For three days and night, Gandalf and Pippin rode to Minas Tirith , passing through plains and forest without a moment to rest…. Except maybe for the Hobbit who was able to sleep when night fell. They couldn't stop because as the time passed, Sauron's planned attack became closer and closer. After a long ride and the crossing of a river, Gandalf stopped Shadowfax as he remarked out-loud "We have just passed into the realm of Gondor !"
Then, some times later, Shadowfax galloped up a small hill and when the magnificent horse stopped at its top Gandalf and Pippin looked at the sight before them : Minas Tirith , the capital of Gondor. It was a massive city-like fortification founded with white stones against the mountain.
Each level was walled ,holding a gate which all faced a different direction: only the Great Gate faced east ; the gate to the second level faced South-East, and that to the third faced North-East. Altering between the two such that the path up through the levels wound to and fro rather than following a straight line.
A protrusion of rocks as high as the seventh level bisected all the lower levels except on the line of the Great Gate. The winding path through the city therefore passed through tunnels in this 'keel' five times. At the top of the white city, we could a tower like-structure along with a large building which was where the Kings of Gondor used to reside. Pippin watched the new place with amazement and Gandalf looked at it with a neutral expression as he presented it to the curious Hobbit "Minas Tirith...City of Kings..."
Later, Gandalf and Pippin were seen riding through the city all the way to the top. On the way, civilians and Soldiers were seen doing their usual stuffs "Make way !" the White Wizard yelled out to the people who quickly went out of Shadowfax's way as they rode through the levels and their many gates.
After some times, Gandalf and Pippin finally reached the top of Minas Tirith where stood the Tower of Ecthelion also known as the House of the Kings. Before it was a courtyard where we could see four patches of green grasses surrounding a dead tree. The tree in question was completely white and had no leaves on its branches. It was the King's tree.
The two travelers dismounted Shadowfax before walking across the courtyard. But then Pippin saw the dead tree and instantly recognized it as the one he saw when he held the Palantir days ago "It's the tree, Gandalf…. Gandalf !" the Hobbit called out to attract the attention of the Wizard who kept walking but was at-least able to explain "Yes, the White Tree of Gondor, the tree of the King ! Lord Denethor however is not the king... He is a Steward only... A caretaker of the throne !"
Arriving at the doors, Gandalf seemed to hesitate for a moment before looking down at Pippin urgently "Listen carefully: Lord Denethor is Boromir's father... To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise… And do not mention about Frodo or the Ring..." The Wizard inquired as he turned around to enter but then stopped himself to add "And say nothing of Aragorn either..."
Gandalf turned around to enter but then he (again) stopped in his tracks before looking back down at Pippin after a few seconds of thoughts "In fact, it's better if you don't speak at all, Peregrin Took..." The Hobbit nodded his head in understanding as he and the Wizard entered the House of the King.
A long hall filled with black pillars and stone pedestals stood at each side of the place representing the Old Kings of Gondor such as Elendil and Isildur. At the end of the hall, were a platform on which the throne of Gondor sat before a small staircase and next to it, was another chair-like throne where we could see someone sitting on it.
Gandalf and Pippin approached the man who had his face lowered down as he was holding something in his hands. The man in question had long gray hair and was wearing a black robe with white grayish fur around his wists and around his neck. The man was none other than Denethor , the Steward of Gondor and didn't even seemed to notice the newcomers when they stopped a few feet before him.
" 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 respectful tone as he looked at the man before him. Denethor then lifted his head to look at them " Perhaps you've come to explain this..." as he said those words, the Steward of Gondor raised his hands to show them what he was holding : it was horn broken in two. But it wasn't any horn… It was Boromir's !
"Perhaps you've come to tell me why my son is dead..." Denethor finished with a soft tone of grief. Gandalf was speechless : he didn't know HOW the Steward's son died exactly and now knew that the situation will became more… difficult. He knew Denethor could be unreasonable from time to time and also greedy for power. Gandalf knew that of his two sons, Denethor had always favored the oldest and now learned that Boromir was dead… It would be a challenge to talk some sense into him.
At the same time, Pippin was looking at Denethor with wide eyes as he was there when Boromir was dead. After all, the man gave his life to protect them from the Uruks back at Amon Hen." Boromir died to save us, my kinsmen and me...He fell defending us from many foes !" Then Pippin walked closer to the Steward before kneeling before him as he added softy , ignoring Gandalf's call for him "I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt..."
Denethor had stared at the Hobbit with no emotion in his eyes but then when Pippin said the last part, his face twitched as he spoke "This is my first command to you : how did you escape and my son did not ? So mighty a man as he was !" Pippin took a few seconds before answering to the grieving man " The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow….and Boromir was pierced by many!"
Hearing those words caused Denethor to whimper as he lowered his head down. Gandalf , for his part, was exasperated by the Hobbit who seemed to not know what he got himself into as he stepped forward the approach Pippin before tapping him with his staff "Get up !" the Wizard inquired the fool Hobbit who obeyed in silence as he stepped aside.
"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 !" Denethor looked at Gandalf with anger clear in his eyes "As Steward, you're charged with the defense of this city... Where are Gondor's armies ? You still have friends... You're not alone in this fight…. Send word to Théoden of Rohan…. Light the beacons !"
Denethor stood there for a moment in complete silence but when he spoke again, it was with clenched teeth in anger as he glared at the White Wizard "You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom ! Do you think the eyes of the White Towers 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 seek to supplant me !"
" I know who rides with Théoden of Rohan...Oh, yes... Words have 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 !" Those words seemed to anger Gandalf who managed to stay calm as he said gravely "Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King, Steward !"
Denethor suddenly rose from his seat, glaring at the White Wizard with nothing but pure anger as he shouted loudly "The whole rule of Gondor is MINE ! And no other's !" Pippin looked at the man with wide eyes of shock : Denethor wasn't the King and yet he refused to give the power to the rightful heir of the throne !
Gandalf looked at Denethor with contained anger and disappointment as he turned back toward the exit " Come !" he ordered the Hobbit who didn't needed to be told twice as he went after the Wizard. "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... The White Tree, the tree of the king, will never bloom again..." Gandalf said in disbelief and anger as they stepped out of the House of Kings to the courtyard. Pippin then looked at the guards who were surrounding the dead tree before asking to the Wizard " Why are they still guarding it ?"
"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 bourne out of the west was forsaken... Kings made made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living, and counted the old names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons...Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on herladry, or in high cold towers asking questions of the stars...And so the people of gondor fell into ruin…" as Gandalf answered the Hobbit, the two were walking on the rock walkway , getting close to its tip.
"The line of Kings failed... The white tree whithered... The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men..." The Wizard finished talking as he and Pippin looked through an opening in the railing toward a place not too far from Minas Tirith… a place where the enemy resided "Mordor..." Pippin whispered as he looked at where Mount Doom was.
"Yes, there it lies... This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow..." Gandalf responded without turning his head as he still looked at the dark place where we could see dark clouds in the sky above it. " A storm is coming..." Pippin remarked when he looked at the sky. "This is not the weather of the world... This is the device of of Sauron's making... A broil of fumes 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 !"
"Well… Minas Tirith..." Pippin said which caused Gandalf to look at him "Very impressive... So where are we off to next ?" he asked the Wizard , ready to mount Shadowfax to flee. However, the Hobbit quickly lost his smile when Gandalf answered him gravely "Oh it's too late for that, Peregrin... There's no leaving this city... Help must come to us !"
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It was the night at Minas Tirith and Gandalf was standing on a balcony, looking to the distance while smoking his old pipe. All he could see however was Mordor where it was everything but a peaceful viewing from Gondor. Meanwhile, in the room, Pippin was inspecting his just-delivered new outfit to wear now that he was under Denethor's service.
"So I imagine this is just a ceremonial position..." He inquired out-look as he looked at his armor and unsheathed sword "I mean... They don't actually expect me to do any fighting… do they ?" Pippin asked the Wizard with a nervous look on his face. The Wizard coughed a few times and didn't turned his head to answer in a calm tone "You're in the service of the Steward now... you're going to have to do as you're told, Peregrin Took..."
Then he coughed again a few more times while Pippin filled up a goblet with fresh water " Ridiculous Hobbit… Guard of the Citadel..." The Wizard muttered under his breath before coughing again, taking his pipe out of his mouth. Pippin walked over with the filled goblet in his hands before giving it to Gandalf who accepted it.
While the Wizard was drinking, Pippin looked at the sky before remarking out-loud "There's no more stars…." then without turning his head, he asked with understanding "Is it time ?" "Yes…" Gandalf quietly responded while looking into the distance. Pippin leaned on the railing as another eruption from Mount Doom lightened his face in orange " It's so quiet..." the Hobbit remarked quietly, not taking his eyes of Mordor.
" It's the deep breath before the plunge..." Gandalf added with a neutral expression on his face as he also looked toward Mordor.
"I don't want to be in a battle...but waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse !" Pippin sais as Gandalf came closer before asking "Is there any hope, Gandalf ? For Frodo and Sam ?"
The White Wizard leaned on the railing before saying calmly.
"There never was much hope..." Those words seemed to shock the Hobbit who looked at the Wizard with wide eyes. But then Gandalf looked at him with a soft smile as he added "Just a fool's hope..." Looking back at Mordor, their smiles disappeared like ice near fire as it was replaced by a much more serious one "Our enemy is ready, his full strength gathers... 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 the hardest... If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defense of this city will be gone !"
Pippin then said something that took the Wizard off guard "But we have the White Wizard… that's got to count for something !" When he noticed that he received no response , he called out "Gandalf ?" The White Wizard straightened himself as he looked solemn all of a sudden before answering gravely "Sauron has yet to reveal his deadliest servant... The one who would lead Mordor's armies in war... The one they say no living man can kill: the Witch-King of Angmar…You've met him before... "
At Pippin's confused face, Gandalf looked down at him before saying " He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop..." Realization filled Pippin's eyes as he remembered that Night when Aragorn escorted them to Rivendell. While the Ranger was away, the Hobbits got attacked by the Black Riders and Frodo got stabbed by one of them with a cursed blade. They had to run as fast as they could to Rivendell to save him or else he would be dead.
"He is the Lord of the Nazgûl, the greatest of the Nine…. Minas Morgul is his lair..." Gandalf finished at he looked toward the distance where the place should be. Unaware that at Minas Morgul, Sam, Frodo and Gollum were there trying to reach the stairs the thin creature had told them about.
Gandalf and Pippin were still watching the distance when suddenly a bright blue-green light erupted from somewhere withing Mordor , where Minas Morgul was. The Wizard and the Hobbit looked at the scene in shock as well as everyone present in the city at this moment.
Pippin backed up into Gandalf who putted an arm around the terrified Hobbit in an attempt to comfort him as the two were still looking at the strange spectacle taking place before their eyes. "We come to it at last..." Gandalf began to say which caused Pippin to look up at him with wide eyes "the great battle of our time...The board is set… The pieces are moving..."
Indeed, at Minas Morgul, Sam, Frodo and Gollum were beginning to climb up the secret stairs as quietly as they could without being noticed by the other creatures present with them. In fact, a large army of Orcs was walking on the bridge , greatly armed and ready for battle as ,above them, was none other than the Witch-King of Angmar , riding a dragon-like beast as he led the massive horde of Orcs to Minas Tirith.
The Greatest Battle of Middle-Earth will begun soon…
(To be continued…)
Note : Sorry but I decided to cut the scene at Minas Morgul so please don't hate me for this.