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the out wall that they had built with great labour； after Ithilien fell under the shadow of their Enemy。
For ten leagues or more it ran from the mountains' feet and so back again； enclosing in its fence the
fields of the Pelennor： fair and fertile townlands on the long slopes and terraces falling to the deep
levels of the Anduin。 At its furthest point from the Great Gate of the City； north…eastward； the wall
was four leagues distant； and there from a frowning bank it overlooked the long flats beside the
river； and men had made it high and strong； for at that point； upon a walled causeway； the road
came in from the fords and bridges of Osgiliath and passed through a guarded gate between
embattled towers。 At its nearest point the wall was little more than one league from the City； and
that was south…eastward。 There Anduin； going in a wide knee about the hills of Emyn Arnen in
South Ithilien； bent sharply west； and the out…wall rose upon its very brink； and beneath it lay the
quays and landings of the Harlond for craft that came upstream from the southern fiefs。
The townlands were rich； with wide tilth and many orchards； and homesteads there were with
oast and garner； fold and byre； and many rills rippling through the green from the highlands down
to Anduin。 Yet the herdsmen and husbandmen that dwelt there were not many； and the most part of
the people of Gondor lived in the seven circles of the City； or in the high vales of the mountain…
borders； in Lossarnach； or further south in fair Lebennin with its five swift streams。 There dwelt a
hardy folk between the mountains and the sea。 They were reckoned men of Gondor； yet their blood
was mingled； and there were short and swarthy folk among them whose sires came more from the
forgotten men who housed in the shadow of the hills in the Dark Years ere the ing of the kings。
But beyond； in the great fief of Belfalas； dwelt Prince Imrahil in his castle of Dol Amroth by the
sea； and he was of high blood； and his folk also； tall men and proud with sea…grey eyes。
Now after Gandalf had ridden for some time the light of day grew in the sky； and Pippin roused
himself and looked up。 To his left lay a sea of mist； rising to a bleak shadow in the East； but to his
right great mountains reared their heads； ranging from the West to a steep and sudden end； as if in
the making of the land the River had burst through a great barrier； carving out a mighty valley to be
a land of battle and debate in times to e。 And there where the White Mountains of Ered Nimrais
came to their end he saw； as Gandalf had promised； the dark mass of Mount Mindolluin； the deep
purple shadows of its high glens； and its tall face whitening in the rising day。 And upon its out…
thrust knee was the Guarded City； with its seven walls of stone so strong and old that it seemed to
have been not builded but carven by giants out of the bones of the earth。
Even as Pippin gazed in wonder the walls passed from looming grey to white； blushing faintly in
the dawn； and suddenly the sun climbed over the eastern shadow and sent forth a shaft that smote
the face of the City。 Then Pippin cried aloud； for the Tower of Ecthelion； standing high within the
topmost walls' shone out against the sky； glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver； tall and fair
and shapely； and its pinnacle glittered as if it were wrought of crystals； and white banners broke
and fluttered from the battlements in the morning breeze' and high and far he heard a clear ringing
as of silver trumpets。
So Gandalf and Peregrin rode to the Great Gate of the Men of Gondor at the rising of the sun；
and its iron doors rolled back before them。
'Mithrandir！ Mithrandir！' men cried。 'Now we know that the storm is indeed nigh！'
'It is upon you；' said Gandalf。 'I have ridden on its wings。 Let me pass！ I must e to your Lord
Denethor； while his stewardship lasts。 Whatever betide； you have e to the end of the Gondor
that you have known。 Let me pass！'
Then men fell back before the mand of his voice and questioned him no further； though they
gazed in wonder at the hobbit that sat before him and at the horse that bore him。 For the people of
the City used horses very little and they were seldom seen in their streets； save only those ridden by
the errand…riders of their lord。 And they said： 'Surely that is one of the great steeds of the King of
Rohan？ Maybe the Rohirrim will e soon to strengthen us。' But Shadowfax walked proudly up
the long winding road。
For the fashion of Minas Tirith was such that it was built on seven levels； each delved into the
hill； and about each was set a wall； and in each wall was a gate。 But the gates were not set in a line：
the Great Gate in the City Wall was at the east point of the circuit； but the next faced half south；
and the third half north； and so to and fro upwards； so that the paved way that climbed towards the
Citadel turned first this way and then that across the face of the hill。 And each time that it passed
the line of the Great Gate it went through an arched tunnel； piercing a vast pier of rock whose huge
out…thrust bulk divided in two all the circles of the City save the first。 For partly in the primeval
shaping of the hill； partly by the mighty craft and labour of old； there stood up from the rear of the
wide court behind the Gate a towering bastion of stone； its edge sharp as a ship…keel facing east。 Up
it rose； even to the level of the topmost circle； and there was crowned by a battlement； so that those
in the Citadel might； like mariners in a mountainous ship； look from its peak sheer down upon the
Gate seven hundred feet below。 The entrance to the Citadel also looked eastward； but was delved in
the heart of the rock； thence a long lamp…lit slope ran up to the seventh gate。 Thus men reached at
last the High Court； and the Place of the Fountain before the feet of the White Tower： tall and
shapely； fifty fathoms from its base to the pinnacle； where the banner of the Stewards floated a
thousand feet above the plain。
A strong citadel it was indeed； and not to be taken by a host of enemies； if there were any within
that could hold weapons； unless some foe could e behind and scale the lower skirts of
Mindolluin； and so e upon the narrow shoulder that joined the Hill of Guard to the mountain
mass。 But that shoulder； which rose to the height of the fifth wall； was hedged with great ramparts
right up to the precipice that overhung its western end； and in that space stood the houses and
domed tombs of bygone kings and lords； for ever silent between the mountain and the tower。
Pippin gazed in growing wonder at the great stone city； vaster and more splendid than anything
that he had dreamed of； greater and stronger than Isengard； and far more beautiful。 Yet it was in
truth falling year by year into decay； and already it lacked half the men that could have dwelt at
ease there。 In every street they passed some great house or court over whose doors and arched gates
were carved many fair letters of strange and ancient shapes： names Pippin guessed of great men and
kindreds that had once dwelt there； and yet now they were silent； and no footsteps rang on their
wide pavements； nor voice was heard in their halls； nor any face looked out from door or empty
window。
At last they came out of shadow to the seventh gate； and the warm sun that shone down beyond
the river； as Frodo walked in the glades of Ithilien； glowed here on the smooth walls and rooted
pillars； and the great arch with keystone carven in the likeness of a crowned and kingly head。
Gandalf dismounted； for no horse was allowed in the Citadel； and Shadowfax suffered himself to
be led away at the soft word of his master。
The Guards of the gate were robed in black； and their helms were of strange shape； high…
crowned； with long cheek…guards close…fitting to the face； and above the cheek…guards were set the
white wings of sea…birds； but the helms gleamed with a flame of silver； for they were indeed
wrought of _mithril_； heirlooms from the glory of old days。 Upon the black surcoats were
embroidered in white a tree blossoming like snow beneath a silver crown and many…pointed stars。
This was the livery of the heirs of Elendil； and none wore it now in all Gondor； save the Guards of
the Citadel before the Court of the Fountain where the White Tree once had grown。
Already it seemed that word of their ing had gone before them： and at once they were
admitted； silently； and without question。 Quickly Gandalf strode across the white…paved court。 A
sweet fountain played there in the morning sun； and a sward of bright green lay about it； but in the
midst。 drooping over the pool； stood a dead tree； and the falling drops dripped sadly from its barren
and broken branches back into the clear water。
Pippin glanced at it as he hurried after Gandalf。 It looked mournful； he thought； and he
wondered why the dead tree was left in this place where everything else was well tended。
_Seven stars and seven stones and one white tree。_
The words that Gandalf had murmured came back into his mind。