Chapter 644 645: Father and Son

"My good child, I heard you were injured. Come here and let your father see…"

In the Great Hall of Gondor, Denethor received his returning eldest son.

Boromir, after a journey of rest, had already removed his bandages. Dressed in clean clothes, he had regained his former heroic demeanor.

"Thank you for your concern, Father. I am fine now." Seeing the loving look in his father's eyes, Boromir was moved and stepped onto the platform, kneeling before his father.

"I have heard of your brave deeds. You're indeed my son, and you have not tarnished the glory of the Denethor family. I am proud of you!" Denethor gently stroked his eldest son's head, praising his bravery.

A moment later, the father's expression turned serious. He looked at his second son below and demanded, "Faramir, you took troops to the border without orders. Do you know your crime?"

The old lion, though aged, still commanded respect.

Denethor's sudden accusation instantly froze the atmosphere in the Great Hall.

This change in attitude caught outsiders like Gandalf and Aragorn off guard.

However, Faramir seemed accustomed to his father's differential treatment. With a somber expression, he explained, "I went to the border to welcome back…"

"Silence! I don't want to hear your sophistry." Denethor rudely interrupted his second son, saying with a hint of anger, "Disobeying orders is disobeying orders. If everyone were like you, how could I manage Gondor?"

"Therefore, I will severely punish you for your mistake. Do you accept it or not?"

At this, even outsiders like Gandalf could feel Denethor's differential treatment of his two sons.

Pippin and Merry, the two Hobbit children who had witnessed Faramir's heroic killing of Orcs, felt it was unfair to him.

Fearless, they immediately prepared to speak up for Faramir.

However, Faramir, knowing his father's temperament, understood that even if someone interceded for him in this situation, it would change nothing.

It might even anger his father.

So, he pulled the two Hobbit children, shook his head slightly, then knelt before his father, bowing his head and saying, "I am willing to accept the punishment!"

In Denethor's eyes, his sunny, handsome, tall, and strong eldest son resembled himself in his youth.

His second son, who loved to read and was deep in thought, made him feel a little wary, and then disgusted.

Due to this mindset, he gradually came to view his second son as an "enemy."

He even wanted to use differential treatment to make his second son the "enemy" of his eldest son.

Perhaps he himself didn't realize that the purpose of his actions was to stir up conflict between his two sons, thereby solidifying his power within Gondor.

As the saying goes: the most ruthless are those in imperial families; power can indeed drive people mad.

Meanwhile, Denethor, sitting on the steps, had been observing his second son's reaction. Seeing him with his head bowed and looking increasingly sullen, he then reproached, "Don't you like leading troops into battle? It just so happens that someone is needed to guard outside the city. You go there then!"

Outside Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, lay the border with Mordor.

Denethor sending his second son out of the city was undoubtedly an attempt to end his life.

This human tragedy unfolding before them made even Gandalf unable to sit still. He interjected, "Your Excellency, Regent, perhaps you should reconsider. The current situation is not suitable for sending troops out of the city."

It was known that Sauron, still had an Orc army. The next war would likely involve those Orcs, who were much stronger than Half-Orcs.

Against an Orc army, Gondor's best course of action was to concentrate its forces and defend using the tall walls of Minas Tirith. Sending troops out of the city for a pitched battle with Orcs would be unwise.

"Wizard Gandalf, do you intend to interfere in the affairs of Gondor?" Denethor was already wary of wizards with mysterious powers, and his eldest son had nearly died participating in the Ringbearer Squad.

All of this could be blamed on Gandalf.

Furthermore, there was a descendant of the Gondor royal family in the Ringbearer Squad, which made Denethor even more displeased with the Ringbearer Squad led by Gandalf.

He had already deliberately neglected the members of the Ringbearer Squad. Now that they had spoken up, it undoubtedly gave the Regent an excuse.

So, with a cold face, he continued, "Due to your unreasonableness, Gondor does not welcome you."

After speaking, he assumed an air of dismissing them.

"We are unreasonable? I think you're unreasonable…"

"Exactly! Faramir clearly killed so many Orcs, you're obviously being biased…"

"…"

A gentleman can be deceived by his integrity. While Gandalf was left speechless by the Regent's retort, Pippin and Merry, who had long disliked the Regent, immediately stepped forward.

They began to list his tyranny and favoritism.

"Guards! Escort them out!"

Facing the accusations of the two Hobbit children, Denethor merely waved his hand in disgust, as if shooing away flies.

Immediately, a squad of fully armed Royal Guards stepped forward and "invited" Pippin and the others, along with Aragorn, out.

"Father…" Seeing Aragorn also being driven out, Boromir, knowing his identity, was about to intercede.

"What, are you also going to defy me?" Denethor calmly looked at his eldest son.

"No, I wouldn't dare…" Although not subjected to violence, intimidated by the long-established authority of his father, Boromir could only give Aragorn and the others an apologetic look in the end.

…

"I'm so angry! That damn Regent is really too biased…"

"And Boromir, we are clearly companions, and you're his blood brother, yet he watched us get driven out and didn't even say a word for us…"

"…"

After being driven out of the Great Hall, Pippin and Merry, feeling unhappy, once again gathered around Faramir and complained.

Yes, Faramir was also driven out with them.

"Hmm—!"

Seeing the two little ones getting more and more out of line, Gandalf couldn't help but clear his throat. He reminded Pippin and Merry that the two people they were complaining about were Faramir's father and his brother.

"I can see that my elder brother is also in a difficult position." Faramir, already accustomed to all this, did not blame his elder brother. Then he looked at Gandalf and the others and said, "I'm sorry, I may not be able to help you this time."

Since he himself had been banished from the city, Faramir naturally couldn't help with the Ringbearer Squad's plans.

"You're really going out of the city? That dog… the Regent didn't even send you any troops!" After the wizard's reminder, Pippin finally learned a little courtesy.

But clearly, not much.

"Where my duty lies, I will complete the task my father has given me." Faramir nodded with a solemn expression, then walked towards his official residence.

Just as Boromir was intimidated by his father's authority, Faramir, although knowing that going out of the city now would be very dangerous, still decided to carry out the task issued by his father.

"It's really infuriating! That Regent, he clearly knows nothing…"

Watching Faramir leave, Pippin, feeling a lump in his throat, once again voiced his indignation for him.

"What do we do next? We can't just watch Faramir go to his death, can we?" Their brief encounter had left Aragorn with a very good impression of Faramir.

Therefore, he could not stand by and watch such an excellent warrior go to his death.

Legolas and Gimli had similar thoughts, so they all looked to the wizard for a decision.

"Since His Excellency the Regent insists, perhaps we should also go outside the city and see…"

After gaining everyone's consent, Gandalf led the group and followed Faramir's footsteps.

More than half an hour later, Faramir, having gathered his private army, led this hundred-man cavalry unit towards the city gate.

Given Faramir's good reputation within Gondor.

Along the way, Gondor citizens spontaneously came to see Faramir off.

"Perhaps His Excellency the Regent was truly mistaken; his second son is no less capable than his eldest…" Watching the harmonious scene between the army and the people, Aragorn couldn't help but feel some resentment towards the Regent.

Both of his sons were so excellent, yet he showed such blatant favoritism.

…

"Reporting, Lord! An Orc army has arrived outside Lonely Mountain. Elven King Thranduil and King Bain of Dale are ready for battle, just awaiting your command." On this day, a messenger rushed into the Lonely Mountain Great Hall.

"Have they finally arrived?" Mike rose from the magnificent throne, stretched, and then said to the two girls beside him, "Come on, let's go and see!"

More than half a month had passed since Mike returned to Lonely Mountain to take charge. During this time, although he spent every day idly enjoying himself with the two increasingly beautiful girls.

But with him in charge, the three factions within the Lonely Mountain region still united as one.

Always waiting for the arrival of the Orc army.

"How are things looking?" When Mike arrived at the Lonely Mountain border with the two girls, Elven King Thranduil and King Bain of Dale had already completed their battle deployments.

"The enemies this time are not very strong. Roughly estimated, there are only over three thousand, among which there are over a hundred Orcs and various mutated Trolls…" Elven King Thranduil said, "Give the order! With this number, my Elves warriors alone can crush them in one fell swoop!"

The Elven King, who would need to lead his people in a great migration after the battle, was already a bit eager due to the time constraint.

That strong fighting spirit was rare for the Elves.

"The surrounding civilians have been safely evacuated. At the same time, the Dale warriors are also ready for battle!" King Bain of Dale immediately requested to join the battle.

"Only so few have come? Sauron, must be looking down on us!" Mike inwardly disdained the Dark Lord, then commanded, "However, since those Orcs dared to come to Lonely Mountain, they won't be leaving. Thranduil, Bain, and Sophia, immediately lead your warriors into battle!"

"This time, let's strive for another annihilation battle. Let Sauron, know the consequences of underestimating us."

This small-scale battle no longer interested Mike, so he handed over the command of the Lonely Mountain Guard to Sophia, who was also eager to try her hand.

And Sophia, having eaten the golden apple, had significantly increased her strength again, so leading an army alone was not a problem.

"Understood! x3

Horns sounded, and the three factions of Lonely Mountain, led by Thranduil and others, advanced in an orderly fashion towards the wilderness outside Lonely Mountain.

Now, regarding the Orc army.

With Mike stationed in Lonely Mountain, it had long become a forbidden zone for the Orcs.

Sauron, naturally wouldn't send his elite here to die. Therefore, the Orc army that came this time was not only small in number, but most of them were also old, weak, sick, and disabled cannon fodder.

Sauron's, purpose in doing this was only one: to use the cannon fodder to tie up the forces on the Lonely Mountain side, thereby gaining some time for Mordor to attack Gondor.

One side was cannon fodder, the other had all its elites out.

Upon first contact, the battle quickly turned into a one-sided affair.

The Elves warriors, clad in uniform yellow armor and skilled in archery, changed their usual fighting style this time. Led by Elven King Thranduil, they all drew their longswords and charged to the front lines of the battle.

Their Elven longswords instantly routed the demoralized Orc army.

Behind them, the Lonely Mountain Guard, equipped with black armor forged by Dwarves and armed with medium to small repeating crossbows, followed closely under the leadership of the Half-Elf Sophia, using the convenience of the repeating crossbows to harvest the lives of the fleeing Orcs.

The yellow and black armors intertwined, quickly overwhelming the Orc army dressed in ragged leather armor.

As a result, the Dale phalanx, which was a step slower, almost didn't even encounter an opponent.

Thus, the battle happened quickly and ended quickly.

Mike had just taken a nap when Elven King Thranduil had already returned with the Elves warrior phalanx that had completed their mission.

"Our business here is concluded. We shall part ways now, hoping there will be a day we meet again!"

The victory in the war did not dispel the Elves' sorrow of leaving their homeland. After bidding farewell to Mike, Thranduil led the Elves away from the battlefield.

Next, they would embark on a long sea journey to settle in Middle-earth.

"What's wrong? Missing your family?" Mike looked at Arwen beside him.

This Elf Princess of the Ñoldor, perhaps moved by the scene, showed a hint of sadness as she watched Thranduil and the other Elves leave.

"No—!" Arwen looked back at Mike with affection, shaking her head slightly.

Family or love, she had already made her choice.

Fortunately, the man before her was indeed a great hero worthy of trust.

At least, that's what the Elf Princess believed in her heart.

"Don't worry, once things settle down, I'll take you to Middle-earth to visit Elrond and the others." Mike embraced the sensible Elf Princess.

And he wasn't lying. Once his strength was sufficient, Mike would one day go to Middle-earth to broaden his horizons and also to meet the powerful Creator, Iluvatar.

"Thank you, your words are enough for me." Arwen smiled happily, then secretly pecked Mike's cheek.

A little while later, Sophia and Bain, who had finished the mop-up operation of annihilating the Orcs, also returned with their respective teams.

It was Sophia's first time personally commanding a battle of this scale, and her face still showed excitement.

As for Bain, who had only gotten a small piece of the action in the entire war, his expression was a bit dejected.

"Congratulations to you all, this annihilation battle was very well fought!"

Regardless of the process, this battle once again showcased the might of the Lonely Mountain forces, so Mike immediately offered his blessings to the two commanders.

It was at this moment that a huge column of smoke suddenly rose from the south.

Judging by the distance, someone must have lit a beacon in Gondor.