It was the second day without a dawn; the sky was clouded over in a stream of darkness. It came from the East, with the clear and successful purpose of spreading despair.
Some of the men around him feared the City's strength would fail this day, yet Beregond and his Company would have no part in the main defense of Minas Tirith. It was the duty of the Tower Guard to maintain the fortifications of the Citadel, the seventh and highest tier of the City, to obey Lord Denethor's will. Beregond was only present at the wall with Mithrandir and Master Peregrin to watch the departure of Faramir and his men for Osgiliath the day before, and would return to the Citadel to await orders. Though he did not wish to gainsay his master's command, Beregond could not help the disturbance he felt at Faramir being set to this nearly impossible task. It was as if he willingly went to his death; such was the general concern at the sight of his sortie in the distance the day before.
"If he wins back at all across the Pelennor, his enemies will be on his heels," spoke one messenger during his report. "They have paid dear for the crossing, but less dear than we hoped. The plan has been well laid. It is now seen that in secret they have long been floats and barges in great number at East Osgiliath. They swarmed across like bees. But it is the Black Captain that defeats us. Few will stand and abide even the rumor of his coming. His own folk quail at him, and they would slay themselves at his bidding."
The rumors of his coming have spread indeed, Beregond thought, watching as Osgiliath was razed and crumbled along the Anduin on the other side of the Fields. This Shadow has a heavy weight to it. All those present could feel it in the air around them. Minas Tirith was trapped between Mindolluin and the River, with no sign of aid from the Rohirrim. Gondor was on her own as the last defense of Middle-earth, and Beregond knew the power of the Enemy would soon be shown in full force. In the back of his mind, he felt he had a small part to play yet in the coming days.
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The Guard's Choice
FantasyThe choice of Beregond, Captain of the Third Company of the White Tower, is much overlooked. His judgment is the King Elessar's first ruling of many. In the dark days of the Siege of Gondor, Beregond must endure a war of his own, between head and he...
