| War of the Ring |
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Mirkwood–Duel in Isengard–Weathertop–First Battle of Osgiliath–Chamber of Mazarbul–Durin's Tower–Amon Hen–First Battle of the Fords of Isen–Near Fangorn–Second Battle of the Fords of Isen–Ithilien–Warg Ambush–Helm's Deep–Isengard–Dunland–Dale–Cair Andros–Second Battle of Osgiliath–Pelennor Fields–Rhûn–Morannon–Dol Guldur |
The Second Battle of Osgiliath was a futile attempt to stem the advance of Sauron's army advancing from Minas Morgul towards Minas Tirith through the ruins of the city on the Anduin.
History[]
Prelude[]
Two days after the departure of Frodo Baggins from Henneth Annûn, Faramir barely returned to Minas Tirith from Osgiliath. Early in the morning, his father instructed his son to return to Osgiliath, hoping to make the enemy pay dearly for the crossing of the river. Despite his warnings that Sauron could easily afford to lose ten times Gondor's losses, and that those so far afield would find retreat perilous, Denethor insisted that Faramir defend the ruined city because no army could cross the river north of Cair Andros or southwards towards Lebennin. After the meeting of the Council Faramir took what strength he could to Osgiliath. After Faramir left, Denethor received word from Madril how his son was forced to let the Hobbits and allow them to continue their journey into Mordor and destroy the One Ring.
The Battle[]
Faramir returned to Osgiliath at around nightfall and had mustered about 1,500 Gondorian troops and Ithilien Rangers. While all the rangers of Ithilien were preparing their weaponry as the Gondorian soldiers and Knights of Dol Amroth in Osgiliath were doing their job in guarding the ruins of the city, Faramir, Golasgil, Duinhir, and Madril believed that the Orcs were to attack from the north. However, they were deceived since the Orcs were secretly on the river. Led by Gothmog, more then 190,000 Orcs and Uruks were making their move on large rafts across the Anduin and plan to engage Faramir's garrison throughout the ruins of western Osgiliath. As the Orcs and Uruks were drawing closer towards the city, one soldier notices them approaching, and Gothmog quickly orders his demise. When Faramir and his Rangers saw a Gondorian lookout took an arrow to the chest, they instantly realized they were about to be attacked from the river and not the north. Faramir quickly leads a heroic defense of the city, having all his troops guard each side of the river bank.
As the rafts hit the city and the enemy inside them run into Osgiliath, Faramir waits for the attack, and when the time was right, he charges into the invading Orcs, Uruks, and Easterlings. The defenders of Osgiliath did the same thing as they charge against the enemy while more rafts hit the bank, and a huge battle ensues. During the battle, a battalion of Orcs and Uruks altogether lowered a ramp on the bridge and swarm into the city first, but the Rangers experience very early success by shooting many of them before they could enter. The battle lasted for hours until the morning, and by then all the defenders of Osgiliath desperately continued to defend Osgiliath from the enemy that was now overruning the city in their path. Early in the morning word gets to Minis Tirith and the Steward for aide and emergency reinforcements needed to Osgiliath. In the morning several hundred Gondorian reinforcements arrive but quickly get overrun. As the defenders fought and died all around being overwhelmed as well as Nazgûl arriving. Faramir, the Ithilien Captain calls for a retreat, and all the remaining defenders were ordered to retreat and ride for Minas Tirith. Some did not all make it out the city but it is unknown what their fates were its assumed most perished.
Aftermath[]
During the retreat. Faramir’s lieutenant, Madril, was attacked by an Orc and left wounded before he could reach his horse that was taken by Golasgil, who he rode back to Anfalas to rally hunters, herdsmen, and villagers. Before Madril could do anything to escape, he is quickly finished off by Gothmog, who cruelly executes him with a spear. As Faramir and his defenders retreat to Minas Tirith, they are attacked by Nazgûl on winged fell beasts and several die across the field. That was when Gandalf and Pippin ride out of Minas Tirith towards them on Shadowfax. Gandalf managed to drive the Nazgûl back with a beam of white light from his staff. However, on the afternoon, Denethor then delusionally orders Faramir to lead a counter-attack to retake Osgiliath, despite Faramir's complaint that the city is completely overrun. Obeying this order, Faramir sadly leaves to go and try to retake Osgiliath, knowing that this act will claim his own life. He would go onto leading a sacrificial cavalry charge of what was believed to be the remaining Gondorian troops who were tasked in the early morning by Steward Denethor to help aid the soldiers and Rangers who had been defending the city all night. They were tasked to ride to retake the city and go back for those they had left behind. The Orcs and Uruks would be astonished by how sacrificial it was and would draw their bows, releasing a volley of a arrows that would kill all that rode out. The whole company is killed except Faramir, who is later dragged back to Minas Tirith by his horse, unconscious with several arrows in him.