Denethor continued to sit at the table and eat in silence with Pippin just standing there. It's too quiet. He finally decided. I wonder if there's something I could have the hobbit do to entertain me while I eat.

"Can you sing Master Hobbit?"

Pippin seemed rather hesitant at first, Denethor wondered at this, and finally answered "Well…yes". "At least well enough for my own people."

So what's the difference between that and me?

"But we have no songs for great halls. Of evil times" he finished.

And is that a problem? I could use a nice peaceful song now.

"And why should your songs be unfit for my halls?" he asked looking at Pippin before continuing "Come, sing me a song."

Pippin stood in silence before beginning:

Home is behind, The world ahead

And there are many paths to tread.

Through Shadow,

To the edge of night

Until the Stars are all alight.

Mist and Shadow,

Cloud and Shade.

All shall fail,

All shall fade.

Denethor continued to eat while he contemplated on the words of the song Pippin had just finished performing for him. Soon, Pippin had to leave him to see to his duties, so he reported to the Citadel. Denethor went back to his chair , that he seemed to spend a lot of time in these days, and just sat there and contemplated whether there was any hope now of winning the war.

Rohan will come. Mithrandir said they would. Now I think about it, I think that they're our only hope of winning the war. I wish Boromir were here. He would know what to do. He would comfort me.

While he sat there, little did he know that he, and the rest of Gondor, was about to lose a very important asset though they didn't realize it. With that, defeat would seem certain.