Faramir, Captain of Gondor

After enjoying the delicious stew Sam began to clean his cooking gear. He looked up the hill and could see wisps of smoke climbing into the sky--apparently his cooking fire had gotten out of hand. He ran up the hill berating himself and heard what he thought was a whistle, or perhaps it was a bird? He stomped out the fire and asked Frodo if he had heard the sounds but it was too late; they heard voices approach. Nearer they came until men appeared at their campsite. The men plunged through the ferns and with nowhere to run Frodo and Sam drew their swords and stood back to back.

The men were quite surprised. They had thought to find Orcs but were not sure what they had found. The men reminded Frodo of Boromir in likeness and speech. Sam demanded to know who they were and their leader spoke: "'I am Faramir, Captain of Gondor,' he said" (p. 265, The Two Towers). Faramir wanted to know who the hobbits were for he did not think them merely travelers in the wild. Particularly the third member of their party meaning Gollum. Frodo declared Gollum was in his care and he was to be spared and then he spoke somewhat freely to Faramir. He told of his road and his companions. It was the two men that Frodo travelled with, Boromir and Aragorn, that caught Faramir's attention.

Faramir wanted to know what they had to do with Boromir the Captain-General of Gondor who was now sorely missed. Frodo hinted at the riddle that sent Boromir to Rivendell which was well known to Faramir and vouched, to a degree, the truthfulness of Frodo's story. Frodo said that Aragorn was the wielder of the Sword that was Broken and that he and Sam were the Halflings in the riddle. "'That I see,' said Faramir thoughtfully. 'Or I see that it might be so. And what is Isildur's Bane?' 'That is hidden,' answered Frodo. 'Doubtless it will be made clear in time'" (p. 266, The Two Towers). Faramir seemed pressed for time and set Frodo and Sam under guard while he was away. He wished to speak more with them. As he departed Frodo assured him that he and Sam were friends of anyone who opposed the One Enemy.

The guards spoke to one another in their tongue and Frodo was surprised that he could understand it. It was an Elvish strand of speech. Frodo realized that these men must be descendants of the Dúnedain of the South. He began to speak in their tongue learning their names: Mablung and Damrod. They spoke highly of Faramir and his leadership, how they had originally lived in Ithilien and it was men like them that Denethor sent on forays behind enemy lines. Their errand that day was to intercept and harass incoming allies of Sauron: the Harad of the South. Indeed, Damrod felt it was only a matter of time before Sauron's strength was too great and Minis Tirith would fall. "'But still we will not sit idle and let Him do all as He would,' said Mablung" (p. 268, The Two Towers). I love that call to action; do what is right no matter the cost or perceived odds. More men of honor. After discussion died down Frodo and Sam rested with Sam's last thoughts on Gollum before he fell asleep.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, March 7th, 3019
Today's reading comes from: The Two Towers, pages 264-268