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Rider！ Gandalf； Gandalf！' he shouted wildly； like an onlooker at a great race urging on a runner
who is far beyond encouragement。
But now the dark swooping shadows were aware of the newer。 One wheeled towards him；
but it seemed to Pippin that he raised his hand； and from it a shaft of white light stabbed upwards。
The Nazg？l gave a long wailing cry and swerved away； and with that the four others wavered； and
then rising in swift spirals they passed away eastward vanishing into the lowering cloud above； and
down on the Pelennor it seemed for a while less dark。
Pippin watched； and he saw the horseman and the White Rider meet and halt； waiting for those
on foot。 Men now hurried out to them from the City； and soon they all passed from sight under the
outer walls； and he knew that they were entering the Gate。 Guessing that they would e at once
to the Tower and the Steward； he hurried to the entrance of the citadel。 There he was joined by
many others who had watched the race and the rescue from the high walls。
It was not long before a clamour was heard in the streets leading up from the outer circles； and
there was much cheering and crying of the names of Faramir and Mithrandir。 Presently Pippin saw
torches； and followed by a press of people two horsemen riding slowly： one was in white but
shining no longer； pale in the twilight as if his fire was spent or veiled； the other was dark and his
head was bowed。 They dismounted； and as grooms took Shadowfax and the other horse； they
walked forward to the sentinel at the gate： Gandalf steadily； his grey cloak flung back； and a fire
still smouldering in his eyes； the other； clad all in green； slowly； swaying a little as a weary or a
wounded man。
Pippin pressed forward as they passed under the lamp beneath the gate…arch； and when he saw
the pale face of Faramir he caught his breath。 It was the face of one who has been assailed by a
great fear or anguish； but has mastered it and now is quiet。 Proud and grave he stood for a moment
as he spoke to the guard； and Pippin gazing at him saw how closely he resembled his brother
Boromir – whom Pippin had liked from the first； admiring the great man's lordly but kindly manner。
Yet suddenly for Faramir his heart was strangely moved with a feeling that he had not known
before。 Here was one with an air of high nobility such as Aragorn at times revealed； less high
perhaps； yet also less incalculable and remote： one of the Kings of Men born into a later time； but
touched with the wisdom and sadness of the Elder Race。 He knew now why Beregond spoke his
name with love。 He was a captain that men would follow； that he would follow； even under the
shadow of the black wings。
'Faramir！' he cried aloud with the others。 'Faramir！' And Faramir catching his strange voice
among the clamour of the men of the City； turned and looked down at him and was amazed。
'Whence e you？' he said。 'A halfling； and in the livery of the Tower！ Whence。。。？'
But with that Gandalf stepped to his side and spoke。 'He came with me from the land of the
Halflings；' he said。 'He came with me。 But let us not tarry here。 There is much to say and to do； and
you are weary。 He shall e with us。 Indeed he must； for if he does not forget his new duties more
easily than I do； he must attend on his lord again within this hour。 e； Pippin； follow us！'
So at length they came to the private chamber of the Lord of the City。 There deep seats were set
about a brazier of charcoal； and wine was brought； and there Pippin； hardly noticed； stood behind
the chair of Denethor and felt his weariness little； so eagerly did he listen to all that was said。
When Faramir had taken white bread and drunk a draught of wine； he sat upon a low chair at his
father's left hand。 Removed a little upon the other side sat Gandalf in a chair of carven wood； and
he seemed at first to be asleep。 For at the beginning Faramir spoke only of the errand upon which
he had been sent out ten days before； and he brought tidings of Ithilien and of movements of the
Enemy and his allies； and he told of the fight on the road when the men of Harad and their great
beast were overthrown： a captain reporting to his master such matters as had often been heard
before； small things of border…war that now seemed useless and petty； shorn of their renown。
Then suddenly Faramir looked at Pippin。 'But now we e to strange matters；' he said。 'For this
is not the first halfling that I have seen walking out of northern legends into the Southlands。'
At that Gandalf sat up and gripped the arms of his chair； but he said nothing； and with a look
stopped the exclamation on Pippin's lips。 Denethor looked at their faces and nodded his head； as
though in sign that he had read much there before it was spoken。 Slowly； while the others sat silent
and still； Faramir told his tale； with his eyes for the most part on Gandalf； though now and again his
glance strayed to Pippin； as if to refresh his memory of others that he had seen。
As his story was unfolded of his meeting with Frodo and his servant and of the events at
Henneth Ann？n； Pippin became aware that Gandalf's hands were trembling as they clutched the
carven wood。 White they seemed now and very old； and as he looked at them； suddenly with a thrill
of fear Pippin knew that Gandalf； Gandalf himself； was troubled； even afraid。 The air of the room
was close and still。 At last when Faramir spoke of his parting with the travellers； and of their
resolve to go to Cirith Ungol； his voice fell； and he shook his head and sighed。 Then Gandalf
sprang up。
'Cirith Ungol？ Morgul Vale？' he said。 'The time； Faramir； the time？ When did you part with
them？ When would they reach that accursed valley？'
'I parted with them in the morning two days ago；' said Faramir。 'It is fifteen leagues thence to the
vale of the Morgulduin； if they went straight south； and then they would be still five leagues
westward of the accursed Tower。 At swiftest they could not e there before today； and maybe
they have not e there yet。 Indeed I see what you fear。 But the darkness is not due to their
venture。 It began yestereve； and all Ithilien was under shadow last night。 It is clear to me that the
Enemy has long planned an assault on us； and its hour had already been determined before ever the
travellers left my keeping。'
Gandalf paced the floor。 'The morning of two days ago； nigh on three days of journey！ How far
is the place where you parted？'
'Some twenty…five leagues as a bird flies；' answered Faramir。 'But I could not e more swiftly。
Yestereve I lay at Cair Andros； the long isle in the River northward which we hold in defence； and
horses are kept on the hither bank。 As the dark drew on I knew that haste was needed； so I rode
thence with three others that could also be horsed。 The rest of my pany I sent south to
strengthen the garrison at the fords of Osgiliath。 I hope that I have not done ill？' He looked at his
father。
'Ill？' cried Denethor； and his eyes flashed suddenly。 'Why do you ask？ The men were under your
mand。 Or do you ask for my judgement on all your deeds？ Your bearing is lowly in my
presence； yet it is long now since you turned from your own way at my counsel。 See； you have
spoken skilfully； as ever； but I； have I not seen your eye fixed on Mithrandir； seeking whether you
said well or too much？ He has long had your heart in his keeping。
'My son； your father is old but not yet dotard。 I can see and hear； as was my wont； and little of
what you have half said or left unsaid is now hidden from me。 I know the answer to many riddles。
Alas； alas for Boromir！'
'If what I have done displeases you； my father；' said Faramir quietly； 'I wish I had known your
counsel before the burden of so weighty a judgement was thrust on me。'
'Would that have availed to change your judgement？' said Denethor。 'You would still have done
just so； I deem。 I know you well。 Ever your desire is to appear lordly and generous as a king of old；
gracious； gentle。 That may well befit one of high race； if he sits in power and peace。 But in
desperate hours gentleness may be repaid with death。'
'So be it；' said Faramir。
'So be it！' cried Denethor。 'But not with your death only； Lord Faramir： with the death also of
your father； and of all your people； whom it is your part to protect now that Boromir is gone。'
'Do you wish then；' said Faramir； 'that our places had been exchanged？'
'Yes； I wish that indeed；' said Denethor。 'For Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard's pupil。 He
would have remembered his father's need； and would not have squandered what fortune gave。 He
would have brought me a mighty gift。'
For a moment Faramir's restraint gave way。 'I would ask you； my father； to remember why it
was that I； not he； was in Ithilien。 On one occasion at least your counsel has prevailed； not long ago。
It was the Lord of the City that gave the errand to him。'
'Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed for myself；' said Denethor。 'Have I not tasted it
now many nights upon my tongue foreboding that worse