Chapter 27: Mad Grieving

Gandalf pondered the situation. They might need more than just Gondor's strength alone.

"Pippin," Gandalf said. The hobbit looked up at Gandalf with the curiosity only he could possess. "I need you to do me a favor. We need to get Rohan here to help Gondor. I need you to help me light the beacons."

"How?"

"There is one at the North Tower. Climb the beacon and light it. There will be a bowl of oil and an urn of fire that you can use to light it. Can you do that for me, Pippin?"

"I think so, Gandalf."

"I hope so, my boy," Gandalf said, smiling at him.

Pippin didn't take his eyes off Gandalf for a moment.

"What is it?"

"I never noticed it before Gandalf, but what is that gash in your forehead? When did you get it?"

"I've had it my whole life, which is all you need to know for now, Pippin. If there is a better time to tell you, then I will. But now is not that time. Come, I'll show you the North Tower, from there, you can do the rest."

Pippin nodded and followed Gandalf.

Pippin's POV

Pippin climbed the beacon with all the strength he could muster. He accidently spilled the oil and the fire, but got off before he could be burned.

"Good work, Pippin," Gandalf said, as soon as Pippin met up with him again."

"Now what?"

"We wait. And do as you're told."

That done, Pippin went to wait on Denathor.

But not long after Faramir left the Safety of Minas Tirith, News came that the band of soldiers he led to fight the Orcs that surrounded the fortress had died. Their captain was horribly wounded. Faramir's horse dragged him inside Minas Tirith.

Denathor pushed his way through the crowd and stared in disbelief at Faramir's broken body.

"My son…my son is dead!"

Pippin examined Faramir's body and placed his hand just above Faramir's mouth. There was a steady, warm breeze emitting from it. Pippin then placed his ear on Faramir's chest, just where the heart ought to be. There was a heart beat.

"He's not dead, my lord! He's breathing!" Pippin shouted

"HE IS DEAD!!" Denathor shrieked. He leaned against the wall overlooking the city and Denathor's eyes widened. Below him was a great army of Orcs. Pippin looked at the madman, who was muttering under his breath. "Retreat! Abandon your posts! Head back to the gate! We cannot win against them!"

Gandalf suddenly appeared and knocked Denathor out with his staff. "Pippin, take care of Faramir and this madman. Stay here."

Gandalf mounted Shadowfax and galloped off.

Gandalf POV

"Return to your posts! Don't listen to Denathor! Return to your posts! Are you not soldiers of Gondor! You know no fear against the enemy! Keep your posts! Guard the door! Don't let them enter the fortress!"

The soldiers did so, but even at Gandalf's words, they were frightened. There was ten orcs per man, which was not going to help much.

The orcs beat against the door with great force. Each blow weakened the door more every time they hit it.

An hour passed and still the Orcs have not gotten through. Someone tripped behind him and Gandalf turned around to see Pippin.

"Fool of a Took! I told you to stay at with Denathor and Faramir!"

"That's why I came down! Denathor's going to burn Faramir alive!"

Gandalf wasted no time, he grabbed Pippin, mounted Shadowfax and galloped speedily to the tower.

When he burst through the door, he saw that Faramir lay on a pillar of stone and wood. Denathor had drenched himself with oil and stood over his son.

Gandalf dismounted the steed. "Denathor, be reasonable. How about trying to heal Faramir, he is alive."

"I think I can recognize a dead man from a live one, Gandalf," Denathor spat, taking a torch from one of the servants and dropping it on the wood. "Not even you can save the dead, Gandalf!"

Gandalf and Pippin charged at Denathor and were able to pull Faramir off of the stone table. In the process, they knocked over Denathor, who still lay on the table.

Faramir opened his eyes and met his father's bewildered ones.

Denathor gave a loud shriek and ran from the room, toppling over the wall down into the ground a thousand stories below them.

Gandalf ordered the medics to take care of Faramir and he headed back to the battle field.

The gate was abandoned and all that stood there, with a hoard of Orcs awaiting his command was the Witch King of Angmar.