The maiar and two elves rode almost without rest for three days, they knew and felt that something was about to happen and it was urgent to get there as soon as they could.

They avoided the main roads and traveled mostly through the forests for Gandalf knew that sauron's spies could be anywhere.

The two elves didn't know what to expect for Gandalf hadn't told them anything about Minas Tirith, but on the third day, as they went up to a hill, the white city appeared like a vision in front of them "Minas Tirith, city of king" he announced to his three surprised companions.

To the elves it was like a revelation, for the first time since they woke they felt that the world has indeed changed for they could feel a sense of "old and history" coming from it. They could see for the first time that now man also had a history of their own.

They rode with Gandalf into the city, and as they passed and saw the greatness, the statues of old king, the same sensation grew inside them.

People stared at the strange group with wide eyes as they make their way to the upper levels of the city.

Finally, they reach the topmost level and stop in front of a huge white wall.

After they get off their horses, they walk towards the doors and Pippin notices a dead tree guarded by four soldiers dressed in ceremonial uniforms, the same tree he saw in his dream, and says to Gandalf with surprise "It's the tree! Gandalf, Gandalf"

Gandalf keeps walking but he explains to his companions "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.

Then he stops for a moment and tells Pippin while the two elves listen "Now listen carefully. Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise." He is about to continue but stops and says again "And do not mention Frodo or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either" He stops for a moment as if thinking and finally adds "In fact, its better if you don't speak at all Peregrin Took"

Luthien just laughs at this and says to the wizard "What of us Gandalf, should we also be mute?"

As they enter the doors, they walk through a massive hall that is filled with statues of all the kings of Gondor. They approach a throne where a man sits in a seat at the base of the steps to the Throne.

Apparently the man knows of their presence but he does not raise his gaze to look upon them. He is a middle aged man richly dressed. His features are proud but the elves also notice that he is a troubled man.

As they stand in front of him, Gandalf says "Hail Denethor son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor"
But the steward still does not look at them and Gandalf continues "I come with tidings in this dark hour and with counsel."

Finally the man looks up and they noticed the sadness and anger in his eyes. He stares at Gandalf and says with a hurt voice as he shows a broken Horn that Pippin and Gandalf recognize "Perhaps you have come to explain this. Perhaps you have come to tell me why my son is dead."

At that moment painful memories came back to Pippin, so strong that the two elves got a glimpse of Boromir's death through his mind.

Pippin interrupted Denethor as he approached and said "Boromir died to save us my kinsman and me. He fell defending us from many foes" then he kneels dawn and says "I offer you my service, such as it is in payment of this debt."

Denethor looks at him and asks "This is my first command to you. How did you escape and my son did not? So mighty as man as he was" But Pippin's answer only disturbs him "The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow and Boromir was pierced by many.

The scene is cut by Gandalf as he walks forward and moves Pippin out of the way "Get up" he says to him and then tells Denethor

"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. Light the beacons.

But Denethor just stares at him, a mixture of anger and mockery

"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."

He stops for a moment and then continues in a rising angry tone

"I know who rides with Theoden 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"

Gandalf now answered with great authority "Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King, steward"

At this Denethor raises from his chair in anger and exclaims "The rule of Gondor is mine and no others!"

For a moment they just stare at each other, Gandalf in frustration, Denethor in anger. Just for a short moment he noticed the two other companions of Gandalf and his anger is briefly replaced by surprise, but soon he just looks away and goes back to his chair looking tired.

Gandalf turns to Pippin and the elves and says "Come" the three of them fallow Gandalf out of the hall.

As they move Gandalf says to himself "All had turned to vain ambition. He would use even his grief as a cloak! A thousand years this city has stood and now at the whim of a madman it will fall! And the white tree, the tree of the King will never bloom again."

As they walk past the tree Pippin asks "Why are they still guarding it?"

Gandalf stares at the tree and answers "They guard it because they have hope. A faint and fading hope that one day it will flower. That a king will come and this city will be as it once was before it fell into decay"

He stops for a moment to look at his friends and then continues

"The old wisdom born out of the west was forsaken. Kings 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 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. The white tree withered. The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men.

Then Pippin looks beyond the city towards the east at the mountains of Mordor and the disturbances that go on there "Mordor" he simply says with fear.

Gandalf also look in that direction and says "Yes, there it lies. This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow"

Luthien also stares towards the dark land and ancient memories come to her, when she went to angband to save Beren from Morgoth.

Finduilas looks up and sees black cloud coming towards the city "A storm is coming she says, but Gandalf adds with a serious expression

"This is not the weather of the world. This is a device 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"

Pippin trembled a little and said

"Well… Minas Tirith… very impressive" He los at Gandalf enquiringly "So where are off to next?"

But Gandalf just looks down at him and answers "Oh, it's too late for that Peregrin. There's no leaving this city" then he looks towards Mordor again and says "Help must come to us"

Even if Denethor was not in the best of terms with Gandalf, they are given rooms in the upper level of the city, one for the two ladies and the other for Gandalf and the hobbit.

As they rested in their room, Luthien looked out at the window, then she turned her face to Finduilas and asks "What did you make of this Denethor" Finduilas thought for a moment and then added "I fear he is a disturbed man, perhaps his son's death has affected him" Luthien then added "He is a sad man, I wish I could be able to help him if he lets me"

Finduilas approached her and said "Sadness. It's not just him; the whole city seems surrounded by it.

After a while they decided to go to Gandalf room. Once they hear Gandalf's voice telling them to come in, they entered and saw Gandalf smoking a pipe and Pippin standing in the balcony looking to the east.

"Are the rooms comfortable??" Gandalf asked and Luthien said "Yes Olorin" Finduilas approaches Pippin from behind and puts her hand in his shoulder, she smiles at him and asks "Is everything ok Pippin" He smiles at her and then looks again towards the mountains of Mordor

" It's so quiet." He says. Gandalf and Luthien approach them and Gandalf adds "It's the deep breath before the plunge."

Pippin takes a deep breath and says with a little fear

"I don't want to be in a battle. But waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse"

Then he turns to look at Gandalf and asks "Is there any hope Gandalf, for Frodo and Sam?"

Gandalf approaches the edge of the balcony " There never was much hope. Just a fool's hope" Then he smiles down at the hobbit and continues as he looks book towards Mordor

"Our enemy is ready. His full strength's 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.

Pippin stared at him and then the two ladies and said with hope in his eyes "But we have the white wizard and also two mighty elves of old. That's got to count for something" Gandalf looks at him worried. Pippin notices this and asks with doubt "Gandalf?"

Gandalf stares back at Mordor and says "Sauron has yet to show his deadliest servant, the one who will lead Mordor's army in war. The one they say no living man can kill, the Witch King of Angmar."

He looks down at the hobbit and says "You've met him before. He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop".

As Pippin remembers Gandalf continues "He is the lord of the Nazgûl, the greatest of the nine."

But then he stares at both Luthien and Finduilas and says "And yet he fears the light of those who saw the elder days"

Silence fill the rooms, as they all look to the east, each lost in its own thoughts. But after a few minutes their silence is broken when suddenly a ray of green light appears lightening the black sky. The entire city trembles in fear at the huge sign. Pippin looks very frightened and Luthien noticing this stands right behind him and puts both her arms on his shoulder in a protective manner.

Gandalf simply says "We come to it at last, the great battle of our time. The board is set, the pieces are moving.

Then he turns to the two elves and says "Better get prepared for what is coming. I will be back in a short while" then he turns back to Pippin and says "And I'm going to need your help"

Finduilas asks "Where are you going?" But Gandalf smiles and answers "Its time we call for aid"