Frodo and Sam greedily ate the food set before them: bread and butter, wine, cheese, dried fruits, salted meats, served with clean utensils and plates. They ate three helpings each. After eating they went to the back of the cave to sit down and speak with Faramir. Faramir asked for more details of Boromir, Mithrandir, and Lothlorien. Frodo told him many tales always steering clear of the Ring and the Fellowship's purpose. Frodo asked Faramir for news of Gondor. Faramir told of his people's history how they were descended from the Númenoreans and how by believing falsely that Sauron was defeated their watch on the Black Lands became apathetic. He gave interesting insight on his people: "'Death was ever present, because the Númenoreans still, as they had in their old Kingdom, and so lost it, hungered after endless life unchanging. Kings made tombs more splendid than houses of the living, and counted old names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing heraldry; in secret chambers withered men compounded strong elixirs, or in high cold towers asked questions of the stars. And the last king of the line of Anarion had no heir'" (p. 286, The Two Towers).
The faithful Men, Edain, who had stood against Melkor long ago were given Númenor, the Land of the Gift, reward from the Valar for their valor. They were granted longer life, up to 400 years, but not immortality as the Elves had been given. The beginning of the Downfall of Númenor was Men's desire for everlasting life. Faramir told of the line of Stewards and how in the days of Cirion, the Twelfth Steward, the peoples of the North, now known as the Rohirrim, came to Gondor's aid at the Field of Celebrant. An alliance was made and Rohan was given to the horse-lords. "And we love them: tall men and fair women, valiant both alike, golden-haired, bright-eyed, and strong; they remind us of the youth of Men, as they were in the Eldar Days. Indeed it is said by our lore-masters that they have from of old this affinity with us that they are come from those same Three Houses of men as were the Númenoreans in their beginning; not from Hador the Goldenhaired, the Elf-friend, maybe, yet from such of his sons and people as went not over Sea into the West, refusing the call'" (p. 287, The Two Towers). Lots of good historical bits there!
Faramir went on: "'For so we reckon Men in our lore, calling them the High, or Men of the West, which were Númenoreans; and the Middle Peoples, Men of the Twilight, such as are the Rohirrim and their kin that dwell still far in the North; and the Wild, the Men of Darkness'" (p. 286, The Two Towers). Faramir wonder allowed if the Men of Gondor could still be reckoned the High in these latter days and he was silent. After a while Sam finally spoke noting that Faramir did not mention Elves in all his tales; and yet Sam also thought Faramir spoke of Elves with reverence which helped ease Sam's doubts about him. Faramir admitted that he knew little of Elves for while they had once fought together in great wars and the Númenorean's lived within sight of Elvenhome, they had now become estranged in the Third Age. So much so that most spoke of Elves, particularly Lothlorien, with dread but Faramir admitted he envied Sam and Frodo for being able to speak with the White Lady.
This sent Sam a speaking. "'Beautiful she is sir! Lovely! Sometimes like a great tree in flower, sometimes like a white daffadowndilly, small and slender like. Hard as di'monds, soft as moonlight. Warm as sunlight, cold as frost in the stars. Proud and far-off as a snow-mountain, and merry as any lass I ever saw with daisies in her hair in springtime. But that's a lot o'nonsense, and all wide my mark'" (p. 288, The Two Towers). Actually, Sam, I think that's a pretty good descriptor! He went to tell Faramir that if any brought peril into Lothlorien and Galadriel's presence they were likely to be dashed as a ship upon rocks and he started to tell about Boromir. Sam realized he was then in the presence of Boromir's brother but Faramir urged him to continue for he was curious what peril led to Boromir's death. Sam was now completely comfortable and as he spoke he revealed that Boromir had wanted to take the Enemy's Ring from Frodo. Frodo who was lost in his own thoughts started at this revelation.
Sam tried to recover. "'Now look here, sir!' He turned, facing up to Faramir with all the courage he could muster. 'Don't you go taking advantage of my master because his servant's no better than a fool. You've spoken very handsome all along, put me off my guard, talking of Elves and all. But handsome is as handsome does we say. Now's a chance to show your quality'" (p. 289, The Two Towers). Faramir had a strange smile as all the pieces fell into place for him. "'...here in the wild I have you: two halflings, and a host of men at my call, and the Ring of Rings. A pretty stroke of fortune! A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality! Ha!' He stood up, very tall, and stern, his eyes glinting" (p. 289, The Two Towers). The pull of the Ring on Faramir did not last long, if at all, and he sat down quickly. Indeed, he saw the trial of Boromir for his brother desired glory and victory but those were not the desires of Faramir's heart.
"'...you are less judges of Men than I of Halflings. We are truth-speakers, we men of Gondor. We boast seldom, and then perform, or die in the attempt. Not if I found it on the highway would I take it I said. Even if I were such a man as to desire this thing, and even though I knew now clearly what this thing was when I spoke, still I should take those words as a vow, and be held by them'" (p. 289, The Two Towers). Faramir is a great character. He keeps his oath even if it hurts. I love the line about being truth-speakers. I may use that with my son as a call to manhood in our household. Good stuff. Faramir put Frodo and Sam at ease but also warned them to not mention the Ring in his presence again. "'I do not wish to see it, or touch it, or know more of it than I know (which is enough), lest peril perchance waylay me and I fall lower in the test than Frodo son of Drogo'" (p. 290, The Two Towers). Faramir then bid the hobbits to sleep in peace after one more question.
Faramir wished to know where Frodo was headed. Frodo was now exhausted and the initial fear that his captor would take the Ring had faded. He told Faramir his errand: to find a way into Mordor and cast the Ring into the fire of Mount Doom. Faramir found himself in a shocked silence while Frodo swooned from exhaustion. Faramir scooped up the hobbit and set him in a bed that had been prepared. "Sam hesitated for a moment, then bowing very low: 'Good night, Captain, my lord,' he said. 'You took the chance, sir.' 'Did I so?' said Faramir. 'Yes sir, and showed your quality: the very highest'" (p. 290-291, The Two Towers).
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 7th
Today's reading comes from: The Two Towers, pages 285-291
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