To Capture the Heart of a Warrior

Chapter twenty-two: The Dead Man’s Tale





In a roomy chamber of black and white marble was a large round table covered with a velvet cloth embossed with the White Tree. This was the room used by the Council of Gondor. Underneath the table and hidden by the cloth sat two hobbits. They were hiding because they weren’t supposed to be there, and they weren’t supposed to be there because a council had been called to discuss who would be the standing Steward of Gondor and the future prince of Ithilien. With the return of Boromir, these issues must be decided, and decided by those directly involved as well as the wise.

Merry and Pippin weren’t included in this council, which is why they were hiding. The pair wanted to hear what was to be discussed and decided about their favorite Man. They settled in under the table, trying to get comfortable because they didn’t know how long this council would last.

“You’re quite sure this is the right room?” asked Merry.

“Aye, it is. Boromir told me so.” answered Pippin.

“You’re sure you can keep quiet? Even if someone says something you don’t like?”

“Aye, I can, don’t worry so, Merry. My only concern is, can you?”

“Yes, certainly. Ssh! Is that them?”

The door creaked open, and from beneath the table they could see a number of pairs of feet as Men filed in. Unmistakable among them could be seen Gandalf’s white robe. Chairs were pulled out; seats were taken and the council soon commenced.

There was a great deal of official-sounding and staggeringly boring opening remarks, then Aragorn spoke. “Before we can begin to make a decision we must first hear Boromir’s story. Boromir, would you be so kind?”

“Certainly.” Boromir said. “Where shall I begin?”

“For my part,” Gandalf said, “I should like an account of what happened at Parth Galen.”

There was a bit of silence. Apparently this was a difficult thing to account for Boromir, for Merry and Pippin heard him sigh as if with a heavy heart.

“I feared it might be thus,” Boromir began, “and so it is. Very well, then, let me begin. But let me first speak of when the trouble began. I was charged by my father to bring the One Ring to Gondor, but at the Council of Elrond, I learned much of this thing I did not know. Once we had left Imladris I learned much more, and by the time we had gotten only as far as Hollin, I had made up my mind; my father was wrong. I meant to see Frodo accomplish his goal.

And then there was Pippin. Aye, indeed you may look askance! My preoccupation in this regard consumed much of my thought, driving out the temptation of the One. But the closer we came to Mordor, the louder and more clear the call of the One became, and it was as if a stranger had come to live in my mind. By the time we came to Lothlorien it was a battle already, but still one I thought I could win. But when the Lady spoke in my mind, it was quite a shock to me. I felt my soul had been laid bare, and I was afraid. I had not known such powers existed, and the stranger in my mind knew this, and played upon my fears and they began to devour all my strength of heart, and I became weak. Aye, weak, that thing I most despise.

Yet even in my weakness, or perhaps because of it, a great gift was given me, a gift of magical protection, though I did not then know it. It was given me by Pippin, and when it happened, I heard the voice of the Lady, and she it was that told me to hold fast to my heart and my dreams.”

“And how was this done?” This was Faramir; Merry and Pippin knew his voice well.

“That, little brother, is none of your business.” Boromir said, a jovial note in his voice. Merry and Pippin heard laughter and recognized the laughter of Gandalf and Aragorn right away. “I was not sure exactly what the Lady meant, but I trusted in her words, and more than this, I trusted in Pippin’s magic, for I had experience of it many times by then. But after that, Pippin’s magic lay sleeping inside me. This distressed him greatly, for he was unaware of what had happened. Gandalf had told me he would enchant without meaning to or knowing he had, and then I knew he had been correct.

But the stranger in my mind was still there, still grinding away my will and my strength. By the time we arrived at Parth Galen, I could barely sleep, and my thoughts were dark and sorrowing. There were hours on end that I do not even now remember. I know now that this was the One doing this. Its will had come to roost upon my heart like a carrion crow, and feed upon my every thought.

So when I came upon Frodo in the woods of Parth Galen, I cannot recall all the events, or even much that I said or thought. It seems to me now that I had attacked Frodo, and only when he kicked me did I come to my senses, and I was horrified and ashamed, and I called out to him to forgive me, but it was too late. Already he had fled. I fell weeping on the forest floor, for how long I do not know. I was filled with horror and remorse that I could have done such a ill deed. I did not know what to do. I had dishonored my country and myself as well as betrayed the trust of the kin of my most beloved and the entire Fellowship.

And then came the Uruk Hai, and I saw Merry and Pippin were in danger. How they fought! As brave and determined as any I have seen, but they were only small and greatly outnumbered. I was filled with rage, and fought as hard as I could, yet it was not enough. Had I but had my shield, I might have slain many more, but it was not to be. I know now that this was all meant to happen, that the Fellowship had to break in order for Frodo to do what he must, but at that time I knew this not. As I fell filled with arrows, I saw them being borne away. It was a horrible thing to see as I lay dying. And then Aragorn came to me, and we spoke, as you all well know, and then I remembered no more until I found myself quite awake and aware in the Realm of Fae.

There I dwelt for a time, and I met the Fae, themselves. They told me much of the evil that grew in Mordor, and how they had decided to help by causing Pippin to desire to join the Fellowship, for he is their emissary to our own realm, being partly of the Fae himself. They are a small people, smaller even than halflings, and quite beautiful. From them Pippin inherited his slight build and green eyes.

I told them of my fear that Pippin might fall into despair, and so they helped me to send my spirit to that poor wretch, Artamir. He could see me and hear me only because he was so near death. But before I could tell him all I needed to tell him, he was taken from the dungeons for dead and cast down upon the soldiers in the manner of the orcs throwing the heads of dead over the walls of Minas Tirith. I needed to send word to Pippin of where my body lay, for the Fae had told me where it was, and I needed to tell Pippin how to call back his magic and so wake me from death, but alas, I never got the chance. I fell into despair, myself, but I was helpless. I feared I would be forever trapped in the realm of Fae. As beautiful and wondrous as it is, I wanted nothing so much as I wanted to come home, home to my family, to my city and to my beloved.

As for the purpose of the council, I can make it more brief by telling you all here and now that my rights to Stewardship are forfeit yet. Man I am and Man I shall ever be, but I tell you now that I am that yet more than that. The magic of the Fae is within me yet. In my message to Faramir I said I was changed, that I was a different Man, and so I am. I dared not write of it for fear that the Enemy might somehow find it, and finding it, seek Pippin out, and that I could not and would not risk. Even were it not so, my rights would still be forfeit, for I will not give up him that I so love, and whose love preserved my life and my very soul. Be it right or be it wrong, we belong together. I love him, and there it is and there it shall remain. All that I need to know now is this: are there any more deliberations or questions to be asked?”

There was a long silence. In Pippin’s mind, he could see the members of the council regard each other, searching for any that might have a question or an issue. After a bit, Aragorn finally spoke once more. “This council is convened. Boromir has spoken. Faramir shall remain the standing Steward. I have but one more thing to say.”

“And what would that be?” Gandalf asked.

“That Merry and Pippin come out from under the table. Little spies, I charge you, come out! You forget I am a ranger. I’ve heard you breathing since I set foot in this room.”

To Be Continued