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The Return of the King
By J。 R。 R。 Tolkien
Part 1： The Fellowship of the Ring
Part 2： The Two Towers
Part 3： The Return of the King
THE RETURN OF THE KING
Book V
Chapter 1 Minas Tirith
Chapter 2 The Passing of the Grey pany
Chapter 3 The Muster of Rohan
Chapter 4 The Siege of Gondor
Chapter 5 The Ride of the Rohirrim
Chapter 6 The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
Chapter 7 The Pyre of Denethor
Chapter 8 The Houses of Healing
Chapter 9 The Last Debate
Chapter 10 The Black Gate Opens
Book VI
Chapter 1 The Tower of Cirith Ungol
Chapter 2 The Land of Shadow
Chapter 3 Mount Doom
Chapter 4 The Field of Cormallen
Chapter 5 The Steward and the King
Chapter 6 Many Partings
Chapter 7 Homeward Bound
Chapter 8 The Scouring of the Shire
Chapter 9 The Grey Havens
…
THE RETURN OF THE KING
_being the third part of
The Lord of the Rings_
_Chapter 1_
Minas Tirith
Pippin looked out from the shelter of Gandalf's cloak。 He wondered if he was awake or still
sleeping； still in the swift…moving dream in which he had been wrapped so long since the great ride
began。 The dark world was rushing by and the wind sang loudly in his ears。 He could see nothing
but the wheeling stars； and away to his right vast shadows against the sky where the mountains of
the South marched past。 Sleepily he tried to reckon the times and stages of their journey； but his
memory was drowsy and uncertain。
There had been the first ride at terrible speed without a halt； and then in the dawn he had seen a
pale gleam of gold； and they had e to the silent town and the great empty house on the hill。 And
hardly had they reached its shelter when the winged shadow had passed over once again； and men
wilted with fear。 But Gandalf had spoken soft words to him； and he had slept in a corner； tired but
uneasy； dimly aware of ings and goings and of men talking and Gandalf giving orders。 And
then again riding； riding in the night。 This was the second； no； the third night since he had looked in
the Stone。 And with that hideous memory he woke fully； and shivered； and the noise of the wind
became filled with menacing voices。
A light kindled in the sky； a blaze of yellow fire behind dark barriers Pippin cowered back；
afraid for a moment； wondering into what dreadful country Gandalf was bearing him。 He rubbed
his eyes； and then he saw that it was the moon rising above the eastern shadows； now almost at the
full。 So the night was not yet old and for hours the dark journey would go on。 He stirred and spoke。
'Where are we； Gandalf？' he asked。
'In the realm of Gondor；' the wizard answered。 'The land of Anórien is still passing by。'
There was a silence again for a while。 Then； 'What is that？' cried Pippin suddenly； clutching at
Gandalf's cloak。 'Look！ Fire； red fire！ Are there dragons in this land？ Look； there is another！'
For answer Gandalf cried aloud to his horse。 'On； Shadowfax！ We must hasten。 Time is short。
See！ The beacons of Gondor are alight； calling for aid。 War is kindled。 See； there is the fire on
Amon D？n； and flame on Eilenach； and there they go speeding west： Nardol； Erelas； Min…Rimmon；
Calenhad； and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan。'
But Shadowfax paused in his stride； slowing to a walk； and then he lifted up his head and
neighed。 And out of the darkness the answering neigh of other horses came； and presently the
thudding of hoofs was heard； and three riders swept up and passed like flying ghosts in the moon
and vanished into the West。 Then Shadowfax gathered himself together and sprang away； and the
night flowed over him like a roaring wind。
Pippin became drowsy again and paid little attention to Gandalf telling him of the customs of
Gondor； and how the Lord of the City had beacons built on the tops of outlying hills along both
borders of the great range； and maintained posts at these points where fresh horses were always in
readiness to bear his errand…riders to Rohan in the North； or to Belfalas in the South。 'It is long
since the beacons of the North were lit；' he said； 'and in the ancient days of Gondor they were not
needed； for they had the Seven Stones。' Pippin stirred uneasily。
'Sleep again； and do not be afraid！' said Gandalf。 'For you are not going like Frodo to Mordor；
but to Minas Tirith； and there you will be as safe as you can be anywhere in these days。 If Gondor
falls； or the Ring is taken； then the Shire will be no refuge。'
'You do not fort me；' said Pippin； but nonetheless sleep crept over him。 The last thing that he
remembered before he fell into deep dream was a glimpse of high white peaks； glimmering like
floating isles above the clouds as they caught the light of the westering moon。 He wondered where
Frodo was； and if he was already in Mordor； or if he was dead； and he did not know that Frodo
from far away looked on that same moon as it set beyond Gondor ere the ing of the day。
Pippin woke to the sound of voices。 Another day of hiding and a night of journey had fleeted by。
It was twilight： the cold dawn was at hand again； and chill grey mists were about them。 Shadowfax
stood steaming with sweat； but he held his neck proudly and showed no sign of weariness。 Many
tall men heavily cloaked stood beside him； and behind them in the mist loomed a wall of stone。
Partly ruinous it seemed； but already before the night was passed the sound of hurried labour could
be heard： beat of hammers； clink of trowels； and the creak of wheels。 Torches and flares glowed
dully here and there in the fog。 Gandalf was speaking to the men that barred his way； and as he
listened Pippin became aware that he himself was being discussed。
'Yea truly； we know you； Mithrandir；' said the leader of the men； 'and you know the pass…words
of the Seven Gates and are free to go forward。 But we do not know your panion。 What is he？ A
dwarf out of the mountains in the North？ We wish for no strangers in the land at this time； unless
they be mighty men of arms in whose faith and help we can trust。'
'I will vouch for him before the seat of Denethor；' said Gandalf。 'And as for valour； that cannot
be puted by stature。 He has passed through more battles and perils than you have； Ingold；
though you be twice his height； and he es now from the storming of Isengard； of which we bear
tidings； and great weariness is on him； or I would wake him。 His name is Peregrin； a very valiant
man。'
'Man？' said Ingold dubiously； and the others laughed。
'Man！' cried Pippin； now thoroughly roused。 'Man！ Indeed not！ I am a hobbit and no more
valiant than I am a man； save perhaps now and again by necessity。 Do not let Gandalf deceive you！'
'Many a doer of great deeds might say no more；' said Ingold。 'But what is a hobbit？'
'A Halfling；' answered Gandalf。 'Nay； not the one that was spoken of；' he added seeing the
wonder in the men's faces。 'Not he； yet one of his kindred。'
'Yes； and one who journeyed with him；' said Pippin。 'And Boromir of your City was with us； and
he saved me in the snows of the North； and at the last he was slain defending me from many foes。'
'Peace！' said Gandalf。 'The news of that grief should have been told first to the father。'
'It has been guessed already；' said Ingold； 'for there have been strange portents here of late。 But
pass on now quickly！ For the Lord of Minas Tirith will be eager to see any that bear the latest
tidings of his son； be he man or…'
'Hobbit；' said Pippin。 'Little service can I offer to your lord； but what I can do； I would do；
remembering Boromir the brave。'
'Fare you well！' said Ingold； and the men made way for Shadow fax； and he passed through a
narrow gate in the wall。 'May you bring good counsel to Denethor in his need； and to us all；
Mithrandir！' Ingold cried。 'But you e with tidings of grief and danger； as is your wont； they say。'
'Because I e seldom but when my help is needed；' answered Gandalf。 'And as for counsel； to
you I would say that you are over…late in repairing the wall of the Pelennor。 Courage will now be
your best defence against the storm that is at hand – that and such hope as I bring。 For not all the
tidings that I bring are evil。 But leave your trowels and sharpen your swords！'
'The work will be finished ere evening；' said Ingold。 'This is the last portion of the wall to be put
in defence： the least open to attack； for it looks towards our friends of Rohan。 Do you know aught
of them？ Will they answer the summons； think you？'
'Yes； they will e。 But they have fought many battles at your back。 This road and no road
looks towards safety any longer。 Be vigilant！ But for Gandalf Stormcrow you would have seen a
host of foes ing out of Anórien and no Riders of Rohan。 And you may yet。 Fare you well； and
sleep not！'
Gandalf passed now into the wide land beyond the Rammas Echor。 So the men of Gondor called
the out wall that they had built with great labour； after Ithilien fell under the shadow of their Enemy。
For ten leag