In Minas Tirith, Faramir stood in his room alone as he put his armor on for what he was sure would be his last time. Denethor had commanded him that he and his men to retake Osgiliath even though he and everyone knew the city was well overrun but he had no other choice. He couldn't help but feel like hope was fading even with Gandalf's encouraging words and news of Amdiriel returning. He felt like her return would be too late and there was nothing he could do to stop the fate that awaited him and his men. He grabbed his helmet and put it before he exited his room and made his way out to the horse that waited for him in the courtyard. He looked over to Osgiliath, a dark shadow laid over the ruined city. Oh, how different things had been just months ago. The night before the victory at Osigilath, the last battle he and his siblings would share and the last time he would have seen them alive. He thought back to that to that memory.
The men were crowded around trying to see what was going on as their captain's held duels. It had been a way to get the men motivated for the fight ahead. The fires around them lit up the night sky as the men cheered on their captains. Amdiriel had been dueling Boromir's second in command, swords only. Amdiriel had spun out of the way of a blow gracefully before placing her blade at the edge of the man's neck, a smirk on her face as the men cheered. The man yielded his sword and bowed in respect to Amdiriel as she bowed her head to him with respect as well. Boromir and Faramir then ran up to laughing proudly at their younger sister. Faramir had picked up his sister and lifted her off her feet in a big hug while Boromir smiled proudly and chanted her name with the men.
The men had soon calmed down after that and the three siblings had retreated to their tent to go over their battle plans with their lieutenants one last time before they dispersed for the night. The three were then left alone as they went out and sat around the fire.
"We are grateful that you are here." Faramir told his sister who then smiled at him. "You know I will always come." she replied. "No amount of orcs could keep me away." she added smugly. "And don't we know it. Do you remember the time she tried to take on a whole company of orcs by herself when we were eighteen?" Boromir teased. "Hey you were late and if I recall correctly it was because you were smitten by some lady in a tavern." Amdiriel reminded him. "But I was not the one that walked away with a nasty cut on her shoulder and cracked ribs." Boromir told her. "And mother and father refused you to do anything strenuous for two weeks and you had a long lecture too." Faramir added. "Oh, I remember I was the one injured and I was the one getting punished, I was so bored. I couldn't even go out on horseback." Amdiriel chuckled. "I thought you were going to pull your hair out from bordem." Boromir laughed. "Oh, she did, and then she had the great idea of trying to dress up like a boy and sneak out." Faramir said with a laugh. "And I would have gotten away with it too had it not been for that old bat Amiliea, I swear she hated us." Amdiriel said, referring to their old maid who was in charge of their laundry and cleanliness.
"She really did hate us." Boromir remembered. "That is only because we put blue dye in the white clothes and it turned all the clothes blue." Faramir reminded them. "We? You mean Amdiriel." Boromir stated. "You were there with me hiding behind the big basket of dirty sheets." Amdiriel gasped. "But you were the one who committed the act." Boromir said. "You both dared me to." Amdiriel exclaimed as they laughed. They had gotten in so much trouble when they were young but they were always there to take the punishment together if they couldn't get out of it. They had missed this, being able to be together, laughing, and reminiscing of when they were younger. They spent some time like that before Boromir asked Amdiriel to sing for them. Amdiriel smiled as she lifted her head from Faramir's shoulder and started to sing.
It's funny how
The walk of life
Can take you down
Without a fight
So many years
Can leave behind
Regretfully until it's time
To realize the moment
When you turn around.
I'm coming home
To breathe again,
To start again
I'm coming home
From all the places
I have been
With nothing
But a voice within
That calls me…
Calls me home
Back in the day
When I was younger
I was so lost and proud
I've gained the world
But it will never
Compare to what I've earned
In the quiet moment
When the earth holds still
I'm coming home
To breathe again
To start again
I'm coming home
From all the places
I have been
With nothing
But a voice within
That calls me…
Calls me home
Calls me home
I'm coming home
To breathe again
To start again
I'm coming home
To breathe again
To start again
I'm coming home
From all the places
I have been
With nothing
But a voice within
That calls me…
The next morning the battle was bloody but nevertheless they had victory. There were no orcs left in the city as they had all been slain and the men began to cheer. Amdiriel was looking around for Faramir as was Boromir who was next to her. They had been separated not long as he had gone to ensure the scouts did not foresee a surprise attack. The men had begun to cheer Boromir's name as a soldier then handed the former Captain of the White City a pole with a flag raised high on it. "Go, make your speech, Captain." Amdiriel teased as she then handed the pole to her older brother who smirked at her and began to climb up the stairs of what was now a ruined building.
As soon as Boromir reaches the top Faramir appears beside his sister. "Victory indeed, Osgiliath is reclaimed." Faramir told her as she jumped into his arms for a hug. The two pulled away and looked up to see their brother looking down on them a smile on his faces as the two nodded to him. Boromir then knew they were in the clear to celebrate. Boromir planted the flag and unsheathed his sword "This city was once the jewel of our kingdom. A place of light and beauty and music. And so it shall be once more!" Boromir yelled as he raised his sword causing the crowds to cheer. "Let the armies of Mordor know this: Never again will the land of my people fall into enemy hands. This city of Osgiliath has been reclaimed for Gondor!" Boromir shouted proudly. "For Gondor!" The men shouted back joined in by their captains. "For Gondor!" Boromir yelled again causing the men to shout back "For Gondor!" "For Gondor!" Boromir shouted one last time before he began to climb back down from the building. The siblings were about to make their way to their brother but a young soldier tapped Amdiriel on the shoulder "I apologize my lady but this just arrived for you." said the soldier who had to be no older than 21 as he handed her an envelope. "From who?" Amdiriel asked curiously. "An eagle madam." replied the young man. "Thank you." Amdiriel said quickly as she caught Faramir's looked. "He has not called for you in a long time." He said referring to Gandalf the Grey. "No, he has not. Now that he has it must be urgent." Amdiriel replied. "Go join Boromir. I'll be there in a moment." Faramir looked to protest but Amdiriel spoke before he could "I promise not to leave without a goodbye." Faramir gave her a small smile, knowing she always kept her promises. He leaned in and gave her a kiss on her forehead even though it was dirty from the battle before he left to find his brother.
He found Boromir easily, the two walked towards each other joyfully, hugging once in arms reach laughing as they did. "Good speech. Nice and short." Faramir said as they pulled away. "Leaves more time for drinking!" Boromir joked, the two laughed before Boromir spoke again. "Break out the ale! These men are thirsty!" he announced causing the men around him to cheer. Boromir then turned to his brother "Where is Amdi?" he asked. "She received a letter. She said she'd be along in a moment." Faramir replied. He figured it be best not to worry his brother just yet until they knew what they were dealing with which surely Amdiriel would tell them. "Well she best hurry it up or we will drink all the ale up ourselves." Boromir joked as he filled two goblets that were passed to him. He then hands one to Faramir "Remember today little brother." Boromir said as the two clinked their goblets together. "Today life is good." Boromir finished before lifting the ale to his lips. Nothing could ruin this day he thought, the battle was won, Osigliath had been reclaimed and his brother and sister were safe and able to celebrate together with their men. Or so the two brothers thought.
Boromir was looking over Faramir's shoulder for his little sister but his gaze fell to the distraught face of his little brother who was looking off in the distance to his left. "What?" he asked with a chuckle. Faramir turned back to his older brother "He's here." he told him in a serious tone. The smile that was once on Boromir's face fell as he then looked over to see Denethor talking to the soldiers behind them. "One moment of peace, can he not give us that? Amdi?" he asked. "I'll keep an eye out just in case but she must surely know already." Faramir tried to comfort his brother who already looked jaded. The two just wanted to celebrate with their sister but with their father being present they knew all hope of that was now gone.
"Where is he? Where is Gondor's finest? Where's my first-born?" Denethor asked. Boromir turns to face his father putting on a fake smile "Father!" he greeted with a hug. "They say you vanquished the enemy almost single-handedly." "They exaggerate. The victory belongs to Faramir also." Boromir tried but Denethor's eyes hardened at the sight of his youngest son. "But for Faramir, this city would still be standing. Were you not entrusted to protect it?" Denethor asked. "I would have done, but our numbers were too few." Faramir tried to explain. "Oh, too few. You let the enemy walk in and take it on a whim. Always you cast a poor reflection on me. Just like your sister." Denethor said as he walked up to Faramir. Boromir drops his head wishing he said nothing. But both had to bite their tongues at the comment of their sister, they knew better than to start an argument in public. "That is not my intent." replied simply.
"You give him no credit, and yet he tries to do your will." Boromir said as he walked away but Denethor followed him.
"He loves you, Father." Boromir tried to reason once they were in a little more of a private area.
"Do not trouble me with Faramir...I know his uses, and they are few." Denethor told him bt Boromir had heard enough. "Oh just like Amdireil?" he nearly snared. "Do not speak to me of that girl. We have more urgent things to speak of. Elrond of Rivendell has called a meeting. He will not say why, but I have guessed its purpose. It is rumored that the weapon of the enemy has been found." Denethor told his son.
Worry overcame Boromir "The One Ring... Isildur's Bane."
Denethor than began to whisper "lt has fallen into the hands of the Elves. Everyone will try to claim it: Men, Dwarves, wizards. We cannot let that happen. This thing must come to Gondor." "Gondor?" Boromir question his voice laced with worry and fear but Denethor clutches his arm "It's dangerous, I know. Ever the Ring will seek to corrupt the hearts of lesser Men. But you, you are strong. And our need is great. It is our blood that is being spilled, our people who are dying. Sauron is biding his time. He's massing fresh armies. He will return. And when he does, we will be powerless to stop him. You must go. Bring me back this mighty gift."
But Boromir shakes his head "No. he says and then walks away from his father "My place is here with my people not in Rivendell."
"Would you deny your own father?" Denethor asked angrily. "If there is need to go to Rivendell...send me in his stead." Faramir said standing in the same spot his father and brother had left him in. He had been looking out to see if he could spot his sister to warn her but he had no luck.
"You? Oh, I see. A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality. I think not. I trust this mission only to your brother. The one who will not fail me." Denethor told him before he turned back to Boromir and told him that the leaves immediately before he left, disappearing into the crowd. The two watched their father go both looking completely deject from the short conversation they had with their father.
Boromir sighed, he did not want to leave but nonetheless he had no choice. Boromir sighed and turned back to his brother. "I hate this." he grumbled as he started to walk in search of his stuff but more importantly his sister. "I know." was all he could say before Faramir's second in command, Madril came up to them. "Amdiriel?" the two brothers asked in unison. "I got word of the Steward's arrival and was able to find her before he did and before I was able to find you, my lords." he explained. He then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Faramir. "She said she would never break a promise, so you could never hold it against her." Faramir opened the note and read it to his brother.
"Dearest Boromir and Faramir, how sorry I am to leave like this but Madril found me and told me of the steward's arrival and like any good second in command, Madril knew what to do. Gandalf has sent for me to help in the aid of protecting an important group of halfing to Rivendell. I am sorry to leave like this but I promise to return to you soon as I can. I love you both. Stay strong and never give up hope. Your loving sister, Amdiriel." Faramir finished.
The two brothers then nodded in thanks to Madril and told him to join the men in celebration. After Madril left them the two-headed for Boromir's horse. "She will be there you know." Faramir said to his brother. "I know she will. If what father says is true she will do all she can to make sure that thing never comes to Gondor." Boromir replied. "Yes, but she must return to Gondor." Faramir told him. "You think it is time?" Boromir asked as he grabbed his supplies. "I think the time is approaching, the masses of Mordor are growing and we will need her." Faramir explained. "I know we just have father to worry about." Boromir reminded him. "I know, we will figure it just as we always have." Faramir smiled at his brother but it faded as they reach his older brother's horse.
The siblings hated being separated, it made them feel uneasy. A loud sigh left Boromir's lips as he mounted his horse. Boromir then looked up at the rubble that was once a tower, the same place he planted his country's flag not even an hour prior. He watched as it blew in the wind gracefully. He then looked down at his younger brother. "Be careful and both of you come home." Said Faramir. Boromir offered him a small smile "Remember today little brother." was Boromir's final words to him before he rode off...never to return. He could only pray his sister would.
Faramir sadly returned to his harsh reality as he mounted his horse and slowly began to make his way through the levels and out of the city, his men following behind him. The people of Minas Tirith line the street but not much more than sniffles and a few words are spoken. They knew the fate of their soldiers, they knew that it would be a massacre and there was nothing they could do to change that. Their hope was nearly gone as they laid flowers in the streets for the men who they knew in their hearts would not return.
"Faramir! Faramir!" Suddenly Gandalf shouted as he pushed through the crowd towards him. "Your father's will has turned to madness. Do not throw away your life so rashly." Gandalf told the captain as he walked next to his horse. "Where does my allegiance lie if not here? This is the city of the men of Numenor. I will gladly give my life to defend her beauty, her memory, her wisdom." Faramir replied to the wizard who both knew that he spoke of more than just the city. "And she would do the same." added Faramir. Gandalf knew there was nothing that could be done. Faramir had to go or face the punishment of death because of his betrayal. "They love you." whispered Gandalf. "I know they do." he said as he thought of his brother and sister. Gandalf came to a stop as he watched Faramir pass him. "Your father loves you, Faramir." Gandalf tried to remind the man on the horse but the man found it hard to believe. "He will remember that he loves you both before the end." Gandalf whispered to himself as he watched the men of Gondor leave to face death.
Faramir and his men rode on to Osigilith, they could all see the orcs begin to emerge and line up. their black armor and tainted skin in contrast to the once-white buildings of the ruined city. Faramir looked at the number of orcs that lined up before them as their horses began to gain trot a little faster toward their battleground. Faramir could feel the dread in his heart. He then looked up, past the large hill that laid near the forest in the direction of the city of Rohan. "Forgive me, Amdi." he whispered to the wind, in hope that somehow she knew that he was sorry before he turned back and charged his horse forward to face what he must in defense of his country.