The Choice For Middle-Earth

[Elentari]

Author


Nurumaiel

Bronze Member

Posts : 20
Reg : 03/15/2003





Date Posted: 16/03/2003 9:34 PM


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Hello everyone,
This is a story I wrote about Faramir, from the movie. This how I saw him thinking through my eyes. It's not yet complete; this is a rough draft. Critcism is appreciated, but only for the story, not for how I saw him. Enjoy.

THE CHOICE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH
By Nurumaiel Firithbor

Had it all been a dream? Faramir, Captain of Gondor, sat up late in the night, pondering what he had seen four days ago. Could his brother truly be dead? Yes, it was so. And my father will grieve, thought Faramir. In his own heart there was pain. Now I must try to be Boromir for my father.

He sighed and stood. He would sleep now. He would try to be a worthy son, to make up for Boromir's death. He would try
to be Boromir.

* * *

Faramir stood watching in satisfaction as the arrows flew from the shrubbery, and the Easterlings panicked. Many of the arrows hit their mark and Easterlings fell, never to stand again. It was then that he heard the voices.

"It's an Oliphant! No one at home will believe this."

Faramir saw two figures crouched higher up, watching the battle. A third figure was creeping away. Faramir called one of his men and pointed upwards. A nod showed that all was understood. The man quietly approached the two figures.

"We've lingered here for too long. C'mon Sam!" said one of the two, and turned to run away. But he was not looking where he was going and ran right into one of Faramir's men, who seized him. Another of Faramir's men jumped forward and held the other.

Faramir stepped forward, looking at them sternly. What were they doing here? Were they spies? Should he let them go? No, that would be much too risky. Perhaps they were spies. They would be questioned first. "Bind their hands," said Faramir in a voice to match his expression, and his command was obeyed.

* * *

Faramir and Parn, one of his men, looked at a map spread out before them. "What news?" Faramir asked. Is there any news? he wondered. Or is the death of my brother all that has happened in these dark days? He thought of the prisoners.
Parn began to speak, his finger running over the map and pointing out each place he was talking about.

"Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Théoden's people have fled to Helm's Deep. But we must look to our own borders." He turned to look at the Captain. "Faramir, Orcs are on the move. Sauron is marshalling an army. Easterlings and Southrons are passing through the Black Gate."

"How many?" asked Faramir.

"Some thousands. More come every day," Parn replied.

"Who's covering the river to the north?"

"We pulled five hundred men out of Osgiliath, but if the city is attacked, we won't hold it."

Faramir's expression was tight. Was there no hope? "Saruman attacks from Isengard. Sauron from Mordor," he said. "The fight will come to men on both fronts. Gondor is weak. Sauron will strike us soon. And he will strike hard. He knows now we do not have the strength to repel him."

He turned to where the prisoners' eyes were being unbound. He stepped forward to speak with them. Now was the time to question them. He did not wish to think of the doom that seemed to be drawing ever closer. And perhaps they would have some information that would help his people.

"My men tell me that you are Orc spies," he said, not wishing to begin by asking them a direct question. This, however, would draw an answer.

"Spies!" the light-haired one said. "Now wait just a minute."

"Well if you're not spies, then who are you?" Faramir demanded. Now was the time to ask questions. They had answered once, and they would most likely do so again.
Yet they did not. They remained silent, both of them, and made no sign of answering. Faramir was patient, but he wished for the prisoners to think him the opposite. It would not do for them to think they could fool him, to think they could remain stubbornly silent and he would do nothing about it.

"Speak!" said Faramir sharply.

The other of the two spoke. "We are hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name and this is Samwise Gamgee."

"Your bodyguard?"

"His gardener," was the humble reply by the one by the name of Samwise.

This amused Faramir, but he did not show it. He would remain stern, and make them answer the questions put to them.
It was then that Faramir remembered the creature he had seen sneaking away. "And where is your skulking friend?" he demanded. "That gangrel creature. He had an ill-favored look."

Frodo started at this, yet he replied, "There was no other."

Faramir's eyes narrowed. He could see that the prisoner was lying, and that made him angry, knowing that the prisoners thought they could deceive him. Yet he did not say anything. They would regret those words later. They would be found out.

Frodo continued.

"We set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost in Moria. Two were my kin. A dwarf there was also. And an elf, and two men. Aragorn, son of Arathorn and Boromir of Gondor."

Faramir was shocked. They knew Boromir? He did not let them see his surprise and shock. Instead, he said aloud the question that had raced through his mind. "You were friend of Boromir?"

[Elentari]

There was a pause, but then Frodo said, "Yes, for my part."
"It would grieve you then to learn that he is dead?" said Faramir. He spoke indifferently, not letting the prisoners know that he felt terrible grief at this piece of news that had come to him a few days ago. His words had the effect he knew they would have.

"Dead? How? When?"

"As one of his companions, I had hoped you would tell me," said Faramir. He did hope for it. He was not trying to fool the prisoners. An expression of sadness crossed his face. "He was my brother."

* * *

It was the dead of night. Faramir sat as Lorne approached him, knowing what he was going to say before he said it.
"Captain Faramir," said Lorne in a loud voice, and then leaned down to whisper in his ear, "We found it."
It… the creature.

Faramir stood. They had been lying. He had proof now. He and two of his men went to where the prisoners were sleeping. Frodo opened his eyes and looked up at them, and Faramir said in a stern and commanding voice, "You must come with me. Now."

He led Frodo outside. They stood far above the pool. Faramir turned to Frodo and said in a quiet voice, "Down there."
Frodo looked, and saw the creature, splashing around in the pool. He turned back to Faramir. "To enter the Forbidden Pool bears the penalty of death." He allowed Frodo to see the archers, with their bowstrings pulled back, fixed on the creature below. "They wait for my command. Shall they shoot?" Faramir slowly raised his hand, watching Frodo the whole while.

"Wait."

Faramir paused, and looked down at Frodo, putting a surprised expression on his face. He knew Frodo had been lying, but he wished to make the prisoner feel more guilt. He would feel that if he believed he had been caught afterwards, not that he had been discovered while he spoke the words.

"This creature is bound to me," said Frodo. "And I to him. He is our guide. Please, let me go down to him."

Faramir hesitated, then nodded. He would put his trust in the prisoner.

A few minutes later Frodo was leading the creature to where Faramir and his men were waiting. As soon as they were close enough, Faramir's men pounced onto the creature, who began to scream.

"Don't hurt him!" Frodo said. "Sméagol don't struggle! Sméagol listen to me!"

"Master!" Sméagol cried.

A sack was flung over the creature's head, and they were brought away.

* * *

Sméagol was flung to the ground and the sack taken off his head. He scrambled away from the men fearfully, crouching in a corner. Faramir turned to him. "Where are you leading them? Answer me!" he said sharply.

"Sméagol... Why do you cry, Sméagol?" the creature said. Faramir looked down at him in surprise. It continued. "Cruel men hurts us. Master tricksed us… Of course he did. I told you he was tricksy. I told you he was false… Master is our friend... our friend…. Master betrayed ussss!"

Faramir looked at the creature in half horror, half pity. Frodo betrayed it. But that was my doing.

"No, not its business. Leave us alone," the creature whimpered. "Filthy little hobbitsesss! They stole it from usss!… No… no…"

"What did they steal?" Faramir asked, feeling even more horror when his words came out stern. He did not wish to do great harm to this creature, though he felt a strange loathing towards it. He felt pity, as well.

The creature turned to face him for the first time, and shouted, "My Precious!"

* * *

Faramir pushed open the door to the 'prison room' and drew his sword. He walked slowly towards Frodo, saying softly as he came, "So... This is the answer to all the riddles. Here in the wild I have you. Two halflings and a host of men at my call." He had reached Frodo. He hooked his sword onto a chain around the hobbit's neck and lifted it up. Hanging from the chain was a gold ring. "And the Ring of power within my grasp," he continued. "A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality."

There they stood for a few moments, and then Frodo pulled away with a cry of, "No!" He walked to a corner and huddled there. Samwise stepped in front of him.

"Stop it!" he cried. "Leave him alone! Don't you understand? He's got to destroy it. That's where we're going. To Mordor. To the Mountain of Fire."

Faramir was surprised. What am I doing? he moaned silently. I do not wish to harm the prisoners. There are trustworthy. How is it that I do not believe them? What is this strange power holding me?

Just then Malamir entered and said softly to Faramir, "Osgiliath is under attack. They call for reinforcements."

Faramir turned to him, doubt in his eyes, but he was thinking. Osgiliath could be saved, if…

"Please. It's such a burden. Will you not help him?" Samwise pleaded, tears in his eyes.

Faramir was moved. He wanted to help this halfling. But something came over him just then. What would Boromir have done? he questioned himself, and the answer came quickly. He would have tried to please his father. He would have obeyed the laws…

"Captain?" said Malamir.

"Prepare to leave. The Ring will go to Gondor," said Faramir, and turned to go. How could he have said that? It was too late now. He could not turn back. But he had to! "Wait," he said quietly. Malamir stopped and looked at him questioningly. Faramir struggled with himself. He tried to shove all thoughts of his father, the laws of his country, everything that tempted him to take the prisoners to Gondor out of his mind, but at last he said, "Nothing." I'm not wrong, Faramir thought desperately. I have made the right choice. I have made the right choice, I have. But he knew that his choice had been wrong.

* * *

They stood above Osgiliath, the captives with them. "Look," said Parn. "Osgiliath burns. Mordor has come."

"The Ring will not save Gondor," said Frodo fiercely. "It has only the power to destroy. Please, let me go!" The last words were cried desperately.

Faramir looked at Frodo, and for a moment he considered giving the order to release them. They were not spies; they would do no harm to his people. He speaks to me as if I were a person, not his cruel captor. I have to let them go, I have to! His father, the laws, Boromir… once again, those thoughts made him choose wrongly. "Hurry," he said, though everything inside him was screaming not to say it, and they went on.

"Faramir, you must let me go!" Frodo cried. Faramir felt as though he was being torn in two, but still they went on.

* * *

"Faramir, Orcs have taken the eastern shore," Parn said. "Their numbers are too great. By nightfall we'll be overrun."

They were at Osgiliath. Faramir looked at the captives, who had been speaking quietly to each other. What would Boromir have done? something screamed in his mind.

"Take them to my father," he said. "Tell him Faramir sends a mighty gift. A weapon that will change our fortunes in this war."

"You wanna know what happened to Boromir?" Samwise shouted. "You wanna know why your brother died? He tried to take the Ring from Frodo. After swearing an oath to protect him, he tried to kill him! The Ring drove your brother mad!"

The words pierced Faramir like an arrow. He grew stern. That was not what he wanted to hear. Not now. He had wished to know what had happened to his brother, but now that he knew, he was angry. The prisoners were speaking to each other now. Samwise is right. He does speak true, whether I wish to hear it or not. He does not know it, but he speaks of my own future… what is becoming of me. Can I not break the spell that holds me?

Just then he heard Frodo murmur beside him, "They're here. They've come."

[Elentari]

A loud shriek rung out almost as soon as Frodo had finished speaking. "Nazgûl!" Faramir cried. He turned to the hobbits and led them out of sight. "Stay here. Keep out of sight," he ordered. "Take cover!" he cried to the rest of his men.
Faramir watched the Nazgûl on its terrible steed fly over Osgiliath. And then he saw Frodo.

The hobbit was standing on the wall, holding the Ring up, as the Nazgûl tried to make its steed land. Now all is lost, Faramir thought in terror, for what reason he did not know. But he did know that it was his people that were lost when the words went through his mind. It was all of Middle-earth. He pulled out his bow and drew an arrow, shooting at the Nazgûl. It hit its steed.

Samwise was suddenly behind Frodo, grabbing him and pulling him back down the stairs. Faramir stepped forward, and then saw something that moved him, and brought him to see the truth.

Frodo drew his sword and pointed it at Sam. For a moment it seemed that he would take his servant's life. Tears streaming down his face, Sam said, "It's me. It's your Sam. Don't you know your Sam?"

His Sam. They truly care for each other. They aren't master and servant… they're best friends. It is my fault Frodo has done what he did to his best friend.

The anger in Frodo face turned to horror and he staggered back, leaning against the wall and sliding down to a sitting position. He sat there silently, and then said wearily, "I can't do this, Sam."

"I know," said Sam passionately and tearfully. "It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are."
Because of me.

Sam turned and looked over the ruins of Osgiliath, leaning against the wall. "It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy?"

How can the end be happy when I do what I am doing? Faramir thought bitterly.

"How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened. But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer."
The clearer. Can the sun still shine when Boromir, my brother, is dead?

"Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. Because they were holding on to something."

"What are we holding on to, Sam?" Frodo asked.

"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for."

And then it hit Faramir. He realized what he had done, and how he had acted. It is my choice now, he thought. I must choose the fate of these halflings, and their fate will tie with the fate of the world. Now I must make this story mean something. He stepped forward and knelt before Frodo, opening his mouth to speak. Then he stopped. The words he wished to say would not come. Instead he only said, "I think at last we understand one another, Frodo Baggins."

Manathor saw his Captain turning. He felt he must do something to stop him. "You know the laws of our country," he said sternly. "The laws of your father. If you let them go, your life will be forfeit."

What would Boromir have done? Once again, the thought raced through Faramir's head. But then he stood, tall and proud, turning to Manathor, and thought, No. What would Faramir have done? What will Faramir do?

"Then it is forfeit," he said, his voice and mind clear for the first time. "Release them." He saw the relief on the hobbits' faces, and saw Sam shove the hand of one of the men off his shoulder. Faramir turned.

Boromir, forgive me. I could not please Father. I had to choose to please him, or the halflings. And I chose the halflings. But Faramir did not regret what he had done. He knew that he had chosen rightly. And, if Gondor were to fall, and he fell with it, he would die knowing he had placed hope in the hands of the rest of Middle-earth by releasing the captives.

[Elentari]

Elentari II

The Lily

Posts : 224
Reg : 02/23/2003





Date Posted: 23/03/2003 7:43 AM


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Just curious - may I ask why you decided to do it from the movie, rather than the book?

~ Elentari II




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God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Good News Bible - 1 Cor 1:9

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Nurumaiel

Bronze Member

Posts : 20
Reg : 03/15/2003





Date Posted: 23/03/2003 6:25 PM


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Because I was getting annoyed with how many people were saying Faramir was ruined in the movie, no one could ever deny it or they were true fans of Tolkien, etc., etc., etc. So I decided writing a story would best say how I saw him.

Hope I made sense....


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Journalism largey consists of saying 'Lord Jones is dead' to people who never knew that Lord Jones was alive. -G.K. Chesterton

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Dragoneyes

Dark Dragon

Posts : 144
Reg : 02/22/2003





Date Posted: 23/03/2003 9:10 PM


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It sounds like he wants to know why he isn't like the book Faramir. It's quite lovely, I like doing Lord of the Rings from other points of view.


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The insignificant twit bird
Is very seldom ever heard.
There's never been a pair, I fear.
So how the devil did he get here?

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Elentari II

The Lily

Posts : 224
Reg : 02/23/2003





Date Posted: 23/03/2003 10:21 PM


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Yes, it is good. I like it. But I think I'll just toddle off now, because I don't want to get into a Faramir argument. At least, I don't want to annoy anyone in doing so.

~ Elentari II




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God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good News Bible - 1 Cor 1:9

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Nurumaiel

Bronze Member

Posts : 20
Reg : 03/15/2003





Date Posted: 24/03/2003 5:20 AM


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It sounds like he wants to know why he isn't like the book Faramir.
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Am I really that bad a writer? That's not how it's supposed to be at all! I'm supporting Faramir, not saying how much I hated him. This is how I saw Faramir when I watched the movie. As a good person. As Faramir. This isn't a story I wrote for the purpose of proclaiming to the world how much I hate Faramir.


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Journalism largey consists of saying 'Lord Jones is dead' to people who never knew that Lord Jones was alive. -G.K. Chesterton

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Elentari II

The Lily

Posts : 224
Reg : 02/23/2003





Date Posted: 24/03/2003 6:04 AM


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I think - correct me if I'm wrong, Dragon - that Dragoneyes was referring to me. And did a small typo. Although I could be wrong....

I really like this, because I'm interested in what people thought about the mutil...the change of Faramir's character in the movie. Of course, along with opinions, I like reasons, so I really enjoyed your story.

~ Elentari II




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God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good News Bible - 1 Cor 1:9

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Dragoneyes

Dark Dragon

Posts : 144
Reg : 02/22/2003





Date Posted: 24/03/2003 6:30 PM


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Sorry Elentari, I have no idea what you're talking about.


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The insignificant twit bird
Is very seldom ever heard.
There's never been a pair, I fear.
So how the devil did he get here?

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Anonymous
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Date Posted: 24/03/2003 8:02 PM


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It sounds like he wants to know why he isn't like the book Faramir.



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Ah, well, I probably got things mixed up then. What did you mean, then? I think Nuru understands you, but I'm afraid I don't.

~ Elentari II


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Dragoneyes

Dark Dragon

Posts : 144
Reg : 02/22/2003





Date Posted: 24/03/2003 8:45 PM


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Translation: It sounds like Faramir wants to know why he isn't doing what book-Faramir does.

Sorry, I used too many 'he's. Does that clear it up at all?




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The insignificant twit bird
Is very seldom ever heard.
There's never been a pair, I fear.
So how the devil did he get here?

| Report to admin | Speaking message |

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Anonymous
Guest





Date Posted: 24/03/2003 8:57 PM


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A bit. Thanks.

~ Elentari II


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Dragoneyes

Dark Dragon

Posts : 144
Reg : 02/22/2003





Date Posted: 24/03/2003 9:07 PM


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That will have to do I suppose then.


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The insignificant twit bird
Is very seldom ever heard.
There's never been a pair, I fear.
So how the devil did he get here?

| Report to admin | Speaking message |

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Nurumaiel

Bronze Member

Posts : 20
Reg : 03/15/2003





Date Posted: 30/03/2003 4:12 AM


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Dragon
Much better!

======================
It sounds like Faramir wants to know why he isn't doing what book-Faramir does.
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Much, much better! Exactly..... only not in a way that I didn't like him..... that I saw him as having a difficult time, struggling with his brother's death and his will to please his father who certainly does not have such high regard for him as for Boromir.