Written by Phoenix
Gandalf and Xander stood high above Minas Tirith looking out over the wall at the flames of the taken city of Osgiliath. Gandalf had just returned from clearing a path from the Nazgûl to give safe passage to the retreating army from Osgiliath. And the news that Faramir, Denethor's other son, had seen Frodo no more than two days ago still ran in his mind.
"Will they get here in time?" Xander asked.
"I am not sure. Hope and courage is our best defense now." Gandalf replied.
Faramir stood and watched as Pippin knelt before his father, swearing his oath of service. Pippin stammered over his words as he recited, "Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, in peace or war, in living or dying, from... from this hour henceforth, until my lord release me, or death take me."
Standing with an amused grin, Denethor replied, "And I shall not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given." Extending his hand, Pippin reluctantly kissed his ring as the Steward said, "Fealty with love, valor with honor," and looking at Faramir as if the next words were just for him he said, "Disloyalty with vengeance."
As Pippin stood, Denethor took his seat at a table filled with meats and fruits. "I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses. Defenses that your brother long held intact."
"What would you have me do?" Faramir asked.
"I will not yield the river and Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken."
"My Lord, Osgiliath is overrun..."
"Much must be risked in war. Is there a Captain here who still has the courage to do his lords will?"
Pippin saw the saddened expression in Faramir's eyes as he looked upon his father. The young hobbit was confused by the steward's actions when Faramir's voice spoke, breaking from nerves, "You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived."
Denethor kept a serious expression upon his face as he answered, "Yes, I wish that."
Tears began to form in Faramir's eyes as Denethor cautiously brought the goblet to his lips and drank. "Since you are robbed of Boromir," Faramir replied, "I will do what I can in his stead."
Pippin watched Faramir bow and then take his leave before turning at the door and looking at his father and saying, "If I should return, think better of me father."
Denethor, never taking his eyes off his food coldly replied, "That would depend on the manner of your return..."
Gandalf and Xander stood high above Minas Tirith looking out over the wall at the flames of the taken city of Osgiliath. Gandalf had just returned from clearing a path from the Nazgûl to give safe passage to the retreating army from Osgiliath. And the news that Faramir, Denethor's other son, had seen Frodo no more than two days ago still ran in his mind.
"Will they get here in time?" Xander asked.
"I am not sure. Hope and courage is our best defense now." Gandalf replied.
Faramir stood and watched as Pippin knelt before his father, swearing his oath of service. Pippin stammered over his words as he recited, "Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, in peace or war, in living or dying, from... from this hour henceforth, until my lord release me, or death take me."
Standing with an amused grin, Denethor replied, "And I shall not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given." Extending his hand, Pippin reluctantly kissed his ring as the Steward said, "Fealty with love, valor with honor," and looking at Faramir as if the next words were just for him he said, "Disloyalty with vengeance."
As Pippin stood, Denethor took his seat at a table filled with meats and fruits. "I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses. Defenses that your brother long held intact."
"What would you have me do?" Faramir asked.
"I will not yield the river and Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken."
"My Lord, Osgiliath is overrun..."
"Much must be risked in war. Is there a Captain here who still has the courage to do his lords will?"
Pippin saw the saddened expression in Faramir's eyes as he looked upon his father. The young hobbit was confused by the steward's actions when Faramir's voice spoke, breaking from nerves, "You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived."
Denethor kept a serious expression upon his face as he answered, "Yes, I wish that."
Tears began to form in Faramir's eyes as Denethor cautiously brought the goblet to his lips and drank. "Since you are robbed of Boromir," Faramir replied, "I will do what I can in his stead."
Pippin watched Faramir bow and then take his leave before turning at the door and looking at his father and saying, "If I should return, think better of me father."
Denethor, never taking his eyes off his food coldly replied, "That would depend on the manner of your return..."