Page 7 (1/2)

The Pyre of Denethor

When the dark shadow at the Gate withdrew Gandalf still sat ht had been lifted fro to the horns, and it seemed to him that they would break his heart with joy And never in after years could he hear a horn blown in the distance without tears starting in his eyes But now suddenly his errand returned to his memory, and he ran forward At that moment Gandalf stirred and spoke to Shadowfax, and was about to ride through the Gate

&039;Gandalf, Gandalf!&039; cried Pippin, and Shadowfax halted

&039;What are you doing here?&039; said Gandalf &039;Is it not a law in the City that those ear the black and silver ives them leave?&039;

&039;He has,&039; said Pippin &039;He sentterrible may happen up there The Lord is out of his mind, I think I am afraid he will kill hi?&039;

Gandalf looked through the gaping Gate, and already on the fields he heard the gathering sound of battle He clenched his hand &039;I o,&039; he said &039;The Black Rider is abroad, and he will yet bring ruin on us I have no time&039;

&039;But Faramir!&039; cried Pippin &039;He is not dead, and they will burn him alive, if someone does not stop them&039;

&039;Burn him alive?&039; said Gandalf &039;What is this tale? Be quick!&039;

&039;Denethor has gone to the Tombs,&039; said Pippin, &039;and he has taken Faramir, and he says we are all to burn, and he will not wait, and they are to make a pyre and burn him on it, and Faramir as well And he has sent ond, but I&039;uard And what can he do anyway?&039; So Pippin poured out his tale, reaching up and touching Gandalf&039;s knee with tre hands &039;Can&039;t you save Faramir?&039;

&039;Maybe I can,&039; said Gandalf, &039;but if I do, then others will die, I fear Well, I must come, since no other help can reach him But evil and sorroill cohold the Enemy has power to strike us: for his will it is that is at work&039;

Then havingup Pippin and setting hi streets of Minas Tirith they clattered, while the noise of war rose behind the fro one to another: &039;Rohan has co;down to the Gate

They met the Prince Imrahil, and he called to the on the fields of Gondor! We th that we can find&039;

&039;You will need every man and more,&039; said Gandalf &039;Make all haste I will come when I can But I have an errand to the Lord Denethor that will not wait Take command in the Lord&039;s absence!&039;

They passed on; and as they cli in their faces, and they caught the gli in the southern sky But it brought little hope to the to co,&039; said Gandalf, &039;but it still lies heavy on this City&039;

At the gate of the Citadel they found no guard &039;Then Beregond has gone,&039; said Pippinthe road to the Closed Door It stood wide open, and the porter lay before it He was slain and his key had been taken

&039;Work of the Enemy!&039; said Gandalf &039;Such deeds he loves: friend at ith friend; loyalty divided in confusion of hearts&039; Now he dismounted and bade Shadowfax return to his stable &039;For, my friend,&039; he said, &039;you and I should have ridden to the fields long ago, but other matters delay me Yet come swiftly if I call!&039;

They passed the Door and walked on down the steep winding road Light was growing, and the tall colurey ghosts

Suddenly the silence was broken, and they heard below the of swords: such sounds as had not been heard in the hallowed places since the building of the City At last they came to Rath Dinen and hastened towards the House of the Stewards, looreat doing forward to the stone stair before the door &039;Stay this madness!&039;

For there were the servants of Denethor with swords and torches in their hands; but alone in the porch upon the topond, clad in the black and silver of the Guard; and he held the door against the the halloith their blood; and the others cursed hi him outlaw and traitor to his master

Even as Gandalf and Pippin ran forward, they heard fro: &039;Haste, haste! Do as I have bidden! Slay ade! Or ond held shut with his left hand renched open, and there behind hiht like flame was in his eyes, and he held a draord

But Gandalf sprang up the steps, and thewas like the incoreat anger He lifted up his hand, and in the very stroke, the sword of Denethor flew up and left his grasp and fell behind him in the shadows of the house; and Denethor stepped backward before Gandalf as one amazed

&039;What is this, my lord?&039; said the wizard &039;The houses of the dead are no places for the living And why do h before the Gate? Or has our Enemy come even to Rath Dinen?&039;

&039;Since when has the Lord of Gondor been answerable to thee?&039; said Denethor &039;Or may I not command my own servants?&039;

&039;You may,&039; said Gandalf &039;But others may contest your will, when it is turned to madness and evil Where is your son, Faramir?&039;

&039;He lies within,&039; said Denethor, &039;burning, already burning They have set a fire in his flesh But soon all shall be burned The West has failed It shall all go up in a great fire, and all shall be ended Ash! Ash and smoke bloay on the wind!&039;

Then Gandalf seeing the madness that was on him feared that he had already done soond and Pippin behind hiave back until he stood beside the table within But there they found Fara upon the table Wood was piled under it, and high all about it, and all was drenched with oil, even the garments of Faramir and the coverlets; but as yet no fire had been set to the fuel Then Gandalf revealed the strength that lay hid in hireythe sick ain, and bore him towards the door But as he did so Faramir moaned and called on his father in his drea from a trance, and the flame died in his eyes, and he wept; and he said: &039;Do not take my son from me! He calls for me&039;

&039;He calls,&039; said Gandalf, &039;but you cannot co on the threshold of death, and o out to the battle of your City, where maybe death awaits you This you know in your heart&039;