He started his reign by banishing the person responsible for saving Faramir and thus securing his own ascendancy to the throne.
Source?
Beregond, of the citadel guard, prevented Faramir from being killed by Denethor by keeping other guards from entering and fulfilling Denethor’s crazed wish of death with the only mostly-dead Faramir.
From the LOTR Fandom page: “After the War of the Ring, Beregond was brought before the newly crowned King Elessar to answer for the abandonment of his post, as well as the murders of those who stood in his way as he raced to rescue Faramir. Recognizing that what he did was out of love for his lord, he did not impose the death penalty upon him; the newly-crowned king’s largesse allowed for Beregond to simply be banished from Minas Tirith”
technically yes, but by “banished from Minas Tirith”, it means “sent to live in Ithilien as part of the personal household guard of Faramir,” that’s explicitly stated in the text of RotK. it’s a promotion and a high honor
Ah yes, the super duper high honor of checks text “still being banished from Minas tirith, his home for way longer than aragorn had ever been there”
“And the King said to Beregond: ‘Beregond, by your sword blood was spilled in the Hallows, where that is forbidden. Also you left your post without leave of Lord or of Captain. For these things, of old, death was the penalty. Now therefore I must pronounce your doom. ‘All penalty is remitted for your valour in battle, and still more because all that you did was for the love of the Lord Faramir. Nonetheless you must leave the Guard of the Citadel, and you must go forth from the City of Minas Tirith.’ Then the blood left Beregond’s face, and he was stricken to the heart and bowed his head. But the King said: ‘So it must be, for you are appointed to the White Company, the Guard of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, and you shall be its captain and dwell in Emyn Arnen in honour and peace, and in the service of him for whom you risked all, to save him from death.’ And then Beregond, perceiving the mercy and justice”
The “mercy and justice” for saving someone’s life from men who were “just following orders” was “oh the law says you should be dead but since I’m king and can say no to that I’m banishing you instead” isn’t exactly an “honor”, especially if you disagree with the very concept of monarchies in the first place.
Beregond, of the citadel guard, prevented Faramir from being killed by Denethor by keeping other guards from entering and fulfilling Denethor’s crazed wish of death with the only mostly-dead Faramir.
From the LOTR Fandom page: “After the War of the Ring, Beregond was brought before the newly crowned King Elessar to answer for the abandonment of his post, as well as the murders of those who stood in his way as he raced to rescue Faramir. Recognizing that what he did was out of love for his lord, he did not impose the death penalty upon him; the newly-crowned king’s largesse allowed for Beregond to simply be banished from Minas Tirith”
Page 969 in my copy of the book.
That’s crazy, I don’t remember that at all. It’s been a long time since I’ve read the books.
technically yes, but by “banished from Minas Tirith”, it means “sent to live in Ithilien as part of the personal household guard of Faramir,” that’s explicitly stated in the text of RotK. it’s a promotion and a high honor
Ah yes, the super duper high honor of checks text “still being banished from Minas tirith, his home for way longer than aragorn had ever been there”
“And the King said to Beregond: ‘Beregond, by your sword blood was spilled in the Hallows, where that is forbidden. Also you left your post without leave of Lord or of Captain. For these things, of old, death was the penalty. Now therefore I must pronounce your doom. ‘All penalty is remitted for your valour in battle, and still more because all that you did was for the love of the Lord Faramir. Nonetheless you must leave the Guard of the Citadel, and you must go forth from the City of Minas Tirith.’ Then the blood left Beregond’s face, and he was stricken to the heart and bowed his head. But the King said: ‘So it must be, for you are appointed to the White Company, the Guard of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, and you shall be its captain and dwell in Emyn Arnen in honour and peace, and in the service of him for whom you risked all, to save him from death.’ And then Beregond, perceiving the mercy and justice”
The “mercy and justice” for saving someone’s life from men who were “just following orders” was “oh the law says you should be dead but since I’m king and can say no to that I’m banishing you instead” isn’t exactly an “honor”, especially if you disagree with the very concept of monarchies in the first place.