We camped for one night and then set off on our journey again. Boromir seemed troubled by the rumors regarding his father.
After traveling for a long while and passing through the plains, we finally arrived at Minas Tirith. We headed straight for the highest tier of the city, and the soldiers, recognizing Boromir, allowed us all to pass through.
As we entered the Great Hall, we saw Denethor sitting in the Steward's chair, devouring food gluttonously. Beside him stood a pale man dressed in black, high-quality garments; no matter how one looked at him, he appeared to be Grima.
'So this guy was here...'
Denethor paused his meal, and seeing his son, he stood up and greeted him warmly.
"You've finally arrived. You must have gone through much trouble. But who are these people?"
When Denethor asked us that, Boromir replied.
"This is the wizard Gandalf, Father."
At those words, Grima, who was standing nearby, whispered something into Denethor's ear. Denethor then acknowledged Gandalf.
"It is a pleasure to meet the famous Gandalf."
Gandalf bowed his head in greeting as well.
"Steward Denethor II, well met. The reason we have come is none other than..."
Gandalf tried to speak to Denethor about the danger of Mordor, but Denethor cut him off immediately.
"First, you must be tired after your long journey, so I shall have you shown to your quarters. I will hear your tale tomorrow. I also have much to discuss with my son."
Then Boromir looked at Grima and asked.
"Father, who on earth is that man?"
"An envoy from Rohan. He brought quite a fine gift with him."
Boromir was dumbfounded by those words. Hearing Denethor, it seemed Grima had presented him with a 'Palantir' as a gift.
"That's impossible. We've just come from Rohan..."
Grima then spoke to us.
"I have been here for quite some time already."
Denethor backed up Grima's claim.
"Correct. He arrived here shortly after you departed."
After saying this, Denethor summoned a soldier and ordered him to lead Gandalf and me to our quarters. Gandalf and I had no choice but to follow the soldier for now. The accommodations in Minas Tirith were quite well-maintained and clean. It was distinctly different from other inns where bugs roamed around in filth. Usually, when I arrive at such places, I start by casting a [Barrier] to keep insects out and then clean with [Housekeeping Magic], but it seemed unnecessary here, which I quite liked.
'This place is definitely the best among human civilizations.'
I opened the window of the quarters and looked outside. Mount Doom was so clearly visible that I almost had the illusion I was at a tourist destination near a volcano. Of course, the fact that it was the lair of evil was a problem.
'The view is nice too.'
On the second day, Boromir visited us and we ate together. During the meal, he told us about the conversation he had with his father the previous evening.
"My father is indeed behaving strangely. He talked with me yesterday, but he only kept asking about the Ring. He even said things like, 'We can no longer stop Mordor, so we might have to make a choice.' Moreover, that man beside him kept whispering into his ear; I couldn't tell if Father was listening to advice or taking orders. That man is surely a spy of Sauron, not an envoy from Rohan."
Boromir also seemed to sense that something was going wrong. Gandalf then spoke.
"Hmm... This is no ordinary matter. It is too early to say for sure, but your father might have already fallen into the hands of Sauron."
Boromir tried to object to Gandalf's words, but since he suspected the same, he wiped his face and sighed.
"Whew... I will try to persuade him somehow. Although he is a greedy man, he has always maintained a sense of decency."
Gandalf looked at me and asked.
"What will you do?"
"I'll wait here. Since the matter of the Ring is close, I think it can be handled quickly. And even if Sauron invades again, this will be the first place he attacks."
"I see."
Just then, there was a commotion outside. We went out to check the cause of the disturbance. Boromir's younger brother, Faramir, was seen running in haste.
"Faramir!"
When Boromir called him, Faramir spotted him, approached, and embraced him.
"Brother, you're back."
"Yes, I arrived yesterday. What on earth happened?"
"A large number of Orcs have launched a surprise attack on Osgiliath. We couldn't stop them."
"What!!!???"
Boromir seemed incredibly shocked by Faramir's words. 'Osgiliath' was the old capital of the Kingdom of Gondor and had become the front line for Gondor after Minas Morgul fell into enemy hands.
The great Anduin River flows through the center of Osgiliath. The Orcs controlled the east bank and Gondor controlled the west, making it a place of constant small-scale battles. Though it was in ruins, it offered many places to hide, and since Minas Tirith was right across from it, it was strategically vital for both Gondor and Mordor.
"First, I must report to Father."
We hurried to the Great Hall. Faramir informed Denethor of the surprise attack by the Orc army. Denethor grew furious and shouted at Faramir.
"Pathetic boy! To lose such a vital point that your brother held for so long so easily! Retake it at once! That is an order!"
Then Boromir stepped forward to defend Faramir.
"Father, are you telling my brother to go and die now? A massive army of Orcs has crossed over. They are clearly intending to occupy Osgiliath as an outpost to strike Minas Tirith. Countless enemies must already be encamped and waiting in Osgiliath."
Gandalf also stepped forward and said.
"Steward!! This is madness!"
"The wizard should stay out of family matters!"
Denethor grew angry with Gandalf. Then Grima, who was standing nearby, whispered something into Denethor's ear once again.
"I would like the wizard to leave now. The conversation was pleasant."
"Hmph..."
Gandalf had no choice but to head out, and I followed him. Inside the Great Hall, raised voices could be heard as Boromir tried to persuade Denethor to no avail.
"This is a disaster... with war right around the corner."
"Haha, humans are indeed interesting, aren't they?"
As I spoke with a laugh, Gandalf frowned.
"This is not the time for such jokes!"
As we waited outside, Boromir and Faramir emerged from the hall. Boromir grabbed Faramir, trying to stop him somehow.
"Faramir, you'll die if you go there! Father is making a mistake."
"Brother... it is Father's order. I have no choice."
Gandalf also approached Faramir and tried to dissuade him.
"Faramir, your father's request is too much. Do not throw your life away recklessly."
I also chimed in.
"The fact that the enemies have launched a full-scale assault on Osgiliath means they intend to strike Minas Tirith soon. If you waste your forces here, it will only hasten the defeat of Minas Tirith."
Boromir agreed with my words and said.
"He's right, this is not a matter of pride! If we expend our strength here, Minas Tirith will not be able to stop the enemy and will fall."
"Then, I shall go alone."
Boromir was greatly taken aback by Faramir's words.
"What?! Why on earth are you doing this?"
"It is because that is what Father wants."
This guy was truly stubborn. Since Boromir monopolized their father's love, Faramir was someone with a desperate desire to be recognized by his father, even at the cost of his own life.
Faramir put on his armor and came out on horseback. Seeing this, Gandalf spoke.
"Your father loves you."
"I'm not so sure about that..."
After saying that, Faramir gave Gandalf news of Frodo and Sam.
"A few days ago, I met some Hobbits. They said their names were Frodo and Sam."
"Is that true? Where did they go?"
"Guided by Gollum, the Hobbits went toward 'Minas Morgul.' They said they would take the mountain path from there."
"Could it be they went toward 'Cirith Ungol'?"
"Yes. I tried to stop them, but they said it was the only way into Mordor, so they had no choice."
Gandalf sighed and said.
"Sigh... that must be their destiny as well. I hope they are safe..."
Just then, Boromir also appeared on horseback, wearing his armor. Faramir seemed quite surprised to see him.
"Brother, there's no need for you to do this too."
At those words, Boromir patted Faramir's shoulder and spoke.
"I cannot let you go alone. Let's go together."
Boromir returned the shield and sword to me.
"Cassian, thank you for letting me use the weapons. And..."
He handed his horn to Gandalf.
"This is the heirloom of our House of Hurin. If I do not return, please give it to my father."
"Why are even you doing this?"
Boromir smiled at Gandalf's words. It seemed this guy had resolved to die.
"It is because I cannot send my younger brother alone."
Gandalf could no longer stop them and merely watched them go with a heavy heart.
The brothers rode slowly down toward the city entrance. Hearing that both brothers were going to Osgiliath, the citizens of Minas Tirith came out and spread flowers on the ground. Thus, the two brothers rode over the flowers laid by the citizens, passed through the gate, raised the banner of Gondor, and began to gallop toward Osgiliath.
Naturally, the Orcs stationed in Osgiliath were not about to leave them be. Once they were within range, arrows fired by the Orcs rained down on them like rain. The two brothers tried to deflect the arrows with their swords, but unlike the original story, they were only two, and because the arrows were focused on them, they couldn't deflect them all. Arrows began to strike their bodies. Faramir lost consciousness and fell from his horse, while Boromir died on his horse with his sword still in hand.
Then the Orcs, for some reason, sent the two of them back toward Minas Tirith. It seemed they did so to spread terror in the city. Since one horse had died from too many arrows, both men were strapped to the remaining horse and sent back. Boromir had been hit by so many arrows that his face was hard to recognize, and Faramir, perhaps because he had fallen from his horse, had not been hit as severely as Boromir.
Hoping Faramir might still be alive, I checked, but unlike the original story, both were dead. Upon hearing the news, Denethor hurried out, embraced his two sons, and wailed. It was hard to understand why he was acting this way after sending them himself.
'I feel like smacking him on the back of the head.'
While I was thinking this, Gandalf handed the horn to Denethor.
"Your son, Boromir, asked that this be given to you."
With trembling hands, Denethor took the horn from Gandalf and wailed once more.
"Get a hold of yourself! War is right upon us. Are you intending to lose not just your sons but Minas Tirith as well?"
It seemed Gandalf's words did not reach him; Denethor merely sat there, embracing his two sons and weeping.
"This is driving me crazy... come with me for a moment."
Gandalf said that to me and went somewhere, so I followed. The place Gandalf went to was a beacon with stacked firewood inside a small stone structure on a cliff. The building was made of stone and open on all sides so that if the wood were lit, it would be clearly visible from anywhere. The beacon was guarded by soldiers, so it seemed difficult to enter.
"Do you see that? That is the beacon of Amon Din. It was made for Rohan and Gondor to notify each other when they are under attack. It seems too late to try and persuade anyone, so please use some fire magic on it."
"Hmm? Can't you do it yourself?"
"The thing is... I could do it, but it would be too conspicuous."
"Good grief, you should practice a bit."
I immediately snapped my fingers. The beacon burst into flames. The soldiers became flustered as the beacon suddenly caught fire. Regardless of the commotion here, looking at the distant peaks of the White Mountains, a light could be seen appearing, indicating that the request for aid was being relayed well. Seeing that, Gandalf also smiled and spoke.
"I hope it's not too late..."