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and to rebuild the bridge for the passage of our arms。 And then came the Fell Riders out of Minas
Morgul。'
'The Black Riders？' said Pippin； opening his eyes； and they were wide and dark with an old fear
re…awakened。
'Yes； they were black；' said Beregond； 'and I see that you know something of them； though you
have not spoken of them in any of your tales。'
'I know of them；' said Pippin softly； 'but I will not speak of them now； so near； so near。' He
broke off and lifted his eyes above the River； and it seemed to him that all he could see was a vast
and threatening shadow。 Perhaps it was mountains looming on the verge of sight； their jagged
edges softened by wellnigh twenty leagues of misty air； perhaps it was but a cloud…wall； and
beyond that again a yet deeper gloom。 But even as he looked it seemed to his eyes that the gloom
was growing and gathering； very slowly； slowly rising to smother the regions of the sun。
'So near to Mordor？' said Beregond quietly。 'Yes； there it lies。 We seldom name it； but we have
dwelt ever in sight of that shadow： sometimes it seems fainter and more distant； sometimes nearer
and darker。 It is growing and darkening now； and therefore our fear and disquiet grow too。 And the
Fell Riders； less than a year ago they won back the crossings； and many of our best men were slain。
Boromir it was that drove the enemy at last back from this western shore； and we hold still the near
half of Osgiliath。 For a little while。 But we await now a new onslaught there。 Maybe the chief
onslaught of the war that es。'
'When？' said Pippin。 'Have you a guess？ For I saw the beacons last night and the errand…riders；
and Gandalf said that it was a sign that war had begun。 He seemed in a desperate hurry。 But now
everything seems to have slowed up again。'
'Only because everything is now ready；' said Beregond。 'It is but the deep breath before the
plunge。'
'But why were the beacons lit last night？'
'It is over…late to send for aid when you are already besieged；' answered Beregond。 'But I do not
know the counsel of the Lord and his captains。 They have many ways of gathering news。 And the
Lord Denethor is unlike other men： he sees far。 Some say that as he sits alone in his high chamber
in the Tower at night； and bends his thought this way and that； he can read somewhat of the future；
and that he will at times search even the mind of the Enemy； wrestling with him。 And so it is that
he is old； worn before his time。 But however that may be； my lord Faramir is abroad； beyond the
River on some perilous errand； and he may have sent tidings。
'But if you would know what I think set the beacons ablaze； it was the news that came yestereve
out of Lebennin。 There is a great fleet drawing near to the mouths of Anduin； manned by the
corsairs of Umbar in the South。 They have long ceased to fear the might of Gondor； and they have
allied them with the Enemy； and now make a heavy stroke in his cause。 For this attack will draw
off much of the help that we looked to have from Lebennin and Belfalas； where folk are hardy and
numerous。 All the more do our thoughts go north to Rohan； and the more glad are we for these
tidings of victory that you bring。
'And yet' – he paused and stood up； and looked round； north； east； and south – 'the doings at
Isengard should warn us that we are caught now in a great net and strategy。 This is no longer a
bickering at the fords； raiding from Ithilien and from Anórien； ambushing and pillaging。 This is a
great war long…planned； and we are but one piece in it； whatever pride may say。 Things move in the
far East beyond the Inland Sea； it is reported； and north in Mirkwood and beyond； and south in
Harad。 And now all realms shall be put to the test； to stand； or fall – under the Shadow。
'Yet； Master Peregrin； we have this honour： ever we bear the brunt of the chief hatred of the
Dark Lord； for that hatred es down out of the depths of time and over the deeps of the Sea。
Here will the hammer…stroke fall hardest。 And for that reason Mithrandir came hither in such haste。
For if we fall； who shall stand？ And； Master Peregrin； do you see any hope that we shall stand？'
Pippin did not answer。 He looked at the great walls； and the towers and brave banners； and the
sun in the high sky； and then at the gathering gloom in the East； and he thought of the long fingers
of that Shadow： of the orcs in the woods and the mountains； the treason of Isengard； the birds of
evil eye； and the Black Riders even in the lanes of the Shire – and of the winged terror； the Nazg？l。
He shuddered； and hope seemed to wither。 And even at that moment the sun for a second faltered
and was obscured； as though a dark wing had passed across it。 Almost beyond hearing he thought
he caught； high and far up in the heavens； a cry： faint； but heart…quelling； cruel and cold。 He
blanched and cowered against the wall。
'What was that？' asked Beregond。 'You also felt something？'
'Yes；' muttered Pippin。 'It is the sign of our fall； and the shadow of doom； a Fell Rider of the air。'
'Yes； the shadow of doom；' said Beregond。 'I fear that Minas Tirith shall fall。 Night es。 The
very warmth of my blood seems stolen away。'
For a time they sat together with bowed heads and did not speak。 Then suddenly Pippin looked
up and saw that the sun was still shining and the banners still streaming in the breeze。 He shook
himself。 'It is passed；' he said。 'No； my heart will not yet despair。 Gandalf fell and has returned and
is with us。 We may stand； if only on one leg； or at least be left still upon our knees。'
'Rightly said！' cried Beregond； rising and striding to and fro。 'Nay； though all things must e
utterly to an end in time； Gondor shall not perish yet。 Not though the walls be taken by a reckless
foe that will build a hill of carrion before them。 There are still other fastnesses； and secret ways of
escape into the mountains。 Hope and memory shall live still in some hidden valley where the grass
is green。'
'All the same； I wish it was over for good or ill。' said Pippin。 'I am no warrior at all and dislike
any thought of battle； but waiting on the edge of one that I can't escape is worst of all。 What a long
day it seems already！ I should be happier； if we were not obliged to stand and watch； making no
move； striking nowhere first。 No stroke would have been struck in Rohan； I think； but for Gandalf。'
'Ah； there you lay your finger on the sore that many feel！' said Beregond。 'But things may
change when Faramir returns。 He is bold； more bold than many deem； for in these days men are
slow to believe that a captain can be wise and learned in the scrolls of lore and song； as he is； and
yet a man of hardihood and swift judgement in the field。 But such is Faramir。 Less reckless and
eager than Boromir； but not less resolute。 Yet what indeed can he do？ We cannot assault the
mountains of – of yonder realm。 Our reach is shortened； and we cannot strike till some foe es
within it。 Then our hand must be heavy！' He smote the hilt of his sword。
Pippin looked at him： tall and proud and noble； as all the men that he had yet seen in that land；
and with a glitter in his eye as he thought of the battle。 'Alas！ my own hand feels as light as a
feather；' he thought； but he said nothing。 'A pawn did Gandalf say？ Perhaps but on the wrong
chessboard。'
So they talked until the sun reached its height； and suddenly the noon…bells were rung； and there
was a stir in the citadel； for all save the watchmen were going to their meal。
'Will you e with me？' said Beregond。 'You may join my mess for this day。 I do not know to
what pany you will be assigned； or the Lord may hold you at his own mand。 But you will
be wele。 And it will be well to meet as many men as you may； while there is yet time。'
'I shall be glad to e；' said Pippin。 'I am lonely； to tell you the truth。 I left my best friend
behind in Rohan； and I have had no one to talk to or jest with。 Perhaps I could really join your
pany？ Are you the captain？ If so； you could take me on； or speak for me？'
'