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Shire： But do not bother about me。 e and look and tell me what I can see。'
The sun was now climbing； and the mists in the vale below had been drawn up。 The last of them
were floating away； just overhead； as wisps of white cloud borne on the stiffening breeze from the
East； that was now flapping and tugging the flags and white standards of the citadel。 Away down in
the valley…bottom； five leagues or so as the eye leaps； the Great River could now be seen grey and
glittering； ing out of the north…west； and bending in a mighty sweep south and west again； till it
was lost to view in a haze and shimmer； far beyond which lay the Sea fifty leagues away。
Pippin could see all the Pelennor laid out before him； dotted into the distance with farmsteads
and little walls； barns and byres； but nowhere could he see any kine or other beasts。 Many roads
and tracks crossed the green fields； and there was much ing and going： wains moving in lines
towards the Great Gate； and others passing out。 Now and again a horseman would ride up； and leap
from the saddle and hasten into the City。 But most of the traffic went out along the chief highway；
and that turned south； and then bending swifter than the River skirted the hills and passed soon
from sight。 It was wide and well…paved； and along its eastern edge ran a broad green riding…track；
and beyond that a wall。 On the ride horsemen galloped to and fro； but all the street seemed to be
choked with great covered wains going south。 But soon Pippin saw that all was in fact well…ordered：
the wains were moving in three lines； one swifter drawn by horses； another slower； great waggons
with fair housings of many colours； drawn by oxen； and along the west rim of the road many
smaller carts hauled by trudging men。
'That is the road to the vales of Tumladen and Lossarnach； and the mountain…villages； and then
on to Lebennin；' said Beregond。 'There go the last of the wains that bear away to refuge the aged the
children； and the women that must go with them。 They must all be gone from the Gate and the road
clear for a league before noon： that was the order。 It is a sad necessity。' He sighed。 'Few； maybe； of
those now sundered will meet again。 And there were always too few children in this city； but now
there are none…save some young lads that will not depart； and may find some task to do： my own
son is one of them。'
They fell silent for a while。 Pippin gazed anxiously eastward； as if at any moment he might see
thousands of orcs pouring over the fields。 'What can I see there？' he asked； pointing down to the
middle of the great curve of the Anduin。 'Is that another city； or what is it？'
'It was a city；' said Beregond； 'the chief city of Gondor； of which this was only a fortress。 For
that is the ruin of Osgiliath on either side of Anduin； which our enemies took and burned long ago。
Yet we won it back in the days of the youth of Denethor： not to dwell in； but to hold as an outpost；
and to rebuild the bridge for the passage of our arms。 And then came the Fell Riders out of Minas
Morgul。'
'The Black Riders？' said Pippin； opening his eyes； and they were wide and dark with an old fear
re…awakened。
'Yes； they were black；' said Beregond； 'and I see that you know something of them； though you
have not spoken of them in any of your tales。'
'I know of them；' said Pippin softly； 'but I will not speak of them now； so near； so near。' He
broke off and lifted his eyes above the River； and it seemed to him that all he could see was a vast
and threatening shadow。 Perhaps it was mountains looming on the verge of sight； their jagged
edges softened by wellnigh twenty leagues of misty air； perhaps it was but a cloud…wall； and
beyond that again a yet deeper gloom。 But even as he looked it seemed to his eyes that the gloom
was growing and gathering； very slowly； slowly rising to smother the regions of the sun。
'So near to Mordor？' said Beregond quietly。 'Yes； there it lies。 We seldom name it； but we have
dwelt ever in sight of that shadow： sometimes it seems fainter and more distant； sometimes nearer
and darker。 It is growing and darkening now； and therefore our fear and disquiet grow too。 And the
Fell Riders； less than a year ago they won back the crossings； and many of our best men were slain。
Boromir it was that drove the enemy at last back from this western shore； and we hold still the near
half of Osgiliath。 For a little while。 But we await now a new onslaught there。 Maybe the chief
onslaught of the war that es。'
'When？' said Pippin。 'Have you a guess？ For I saw the beacons last night and the errand…riders；
and Gandalf said that it was a sign that war had begun。 He seemed in a desperate hurry。 But now
everything seems to have slowed up again。'
'Only because everything is now ready；' said Beregond。 'It is but the deep breath before the
plunge。'
'But why were the beacons lit last night？'
'It is over…late to send for aid when you are already besieged；' answered Beregond。 'But I do not
know the counsel of the Lord and his captains。 They have many ways of gathering news。 And the
Lord Denethor is unlike other men： he sees far。 Some say that as he sits alone in his high chamber
in the Tower at night； and bends his thought this way and that； he can read somewhat of the future；
and that he will at times search even the mind of the Enemy； wrestling with him。 And so it is that
he is old； worn before his time。 But however that may be； my lord Faramir is abroad； beyond the
River on some perilous errand； and he may have sent tidings。
'But if you would know what I think set the beacons ablaze； it was the news that came yestereve
out of Lebennin。 There is a great fleet drawing near to the mouths of Anduin； manned by the
corsairs of Umbar in the South。 They have long ceased to fear the might of Gondor； and they have
allied them with the Enemy； and now make a heavy stroke in his cause。 For this attack will draw
off much of the help that we looked to have from Lebennin and Belfalas； where folk are hardy and
numerous。 All the more do our thoughts go north to Rohan； and the more glad are we for these
tidings of victory that you bring。
'And yet' – he paused and stood up； and looked round； north； east； and south – 'the doings at
Isengard should warn us that we are caught now in a great net and strategy。 This is no longer a
bickering at the fords； raiding from Ithilien and from Anórien； ambushing and pillaging。 This is a
great war long…planned； and we are but one piece in it； whatever pride may say。 Things move in the
far East beyond the Inland Sea； it is reported； and north in Mirkwood and beyond； and south in
Harad。 And now all realms shall be put to the test； to stand； or fall – under the Shadow。
'Yet； Master Peregrin； we have this honour： ever we bear the brunt of the chief hatred of the
Dark Lord； for that hatred es down out of the depths of time and over the deeps of the Sea。
Here will the hammer…stroke fall hardest。 And for that reason Mithrandir came hither in such haste。
For if we fall； who shall stand？ And； Master Peregrin； do you see any hope that we shall stand？'
Pippin did not answer。 He looked at the great walls； and the towers and brave banners； and the
sun in the high sky； and then at the gathering gloom in the East； and he thought of the long fingers
of that Shadow： of the orcs in the woods and the mountains； the treason of Isengard； the birds of
evil eye； and the Black Riders even in the lanes of the Shire – and of the winged terror； the Nazg？l。
He shuddered； and hope seemed to wither。 And even at that moment the sun for a second faltered
and was obscured； as though a dark wing had passed across it。 Almost beyond hearing he thought
he caught； high and far up in the heavens； a cry： faint； but heart…quelling； cruel and cold。 He
blanched and cowered against the wall。
'What was that？' asked Beregond。 'You also felt something？'
'Yes；' muttered Pippin。 'It is the sign of our fall； and the shadow of doom； a Fell Rider of the air。'
'Yes； the shadow of doom；' said Beregond。 'I fear that Minas Tirith shall fall。 Night es。 The
very warmth of my blood seems stolen away。'
For a time they sat together with bowed heads and did not speak。 Then suddenly Pippin looked
up and saw that the sun was still shining and the banners still streaming in the breeze。 He shook
himself。 'It is passed；' he said。 'No； my heart will not yet despair。 Gandalf fell and has returned and
is with us。 We may stand； if only on one leg； or at least be left still upon our knees。'
'Rightly said！' cried Beregond； rising and striding to and fro。 'Nay； though all things must e
utterly to an end in time； Gondor shall not perish yet。 Not though the walls be taken by a reckless
foe that will build a hill of carrion before them。 There are still other fastnesses； and secret ways of
escape into the mountains。 Hope and memory shall live still in some hidden valley where the grass
is green。'
'All the same； I wish it was over for good or ill。' said Pippin。 'I am no warrior at all and dislike
any thought of battl