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e。 For I also am a steward。 Did you not know？' And with that he turned and strode from the hall
with Pippin running at his side。
Gandalf did not look at Pippin or speak a word to him as they went。 Their guide brought them
from the doors of the hall； and then led them across the Court of the Fountain into a lane between
tall buildings of stone。 After several turns they came to a house close to the wall of the citadel upon
the north side； not far from the shoulder that linked the hill with the mountain。 Within； upon the
first floor above the street； up a wide carven stair； he showed them to a fair room； light and airy；
with goodly hangings of dull gold sheen unfigured。 It was sparely furnished； having but a small
table； two chairs and a bench； but at either side there were curtained alcoves and well…clad beds
within with vessels and basins for washing。 There were three high narrow windows that looked
northward over the great curve of Anduin； still shrouded in mists； towards the Emyn Muil and
Rauros far away。 Pippin had to climb on the bench to look out over the deep stone sill。
'Are you angry with me； Gandalf？' he said； as their guide went out and closed the door。 'I did the
best I could。'
'You did indeed！' said Gandalf； laughing suddenly； and he came and stood beside Pippin； putting
his arm about the hobbit's shoulders and gazing out of the window。 Pippin glanced in some wonder
at the face now close beside his own； for the sound of that laugh had been gay and merry。 Yet in the
wizard's face he saw at first only lines of care and sorrow； though as he looked more intently he
perceived that under all there was a great joy： a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing；
were it to gush forth。
'Indeed you did your best；' said the wizard； 'and I hope that it may be long before you find
yourself in such a tight corner again between two such terrible old men。 Still the Lord of Gondor
learned more from you than you may have guessed； Pippin。 You could not hide the fact that
Boromir did not lead the pany from Moria； and that there was one among you of high honour
who was ing to Minas Tirith； and that he had a famous sword。 Men think much about the
stories of old days in Gondor； and Denethor has given long thought to the rhyme and to the words
_Isildur's Bane_； since Boromir went away。
'He is not as other men of this time； Pippin； and whatever be his descent from father to son； by
some chance the blood of Westernesse runs nearly true in him； as it does in his other son； Faramir；
and yet did not in Boromir whom he loved best。 He has long sight。 He can perceive； if he bends his
will thither； much of what is passing in the minds of men； even of those that dwell far off。 It is
difficult to deceive him； and dangerous to try。
'Remember that！ For you are now sworn to his service。 I do not know what put it into your head；
or your heart； to do that。 But it was well done。 I did not hinder it； for generous deed should not be
checked by cold counsel。 It touched his heart； as well （may I say it） as pleasing his humour。 And at
least you are free now to move about as you will in Minas Tirith – when you are not on duty。 For
there is another side to it。 You are at his mand； and he will not forget。 Be wary still！'
He fell silent and sighed。 'Well； no need to brood on what tomorrow may bring。 For one thing；
tomorrow will be certain to bring worse than today； for many days to e。 And there is nothing
more that I can do to help it。 The board is set； and the pieces are moving。 One piece that I greatly
desire to find is Faramir； now the heir of Denethor。 I do not think that he is in the City； but I have
had no time to gather news。 I must go。 Pippin。 I must go to this lords' council and learn what I can。
But the Enemy has the move； and he is about to open his full game。 And pawns are likely to see as
much of it as any； Peregrin son of Paladin； soldier of Gondor。 Sharpen your blade！'
Gandalf went to the door； and there he turned。 'I am in haste Pippin；' he said。 'Do me a favour
when you go out。 Even before you rest； if you are not too weary。 Go and find Shadowfax and see
how he is housed。 These people are kindly to beasts； for they are a good and wise folk； but they
have less skill with horses than some。'
With that Gandalf went out； and as he did so； there came the note of a clear sweet bell ringing in
a tower of the citadel。 Three strokes it rang； like silver in the air； and ceased： the third hour from the
rising of the sun。
After a minute Pippin went to the door and down the stair and looked about the street。 The sun
was now shining warm and bright； and the towers and tall houses cast long clear…cut shadows
westward。 High in the blue air Mount Mindolluin lifted its white helm and snowy cloak。 Armed
men went to and fro in the ways of the City； as if going at the striking of the hour to changes of post
and duty。
'Nine o'clock we'd call it in the Shire；' said Pippin aloud to himself。 'Just the time for a nice
breakfast by the open window in spring sunshine。 And how I should like breakfast！ Do these people
ever have it； or is it over？ And when do they have dinner； and where？'
Presently he noticed a man； clad in black and white； ing along the narrow street from the
centre of the citadel towards him。 Pippin felt lonely and made up his mind to speak as the man
passed； but he had no need。 The man came straight up to him。
'You are Peregrin the Halfling？' he said。 'I am told that you have been sworn to the service of the
Lord and of the City。 Wele！ He held out his hand and Pippin took it。
'I am named Beregond son of Baranor。 I have no duty this morning； and I have been sent to you
to teach you the pass…words； and to tell you some of the many things that no doubt you will wish to
know。 And for my part； I would learn of you also。 For never before have we seen a halfling in this
land and though we have heard rumour of them； little is said of them in any tale that we know。
Moreover you are a friend of Mithrandir。 Do you know him well？'
'Well；' said Pippin。 'I have known _of_ him all my short life； as you might say； and lately I have
travelled far with him。 But there is much to read in that book； and I cannot claim to have seen more
than a page or two。 Yet perhaps I know him as well as any but a few。 Aragorn was the only one of
our pany； I think； who really knew him。'
'Aragorn？' said Beregond。 'Who is he？'
'Oh；' stammered Pippin； 'he was a man who went about with us。 I think he is in Rohan now。'
'You have been in Rohan； I hear。 There is much that I would ask you of that land also； for we
put much of what little hope we have in its people。 But I am forgetting my errand； which was first
to answer what you would ask。 What would you know； Master Peregrin？'
'Er well；' said Pippin； 'if I may venture to say so； rather a burning question in my mind at present
is； well； what about breakfast and all that？ I mean； what are the meal…times； if you understand me；
and where is the dining…room； if there is one？ And the inns？ I looked； but never a one could I see as
we rode up； though I had been borne up by the hope of a draught of ale as soon as we came to the
homes of wise and courtly men。'
Beregond looked at him gravely。 'An old campaigner； I see；' he said。 'They say that men who go
warring afield look ever to the next hope of food and of drink； though I am not a travelled man
myself。 Then you have not yet eaten today？'
'Well； yes； to speak in courtesy； yes；' said Pippin。 'But no more than a cup of wine and a white
cake or two by the kindness of your lord； but he racked me for it with an hour of questions； and that
is hungry work。'
Beregond laughed。 'At the table small men may do the greater deeds； we say。 But you have
broken your fast as well as any man in the Citadel； and with greater honour。 This is a fortress and a
tower of guard and is now in posture of war。 We rise ere the Sun； and take a morsel in the grey light；
and go to our duties at the opening hour。 But do not despair！' He laughed again； seeing the dismay
in