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Title: Could Will Have Its Way (#2291)
Author: NancyBrooke
Chapters: 2

Archive: Tolkien
Category: Lord of the Rings
Description: What did Denethor look to see in the Palantír? 

Answer to OSA Weekly Drabble Challenge #30:  "Addiction (but not to the Ring)
Published: 09 Oct 2005
Updated: 09 Oct 2005
Warnings: 
Type: Angst
Characters: Denethor


Chapter 1 - Could Will Have Its Way

Summary:  What did Denethor look to see in the Palantír? 
Answer to OSA Weekly Drabble Challenge #30: "Addiction (but not to the Ring)


How could I not look?

In her had been all my light.  I ached to see beyond the dark of mourning.

How could I not look?

Never again would I be vulnerable to ignorance.  Never again could I be taken unawares.  I would hone my sight on every stone in Gondor and beyond.   I would see … that could never be seen on this earth again.

How could I not see?

Impotent was my power, futile my foresight, darkness my vision.  Darkness and flame – the dark within.  My eyes are open and will not be shut.

How can I not look?




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Chapter 2 - Author's Notes

'After her [Finduilas's] death Denethor became more grim and silent than before, and would sit long alone in his tower deep in thought, foreseeing that the assualt of Mordor would come in his time.  It was afterwards believed that needing knowledge, and being proud, and trusting in his own strength of will, he dared to look in the palantír of the White Tower.'

Why then?  I wonder ... what did he hope to see?



' "What then would you have," said Gandalf, "if your will could have its way?"

"I would have things as they were in all the days of my life," answered Denethor.'


ROTK, "the Pyre of Denethor"
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