Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
12/06/2013
There was some comment about the Istari in the reviews of the last chapter. Third Spoiler Alert: There will be no attempt on my part to resolve canonical doubt about the ultimate fate of Radagast and the two Blue Wizards in this story.
Nimbus Llewelyn: In some aspects I exemplify the observation that politics is show business for ugly people ;)
Kimichan13: I hope the War of the Ring I have planned for this story will be fittingly epic for both franchises.
Crow T R0bot: I must admit that's the first I've been made aware of those telemovies. I wonder if Sir Christopher was chosen to play 'General Miguel' from him playing a few years earlier the character 'Francisco Scaramanga' in a movie that's part of another famous franchise?
Chapter 32 – The King's Gambit
Denethor justified his decision not to let Gandalf, Pippin and Rogers to stay in one of the Citadel's guest quarters because the trio weren't heads of state or their official representatives. The truth was the Steward wanted to keep Gandalf distant from the centre of Gondor's power as much as possible. If only to reduce the wizard's opportunities to lead Boromir astray any further.
Nonetheless, the trio were assigned two spacious apartments on the fifth level of the city. As Gandalf and Pippin shared one of them, Rogers had joined them for supper from his apartment that was located on the floor below. Both apartments had wide balconies that looked eastwards with a view similarly offered from the Citadel. Pippin was inside boiling hot water so the trio could each have a cup of tea before bed. Rogers stood to Gandalf's right as they faced east discussing what Boromir had told them an hour before.
With his return to Minas Tirith, the Captain of the White Tower was now a man whose time was much in demand. Boromir was able to given the other Fellowship members a short debrief about his private meeting with Denethor. Boromir felt he didn't owe keeping any confidences of his father's given how rude Denethor was to the Fellowship earlier that day.
As expected, Denethor was angry with Boromir for not returning with the One Ring. Never mind the fact the Council of Elrond flatly rejected Denethor's argument of the Ring going to Gondor despite Boromir faithfully articulating it. Boromir unknowingly followed Aragorn's example at Amon Hen when he lied by omission to Denethor by saying he was unaware of the Ring's current whereabouts. Denethor furiously dismissed his son before Boromir had the chance to argue that he should lead some companies to reinforce the garrison at Osgiliath.
Gandalf and Rogers spoke in hushed tones so as not to alert Pippin about the subject of their discussion. It was if the Fellowship should unilaterally light the Beacons of Gondor. Rogers strongly advised against it.
"Look, Boromir's gone out on enough of a limb for us already," Rogers pointed out. "I understand why you want to do it, Gandalf. But if we lit them ourselves, it could further undermine what sway Boromir still has. He said that he'd take up it again tomorrow when hopefully Denethor's in a better mood. Let's give him a chance before we do something we could all end up regretting."
"I don't disagree with those points in themselves, Steve," Gandalf conceded. "But if Denethor continues in his refusal to the light the beacons, all Middle-earth could end up regretting our loyalty to Boromir on the matter."
"Well, they say the road to hell's paved with good intentions," Rogers sighed.
Gandalf remembered hearing this word 'hell' before from that vision he had of Rogers's friend. Before he had a chance to ask Rogers what it meant, Pippin interrupted him. The Took stood to his left while waiting for the teapot to draw.
"It's so quiet," Pippin commented at the lack of background noise.
Even the eruptions from Mount Doom had reduced in volume. Pippin knew it would be too much to hope that perhaps Mordor wouldn't be attacking after all.
"Following on from what you said earlier, Pippin," Rogers informed him. "It's the calm before the storm."
"I don't want to be in a battle," Pippin explained with nerves showing. "But waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse!"
"Courage is about facing fear not being immune to it," Rogers comforted the hobbit. "Before we left Lothlorien, Galadriel said you'd find your courage. She wouldn't have given you one of those daggers if she thought otherwise."
"Steve's right, Pippin." Gandalf added in agreement before observing with restrained sadness, "Unlike myself, the Lady of Lothlorien isn't one to hold onto a fool's hope."
There was a short pause as Roger and Pippin each silently tried to decipher what Gandalf meant by 'fool's hope'. Rogers spoke guessing what he felt Gandalf was referring to.
"Aside from countless orcs and trolls," Rogers began assessing the enemy's order-of-battle. "What else's Sauron likely to be throwing at us?"
Gandalf noted that Rogers and Pippin didn't realise he was referring to the chance Frodo and Sam had of destroying the Ring. He decided to keep that thought private for now. But Rogers's question was important enough to be answered immediately.
"Our Enemy is ready," Gandalf stonily advised. "His full strength gathered. The nations of Men allied to Mordor have answered Sauron's call to arms. Many legions of Easterlings, Haradrim from the south, and mercenaries from the coast are all converging on Gondor."
"But we have the Avengers and the White Wizard," Pippin pointed out with quiet confidence. "That's got to count for something."
Captain America thought that Pippin would make a great morale officer in any organisation. Rogers then noticed the way Gandalf had reacted to Pippin's remark. The White Wizard looked to the eastern horizon with a troubled look on his face. Pippin had noticed Gandalf's reaction too.
"Gandalf?" Pippin prompted.
"Sauron has yet to release his deadliest servant, the one who will lead Mordor's armies in war." Gandalf grimly stated before he turned his gaze to Pippin. "You've met him before, Pippin. He was the one who stabbed Frodo on Weathertop – the Witch-king of Angmar."
Rogers held back from flippantly observing Sauron's deadliest servant had an oxymoron for a title. The fact that Gandalf seemed to think this 'Witch-king' was a foe to worry about destroyed all sense of levity.
"Who is he?" Rogers asked to get a better idea of this latest foe.
Gandalf now looked at Rogers. "He is the Lord of the Nazgul, the greatest of the Nine. The one they say, Steve, that no living man can kill."
"I don't take what you say lightly, Gandalf," Rogers prefaced. "But I've never believed in the idea of an unbeatable enemy. Does 'man' mean race or gender? If it's the former, there's a good chance he can be hurt by a living God of Thunder - maybe even the Other Guy as well."
"As Sauron grows in power, so do the Nazgul who are but a direct extension of his will," Gandalf reminded Rogers of his words at the meeting held within the Edoras Royal Stables. "Deep within his lair of Minas Morgul, the Witch-king will emerge with a strength greater than it's been for a millennia."
Rogers assumed 'Minas' must mean 'city' in some language of Middle-earth. But the most important thing to him right now was determining how close the Witch-king's base of operations was to Minas Tirith. His question was dramatically answered without a word being spoken.
To the north-east, a bright column of green-white light shot skywards from within the mountains that made up Mordor's western border. The light was witnessed throughout all Minas Tirith. Both Pippin and Rogers had the same initial reaction to the light. Pippin recalled what the Avengers had told about their battle against a race whose strange name began with a 'C'.
"Is that like the sorcery Thor's brother used?" Pippin asked Rogers in alarm. "That allowed those metal monsters to invade Earth from the sky?"
"Something like that, Pippin." Rogers answered slightly unnerved when he combined that memory with the sight before him. "But whatever that light is, I'm confident that it's not an opening for the Chitauri."
"Are you certain?" Pippin needed reassurance on this.
"The Chitauri portal came from a blue light," Rogers explained his reasoning. "This one's green."
Rogers hoped that Pippin accepted this.
If I'm wrong, Pippin, Rogers thought with black humour. We'll find out in the next few minutes when the Battle for Minas Tirith starts.
"The board is set," Gandalf seriously intoned his own comparison. "The pieces are moving."
"You make all this sound like a chess game, Gandalf," Rogers wryly observed.
A pleasantly surprised Gandalf turned his gaze to Rogers and asked, "You have chess on Earth as well?"
After Rogers nodded in confirmation, Gandalf wondered if one of those 'vortexes' that brought the Avengers to Middle-earth played some part in chess being common to both worlds.
Assured that he wasn't going to be caught in a surprise Chitauri attack, Pippin reflected with self-deprecation, "If this is a game of chess, I am but a tiny pawn in it."
"Pawns are the soul of chess, Pippin," Rogers said with a smile.
Despite the dire situation, Gandalf gave a good-humoured laugh in response to hearing this observation for the first time.
"That's very true!" the White Wizard mirthfully agreed.
Gandalf reflected that Captain America and Hobbits had at least one thing in common. Even if they didn't know it, both gave him courage whenever he felt afraid.
It was early morning the following day. In the absence of Denethor's permission to reinforce Osgiliath, Boromir had decided to focus on preparing the White City's defences. As Captain of the White Tower it was within the scope of his authority to do this without necessarily having to refer to the Steward. The beam of light that originated from Minas Morgul the previous evening had since ceased. Boromir correctly deduced it was a spectacular indication from the Witch-king to Sauron that Mordor's assault was ready to commence.
Boromir was giving Rogers a tour of Minas Tirith's defences commencing on the first level. It wasn't just a tour out of professional courtesy. Boromir was treating Rogers as an unofficial military adviser despite the contempt Denethor had shown his friend. As Minas Tirith was now on a defacto war footing, Boromir was no longer wearing the Gondorian vestments the Fellowship was accustomed with. Boromir now wore the suit of armour he used for going into battle.
Boromir's armour was a finer quality version of the suit of armour worn by regular Gondorian soldiers. The armour worn by Gondorian regulars was similar in most aspects to that worn by the Citadel Guard. One obvious difference was there was no semi-circle of a golden crown and stars over the embossed Tree of Gondor on the cuirass. Regulars also did not wear a fine black cloak and their barbut helms had no crests. Boromir was not currently wearing a helmet. But upon his pauldrons were two steel clasps fastening a narrow, navy-blue cloak that Gondor's army used to indicate its high-ranking officers.
Rogers was therefore quietly impressed at how quickly Boromir was able to run wearing such an encumbrance. The sentries posted along the Othram had had spotted something and were urgently calling out for the Great Gate to be opened. Boromir and Rogers both climbed the stairs to the Othram just south of the Great Gate to see what the commotion was.
Galloping directly towards Minas Tirith was a cavalry company a few dozen in size. They were the only survivors of the Gondorian force that was stationed at Osgiliath. The attack launched from Minas Morgul last night had been proceeded by an amphibious assault by thousands of orcs across the Anduin on Osgiliath's western bank. The retreating Gondorians indicated that this assault had been successful, but that was not the current cause of alarm. Three Nazgul on their fell-beasts swept through the ranks of the retreating Gondorians from above. The fell-beasts lifted the Gondorians and their steeds in their large talons before dropping them from a fatal height. The number of retreating Gondorians was decreasing by the moment.
"Archers!" Boromir ordered all sentries on the wall with loud urgency. "Prepare to release a cover fire at my command!"
Standing at Boromir's left, Rogers said to him in quiet alarm, "I hate to say it, Boromir. By the time those things are in range, you're not going to have any cavalry to protect."
Boromir didn't take his gaze off the retreat as he recalled the Nazgul's most recent defeat. "Unfortunately, my friend. Not all of us can summon lightning like Thor can."
Boromir turned his gaze to speak to Rogers – who had vanished! The mystery of his friend's disappearance was solved moments later by one of the sentries.
"Look, milord!" the sentry to Boromir while pointing ahead. "The Blue Runner!"
Despite getting to know him quite well, Boromir still continued to be amazed at what Captain America was capable of. Rogers must have no less than quietly jumped straight down from the top of the Othram before flat out sprinting towards the survivors in order to aid them. Boromir and most of the sentries were so caught up in the sight of Rogers that they failed to notice a White Rider exiting Great Gate with the same intentions as the Avenger had.
A sprinting Rogers didn't bother to pull down his mask. He quickly drew his shield from his back. When in range of the Nazgul, he released it as if throwing a discus. The shield sped through the air before cutting the abdomens of two the fell-beasts while in flight. Because Rogers threw his shield at great range while running, the cuts didn't have enough force to be fatal. Rogers bitterly consoled himself that the injuries must have at least been painful to those beasts given the grating reptilian roars they released in response. As his shield returned to his hand, all three Nazgul now moved towards him instead of the surviving defenders. Rogers planned to grab the Nazgul's attention long enough to allow those survivors to retreat to Minas Tirith unhindered. Rogers hoped it wasn't arrogance on his part to be relying on his shield and Super-Solider reflexes to avoid becoming a victim of the Nazgul himself. He didn't get to put this to the test as a beam of bright white light shot from behind him, sharply driving the Nazgul back.
Rogers looked behind and wasn't surprised to see the light's source was the tip of Gandalf's staff. Gandalf rode with Pippin in front of him on Shadowfax towards the Nazgul. Rogers meant no disrespect to the skill and character of the other members of the original Fellowship. But he had no doubt that if Fury was allowed to recruit only one of them to the ranks of the Avengers, it would be Gandalf. If only because 'White Wizard' would have a nice ring alongside the identities and titles used by the six current Avengers. The three Nazgul fled east back towards Mordor in the face of Gandalf's power.
Having driven off the Nazgul, Gandalf terminated the light from his staff with a mental command. The Fellowship members currently on the Field of Pelennor then led the survivors from Osgiliath back to Minas Tirith. These survivors had been shaken to their very core by a combination of Mordor's dawn assault, the terror of the Nazgul, the White Wizard's display of power, and a man dressed and capable of feats unlike any they had ever seen.
The Great Gate closed as soon as the last rider had passed through it into the large courtyard that was directly behind it. Rogers didn't need to catch a breath, instead taking the opportunity to get a better look at the survivors he played a part in rescuing. Some were soldiers wearing heavy armour like those stationed in Minas Tirith. Others though just wore green cloaks with jackets and trousers brown and grey in colour. They carried longbows and swords for weapons. Rogers deduced they had to be those 'Rangers' that Boromir mentioned earlier. Obviously the colour of their clothing was to enable them to camouflage in forests when scouting or launching an ambush. The leader of these survivors looked to be a Ranger. He had similar hair and facial features to Boromir even though he was about an inch shorter in height.
"Mithrandir!" the leader exclaimed to Gandalf. "Mordor's forces have broken through our defences at Osgiliath. They've taken the bridge and the west bank. Battalions of Orcs are crossing the river!"
A concerned Gandalf asked the leader, "Do you know how great they are in number, Faramir?"
'Looks like' indeed! Rogers happily realised the leader was none other than Boromir's younger brother.
Faramir's reply contained very unwelcome news. "Not an accurate count other than to say tens of thousands."
Faramir wanted to say more but was halted when his attention was grabbed by Pippin. The Took started to feel slightly uncomfortable by the gaze that Faramir was giving him.
Noticing this, Gandalf asked with a rising sense of hope, "This is not the first Halfling to have crossed your path is it, Faramir?"
"No," Faramir absently answered while recalling a recent memory.
Pippin jumped to the conclusion that Gandalf had been coming to.
"You've seen Frodo and Sam!" he exclaimed now feeling considerably brighter than when Faramir first looked at him.
"In Ithilien, not two days ago," Faramir confirmed.
Gandalf, Pippin and Rogers all shared happy and relieved looks. Not only were Frodo and Sam alive. They were also closer to completing their task. Faramir felt a bit guilty that he would take away the trio's joy when he spoke of the path the two hobbits had taken with their wretched guide.
"Gandalf, they've taken the road to the Morgul Vale," Faramir stated with a troubled undercurrent in his voice.
The smile on Gandalf's face immediately faded and his eyes filled with worry.
"And then the Pass of Cirith Ungol," he spoke the corollary with quiet alarm.
"What are they, Gandalf?" Rogers asked.
Given the look on Gandalf's face, Rogers thought maybe he shouldn't have asked that question. Gandalf was interrupted by a loud cry before he could speak in any case.
"Faramir!" Boromir shouted to gain his brother's attention having just come down from the Othram.
"Boromir!" Faramir ecstatically replied at the sight of his brother's return.
Faramir jumped down from his horse and ran up to embrace Boromir. As the two hugged each other with unrestrained joy and relief, Rogers thought that Boromir's previous words didn't do justice as to how close the brothers actually were. They loosened themselves before they spoke to each other in happy tones.
"How long since you've returned to us?" Faramir asked.
"I arrived yesterday with Gandalf and two other companions," Boromir reported.
"I'm glad to hear it." Faramir stated before observing awkwardly, "I only wish I could've have given you a better welcome than losing the defences that you held for so many years."
Boromir instantly sobered at this as he knew the source of Faramir's words. He softly grasped Faramir's head between his hands and locked eyes with him.
"I am not the man of our father's words, Faramir," Boromir told him with deep gravitas.
"What do you mean, Boromir?" a slightly unnerved Faramir replied.
Faramir had been holding onto the hope that Sam was mistaken about the foul deed he alleged Boromir had committed.
"What I mean, little brother," Boromir promised. "Is whatever battles are left in this war, I'll be fighting alongside you in every one of them."
Boromir noted the confused expression Faramir gave in response to these words. He quickly placed his left arm around his younger brother's shoulders.
"But come," Boromir returned to a happier tone. "There's someone I'd very much like you to meet."
Boromir led Faramir over the few yards to where Rogers was standing. Boromir was relieved that, unlike Denethor, there seemed to be no change in Faramir from when he last saw him. On that basis, Boromir was more than confident that his brother would give Captain America a much warmer reception than their father did.
"I suppose he's already dramatically announced himself without saying a word," Boromir continued before he and Faramir stood directly facing Rogers. "Faramir, it's my pleasure to introduce you t-"
"With your flying shield, you must be the one called 'Rogers'," Faramir interrupted by directly speaking to the Avenger.
"Frodo and Sam told you about me?" Rogers asked after concluding the only obvious way that Faramir could've known about him.
Faramir nodded his head in confirmation before continuing. "As well as your comrades. Unfortunately, our company was called to Osgiliath before I could ask about the three of you in any great detail. Frodo told me of a warrior-prince named 'Thor' who wields a magic hammer and a scholar named 'Bruce' who can call on great strength when angered." Frodo had said one other thing about the trio that Faramir sought clarification on. "He said the three of you form half of a company that is known in your land as 'The Averages'?"
Boromir burst out in happy laughter at Faramir's mistake.
"Oh, little brother!" Boromir mirthfully sighed before advising Faramir "You couldn't be more wrong about that name in so many ways."
Boromir and Rogers resumed their tour a while later after Faramir and the other survivors of Osgiliath were being cared for. Both men looked across the main Drill Square that was part of the main barracks and complex of military academies on the first level of Minas Tirith. They were witnessing a large number of Gondorian soldiers conducting exercises and drills. Footmen practised attack with their spears and swords while defending with their shields. Archers and Rangers practiced firing their long bows at 'bullseye' targets both stationary and those swayed by a system of ropes.
Rogers compared Gondor's military with that of Rohan's. Rohan's military was organised along classic feudal lines with a handful of elite warriors that called on self-equipped levees to support them on an 'as needs' basis. Gondor's in comparison looked to be compromised of professional regulars with standard equipment and training. Given Gondor was the frontline against Mordor, it was no surprise it needed a permanent-standing army ready to fight at a moment's notice.
From what Boromir had told Rogers, Gondor had a small number of fine cavalry squadrons. But there was no doubt that Gondor's military doctrine had heavy infantry at its core. Well-equipped heavy infantry and highly trained archers behind strong fortifications was obviously Gondor's solution in balancing Mordor's overwhelming numerical advantage. Rogers also reflected that Sauron had practical military reasons to keep Rohan and Gondor alienated from each other. An army that contained both Rohan's cavalry with Gondor's infantry and archers would be a force to be reckoned with no matter the odds.
"What do you think, Steve?" Boromir asked his friend at the sight before them with a degree of anxiety.
In the times he met the man, General Patton's egotistical and coarse manner grated on Rogers's sensibilities somewhat. But he couldn't deny that 'Old Blood and Guts' was a brilliant and articulate observer about warfare. He paraphrased one of Patton's observations as he answered Boromir's question.
"Someone once said that wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by men." Rogers said before linking it to the activity before him. "From what I see, that's one thing you don't need my advice on Boromir."
Boromir found himself trying not to blush at Rogers's compliment. It was the first time he'd heard the observation but he agreed with it whole-heartedly. A herald called out to Boromir a few yards to his right. After excusing himself, Boromir walked over to the herald. While Rogers couldn't hear their conversation, whatever the herald said made Boromir distinctly troubled. Boromir returned to Rogers a few moments later.
"Is everything alright?" Rogers asked with come concern.
"Unfortunately, there's a matter I need to attend," Boromir replied. "I promise that it's nothing you should be alarmed about, Steve. But I also promise to leave you in capable hands."
Boromir looked to a blonde-haired officer wearing similar armour and livery as he did.
"Captain Irolas!" Boromir got his attention.
Irolas commanded all regular forces that garrisoned Minas Tirith. He immediately walked over to Boromir; happy to once again receive orders from the Captain-General he admired.
"Yes, milord," he responded as soon as he was standing next to the two Fellowship members.
"I've been taking Captain Rogers here on a tour of our defences and seeking his counsel on how they could be improved," Boromir said. "I must absent myself for the time being and I'd like you to takeover as guide." There was no doubting the seriousness of Boromir's next words. "Anything Captain Rogers says to be treated with the same authority as my own."
Both Rogers and Boromir noticed Irolas' eyes flicker with uncertainty at this. This didn't offend Rogers. It wasn't uncommon for soldiers to be wary of a foreigner having any sort of authority over them – even from an allied nation. A number of the US top brass often privately disparaged Field Marshal Montgomery in terms Rogers thought the most fanatical Nazi would draw the line at. Rogers decided to give Irolas a face saving way to privately raise with Boromir whatever was bothering him. He jerked his thumb towards a group of practicing infantry a few yards away.
"Is it ok if I take a closer look, Boromir?" Rogers casually asked.
"By all means, Steve," Boromir replied, thankful at how Rogers tactfully defused an awkward situation.
Boromir's standing order among Gondor's senior officers was they could respectfully ask questions about any of his directives that were unclear to them. Boromir was pretty sure there was nothing about his order that could be interpreted as ambiguous. He and Irolas began speaking in hushed tones.
"Milord, even without the events of this morning, I do not doubt that Captain Rogers is both a good man and soldier." Irolas quickly moved to assure Boromir.
"Then what troubles you about my order?" Boromir asked in reply.
"Milord, as you well know, our army has always held to the belief that Gondorians are commanded by Gondorians." Irolas explained. "Even if he is a good man, Captain Rogers could still be perceived as a mercenary. With Mordor's attack soon at hand, can we afford the risk the men won't obey any of his orders?"
Boromir thought about this for a few moments before putting a friendly right hand on Irolas's shoulder.
"That is a good point you raise, Irolas," Boromir gently acknowledged. "Thank you for stopping me before I made a serious mistake."
Boromir then walked a couple of steps towards Rogers and called out to him "Captain Rogers!" After immediately gaining Rogers's attention, he firmly commanded him "Kneel!"
Boromir understood why Rogers had a troubled look on his face to this order. Captain America had told him about the last individual who asked the Avenger to kneel.
"Unlike Loki," Boromir reassured sotto voce, "I don't ask you to kneel in surrender, Steve."
Given Boromir was a man of his word, Rogers complied his request. This action brought all activity in the square to a halt. All ranks were curious as to why their Captain-General had asked this mysterious man to kneel before him. Boromir began speaking in a firm voice that all in the square heard.
"Steven Rogers," Boromir addressed him formally. "All who enter into the service of Gondor are required to swear an oath of allegiance. As you haven't had the opportunity to study the oath, I will ask it to you as a series of questions instead. If you agree with the question, your reply is simply 'I swear'."
Rogers guessed the oath he was about to swear was to formally authorise him as a military adviser to Gondor. Rogers began to wonder if he was about to technically breach the Oath of Enlistment he took when joining the US Army. Then again, Article 99 of the UCMJ required him to give 'all practicable relief and assistance' to the armed forces of the US or their allies when engaged in battle. Technically, the United States and Gondor weren't formal allies. But the struggle in Middle-earth was essentially between free nations and an evil tyrant that wanted to enslave them. Seen through the lens of his WW2 experience, Rogers had no doubt which side Uncle Sam would align with in the War of the Ring.
"Do you, Steven Rogers, hereby swear fealty and service to Gondor and to the Lord Steward of the Realm?" Boromir commenced.
"I swear," Rogers replied returning Boromir's fixated gaze.
"Do you swear you will always faithfully execute you duties - to speak and to be silent? To do and to let be? To come and to go? And that you will execute these duties in need or plenty, in peace or war, in living or dying?"
Rogers felt this exchange between Boromir and he wasn't just about an oath of professional service. It was also a chance to acknowledge the close bond that had developed between them in the time they had known each other.
"I swear!" Rogers swore more firmly.
"And in front of all these witnesses, do you swear to hold to this oath until lord releases you; death takes you or the world end?"
"I swear!" Rogers stated with his strongest affirmation yet.
In the absence of the King, only the Steward could confer the title of Knight of Gondor on anyone. On that basis, Boromir couldn't give the traditional response to the oath that Rogers had just sworn. But Gondor's Captain-General had a great deal of discretion in conferring promotions to all but the very highest ranks in Gondor's army. This was one of the proudest promotions he had ever given. Boromir swallowed a lump in this throat before issuing a proclamation that was heard by all within the Drill Square.
"Then I Boromir, Son of Denethor and Captain of the White Tower hereby commission you, Steven Rogers, as an Officer in the Army of Gondor with the rank of Autherdir!" Rogers would learn a short while later that 'Autherdir' was the rank equivalent of Colonel in the Gondorian Army. After they shared a mutually proud but restrained grin Boromir then quietly said to Rogers, "You can rise now, Steve."
After Rogers was standing, Boromir noticed the pair of them had the attention of the whole Drill Square. Boromir realised his commissioning of Rogers, a foreigner, was unprecedented in the Gondor's history. But contrary to what Denethor thought, Gondor could no longer afford the superiority complex it customarily felt towards its nominal allies. Boromir's experience with the Fellowship made him come to believe that only by uniting in equal brotherhood did the Free Peoples have a chance of defeating Sauron. His commissioning of Rogers was a powerful demonstration of this truth to Gondor's army. Boromir decided to loudly underline this point in case any of the men present missed it.
"Behold, Captain America is now a Captain of Gondor!" Boromir gave a knowing look to Irolas before finishing with, "One of us!"
Faramir was standing to attention in the Tower Hall before Denethor. They were only attended by two Tower Guards who stood at the doors at the end of the Hall. The Steward held in his right hand his rod of office. It was a simple, smooth wooden rod that was white in colour and about twelve inches long. A golden knob shaped like a feather rested atop it. Denethor only held this rod on formal occasions or when he wished to subtly intimidate one of his subordinates. Faramir had seen the rod a lot because of the latter reason.
Faramir didn't have much time to recover from Gondor's disastrous defeat at Osgiliath earlier that day. But that was not the cause of his father's latest displeasure towards him. Denethor learned a few hours earlier about Faramir's capture and release of Frodo and Sam two days previous. The Steward was livid with his youngest son. Denethor didn't believe that one even as foolish as Faramir would consciously let slip the One Ring when it was all but within Gondor's grasp! Denethor was even more enraged at Faramir's reasons for doing so.
"I would not use the Ring." Faramir stated as firmly as his nerves allowed. "Not if Minas Tirith were falling in ruin and I alone could save her."
Faramir well knew of his father's dislike for him. But couldn't his father at least once see beyond personal dislike and realise the truth that Frodo spoke and demonstrated while in custody? Namely, the Ring couldn't save Gondor as it only had the power to destroy.
"Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious as a king of old," Denethor scoffed in response. He wondered of his two sons if he should've indeed sent Faramir to Rivendell. At least the wizard could've been prevented from gaining the foothold he seemed to have established in Boromir. Still, Denethor remained confident of his firstborn's loyalty to taunt Faramir with; "Boromir would have remembered his father's need. He would have brought me a kingly gift."
"No, father, I wouldn't have!"
None other than Boromir himself whose voice echoed within the Hall interrupted Denethor and Faramir. Boromir had asked a trusted herald within the Citadel to inform him of any interrogation that Denethor had planned for Faramir. Because of his commissioning of Rogers, Boromir wasn't able to arrive in time for the start of this particular interrogation. But at least it appeared that his arrival wasn't too late either. Boromir resolutely strode to stand alongside right of Faramir. His vow to fight alongside Faramir wasn't just in relation to the forces of Mordor. Boromir gave Faramir a nod of support before continuing to address Denethor.
"I wouldn't have brought the Ring to you or anyone," Boromir stated. "I would've simply have stretched out my hand and claimed it for my own it. By the time I returned to Gondor, you wouldn't have recognised me."
"What do you mean, Boromir?" a genuinely puzzled Denethor asked him. He soothingly tried to persuade his eldest son. "As I told you before you left for Rivendell, the Ring wouldn't corrupt you because you are among the strongest of Men."
Boromir recalled Rogers once telling him a famous Earth proverb – 'The truth shall set you free.' Boromir hoped the truth would at least free him of the guilty conscience he'd been carrying since Amon Hen. It was time to take responsibility for his actions if he was to show Denethor the danger posed by the One Ring.
"Unfortunately, father, you were wrong about," Boromir began. "As well as which of your sons wouldn't fail you. I was a member of the Fellowship entrusted to take the Ring to Mount Doom so it could be destroyed. But my own pride and fear got the better of me. Frodo had to leave the Fellowship largely because of me. Such was my desperation for the Ring, that in a moment of maddened folly, I tried to kill the Ring-bearer despite having sworn an oath to protect him."
Faramir and Denethor's eyes widened in horror at hearing this revelation of Boromir's for different reasons. Faramir because Sam had indeed spoken the truth and that his own older brother, whom he had idolised since childhood, was indeed imperfect. Denethor though was disturbed that Gandalf had influenced Boromir worse than he first thought.
"The only folly I see on your part, Boromir," Denethor frostily replied, "was that you had the chance to secure the One Ring but failed to do so."
"The day Gondor considers the murder of an innocent hobbit to be an acceptable action to save herself, is the day she deserves to be conquered by Mordor!" Boromir indignantly countered.
Denethor angrily lectured, "As your Lord and Father you are to accept my orders without question, including the moral judgment I have made them with!"
The argument was really no longer about if the One Ring should have come to Minas Tirith. Denethor and Boromir had arguments before over the years but never with this intensity. To Denethor, this argument was really about why Boromir was no longer accepting his father's wisdom without question. Whereas for Boromir, this argument was really about Denethor having to accept his sons were now their own men. Now this dispute was out in the open, Boromir felt he now had to force the issue like Rogers advised him.
"Well, father, I recall one of your orders charging me to restore the glory of Gondor," Boromir sharply reminded Denethor. "Then I advise you, plainly, that glory won't be restored by the use of Sauron's evilest creation. Our only hope is to stand alongside our allies and fight together under a single banner."
Boromir paused for a moment to consider his next words could either lead to Gondor's total destruction or ultimate salvation. Whatever the outcome, Boromir wanted history to record that he proclaimed the following words with all the sincerity he had come to believe them.
"The banner of the King of Gondor!"
Denethor's jaw dropped at these words and Faramir's head snapped in his brother's direction. One of Denethor's suspicions about Faramir was partly correct. Gandalf had indeed encouraged in Faramir a healthy interest in the history and lore of Gondor. But Faramir came to the conclusion himself that Gondor's decline and the absence of its rightful king over the last millennia was no coincidence. Faramir secretly yearned to serve a king of the stature of Elendil who would restore Gondor to its former greatness. Until now, his brother always accepted their father's view that Gondor no longer needed a king. But what else had happened to Boromir during his absence for him to now be openly calling for the King of Gondor to be restored? Denethor's shock was largely the result of feeling personal hurt. It seemed he could no longer count on the unquestioning support of anyone.
"I do not like this change in you, Boromir, since your return home," he snarled at what he perceived to be betrayal. "I hope for your sake it's the wizard's words you speak and not your own. As I would say to him on the matter – I will not bow to this Ranger from the North. Last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship!"
"Aragorn saved my life!" Boromir responded furiously at his father's defamation of the man. "I've sworn an oath of fealty to him as my Captain and King. Just like the oath sworn by every Steward to watch over Gondor until its throne is reclaimed by the Heir of Isildur. Authority's not given you or our house to deny the return of Gondor's true ruler!"
The Steward now lost all composure. How dare Boromir thinly imply that he wasn't Gondor's rightful ruler? An enraged Denethor sprang out of the Steward's chair and stormed to within inches of where Boromir stood.
"You were once loyal to me!" Denethor frothed at the mouth fully enraged at Boromir. "Instead of sons, I now have two wizard's pupils!"
Faramir was worried that Denethor and Boromir could now even come to blows. They both shared the same obstinate and short temper. Faramir thought to avoid this outcome he should try and act as a peacemaker between the pair.
"Father, that's not true," Faramir gently assured Denethor. "Both of us lo-"
"SILENCE!" Denethor screamed at his youngest son before violently striking Faramir's right temple with the Steward's rod.
Faramir fell to the ground as a result of the blow he had just received. He groggily raised his head and chest from the ground. Blood spilled from the noticeable gash Denethor's blow had inflicted. A tear also fell from his right eye. The pain that caused the tear wasn't from the physical wound his father had just inflicted on him.
Boromir was shocked at what had just transpired. His father had never hit any of his sons in such a manner before. This shock was soon replaced by a rising sense of anger. Despite Boromir being the son who was arguing with him, Denethor still chose to lash out at Faramir instead. Boromir recalled Rogers's words to him two nights ago.
I can't think of any greater threat to a free nation than when its leaders begin thinking they're above the laws they've sworn to uphold.
Denethor no longer seemed to care about his oath of office if it meant him losing his position of power. The way he struck Faramir, even if it was for a moment of maddened anger, was no better than when Boromir tried to take the Ring from Frodo. Boromir realised he had to stop his father's madness now before all Gondor was consumed by it. He had to at least try because no one else in Gondor could.
"Guards!" Boromir called out to the pair of guards at the end of the room while he helped Faramir back to his feet.
The guards complied and instantly began walking towards the Steward and his sons.
"What are you doing, Boromir?" Denethor asked utterly perplexed.
Denethor had been hoisted by his own petard somewhat. One of his standing directives to the Tower Guard was for them to treat any order from Boromir equal to his own.
"If you feel you can strike one of your sons in such a manner, then no Son of Gondor can feel safe under your Stewardship!" Boromir firmly replied as the two guards stopped just behind him and Faramir. After the guard behind Faramir supported him with a steady grip, Boromir stated to Denethor, "From what I've just witnessed, you leave me no choice but to detain you and report this whole incident to the Council of Gondor."
The Council of Gondor was the supreme advisory body to the Ruler of Gondor whether King or Steward. It was comprised of Gondor's highest ranking government officials and military leaders. A Steward didn't have absolute authority over the Council like a King though. The Steward was historically the King's Chief Counsellor, but the position was governed by the principle of 'first among equals'. This principle still legally continued during the period of the Ruling Stewards. As such, the current Council still had the authority to at least ask Denethor to account for any action or decision he made.
"By what right to do speak to your father in such a manner?!" Denethor angrily asked through clenched teeth.
"By the laws of Gondor that are its very foundation," Boromir justified his position. "Handed down to us by none other the Faithful of Numenor!" Boromir strongly justified his decision (He privately remembered Rogers spoke with the same reverence of America's founders - the ones named 'Washington' and 'Jefferson' in particular - which Gondorians gave to theirs). "In the King's absence, the Council of Gondor can remove the Steward from office on grounds of incapacity or impropriety. Nowhere in Gondor's statutes does the Steward have immunity from unlawful assault or official oath-breaking."
Denethor would normally dismiss such a threat if it came from anyone else beside Boromir. Like any good politician, Denethor knew the importance about having the numbers. The Council members were loyal supporters of his. But Rogers's earlier analysis of Denethor fearing Boromir's popularity was correct. Denethor knew that if Boromir raised this subject at the Council, its members would at a minimum give very serious consideration to launching an investigation. Given that the Council included military officers whose lives Boromir had saved in battle, his firstborn could count on their automatic support and the soldiers they commanded at the very least.
"So this is Mithrandir's plan all along," Denethor bitterly concluded. "His tool to displace me were none other than my two sons. Have them turn against me so he can rule through them as his puppets. All to effect an ignoble line's return to Gondor!"
Boromir knew he had every right to give an angry response to this. But he wanted to make sure that the noble man he remembered Denethor used to be wasn't completely dead.
"No, father," Boromir gently replied while softly holding his father's shoulders in reassurance. "I'm doing this because I want to help you."
Boromir noted that at least Denethor didn't try to break free of him as he continued.
"Father, no one knows better than me how much strain and stress you've been under in recent years. I told you about my actions toward Frodo to show you that none of us are perfect. If striking Faramir doesn't show that you are not yourself, then nothing will."
Boromir thought he saw a tiny crack of understanding in Denethor's eyes. He then decided to offer his father a face saving option for the proud man he was.
"You could voluntarily take a temporary leave of absence on grounds of ill-health," Boromir offered. "No-one outside this Hall would need to know the full reasons why."
"I will not be remembered as the Steward who stood aside, however temporary, because of personal frailty," Denethor stated with a slight quiver in his voice.
Boromir knew his father well enough to know what Denethor was really asking was if his son would feel ashamed of him if he stood down as Steward. Boromir decided to provide an indirect answer in kind.
"By such an action father you'll be remembered as one of the greatest Stewards," Boromir sincerely affirmed. "The Steward who loved Gondor so much that he was willing to sacrifice personal pride and authority in order to save her! Please get some rest so you can return as the Steward that your sons have always been proud to call our father." As an afterthought Boromir then added, "That's what Faramir was trying to tell you!"
At these words the remainder of Denethor's sanity made a last gasp effort to reason with him. If only for purely pragmatic reasons, taking a temporary absence of leave due to illness was preferable to the humiliation of public investigation and punishment. But there were deeper and more important reasons at play here than mere politics.
Boromir was not being a disloyal son to him but instead was being a very loyal Captain-General to Gondor. He'd always taught Boromir that true loyalty to either country or family was based on principle, not the desire to curry personal favour. Denethor may not like his firstborn's support of Aragorn. But Boromir was doing so out of selfless patriotism. For the first time in many years, Denethor felt pride in Boromir for something other than being a great warrior.
Denethor then looked at Faramir. It was true that Faramir's appearance and temperament reminded the Steward so much of Finduilas. Finduilas was Denethor's late beloved wife and the mother of his two sons. Unlike her husband, Finduilas adored Faramir and he her. How would've Finduilas reacted to him striking their youngest son in the manner he did? Deep down, Denethor's conscience felt he didn't deserve the title of 'father' let alone 'Steward' as a result of such an action.
But the most important thing was that despite everything, his two sons still loved him and would remain proud of him. Even if he acknowledged personal failure. After considering all this, Denethor drew himself to stand straight and began speaking in an authoritative tone.
"Have one of these guards escort me to my chambers," he told Boromir. "Have the other bring a scribe there. You have my word I shall issue an immediate proclamation advising that I am taking a period of temporary leave due to ill health. Until I am well again you, Boromir, are to be Acting Steward with Faramir next in line as by the laws of succession governing the Office of Steward."
In an act of heavy symbolism, Denethor held out the Steward's rod towards Boromir. The rod's golden knob had drops of Faramir's blood drying on it.
"Take it," Denethor commanded his firstborn. Boromir gingerly wrapped his fingers around the rod realising the unexpected trust Denethor was giving him. After Boromir had the rod in his hand, Denethor then concluded, "If I have not returned to duty when Mordor attacks the White City, make a defence of it worthy of our noble house."
At these words, Denethor then turned and left the Hall. One guard escorted him to his chambers that were on a higher level of the Tower. The guard that was supporting Faramir went to fetch a scribe after Boromir took over from him. The brothers were alone within the Tower Hall. They were reeling for a variety of reasons from what had just transpired there. Boromir thought more practical matters needed seeing to while waiting for Denethor's proclamation.
"I'll send for a healer," Boromir told Faramir almost as a whisper. "I'll tell them your injury came from a fall."
Boromir knew this was a lie but it would be a lie that Faramir would agree to.
"I understand the need the secrecy, Boromir," Faramir bravely began. "And I thank you for being here to…"
Faramir's lip then trembled before he began loudly sobbing. The Captain of the White Tower compassionately embraced his brother.
"Our father loves you, Faramir," Boromir soothingly assured him. "I'm sure he'll show you somehow before the end."
Denethor was true to his word and issued the proclamation he said he would.
Boromir made two immediate decisions as Acting Steward. The first was to order the Beacons of Gondor to be lit. It would take between a half-day to a day for the last beacon in the chain near Edoras to be lit. That was in theory. Boromir reflected that the beacons could not be regularly tested like that 'hotline' Rogers told him about on the ride from Fangorn to Edoras. To use another term about phones that Rogers spoke of, Boromir hoped that Theoden didn't 'hang up' when Rohan received Gondor's call for aid.
Boromir's second order was to convene an immediate meeting of the Council of Gondor. The five men who were present at the time were still the only ones who knew about the events in the Tower Hall earlier in the day. Tower Guards were not ones to divulge secrets due the risk of severe punishment and shaming should they be caught doing so. Boromir hadn't even told the three other Fellowship members who were taking part in the Council meeting as well.
The meeting took place in conference chambers adjoining the Tower Hall. All but one attending the meeting sat at a round table having a late working lunch. Maps including those of Minas Tirith, Gondor and surrounding regions were spread across the table. Pippin was towards the back of the room. He contentedly kept helping himself to the food laid out on the table he sat next to while quietly listening in on the discussions that took place. However, the Took felt a bit frustrated that he hadn't been able to make a real contribution on anything since coming to Gondor.
Council members were surprised by Denethor's proclamation at such a critical time. Nonetheless, members passed a resolution commending the Steward for his selfless honesty as well as wishing him a speedy recovery. No one questioned the bandage around Faramir's head was the result of a fall (Gandalf didn't voice his suspicions as to its true cause). And none disputed that Boromir should be the man to lead Minas Tirith's defence in the Steward's absence. Gondor's laws didn't allow the Steward to enter into battle. But as Boromir was only acting in the role and was still Captain-General, the Council felt there was enough legal wriggle room for him to directly participate in the defence.
"Do we yet have a better assessment of the actual size of Mordor's force?" Boromir asked the meeting.
"We've received word from the handful of Rangers that continue to scout behind the enemy's lines," Faramir answered, wearing a fresh set of light armour befitting his position as Captain of Gondor's Rangers. "They estimate a combined force of a quarter of a million converging on us."
An unwelcome silence cast itself over the meeting as it digested this sobering report. Rogers broke the silence with a question about enemy movement like he did when Aragorn reported an imposing force was marching on Helm's Deep.
"When will they get here, Faramir?"
"They'll first need to reconstruct the bridges at Osgiliath to move their siege equipment across the Anduin," Faramir advised. "Given that, as well as their reported rate of movement and time to deploy, they'll be ready to assault us by morning on the fifth day after this one."
"Yes," Gandalf warily concurred while staring at the map of Minas Tirith on the table. None of the scenarios of the upcoming battle he played out in his mind made him comfortable. "Sauron is sure of victory but he'll still not take any chances. Especially as the Avengers will be taking part in this battle. His attack will only begin when he can bring his full force to bear against the White City."
Rogers asked a question related to his initial one. "And how long will it take for the Rohirrim to get here?"
Boromir stood up and moved to a large map of Gondor and Rohan displayed on an easel. He ran his finger along it as he described the Rohirrim's response as he hoped it would still play out.
"If the last beacon's lit by this time tomorrow," Boromir projected, "the Rohirrim will concentrate at their mustering point in Dunharrow over the next two days. They'll then ride on the third day along the Great West Road. Assuming they encounter little or no resistance, they'll get here by dawn on the sixth day."
Rogers did some mental arithmetic before concluding, "So we'll have to fend for ourselves for at least a day. Do we have the defences that allow us to do that against the force we're facing?"
Irolas answered after receiving a look from Boromir.
"Not including artillerymen," he began. "We currently have 2,500 men-at-arms, including two hundred cavalry who can fight on foot."
Irolas let the others in the meeting draw own their conclusions if this was an adequate force for the task at hand. He suspected the majority reached the same conclusion on the matter that he had. Rogers analysed the situation by comparing it to Helm's Deep. The good news was the force defending Minas Tirith was about five times larger than the one that defended Helm's Deep. Further, it was comprised of professional soldiers supported by very strong fortifications. The bad news was that Minas Tirith would be besieged at odds five times worse by a more powerful foe. The defenders would also need to hold out longer for reinforcements. Worse, Roger had no way communicating to his fellow Avengers to get here sooner. Even if he did, separating Thor and Hulk from the Rohirrim might be part of Sauron's plan for this battle in the first place.
"We still have four days to prepare," Boromir observed. "That's enough time to allow reinforcements to arrive from our southern fiefdoms." Boromir noted the awkward looks that his fellow Gondorians shared at this. "What is it?"
"Apologies, Lord Boromir, but we thought you knew," Beregrod, the Captain of the Tower Guard said.
"Knew what?" Boromir pressed.
"We received news from Pelargir just over two days ago," Beregond started. "Our navy, small as it is, was totally defeated at sea by the Corsairs of Umbar. The news was from our only surviving ship."
Gandalf briefly shut his eyes at this ill news. Boromir slowly walked back to his chair and sat back down to steady himself. Did Denethor not mention this simply because of the unfounded fear that Boromir would feel ashamed of him?
"Consequently, whatever land forces in the south have been withdrawn into the larger settlements to defend them," Beregond continued. "This includes the forces at Dol Amroth that your uncle commands. The Corsairs now pillage large parts of our coast and waterways at will."
Rogers grimly thought that Earth's military history showed that if one side established naval supremacy in a war, it was almost guaranteed that it would be the war's victorious side. Boromir pondered the unwelcome news for a few moments before announcing his next decisions as Acting Steward.
"Commence evacuating civilians from the lower levels and bring them to the fourth level and above," Boromir firmly commanded. "It's too dangerous now to evacuate women and children from the city. Take all the space we can, spare including the Citadel if we have to." After a pause, Boromir then added, "We need more defenders if only for logistical support. Send out word throughout the city asking for all able-bodied men aged sixteen and over to volunteer."
Irolas sought clarification with, "Just to be clear, milord. This is a voluntary enlistment not a draft?"
Boromir exchanged a quick glance with Rogers. Both men knew they were each recalling events in the lead up to the Battle of Helm's Deep.
"It's indeed a voluntary call to arms," Boromir confirmed while sharing a subtle smile of understanding with Rogers. "Gondor only needs to ask her sons to defend her, and they'll do so without hesitation."
"Well, I mightn't be a Son of Gondor," A voice interrupted. "But let me be your first volunteer!"
The whole meeting looked to see it was none other than Pippin that had spoken these words. Pippin's offer received a patronising laugh from the meeting with the exception of Faramir and the other Fellowship members. Rogers could tell that Pippin was hurt by this response and he knew the reason why. Rogers got similar laughs during the times he tried to enlist prior to being accepted for Project Rebirth. Boromir was furious at the Council members largely at their insensitivity toward Pippin. But also because they still weren't getting his message that Gondor needed more allies than Rohan if it was to survive. The Acting Steward sprang up from his chair.
"I'm ashamed of all you!" Boromir angrily berated them at which all laughter promptly stopped. "Since when has Gondor used height to judge the size of the contribution someone can make towards her? Master Peregrin is both able-bodied and older than sixteen years. I'll have you know that he's faced greater dangers over the last two months than many of you have over years of service. He and his cousin were vital in defeating Saruman that's allowed us to fight with our western flank secure. So, I for one, am honoured that he's offered us his sword."
A chastened Irolas spoke on behalf of the rest of the Council. "Our apologies, Lord Boromir. And you as well, Master Peregrin."
Rogers then spoke after quietly concluding that Boromir was a military officer that Erskine would've enjoyed working alongside.
"If we can get back to an earlier subject," Rogers started. "I take the Nazgul will all be fighting this battle on those flying beasts?"
"That's a given, Steve," Gandalf confirmed. "They will use them if only to spread terror in our ranks."
"They'll do more than that," Boromir deduced with a sense of trepidation. "They'll likely use the fell-beasts to destroy our trebuchets from the air. We haven't had to plan against such attacks before."
"Have you some advice on the matter, Autherdir Rogers?" Faramir sensed where Gondor's latest commissioned officer was headed.
Rogers arched a wry eyebrow at being called by his Gondorian rank. He acknowledged the current chain of command while saying with heavy understatement, "I've some experience in defending against aerial attacks if that's what you mean, Lord Faramir…"
The displays of power the Avengers had performed – that Sauron had witnessed or been given reports of – greatly troubled the Dark Lord. The fact that Thor bested one of the Nine with little difficulty made Sauron realise that one of his most powerful weapons could be rendered useless in the battle ahead. The fume Sauron had conjured from Mount Doom was only part of a wider solution to this problem. His spies in Minas Tirith had reported that only one of the Avengers was currently aiding the city. The Dark Lord thought the opportunity presented itself to defeat the Avengers in detail.
Each one of the Nine Men who took a Ring of Power slowly lost all trace of their individuality. It appealed to Sauron's dark sense of irony that the more power someone craved from him, the more enslaved they became to his will once they received it. The Nazgul were not a 'team' in the sense the Fellowship or the Avengers were. They were not a collection of nine individuals organised on the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. It was more accurate to describe the Nazgul as nine different manifestations of a power of Sauron's. This power grew in strength as the One Ring drew closer to Mordor. Sauron also had great discretion how this power was distributed among the Nine.
In order to counter the Avengers, Sauron redistributed the total power of the Nine. He reduced the power of the other eight members and increased the Witch-king's with it. Sauron figured the Witch-king would now have the strength to defeat the Avengers individually. As the Ring got closer to Mordor, that strength would increase as well as allowing Sauron to replenish the power of the other Nazgul.
The Witch-king felt his power waxing while sitting on his fell-beast. The fell-beast was perched atop the ruins of a tall building on the eastern bank of Osgiliath. Aside from his black hooded cloak, he wore a spiked iron crown symbolising his position as Supreme Commander of Mordor's forces in the upcoming battle. His attention was focused on Minas Tirith in the distance and in his immediate vicinity, the orc sappers quickly repairing Osgiliath's bridges. The Witch-king silently cursed the orcs for killing all the prisoners they had taken during the recent struggle for Osgiliath. They should have used the prisoners as slave labour to repair the bridges and then killed them.
The Witch-king sensed his Lieutenant, whose name was 'Gothmog', approaching from behind. Gothmog was a grizzled, pale skinned orc who was based at Minas Morgul. The Witch-king normally had complete contempt for the countless orcs under Sauron's command that cared for nothing other than their base desires for violence, meat and gold. Gothmog at least had a modicum of intelligence to pass down to the rest of his kind the Witch-king's orders to them.
"The repairs to the bridges are almost complete, milord," Gothmog reported to him.
Without even turning to face Gothmog, the Witch-king commanded him with an evil guttural voice, "Send forth all legions. Do not stop the attack until the city is taken. Slay them all!"
Gothmog wasn't surprised by this order. But there were some specific foes the Witch-king had mentioned that Gothmog needed clarity about engaging.
"What of the wizard?" he asked.
The Witch-king turned his head towards Gothmog.
"I will break him," he answered as if Gandalf was but a minor irritant.
Noting this, Gothmog then asked, "And the Avengers?"
The Witch-king turned his gaze back at the White City. If he still had physical form, a bone-chilling smile would have split his face as he gave his response.
"The Dark Lord has decided their fate," the Witch-king revealed. "And I will be his instrument of delivery!"
The longest chapter that I've written for this story so far. I wanted to get the preliminaries in Gondor out of the way before turning to Rohan in the next chapter.
I share the view that Boromir's death is what pushed Denethor over the edge in the film trilogy. I tried to play this dynamic out with Boromir being the only one who could bring his father back from the brink even after what Denethor had been looking in. Given his experience at Amon Hen, Boromir would know the folly of obeying anyone driven mad by desire for the Ring. I concede I might be too much of an optimist at heart but I didn't want to make this chapter too depressing.
My thoughts on the Nazgul are not from the view they have a collective consciousness. IMHO the power the Nazgul have is at the whim of Sauron whether he holds their nine rings or not. Is each Ringwraith individually powerful or really just an instrument of Sauron's power? I think this chapter makes clear my opinion on this matter.
I admit the way Thor's disrupted coronation scene in the movie with his name was the inspiration for Cap's oath of service into Gondor. My assumption that Cap could jump down the Othram is that he survived a 200-foot fall in one particular comic storyline. Cap's guess about Fury recruiting Gandalf is a reflection of my own. Happy to see what other reviewers think on that issue.
Cap's quote about pawns is from Francois-Andre Danican Philidor. Pippin made reference to being a pawn on a chessboard in the first chapter of The Return of the King. For the sake of entertainment in this story, I'm assuming chess in Middle-earth to be similar to the Earth version.
[RD: I corrected the time the Rohirrim reach Minas Tirith from the original text.
Of the original AoTR chapters, I found this the most fulfilling to write. There were a number of reasons – deepening the bromance between Cap & Boromir; my take on Gondorian politics; imagining Gandalf as an Avenger; and exploring nature of the Nazgul. But by far the most important was the interplay between Denethor and his sons. Earth history shows even the tinniest change within a family can have huge ramifications on the wider world.]