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.
07/10/2013
I saw the first two episodes of Agents of SHIELD a few days ago. I've had to change one of Fury's thoughts in Chapter 2 in light of this. At least the episodes still allow for a certain guilt Thor's been carrying in this story to remain.
silmarlfan1: This story's well past the point of excuses for me not to finish it!
Dan man: I won't make the mistake of trying to second-guess Joss Whedon again. Cases in point include the above and also Cap's vision about Thanos in Chapter 11.
Unknown Alien: Thank you for your generous review.
Chapter 40 – Rising to the Occasion
The morning after Denethor's funeral found Boromir in his late father's study.
Both Boromir and Eomer declined to be sworn into the vacated positions they were heirs to. Formalities could take place once Sauron was defeated. But the pair also wanted to show solidarity with Aragorn who refused to sit on the Throne of Gondor until this outcome took place.
Forces from across Gondor had converged on Minas Tirith following Aragorn's summons from a few days ago. Gondor's total number of men-at-arms at Minas Tirith and Osgiliath was just over four thousand. Unfortunately, Gondor had no other major reinforcements to add to this total. Nonetheless Boromir was cheered the current force included those from Dol Amroth led by his maternal Uncle, Prince Imrahil. Dol Amroth's forces included the famed Swan Knights. The Swan Knights were Gondor's elite heavy cavalry company. Each of its five hundred members wore a plume of swan feathers on their steel helms.
Boromir was waiting on Aragorn and Rogers to join him. Aragorn had asked for a private meeting between the two Captains. Sitting behind the study's desk, Boromir was reading the last few pages of Denethor's final journal. It made for disturbing reading. Both the size of Sauron's forces that Denethor claimed to exist and how he'd found out. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in!" The Acting Steward called out.
The door creaked opened and the Fellowship's two leaders entered. Aragorn closed the door after, as what he wanted to discuss required the utmost privacy. He and Rogers sat down in chairs facing across the desk.
"I tell you what, Boromir," Rogers lightly began. "You're uncle's knights have one of the best military uniforms I've ever seen."
"If you're looking to transfer to the Knights of Dol Amroth, Autherdir Rogers," Boromir wryly replied. "I'm afraid you'll have to learn how to ride a horse!"
Rogers continued after the trio shared a light laugh. "Seriously though. I caught up with Eomer yesterday. He said only two thousand Rohirrim survived the battle. And quarter of them will be out of action for at least week due to injury.
"He said he can't call on any more reinforcements. Rohan barely has a skeleton defence at the moment – and even that's tied down by any surviving forces of Saruman's."
"Our ranks of cavalry are much diminished," Aragorn concluded. "Sauron may have lost Pelennor Fields. But he's reduced one of the Race of Men's few military advantages over him."
"Are there any other of the Free Peoples who might be able to help us out?" Rogers asked recalling Helm's Deep.
Boromir let out a sigh before saying, "I'm afraid our scouts report that Gondor and Rohan will have to fend for themselves for some time to come."
Boromir put a small map of Middle-earth in front of Rogers and Aragorn facing up. The Acting Steward pointed at various locations as he spoke.
"Sauron's forces at Dol Guldur have launched large assaults against the Elven kingdoms in Lorien and Mirkwood. Another of his forces from the east is poised to besiege the realms of Men and Dwarves in Erebor."
"The Dark Lord now presses the advantage Saruman spoke of," Aragorn concluded. "His attacks are not just strategic. They also aim to make each realm of the Free Peoples feel they face him alone."
"That includes ourselves," Boromir continued. "Sauron also had a several thousand strong force stationed at Cair Andros. That's an old island fortress of Gondor's that helps ford the Anduin, Steve. Rangers report that force is now marching westward in the direction of Rohan."
"A diversion?" Rogers speculated. "An attempt to get the Rohirrim to leave Gondor? Sauron wants to divide our forces and we don't have the strength to ignore if this attack's a bluff."
"Dividing our forces may well be the only way we can defeat Sauron," Aragorn firmly argued.
Both Rogers and Boromir were thrown by Aragorn's remark. Both Captains believed it was axiomatic one kept your forces concentrated in the face of a numerically superior enemy. Aragorn explained himself after noting the pair's reactions.
"I like an expression of yours, Steve," Aragorn started before revealing the reason why he'd asked for this meeting to take place. "If the Fourth Age of Middle-earth is to be an Age of Men, then Men must take 'ownership' of the war being fought over it.
"You were right along the Anduin, Boromir. For a long time I ignored the courage and honour that Men possess. But many in the Race of Men are still unable to see it. For too long, Men in the Third Age have thought themselves powerless. Believing that Sauron can only be defeated through the agency of Elves, Wizards or now, Avengers."
"Sorry, Aragorn, I'm not following," Rogers interrupted.
Aragorn took a deep breath before answering. "I ask you to trust me. Boromir, you are one of the greatest ever Captains of the White Tower. But now I ask that you give me command of Gondor's forces.
"Steve, it has been one of my life's honours sharing the Fellowship's leadership with you. But I'd please like that responsibility be mine alone now."
Both Boromir and Rogers knew how difficult Aragorn would have felt about making those requests. But they were honoured the way he asked them. Despite claiming his heritage, Aragorn retained his deep humility and still saw other members of the Fellowship as his equals.
"I'm more committed to my oath to you than when I swore it at Amon Hen," Boromir replied. "With Steve as witness, I shall issue a proclamation today that all Gondor's forces are now under command of the Heir of Isildur."
There was a twinkle in Rogers's eye when he gave his answer.
"Well, as Boromir pointed out – I'm currently a commissioned officer of Gondor," Rogers prefaced. "It means I have to follow his lead as my Commander-in-Chief!" After sharing a laugh, Rogers then recalled debate within the Golden Hall. "Gandalf said what Sauron fears the most. It's the Free Peoples uniting behind the King of Gondor with the Avengers aiding, not leading, them. Just say the word, Aragorn, and the three of us will help anyway we can."
A grateful Aragorn humbly said, "Thank you, my friends."
"That said," Rogers wryly warned. "I'm still interested to know what you've got in mind."
"I owe both you no less," Aragorn chuckled in appreciation of Rogers' understatement.
Aragorn then explained his plan to Boromir and Rogers. The pair were taken aback by what Aragorn had in mind. But all things considered, it was the only strategy that made sense to permanently purge Sauron's influence from Middle-earth. Both Aragorn and Rogers were surprised when Boromir said he found something of Denethor's that could help with the strategy's execution.
Thor approached Gandalf who was standing close to the Citadel's eastern embrasure. The White Wizard's attention was firmly towards Mordor. Dark cloud cover from Mount Doom hovered over the skies above Mordor and its surrounds. The cover was darker than the one Sauron had used over Pelennor Fields.
"I was sent to find you, Gandalf," Thor said standing left of the Wizard. "The council Aragorn's called is about to commence."
Gandalf didn't take his eyes away from Mordor.
"The fires of Mount Doom have strengthened over the past two days," he replied as if in a trance. "The darkness grows in power. But I can't tell what Sauron's purpose is."
"The beginnings of another fume proceeding another assault against us?" Thor guessed.
"Perhaps," Gandalf conceded. "But such a fume can't negate your powers of weather control now, Thor. Even right on the borders of Mordor, the effect would be marginal to you at worse. The Dark Lord is preparing something none of us expects. I suspect by the time we find out what it is, it'll be too late for us to counter it."
Thor considered Gandalf's words before speaking.
"My father once taught me it is not the one with the greatest power which is important," Thor began. "It's the one who uses his power wisely in the cause of justice. In the battle ahead, I'd rather have the wisdom of Gandalf the White than the all power of Sauron the Dark Lord."
An appreciative Gandalf turned his gaze to the Asgardian.
"Thank you, Thor." Gandalf acknowledged the compliment before wryly adding, "It's not every day a god says he has faith in you."
The pair gently laughed before making their way to Aragorn's council.
Gandalf had quietly advised Aragorn not to invite Merry and Pippin to the proposed council. It wasn't because the two cousins were unworthy to attend it. It was just the pair still retained some of their innocence about the wider world. Gandalf didn't want the rest of Middle-earth know of the Free Peoples' strategy by an inadvertent slip of the tongue by the two hobbits. So as not to cause offence, Gandalf asked the pair to help keep Eowyn company while Eomer attended the council. Eowyn developed a quick liking of Merry's cousin. Later, Merry and Pippin quietly discussed if they should be matchmakers between Eowyn and Faramir.
The council was held in the throne room in the Tower of Ecthelion. Council attendees included the Fellowship (minus Merry and Pippin), Faramir, Imrahil, Beregond, Eomer, Gamling and Elfhelm. Gimli made to sit in the Steward's Chair. He quickly changed his mind after receiving a withering stare from Boromir. The Dwarf would have to make do smoking his pipe while standing. Following an established pattern to similar councils the Fellowship had attended, Gandalf opened the debate.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," Gandalf stated, staring at something through his mind's eye. "As I observed to Thor, the darkness over Mordor is deepening."
"If Sauron had the Ring, we would know it," Aragorn reasoned.
"What makes you sure about that?" Banner asked now wearing a fine Gondorian tunic. "Like Loki with the Tesseract, Sauron might already have the Ring. All he's waiting for is the right moment to use it."
"Sauron is a master of lies and deceit, Bruce, Aragorn explained. "But one thing he wouldn't hide is repossessing that which is his."
"Sauron knows we've now the strength to hurt him," Rogers alternatively explained. "If he's got the Ring, he's not going to wait to use it."
All present concurred with Aragorn and Rogers's reasoning. The White Wizard was the most troubled by it though. Like Elrond, he believed Sauron could still win this war even with the Avengers growing in power.
"It's only a matter of time," Gandalf interrupted. "He has suffered a defeat, yes. But behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."
A contented Gimli released a puff of smoke before chiming in with; "Let him stay there!"
Gimli still relished the defeat the Dark Lord suffered at Pelennor Fields. But he more enjoyed the possibility of Sauron being genuinely frightened by the threat the Fellowship posed. Especially with Thor and Hulk surging in power.
"Let him rot!" Gimli loudly continued before rhetorically asking, "Why should we care?"
Rogers rolled his eyes at this. Gimli had many qualities. However, assessing the wider situation wasn't one of them. Gimli seemed to be anxious about forests of any kind. The Dwarf might be insulted on a number of levels if told he couldn't see the wood from the trees. Rogers used another Earth phrase to point out reality.
"You're not looking at the bigger picture, Gimli," Rogers tactfully chided him.
Gimli wasn't in any way insulted. This was primarily because he didn't understand the meaning of Rogers's words.
"What picture are you talking about, Steve?" Gimli replied utterly baffled. "You've made another drawing I should be aware of?"
Fortunately for Gimli and others, Gandalf understood the idiom and the point Rogers was trying to make with it.
"What Steve is saying, Gimli," Gandalf advised with considerable forbearance. "is the army that assaulted this place is but a fraction of Sauron's forces in Mordor. They stand poised to overwhelm us like waves of a great ocean against a child's sandcastle!"
Rogers had hinted at what was worrying Gandalf. It was the prospect of Sauron with the One Ring personally leading an army several times greater in size than the one that assaulted Minas Tirith. Gandalf thought battle against such a force would have disastrous consequences for the Free Peoples even with the Avengers aiding them. The cost of defeating the Dark Lord in this situation would undoubtedly entail a colossal loss of life including many of the Free People's leaders. The very lands of Middle-earth themselves would be devastated. The Free Peoples that survived into the Fourth Age would live in countless fragmented societies facing a daily struggle to survive. They would probably resort to violence among themselves in a struggle for resources. Never again would Middle-earth be green, peaceful or prosperous as it was in ages past. For all that, this was not what currently troubled Gandalf the most. It was the one life that would be snuffed out before Sauron launched such an offensive.
A seemingly despondent Gandalf observed to the Council, "As of right now, those forces stand between Frodo and Mount Doom. I've sent him to his death."
Many who heard these words were unsettled by Gandalf's mood as much as his analysis. The Avengers were among them. For the first time since they'd known him, Gandalf seemed to be on the verge of giving into despair. Thor made to reassure the White Wizard.
"You told Aragorn and I that we must trust in Frodo, Gandalf," Thor reminded him. "He and Sam need our trust now more than ever."
Gandalf gave small smile that Thor had consoled him for the second time that day. He privately thought Thor would rule Asgard wisely when the time came. But it wasn't Gandalf who responded to the Avenger's remarks.
"We can give Frodo more than our trust, Thor," Aragorn argued. "He needs time and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."
Recovering from Gandalf's earlier rebuke, Gimli guardedly asked, "How?"
Aragorn looked to Rogers who was standing next to him. The trio that discussed Aragorn's proposed strategy that morning also talked how it would be raised at council.
"I for one am sick and tired of fighting this war on the defensive," Rogers stated after taking his cue from Aragorn. "If Sauron wants to wage total war then let's take the war to him. Let's hit him somewhere it hurts."
"For the Ring-bearer to be successful, we need to draw out Sauron's armies from Mordor," Boromir continued.
"We send a small detachment to intercept the force heading west from Cair Andros." Aragon said before revealing the crux of his strategy, "But we concentrate the bulk of our forces before marching on the Black Gate."
A number of those present were clearly shocked by what had just been proposed. Gimli chocked on his pipeweed smoke worse than when Thor revealed his kill tally at Helm's Deep. It was axiomatic among the Free Peoples that any attack against the main entrance into Mordor was considered suicide.
"My lords, are you certain about this?" Eomer voiced his concern. "I must state some misgivings about this strategy."
Following Theoden's death, Eomer knew he was ultimately responsible for the lives of the Riders of Rohan. He wasn't going to risk them lightly in such an endeavour.
"Fighting before the Black Gate allows no means of retreat if we were to be surrounded," Eomer explained his concerns. "With the Avengers, we may achieve victory through strength of arms. But our margin of error is still very small."
"Eomer, we'll respect your call as final about Rohan being part of this," Rogers acknowledged the First Marshal's authority. "But, unfortunately, this strategy's the best out of a number of bad options. As Gandalf said, we can't afford to sit and wait here for the next attack. And we certainly can't leave it all to chance that Frodo and Sam will get to Mount Doom unnoticed."
"Yes," Aragorn agreed. "To permanently rid ourselves of Sauron, we must destroy the Ring. The strategy I propose will give Frodo the best chance to do this, as it will keep the Eye fixed upon us."
Legolas best summed up the whole objective for marching on the Black Gates.
"A diversion," he concluded. "One that I believe would have a good chance of being successful. Any force containing the Heir of Isildur and the Avengers would certainly garner the Dark Lord's attention. Especially if it offered battle at the Black Gate."
Gimli resumed being his boisterous self. Even if others didn't like it, a true Dwarven warrior never showed despair
"Under normal circumstances, I'd think our likelihood of death to be certain and chances of success to be small." Gimli reflected being back to his boisterous self. "But what were the chances of the Avengers coming here and aiding us? When it comes to bucking impossible odds, I'd say we've got cause for hope." He concluded with gusto, "Well, what are we waiting for?!"
Gandalf didn't lecture Gimli a second time. In deciding what to do with the time that was given to him, Gimli was choosing face it stoutly. But Gandalf thought Aragorn's strategy contained an obvious flaw.
"Sauron will suspect a trap," Gandalf said aside to Aragorn and Rogers. "He will not take the bait."
Gandalf was surprised at the small smirk Aragorn and Rogers exchanged in understanding.
"Oh, I think he will," Aragorn confidently predicted to the White Wizard
Gandalf and everyone else at council followed Aragorn and Rogers's gazes to Boromir. Boromir knew what the pair were silently requesting him to inform the room about. Boromir cleared his throat with a cough before speaking.
"I've recently learned of the existence of another palantir…"
Boromir advised the council what he had read in Denethor's journal. Desperate to counter Sauron, the Steward had secretly resorted to using the palantir that the Faithful of Numenor had located at Minas Tirith. The palantir was locked away in a secret chamber at the summit of the Tower of Ecthelion that only the king or steward could access. Their heirs weren't told about it until they'd taken over the role.
Despite the shock of this revelation, a lot of Denethor's behaviour in recent years now made sense to Gandalf. Even the most disciplined and strong-willed of minds suffered strain when using a seeing stone. Particularly if they didn't know Sauron had one of his own. Palantiri couldn't be used to communicate false images. But the Dark Lord could certainly manipulate the images that Denethor saw from using it. The images would've likely been of what Denethor feared the most – the size of Mordor's armies and Aragorn's existence. If it wasn't for the presence of his eldest son, it was disturbing to contemplate how far into madness Denethor could've descended.
Aragorn excused himself from the council to use the palantir. He returned to the council ashen-faced about half an hour later. Aragorn was confident that Sauron didn't suspect Free Peoples' true intentions with their offer of battle.
No one dared asked Aragorn why he wasn't wearing the Evenstar pendant any more.
Aragorn's plan was set in motion the following morning. The total muster of Gondorian and Rohirrim men-at-arms at Minas Tirith was five and a half thousand. The muster was divided into three forces.
One thousand Gondorian soldiers under the command of a still recovering Faramir would remain at Minas Tirith. This garrison was to prevent the city being opportunistically ransacked rather than to mount a defence against a serious assault. Rebuilding the White City's fortifications would probably take months if not years.
A detachment of one thousand cavalry under the command of Elfhelm and Imrahil headed north-west to intercept the Mordor force heading towards Rohan. Rohirrim comprised half the detachment and the Knights of Dol Amroth the other.
All remaining men-at-arms were members of a new force that Aragorn dubbed the 'Army of the West'. The Army of the West would march on the Black Gate and reach it in a week's time. Given the terrain around the Black Gate, only the Army's leaders and their immediate escorts were riding horses. And this was more for transport than any consideration of fighting from horseback.
A number of Fellowship members shared rides. Pippin sat to the front of Gandalf on Shadowfax and Gimli held on to Legolas from behind. Merry opted to ride with Thor believing the Riders Three should continue to stick together. Thor's new steed was a white stallion from the stables of Minas Tirith. Banner rode a chestnut coloured steed whereas Rogers chose to march with the infantry. It wasn't just because he preferred travelling on his own two feet than on horseback. Nearly one thousand of the Army's foot soldiers were dismounted Rohirrim. Rogers thought him marching alongside them might help reduce any unease they felt about going into battle without their steeds. The Army marched as a column out of Minas Tirith on the road to Osgiliath. The infantry marched behind the tiny number of cavalry who in turn were led by Aragorn.
For the first time since Helm's Deep, Aragorn was wearing metal armour. Aragorn wore a full suit of metal mail along with steel pauldrons; greaves and boots engraved with elegant Gondorian motifs. Over the mail was a rich red velvet sleeveless robe and this in turn was covered by a robe of black leather. The outer robe was emblazoned in silver with the White Tree of Gondor surmounted by seven silver stars. A fine black cloak complimented the outfit, attached to the outer robe by two gold and silver brooches. Like at Helm's Deep, Aragorn declined to wear a helmet.
Aragorn tried to ignore the reactions of the residents of Minas Tirith as he rode his way out of it. Many Gondorians exchanged whispers when they saw Aragorn for the first time. None of them thought they would live to see the day when Isildur's Heir was openly among them. Even though Aragorn hadn't been formally coronated, a number of Gondorians couldn't help but bow or kneel when he passed by them. Especially given what Boromir was carrying.
Boromir rode directly behind Aragorn. The Acting Steward carried in his right hand a banner that had been uncaged for the first time in more than a thousand years. It was the Standard of Elendil – the banner of the King of Gondor. Similar to Aragorn's outer robe, it had a black field on which the White Tree had seven stars over it and a white crown above them. Normally, a chosen herald would carry the Standard. But Boromir wanted to demonstrate to Sauron and all Middle-earth that Gondor had firmly chosen to unite behind Aragorn's leadership.
High above in the Houses of Healing, Faramir and Eowyn stood next to each other as they watched the column's departure from Minas Tirith. Merry and Pippin would have been delighted to know that the pair held hands as they did so.
Deep within Mordor its ruler plotted his next move.
Sauron still felt the War of the Ring was his to lose. Despite Mordor's recent defeat at Pelennor Fields, he still had vast reserves to call on. The assaults he'd launched across Middle-earth would keep the Free Peoples from totally uniting. The Free People's centre of gravity was their will to engage him in a prolonged struggle. Once their will was broken, particularly the Race of Men's, victory would be his. Especially once he took back the One Ring.
Sauron believed Isildur's Heir openly challenged him because the Free Peoples wanted to end the war quickly. Until recently, he knew the Free Peoples possessed the Ring but was unsure of their purpose with it. Their actions now were beginning to make some sense from the Dark Lord's perspective.
Their use of halfling couriers to bring the Ring to Gondor was something he had never envisaged. This insignificant race would later be made to suffer his wrath for this oversight. But this 'Aragorn' was making the same mistake as Isildur. Men would learn the hard way that they could never use the One Ring to defeat its creator. Aragorn had to be in possession of the Ring while leading his pitiful army eastward. Why else would the Ring feel so close to Mordor?
That said, Sauron acknowledged all factors weren't in his favour. His puppet Saruman failed miserably to prevent Rohan from coming to Gondor's aid. Denethor's sons seemed to be following Aragorn's lead. Despite the odds they faced, the morale of the Men of the West still seemed to be holding. The meddlesome White Wizard was still aiding them as well. And there was still the considerable problem of the three Avengers.
Sauron cursed his fortune that the trio had ever come to Middle-earth. Their power now was not just a threat to his plans but also to him personally. The Witch-king's death resulted in Sauron redistributing the Nazgul's power evenly among its surviving members. But none them would survive a blast like the one called 'Thor' used against the Witch-king. Sauron was troubled that he mightn't even be able to defeat the Avengers with the One Ring.
Gandalf had compared the War of the Ring to chess. In that case, Sauron was a Grandmaster. If one strategy failed to achieve his objective, the Dark Lord normally had another two to take over. He might be delayed from achieving his objective but he was never denied. He tried and failed to defeat the Avengers in detail by amplifying the Witch-king's power. Now Sauron focused on a plan he set in place after first witnessing the Avenger's past deeds through his palantir.
Sauron was orginally a Maia known as 'Mairon the Admirable'. He was a servant of Aule the Smith, one of the most powerful of the Valar. It was from Aule that Sauron grew in knowledge about crafting and the use of sustances. Despite having longed turned to evil, Sauron's genius for crafting remained. It was this genius that Sauron was focusing towards the Avengers.
The eruptions from Mount Doom that puzzled Gandalf were from Sauron again using it as a forge. Sauron had been inspired by what he had seen of the Avengers' battles outside of Middle-earth. From these images, he'd been creating a device to enable the Avengers' defeat. With the Ring heading in his direction, Sauron chose to focus his efforts towards finishing the device. This was the reason why Mount Doom's eruptions had grown in strength over the last few days. The device was imbued with stronger versions of the spells that the Witch-king had been given to defeat the Avengers. It contained some new sorcery as well. The device would be employed once Sauron's forces engaged the Army of the West close to Mordor.
The device's creation would be worth it just by the reaction of the Avengers once they saw it…
Thor's remarks about power and wisdom are from a quote taken from Earth-616.
The story regarding the Standard of Elendil is because the Grey Company and what they carried wasn't in the LOTR film trilogy.
I don't dispute the possibility that the three Avengers in this story could defeat a One Ring wearing Sauron. But I believe such a victory wouldn't come without cost given the Ring's powers (plenty of material on these). If not for the Avengers personally, then certainly for Free Peoples. I use the example of the death and destruction New York suffered when the Avengers defeated Loki to support this argument.
The book has Aragorn leading a force of about seven thousand whereas in the movie it's only five hundred. I decided on to comprise between the two for this story. I certainly think all evidence in the book points to more than ten thousand orcs being Sauron's total force in Mordor. Then again, maybe Gandalf was just referring to the size of the force that guarded the road to Mount Doom.
Sauron is a character that I've had to do a lot of work on for this story. In the book, Sauron doesn't have a single line of dialogue and is more a threatening, background presence. PJ represented this in the film by the large flaming eyeball. The threat of the Avengers I think would've forced Sauron to take a more active role in the war's proceedings. The Sauron in this crossover is based on the (Third Age) one envisaged by Tolkien in a number of his letters.
I wonder if Aule should've kept a closer check on employee satisfaction given two of his serving Maia became corrupted and turned into dark lords?
[RD: I'd be the last to claim any foresight. But on reflection, Gandalf's thoughts on the Avengers defeating Sauron mirror the debates around the Sokovia Accords]