°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
kindreds¡¡that¡¡had¡¡once¡¡dwelt¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡now¡¡they¡¡were¡¡silent£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡footsteps¡¡rang¡¡on¡¡their¡¡
wide¡¡pavements£»¡¡nor¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡their¡¡halls£»¡¡nor¡¡any¡¡face¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡from¡¡door¡¡or¡¡empty¡¡
window¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡they¡¡came¡¡out¡¡of¡¡shadow¡¡to¡¡the¡¡seventh¡¡gate£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡warm¡¡sun¡¡that¡¡shone¡¡down¡¡beyond¡¡
the¡¡river£»¡¡as¡¡Frodo¡¡walked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡glades¡¡of¡¡Ithilien£»¡¡glowed¡¡here¡¡on¡¡the¡¡smooth¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡rooted¡¡
pillars£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡great¡¡arch¡¡with¡¡keystone¡¡carven¡¡in¡¡the¡¡likeness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡crowned¡¡and¡¡kingly¡¡head¡£¡¡
Gandalf¡¡dismounted£»¡¡for¡¡no¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡allowed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Citadel£»¡¡and¡¡Shadowfax¡¡suffered¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡
be¡¡led¡¡away¡¡at¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡word¡¡of¡¡his¡¡master¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Guards¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡were¡¡robed¡¡in¡¡black£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡helms¡¡were¡¡of¡¡strange¡¡shape£»¡¡high¡
crowned£»¡¡with¡¡long¡¡cheek¡guards¡¡close¡fitting¡¡to¡¡the¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡above¡¡the¡¡cheek¡guards¡¡were¡¡set¡¡the¡¡
white¡¡wings¡¡of¡¡sea¡birds£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡helms¡¡gleamed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡flame¡¡of¡¡silver£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡indeed¡¡
wrought¡¡of¡¡_mithril_£»¡¡heirlooms¡¡from¡¡the¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡old¡¡days¡£¡¡Upon¡¡the¡¡black¡¡surcoats¡¡were¡¡
embroidered¡¡in¡¡white¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡blossoming¡¡like¡¡snow¡¡beneath¡¡a¡¡silver¡¡crown¡¡and¡¡many¡pointed¡¡stars¡£¡¡
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡livery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heirs¡¡of¡¡Elendil£»¡¡and¡¡none¡¡wore¡¡it¡¡now¡¡in¡¡all¡¡Gondor£»¡¡save¡¡the¡¡Guards¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡Citadel¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Court¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Fountain¡¡where¡¡the¡¡White¡¡Tree¡¡once¡¡had¡¡grown¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Already¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡that¡¡word¡¡of¡¡their¡¡ing¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡before¡¡them£º¡¡and¡¡at¡¡once¡¡they¡¡were¡¡
admitted£»¡¡silently£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡question¡£¡¡Quickly¡¡Gandalf¡¡strode¡¡across¡¡the¡¡white¡paved¡¡court¡£¡¡A¡¡
sweet¡¡fountain¡¡played¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡sun£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sward¡¡of¡¡bright¡¡green¡¡lay¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
midst¡£¡¡drooping¡¡over¡¡the¡¡pool£»¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡tree£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡falling¡¡drops¡¡dripped¡¡sadly¡¡from¡¡its¡¡barren¡¡
and¡¡broken¡¡branches¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡water¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pippin¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡it¡¡as¡¡he¡¡hurried¡¡after¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡mournful£»¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡
wondered¡¡why¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡tree¡¡was¡¡left¡¡in¡¡this¡¡place¡¡where¡¡everything¡¡else¡¡was¡¡well¡¡tended¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡_Seven¡¡stars¡¡and¡¡seven¡¡stones¡¡and¡¡one¡¡white¡¡tree¡£_
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡words¡¡that¡¡Gandalf¡¡had¡¡murmured¡¡came¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡
the¡¡doors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡hall¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡gleaming¡¡tower£»¡¡and¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡tall¡¡
silent¡¡door¡wardens¡¡and¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡cool¡¡echoing¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡stone¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡walked¡¡down¡¡a¡¡paved¡¡passage£»¡¡long¡¡and¡¡empty£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡they¡¡went¡¡Gandalf¡¡spoke¡¡softly¡¡to¡¡
Pippin¡£¡¡'Be¡¡careful¡¡of¡¡your¡¡words£»¡¡Master¡¡Peregrin£¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡hobbit¡¡pertness¡£¡¡Th¨¦oden¡¡is¡¡
a¡¡kindly¡¡old¡¡man¡£¡¡Denethor¡¡is¡¡of¡¡another¡¡sort£»¡¡proud¡¡and¡¡subtle£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡far¡¡greater¡¡lineage¡¡and¡¡
power£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡is¡¡not¡¡called¡¡a¡¡king¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡will¡¡speak¡¡most¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡question¡¡you¡¡much£»¡¡since¡¡
you¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡son¡¡Boromir¡£¡¡He¡¡loved¡¡him¡¡greatly£º¡¡too¡¡much¡¡perhaps£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡more¡¡so¡¡
because¡¡they¡¡were¡¡unlike¡£¡¡But¡¡under¡¡cover¡¡of¡¡this¡¡love¡¡he¡¡will¡¡think¡¡it¡¡easier¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡what¡¡he¡¡
witches¡¡from¡¡you¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡more¡¡than¡¡you¡¡need£»¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡quiet¡¡the¡¡
matter¡¡of¡¡Frodo's¡¡errand¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡that¡¡in¡¡due¡¡time¡£¡¡And¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡Aragorn¡¡either£»¡¡
unless¡¡you¡¡must¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Why¡¡not£¿¡¡What¡¡is¡¡wrong¡¡with¡¡Strider£¿'¡¡Pippin¡¡whispered¡£¡¡'He¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡e¡¡here£»¡¡didn't¡¡he£¿¡¡
And¡¡he'll¡¡be¡¡arriving¡¡soon¡¡himself¡¡anyway¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Maybe£»¡¡maybe£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'Though¡¡if¡¡he¡¡es£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡some¡¡way¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡
expects£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡Denethor¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡better¡¡so¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡he¡¡should¡¡e¡¡unheralded¡¡by¡¡us¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gandalf¡¡halted¡¡before¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡door¡¡of¡¡polished¡¡metal¡£¡¡'See£»¡¡Master¡¡Pippin£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡
instruct¡¡you¡¡now¡¡in¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡Gondor£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡better£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡
something¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡were¡¡still¡¡birds¡nesting¡¡and¡¡playing¡¡truant¡¡in¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Shire¡£¡¡Do¡¡
as¡¡I¡¡bid£¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡scarcely¡¡wise¡¡when¡¡bringing¡¡the¡¡news¡¡of¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡his¡¡heir¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡lord¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡
over¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ing¡¡of¡¡one¡¡who¡¡will£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡es£»¡¡claim¡¡the¡¡kingship¡£¡¡Is¡¡that¡¡enough£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Kingship£¿'¡¡said¡¡Pippin¡¡amazed¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Yes£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'If¡¡you¡¡have¡¡walked¡¡all¡¡these¡¡days¡¡with¡¡closed¡¡ears¡¡and¡¡mind¡¡asleep£»¡¡wake¡¡
up¡¡now£¡'¡¡He¡¡knocked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡door¡¡opened£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡one¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡to¡¡open¡¡it¡£¡¡Pippin¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡a¡¡great¡¡hall¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡lit¡¡
by¡¡deep¡¡windows¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡aisles¡¡at¡¡either¡¡side£»¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡rows¡¡of¡¡tall¡¡pillars¡¡that¡¡upheld¡¡the¡¡
roof¡£¡¡Monoliths¡¡of¡¡black¡¡marble£»¡¡they¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡great¡¡capitals¡¡carved¡¡in¡¡many¡¡strange¡¡figures¡¡of¡¡beasts¡¡
and¡¡leaves£»¡¡and¡¡far¡¡above¡¡in¡¡shadow¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡vaulting¡¡gleamed¡¡with¡¡dull¡¡gold£»¡¡inset¡¡with¡¡flowing¡¡
traceries¡¡of¡¡many¡¡colours¡£¡¡No¡¡hangings¡¡nor¡¡storied¡¡webs£»¡¡nor¡¡any¡¡things¡¡of¡¡woven¡¡stuff¡¡or¡¡of¡¡wood£»¡¡
were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡that¡¡long¡¡solemn¡¡hall£»¡¡but¡¡between¡¡the¡¡pillars¡¡there¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡silent¡¡pany¡¡of¡¡tall¡¡
images¡¡graven¡¡in¡¡cold¡¡stone¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡Pippin¡¡was¡¡reminded¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hewn¡¡rocks¡¡of¡¡Argonath£»¡¡and¡¡awe¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡
looked¡¡down¡¡that¡¡avenue¡¡of¡¡kings¡¡long¡¡dead¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡far¡¡end¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡dais¡¡of¡¡many¡¡steps¡¡was¡¡set¡¡a¡¡
high¡¡throne¡¡under¡¡a¡¡canopy¡¡of¡¡marble¡¡shaped¡¡like¡¡a¡¡crowned¡¡helm£»¡¡behind¡¡it¡¡was¡¡carved¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡
wall¡¡and¡¡set¡¡with¡¡gems¡¡an¡¡image¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡in¡¡flower¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡throne¡¡was¡¡empty¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
dais£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡lowest¡¡step¡¡which¡¡was¡¡broad¡¡and¡¡deep£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡chair£»¡¡black¡¡and¡¡unadorned£»¡¡
and¡¡on¡¡it¡¡sat¡¡an¡¡old¡¡man¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡his¡¡lap¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡a¡¡white¡¡rod¡¡with¡¡a¡¡golden¡¡knob¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡
not¡¡look¡¡up¡£¡¡Solemnly¡¡they¡¡paced¡¡the¡¡long¡¡floor¡¡towards¡¡him£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡three¡¡paces¡¡from¡¡his¡¡
footstool¡£¡¡Then¡¡Gandalf¡¡spoke¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Hail£»¡¡Lord¡¡and¡¡Steward¡¡of¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith£»¡¡Denethor¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Ecthelion£¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡e¡¡with¡¡counsel¡¡
and¡¡tidings¡¡in¡¡this¡¡dark¡¡hour¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡looked¡¡up¡£¡¡Pippin¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡carven¡¡face¡¡with¡¡its¡¡proud¡¡bones¡¡and¡¡skin¡¡like¡¡ivory£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡long¡¡curved¡¡nose¡¡between¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡deep¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡reminded¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡of¡¡
Boromir¡¡as¡¡of¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'Dark¡¡indeed¡¡is¡¡the¡¡hour£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡'and¡¡at¡¡such¡¡times¡¡you¡¡are¡¡wont¡¡
to¡¡e£»¡¡Mithrandir¡£¡¡But¡¡though¡¡all¡¡the¡¡signs¡¡forebode¡¡that¡¡the¡¡doom¡¡of¡¡Gondor¡¡is¡¡drawing¡¡nigh£»¡¡
less¡¡now¡¡to¡¡me¡¡is¡¡that¡¡darkness¡¡than¡¡my¡¡own¡¡darkness¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡been¡¡told¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡you¡¡bring¡¡with¡¡
you¡¡one¡¡who¡¡saw¡¡my¡¡son¡¡die¡£¡¡Is¡¡this¡¡he£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'It¡¡is£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡twain¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡is¡¡with¡¡Th¨¦oden¡¡of¡¡Rohan¡¡and¡¡may¡¡e¡¡
hereafter¡£¡¡Halflings¡¡they¡¡are£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡see£»¡¡yet¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡he¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡omens¡¡spoke¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Yet¡¡a¡¡Halfling¡¡still£»'¡¡said¡¡Denethor¡¡grimly£»¡¡'and¡¡little¡¡love¡¡do¡¡I¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡name£»¡¡since¡¡those¡¡
accursed¡¡words¡¡came¡¡to¡¡trouble¡¡our¡¡counsels¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡away¡¡my¡¡son¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡errand¡¡to¡¡his¡¡death¡£¡¡
My¡¡Boromir£¡¡¡Now¡¡we¡¡have¡¡need¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¡Faramir¡¡should¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡in¡¡his¡¡stead¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡gone£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'Be¡¡not¡¡unjust¡¡in¡¡your¡¡grief£¡¡¡Boromir¡¡claimed¡¡the¡¡errand¡¡
and¡¡would¡¡not¡¡suffer¡¡any¡¡other¡¡to¡¡have¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡masterful¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡to¡¡take¡¡what¡¡he¡¡desired¡£¡¡
I¡¡journeyed¡¡far¡¡with¡¡him¡¡and¡¡learned¡¡much¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mood¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡his¡¡death¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡had¡¡
news¡¡of¡¡that¡¡ere¡¡we¡¡came£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡received¡¡this£»'¡¡said¡¡Denethor£»¡¡and¡¡laying¡¡down¡¡his¡¡rod¡¡he¡¡lifted¡¡from¡¡his¡¡lap¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡
he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡gazing¡¡at¡£¡¡In¡¡each¡¡hand¡¡he¡¡held¡¡up¡¡one¡¡half¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡horn¡¡cloven¡¡through¡¡the¡¡middle£º¡¡
a¡¡wild¡ox¡¡horn¡¡bound¡¡with¡¡silver¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡horn¡¡that¡¡Boromir¡¡always¡¡wore£¡'¡¡cried¡¡Pippin¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Verily£»'¡¡said¡¡Denethor¡£¡¡'And¡¡in¡¡my¡¡turn¡¡I¡¡bore¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡did¡¡each¡¡eldest¡¡son¡¡of¡¡our¡¡house£»¡¡far¡¡
back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡vanished¡¡years¡¡before¡¡the¡¡failing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kings£»¡¡since¡¡Vorondil¡¡father¡¡of¡¡Mardil¡¡hunted¡¡
the¡¡wild¡¡kine¡¡of¡¡Araw¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡fields¡¡of¡¡Rh£¿n¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡blowing¡¡dim¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡northern¡¡marches¡¡
thirteen¡¡days¡¡ago£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡River¡¡brought¡¡it¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡broken£º¡¡it¡¡will¡¡wind¡¡no¡¡more¡£'¡¡He¡¡paused¡¡and¡¡
there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡silence¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡black¡¡glance¡¡upon¡¡Pippin¡£¡¡'What¡¡say¡¡you¡¡to¡¡that£»¡¡
Halfling£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Thirteen£»¡¡thirteen¡¡days£»'¡¡faltered¡¡Pippin¡£¡¡'Yes£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡so¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡
as¡¡he¡¡blew¡¡the¡¡horn¡£¡¡But¡¡no¡¡help¡¡came¡£¡¡Only¡¡more¡¡orcs¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'So£»'¡¡said¡¡Denethor£»¡¡looking¡¡keenly¡¡at¡¡Pippin's¡¡face¡£¡¡'You¡¡were¡¡there£¿¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡more£¡¡¡Why¡¡did¡¡no¡¡
help¡¡e£¿¡¡And¡¡how¡¡did¡¡you¡¡escape£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not£»¡¡so¡¡mighty¡¡a¡¡man¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡orcs¡¡
to¡¡withstand¡¡him£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pippin¡¡flushed¡¡and¡¡forgot¡¡his¡¡fear¡£¡¡'The¡¡mightiest¡¡man¡¡may¡¡be¡¡slain¡¡by¡¡one¡¡arrow£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'and¡¡
Boromir¡¡was¡¡pierced¡¡by¡¡many¡£¡¡When¡¡last¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡he¡¡sank¡¡beside¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡and¡¡