Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Artanis, Karax, Talandar, and Alarak eavesdropped on a conversation between Faramir and Denethor outside the throne room.
"This is how you would serve your city? You would risk its utter ruin?" Denethor spoke in an angry tone.
"I did what I judged to be right," Faramir tried to reason with his father as a start.
"What you judged to be right. You sent the Ring of Power into Mordor in the hands of a witless Halfling," Denethor expressed disappointment. "It should have been brought back to the Citadel to be kept safe. Hidden. Dark and deep in the vaults … not to be used. Unless at the uttermost end of need."
"I would not use the Ring. Not if Minas Tirith were falling in ruin and I alone could save her."
"Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious … as a king of old. Boromir would have remembered his father's need. He would have brought me a kingly gift."
"Boromir would not have brought the Ring. He would have stretched out his hand to this thing and taken it. He would've fallen."
"You know nothing of this matter!"
"He would have kept it for his own. And when he returned … you would not have known your son."
"Boromir was loyal to me! Not some wizard's pupil!" Denethor shouted before there was movement.
"Father?"
"My son," Denethor spoke in an eccentric happy tone. "Leave me," he spoke in an angry tone.
When Faramir got out, he found his allies outside, "Eavesdropping, haven't you?"
"Let me give you some advice," said Jim.
"What is that?"
"Think positively about doing what your brother couldn't do. It would have been worse if the Ring was actually brought to this city."
"If Boromir survived and brought the Ring to Minas Tirith, both of you won't be able to save Gondor. You two would have died protecting this city," Artanis pointed out.
"Long as the Ring lives, there will never be peace," said Swann.
"It was a hard choice to make at the first place, whether to bring the Ring here or let Frodo and his group destroy it in Mordor," Faramir admitted.
"We Protoss have been suspicious of your brother especially when the Ring was involved. You were right that he would've possibly kept it for his own," Talandar stated the fact.
"Boromir tried taking the Ring from Frodo either because of your father or the Ring drove him mad. The Ring can make people lose their minds other than its master Sauron," said Stetmann.
"I think of both," said Faramir.
"I fear your father's hunger for power will lead to Gondor's demise if we aren't here to help out with its defenses," Jim spoke with concern.
"The Ring is also an ally to Amon," said Alarak.
"If the Ring is destroyed and you brought peace to Gondor, you should feel good about yourself," said Swann attempting light up Faramir's mood.
"If the Ring and Sauron are no more, Amon won't stay in Middle-earth long," said Artanis.
In the Mordor-occupied Osgiliath, the Witch-king on his Fellbeast gave orders to his orc second-in-command, "Send forth all legions. Do not stop the attack until the city is taken. Slay them all."
"What of the wizard?"
"I'll deal with the wizard."
"What about the strangers? The ones are not of this world."
"I will break them for Amon."
In the battlements of Minas Tirith, Protoss and men looked at Osgiliath. A Gondor soldier asked Gandalf, "Where are Theoden's riders? Will Rohan's army come? Mithrandir."
"Courage is the best defense that you have now," the wizard could not give a clear answer.
"Don't forget your duty to your city," it was a Protoss Aiur zealot.
"You don't want Minas Tirith to fall like Osgiliath, do you?" a Nerazim stalker asked.
"Gondor will not fall in our watch," said a marine from Raynor's Raiders.
"It is the Mordor that should burn not Gondor," a firebat muttered.
In the throne room, Pippin kneeled in front of Denethor. Faramir, Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Artanis, Karax, Talandar, and Alarak were present when the hobbit made his speech to the steward. "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," Pippin swore.
"And I shall not forget it … nor fail to reward that which is given," Denethor stood up and had Pippin kissed the small ruby on his ring.
Jim was filled with contempt when he and his allies were watching.
"Fealty with love," the steward tipped the hobbit's head to face him. "Valor with honor," Denethor walked to the table for his meal. "Disloyalty with vengeance," the steward began eating. "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 in 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 lord's will?"
"You wish now that our places had been exchanged … that I had died and Boromir had lived," Faramir spoke when tears began to flood his eyes.
"Yes," Denethor hesitated before replying. "I wish that."
"Since you were robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead," Faramir bowed before heading out. "If I should return, think better of me, Father."
"That will depend on the manner of your return."
Faramir, Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Artanis, Karax, Talandar, and Alarak left the throne room while the hobbit had to entertain the steward with a song.
"Faramir, you don't have to do this," Jim attempted to dissuade Faramir.
"Retaking Osgiliath is suicide. Let Mordor and their allies come. We have a trap set for them," Artanis pointed out.
"Your father only tries to get rid of you. Do you think he'll appreciate if you succeed? Will he mourn for you if you die trying?" Swann asked.
"You should stay and defend this city," said Karax.
"It depends," Faramir spoke sadly.
"The men that you will bring will die for nothing," Talandar was certain.
However, Faramir went on with Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Artanis, Karax, Talandar, and Alarak watching.
"Sir, men of Gondor are on the move," said a marine as the Terran and Protoss garrison along with the citizens of Minas Tirith gathered. Large battalion of Gondor knights were on horses equipped with swords and shields heading through the streets of Minas Tirith. Some of the citizens of Minas Tirith tossed flowers to them and there were sad faces from them.
"What are they up to?" a Nerazim centurion asked.
"Raiders, they're trying to retake Osgiliath," Jim informed his men.
"Warriors, if they insisted on the suicide mission, then let them be," Artanis said to his warriors regardless of Aiur, Nerazim, Purifier, and Tal'darim.
"Faramir!" Gandalf shouted to the leader of the knights. "Faramir! Your father's will has turned to madness. Do not throw away your life so rashly."
"Where does my allegiance lie if not here? This is the city of the Men of Numenor. I will gladly give my life to defend her beauty, her memory, her wisdom," said Faramir.
"Your father loves you, Faramir. He will remember it before the end," the wizard spoke in an ominous tone.
The people of Gondor saw Faramir and the Gondor knights attempting to retake Osgiliath after they passed the gate. Jim's men and the Protoss were watching. Jim, Swann, Stetmann, Artanis, Karax, Alarak, and Talandar watched from the courtyard of the citadel.
The orcs in Osgiliath saw the incoming cavalry and the orc archers nocked their bows. Faramir drew his sword and shouted, "Charge!"
When the Gondor knights were approaching Osgiliath, the orc archers drew their bows. "Fire!" the orc leader shouted signaling the loose of the arrow volley. The men and Protoss watched no Gondor knight survived the arrow volley.
"I knew a frontal assault like this isn't going to work," said Jim.
"Let them come. Men and Templar will endure," said Artanis.
Jim stormed into the throne and Denethor demanded, "What is it now?!"
"You sent your last son and a battalion of men to die for nothing!"
"Osgiliath should be retaken. It should have never fallen into enemy hands at the first place! Gondor's matters are not of your concern. You have no right to question my orders!"
"Gondor is involved in the End War. It matters to us now. Only a fool and a dictator like you will underestimate the enemy. You're just like the Master of Laketown who abandoned the town when the dragon attacked."
"Get out! I don't want to see you and allies ever again! Get your men and your allies out of Minas Tirith now!" Denethor shouted.
Jim walked out of the throne room angrily.
The orcs stabilized the bridge in Osgiliath and they were moving everything.
"March! March! March! March! March!" an orc ordered as the trolls pushed siege towers across the bridge.
Hours later, approximately 500 thousand orcs began gathering in the Pelennor fields while drummer trolls provided steady beats on their way and mountain trolls moved siege towers.
Author's Note
The chapter will be on Rohan's army and the Zerg.