Chapter 26: A Dying Light

In the early afternoon we finally reached Minas Tirith seeing the whole city was built going upwards holding on tightly as Gandalf rode up its steep roads. People watched us curiously but no guards stopped us assuming we would bring news that they needed to hear.

"Now it's very important when we speak to Denethor we do not mention the death of his son Boromir, it will be much easier getting him to agree if he is not grieving." Gandalf said hoping off the horse while we followed looking us over.

"It's best you don't speak at all." Gandalf said staring more so at Pippin making him frown but I nudged him as we made our way inside.

My eyes traveled to the tree from my vision seeing Pippin eye it too meaning it was the one we both saw burning. The guards opened the doors for us seeing an older man sitting on a throne looking down eyeing the place uneasily, it was empty and hollow.

"Hail, Denethor, Son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor. I come with tidings in this dark hour, and with counsel." Gandalf said in a friendly tone while the man looked up saying, "Perhaps you come to explain this?"

My eyes traveled down seeing the horn of Gondor that Boromir had when he was pushed out to the sea seeing Gandalf tense up while the man said louder, "Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead?"

We were all silent not having an explanation or at least one to give mostly so Gandalf since he wasn't even there when it had happened. I went to take a step forward to explain what had happened when Pippin moved faster kneeling down making me eyes avert to the man worried.

"Boromir died to save us, my kinsman and me. He fell, defending us from many foes." Pippin said keeping his head down hearing Gandalf say his name sternly but he ignored him saying, "I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt."

The man looked down at him angrily saying, "This is my first command to you. How did you escape and my son did not, so mighty a Man as he was?"

Pippin looked up seeing the sadness wash over his face replying somberly, "The mightiest Man may be slain by one arrow. Boromir was pierced by many."

The man remained silent as Gandalf took a step towards Pippin nudging him up with his staff taking his place beside me again as Gandalf said firmly, "My Lord, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming, the Enemy is on your doorstep! As Steward, you are charged with the defense of this city. Where are Gondor's armies? You still have friends, you are not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan and light the beacons."

"You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor and with your right you would seek to supplant me. I know who rides with Théoden of Rohan. Oh, yes. Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from the North! Last of a ragged house, long bereft of Lordship." The man said standing up glaring dangerous towards Gandalf,

I took a step forward with a frown saying, "Please my lord you must reconsider, your son died protecting others do you not feel obligated to do the same?"

His eyes narrowed towards me saying, "Who are you to tell me what I should be obligated to do elf."

Pippin grabbed my hand pulling me back while Gandalf stood defensively in front of me saying, "Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King, Steward!"

"The rule of Gondor is MINE! And no other's!" the man yelled silencing our words watching as he sat back down.

"You may all stay in my kingdom but know Gondor will defend this war alone, we do not need Rohan." He said motioning for us to leave watching Gandalf growl with anger before storming out while Pippin and I followed.


"All has turned to vain ambition! He would even use his grief as a cloak! A thousand years this city has stood, now, at the whim of a madman, it will fall and the White Tree, the Tree of the King, will never bloom again." Gandalf said stopping for a moment as we all looked at the tree saying softly, "Why are they still guarding it then?"

"They guard it because they have hope, a faint and fading hope, that one day it will flower. A King will come, and this city will be as it once was, before it fell into decay. The old wisdom born out of the West was forsaken and kings made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living, and counted the names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls, musing on heraldry, or in high cold towers asking questions of the stars and so, the people of Gondor fell into ruin. The line of Kings failed while the White Tree withered. The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men." Gandalf said seeing the sadness grow in his eyes while he looked off into the distance to the darkening mountain that felt way to close.

"Mordor…" Pippin said fearfully watching Gandalf walk forward replying, "Yes, there it lies. This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow."

"A storm is coming…" I said quietly watching the lightning crack in the distance making me shiver in fear feeling Pippin put a reassuring hand on mine.

"This is not the weather of the world. This is a devise of Sauron's making, a broil of fume he sends ahead of his host. The Orcs of Mordor have no love of daylight, so he covers the face of the sun to ease their passage along the road to war. When the shadow of Mordor reaches this city, it will begin." Gandalf said grimly, by the looks of it we had a mere few days.

Pippin clapped looking towards him replying, "Well, Minas Tirith, very impressive… so where are we off to next?"

Gandalf turned towards him with a hint of humor and honestly saying, "Oh, it's too late for that, Peregrin. There's no leaving this city… help must come to us."

Pippin and I looked towards Mordor in fear knowing we were now at the mercy of our hosts and Rohan coming to aid us.

One of the soldiers came over to escort us to rooms seeing I was across the hall from Pippin with Gandalf to my left. Walking in I saw clothes laid out for me to wear seeing it was ill fitted for battle but then again women of this land did not fight. I grew bored sitting in the room alone opening the door knocking on the door across from me seeing Gandalf open it not looking surprised.

He moved as I saw Pippin was slipping on the outfit they gave him stifling a laugh while he turned towards me saying, "So, I imagine this is just a ceremonial position. I mean, they don't actually expect me to do any fighting do they?"

"You're in the service of the Steward now. You're going to have to do as you're told, Peregrin Took, Guard of the Citadel." Gandalf said matter-of-factly while we all walked to the balcony leaning my arms against it.

"It's so quiet…" I said softly not even hearing the people down below most I'm sure too fearful to leave their homes.

"It's the deep breath before the plunge." Gandalf said looking out at the land around us almost sadly making me frown.

"I don't want to be in a battle, but waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse. Is there any hope, Gandalf... for Frodo and Sam?" I heard Pippin say unsure turning to Gandalf as he lit his pipeweed saying, "There never was much hope, just a fool's hope. Our enemy is almost ready, his full strength gathered. Not only Orcs, but men as well, legions of Haradrim from the South, mercenaries from the coast… all will answer Mordor' s call. This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here the hammer stroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defense of this city will be gone."

"We have the white wizard." Pippin said with a little smile as I turned to Gandalf saying, "That has to count for something…"

Gandalf remained quiet for a moment making Pippin turn to him as well seeing the grim look appear back in his eyes as he said, "Sauron has yet to reveal his deadliest servant, the one who will lead Mordor's armies in war. The one they say no living Man can kill… the Witch-King of Angmar. You've both met him before, he stabbed Frodo on Weathertop. He is the Lord of the Nazgul, the greatest of the Nine, Minas Morgul is his lair."

Pippin and I looked at each other remembering that night as I said with a heavy heart, "What shall we do now?"

Gandalf looked down at the both of us putting his hand on my head saying, "For tonight my dear we restore hope to the people."


Sorry I haven't updated this in a while I've been working more on my Supernatural story!