The Ring will come to Gondor by Varda

The Ring will come to Gondor

by Varda

Chapter Sixty-six: Ride to Disaster

Everyone stared at Eowyn, so sudden was the change from haughty, determined princess to distraught, weeping girl. To cover her embarrassment, Faramir leaped to his feet and turning to the delegates seated round the table he said;

'I wish to announce I have promised Lady Eowyn that Boromir, my brother and Marshal of Gondor, will accompany her back to Rohan, to give what aid he can....'

'Only one man?' muttered Gimli into his beard. Faramir went pale with annoyance but before he could answer the dwarf, Aragorn stood up and looking round the table he said;

'One man is as good as an army if it is the right man in the right place, and there is no warrior more skilled or valiant than Boromir. This task was meant for him...'

He paused, and caught a grateful look in Boromir's eye; at last, Boromir thought, his debt to his king was paid. Aragorn went on;
'..and Minas Tirith is hemmed in with many foes, and needs her army for her own defence. One prince is all she can spare now...'

For a while there was a gloomy silence. Aragorn could see few present believed Boromir would even reach Rohan, let alone lend significant aid. Aragorn drew his great broadsword and placed it on the council table. The bright steel of the blade was mirrored in the dark, highly polished wood.

'Here I pledge my sword to the aid of Rohan! I will ride with Boromir. Let he come with us who will!'

Everyone started speaking at once, but by now Eowyn had recovered her composure and she raised a hand for silence then said in a shaking voice;
'Lord Aragorn, and Faramir, I thank you! But it is enough that Boromir returns with me. He alone will be enough. I am sure the men of my country will rally to his banner....'

'No!' said Gandalf suddenly, in a loud and commanding voice. The others turned to look at him, and the Wizard rose slowly to his feet...

First, he bowed to Faramir, the Steward. Then he drew a deep breath and said;
'This task is not for one man on his own, however brave and skilled in arms. Or even two, or twelve. It is true that Gondor cannot spare many men, but the nature of this peril is not just a matter of weapons or men.....'

Gandalf fixed Eowyn with a sympathetic gaze.
'Be seated, my Lady, and hear what I have to say...'

Reluctantly, but curious to hear the words of the wizard, Eowyn sank back into her chair. Gandalf bowed again and said;
'My Lady, your uncle King Théoden is overwhelmed, not by a physical enemy, but by something not quite of this world. Grima Wormtongue is not just a spy; he has certain powers invested in him by his master, Saruman the White, the Wizard of Orthanc. To counter this evil influence, you need more than swords and axes; you need another wizard....'

There was a surprised gasp from all at the table. Gandalf savoured the reaction for a few moment, his eyes sparkling with something of his old spirit. Aragorn said in a doubtful voice;
'Mithrandir, my old friend, this task is beyond your powers. You are still weakened by your struggle. Stay in Minas Tirith, and help its defence...'

But Gandalf shook his head. He pointed to Faramir.
'Your Steward is well able to defend the city on his own. He does not need my help. I have taught him from boyhood, what more can I do to assist him now in his hour of testing?'

No-one answered that question, but Faramir smiled to himself; Gandalf would not take from the honour of his defence of the city by allowing later ages to believe it was all down to a wizard's assistance....

Gandalf turned to Eowyn then and he said to her;
'My lady, I deem you think it sufficient that your betrothed Boromir alone returns to Edoras with you. But believe me, your uncle has need of physic that a strong arm and a stout heart alone cannot provide. If I have your permission, my lady, I will go with Boromir, and drive out this evil spirit that is possessing your kinsman and laying the Riddermark open to its enemies....'

For a moment there was silence. Eowyn did not know what to say; this was more than she could have hoped for. Every time Gandalf had visited Edoras and presented himself before her uncle in the Golden Hall of Meduseld, she had been struck by his dignity and wisdom, even when it went unheeded. And in her heart she knew Gandalf spoke the truth; more than an army his knowledge of the enemy's witchcraft was required in Edoras. She smiled at the wizard and replied;
'My lord Gandalf, I have often heard you speak in the Golden Hall, and always you offered my uncle the King good counsel. Would that he had taken your advice! But perhaps it is not too late for you to save him, and my people....yes, I beg you to accompany us back to Rohan...'

Aragorn had been watching Gandalf and listening carefully, and when the wizard stopped speaking, he said;
'If you are going to Rohan, Mithrandir, do not forbid me to accompany you. I will lend my sword to any attempt to release the armies of the Mark so that they might break the siege of Minas Tirith!'

At once Gimli sprang to his feet;
'And I will go too, for I swore to keep fealty to the Fellowship, and both Gandalf and Aragorn and Boromir are of that Fellowship...'

Aragorn smiled at Gimli, and Eowyn bowed uncertainly to the Dwarf, who blushed and nodded to her. Faramir spoke;
'Very well! Time is short, for Mithrandir has warned us that the enemy army is waking up. Let us prepare to depart for Edoras with all speed...'
He looked at Eowyn and said;
'I will have you escorted back to your room....'
'Back to my room, Lord Steward?' she asked in amazement. 'I fear you misunderstand; I intend to ride back to my country with these great warriors who have pledged to assist me...'

For a moment there was a stunned silence. Then Aragorn said quietly;
'Of course the lady must go; she alone can gain us entrance to where King Théoden is, and this Grima...of course Eowyn must come too....'

Faramir, looking unhappy, nodded.
'Very well, but at least take this young squire with you, to wait on you, Lady Eowyn...'
Eowyn looked round at Ciall, still standing to attention behind her chair, and nodded.
'Very well, I will take him with me, for I still need some help walking....'

Ciall's heart sank.
'I am going to be sent away from Minas Tirith!' he thought desperately.
'And on a dangerous errand...I wonder if I will return? But what does it matter? Better to die in battle, with honour, than to end up burned to a crisp during the seige. And besides, the Lady hath need of me....'

The moon had risen, and its silver light fell through one of the high pointed windows of the Council Chamber. The beam crept across the black marble floor. Gandalf looked at it and said to Faramir in a low voice;
'Night is passing; we would do well to try to leave the city under cover of darkness. We do not have much time...'

Faramir nodded and said, as if to dismiss the Council of Gondor;
'Let those who are going to Rohan leave now and prepare themselves; they ride forth as soon as horses can be prepared....'

The company quickly got to their feet and made to leave. It was only when all but he stood up that they realised Legolas had sat through the whole council without saying a single word, his face pale and his gaze fixed on the table in front of him.

Gimli, feeling guilty that he had not noticed his friend's silence, leaned over and placed a broad hand, calloused from the axe, on the Elf's fine silk sleeve.
'Legolas, my friend, will you come with us to Rohan? Let us keep the Fellowship intact....'

At the sound of Gimli's voice, Legolas turned his face to the Dwarf, who shrank back slightly at the fixed, dark look in his eyes. Aragorn said;
'Legolas, what is wrong, old friend? Mellon...?'

Then Legolas, moving as if in a dream, stood up and walked up to Faramir. He stopped in front of the Steward and said in a loud ringing voice;
'My Lord Steward, it is with all wisdom and generosity that you send Boromir to the aid of Rohan. But this I have to say to you and everyone here; if Boromir your brother sets off from Minas Tirith on this errand, he will never reach Rohan....'

There was a horrified silence. At last Aragorn managed to speak;
'Legolas, why?'

Legolas looked at him and there was despair in his eyes;
'Do not ask! Suffice to say, I have seen in a dream what will happen, and I know that Boromir will not reach Edoras, nor even cross the East Emnet, if he sets off on this quest....'

At this several people began to talk at once, and no-one could be heard. At last Boromir raised his hands for quiet. When there was silence once again, he faced Legolas and said;
'I know you see what mortal men do not, my friend and prince of Elves. But I have been given a command, by the Steward of Gondor himself, to go on this journey to Rohan and aid its people. Legolas, it would bring nothing but disgrace on me and the House of Denethor if I refused to go on this errand. Are the actions of men to be governed by the dreams of Elves? Nay, Legolas, I will go to Rohan, though the fires of Mordor lie between.....'

Legolas did not seem offended. He just bowed his head with a sigh of grief, and whispered;
'If you must ride to disaster, so be it. I will go with you....'

'No!' cried Faramir. 'This cannot be allowed to happen! Boromir, my brother, I trust the vision of the Elves. I ordered you to go to Rohan; I can order you not to go....'

But before he had finished speaking, Boromir stepped up to his younger brother and seized his arm in an iron grip. The others, looking at the two men by the dimming yellow light of the torch and the pale moonlight falling through the window, saw doubt in every line of Faramir's face, and resolve in Boromir's set features.

Boromir said to his brother;
'Faramir, you are the Steward of Gondor. It is the place I should have taken, had I not lost it by my own folly. Now, do not you dishonour it by cowardice! You have given your orders, be resolute, and stand by them!'

Faramir was as pale as death.
'Boromir....' he said in a faltering voice '..this order could be your death warrant, if the Elf speak true...'
'The Elf does not speak true' replied Boromir sharply. '...or no truer than any hag who tells a man's fortune for a silver coin in the market place....'

Legolas went pale; Gimli muttered angrily and laid a hand on his axe. But Boromir just smiled and said;
'Brother, let me go on this errand to Rohan. It is my destiny, which no man can escape. I go willingly, and I go with friends, for a noble cause.

In the end, Faramir, we make our own fate....'