gasped as if in pain and sprang awake.
"Do not be afraid, my lady. You are safe," Boromir said in comfort. "I am Boromir, son of Denethor. You will be safe with me."
"Ph…Pharazphel," breathed the woman, her voice full of pain.
"You are safe now, Pharazphel," Boromir comforted.
Pharazphel did not speak and simply faded again. Faramir returned with the old nurse, Ioreth.
"How is she?" Faramir asked as the nurse examined the woman.
"If those creatures wanted to kill her, they were close," Boromir said gravely. "She's barely alive."
"Has she spoken at all?" Faramir asked.
"Only to tell me her name is Pharazphel," Boromir replied.
Both brothers took notice of Pharazphel's wounds and then her maimed arm as Ioreth examined it.
"Her arm is broken," Faramir gasped.
"Many of her joints are out of place and she burns with fever," Ioreth replied sadly. "I must set this woman's joints in place before any damage is permanent."
Boromir and Faramir helped Ioreth treat poor Pharazphel. Boromir placed a damp cloth on Pharazphel's head to relieve her fever. Ioreth then began work on Pharazphel's joints. With a crack! and a snap! Ioreth treated her. After setting her joints in place, Ioreth then bound Pharazphel's broken arm in a linen cloth and let her rest.
Boromir and Faramir winced in horror. They could not imagine what pain this woman went through. They took comfort and marveled as Pharazphel did not cry out as she was treated.
"I have never seen anyone endure so much torment," Faramir said ruefully.
"Brave woman," Boromir said in awe.
Boromir and Faramir stayed with Pharazphel all through the night. They were thankful that they had done a little to help Rohan and saved this woman. As they kept their watch on her, both were amazed by this woman's strength.
