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father。
'Ill？' cried Denethor； and his eyes flashed suddenly。 'Why do you ask？ The men were under your
mand。 Or do you ask for my judgement on all your deeds？ Your bearing is lowly in my
presence； yet it is long now since you turned from your own way at my counsel。 See； you have
spoken skilfully； as ever； but I； have I not seen your eye fixed on Mithrandir； seeking whether you
said well or too much？ He has long had your heart in his keeping。
'My son； your father is old but not yet dotard。 I can see and hear； as was my wont； and little of
what you have half said or left unsaid is now hidden from me。 I know the answer to many riddles。
Alas； alas for Boromir！'
'If what I have done displeases you； my father；' said Faramir quietly； 'I wish I had known your
counsel before the burden of so weighty a judgement was thrust on me。'
'Would that have availed to change your judgement？' said Denethor。 'You would still have done
just so； I deem。 I know you well。 Ever your desire is to appear lordly and generous as a king of old；
gracious； gentle。 That may well befit one of high race； if he sits in power and peace。 But in
desperate hours gentleness may be repaid with death。'
'So be it；' said Faramir。
'So be it！' cried Denethor。 'But not with your death only； Lord Faramir： with the death also of
your father； and of all your people； whom it is your part to protect now that Boromir is gone。'
'Do you wish then；' said Faramir； 'that our places had been exchanged？'
'Yes； I wish that indeed；' said Denethor。 'For Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard's pupil。 He
would have remembered his father's need； and would not have squandered what fortune gave。 He
would have brought me a mighty gift。'
For a moment Faramir's restraint gave way。 'I would ask you； my father； to remember why it
was that I； not he； was in Ithilien。 On one occasion at least your counsel has prevailed； not long ago。
It was the Lord of the City that gave the errand to him。'
'Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed for myself；' said Denethor。 'Have I not tasted it
now many nights upon my tongue foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs？ As now indeed I find。
Would it were not so！ Would that this thing had e to me！'
'fort yourself！' said Gandalf。 'In no case would Boromir have brought it to you。 He is dead；
and died well； may he sleep in peace！ Yet you deceive yourself。 He would have stretched out his
hand to this thing； and taking it he would have fallen。 He would have kept it for his own； and when
he returned you would not have known your son。'
The face of Denethor set hard and cold。 'You found Boromir less apt to your hand； did you not？'
he said softly。 'But I who was his father say that he would have brought it to me。 You are wise；
maybe； Mithrandir； yet with all your subtleties you have not all wisdom。 Counsels may be found
that are neither the webs of wizards nor the haste of fools。 I have in this matter more lore and
wisdom than you deem。 '
'What then is your wisdom？' said Gandalf。
'Enough to perceive that there are two follies to avoid。 To use this thing is perilous。 At this hour；
to send it in the hands of a witless halfling into the land of the Enemy himself； as you have done；
and this son of mine； that is madness。'
'And the Lord Denethor what would he have done？'
'Neither。 But most surely not for any argument would he have set this thing at a hazard beyond
all but a fool's hope； risking our utter ruin； if the Enemy should recover what he lost。 Nay； it should
have been kept； hidden； hidden dark and deep。 Not used； I say； unless at the uttermost end of need；
but set beyond his grasp； save by a victory so final that what then befell would not trouble us； being
dead。'
'You think； as is your wont； my lord； of Gondor only；' said Gandalf。 'Yet there are other men and
other lives； and time still to be。 And for me； I pity even his slaves。'
'And where will other men look for help； if Gondor falls？' answered Denethor。 'If I had this thing
now in the deep vaults of this citadel； we should not then shake with dread under this gloom；
fearing the worst； and our counsels would be undisturbed。 If you do not trust me to endure the test；
you do not know me yet。'
'Nonetheless I do not trust you；' said Gandalf。 'Had I done so； I could have sent this thing hither
to your keeping and spared myself and others much anguish。 And now hearing you speak I trust
you less； no more than Boromir。 Nay； stay your wrath！ I do not trust myself in this； and I refused
this thing； even as a freely given gift。 You are strong and can still in some matters govern yourself；
Denethor； yet if you had received this thing； it would have overthrown you。 Were it buried beneath
the roots of Mindolluin； still it would burn your mind away； as the darkness grows； and the yet
worse things follow that soon shall e upon us。'
For a moment the eyes of Denethor glowed again as he faced Gandalf； and Pippin felt once
more the strain between their wills； but now almost it seemed as if their glances were like blades
from eye to eye； flickering as they fenced。 Pippin trembled fearing some dreadful stroke。 But
suddenly Denethor relaxed and grew cold again。 He shrugged his shoulders。
'If I had！ If you had！' he said。 'Such words and ifs are vain。 It has gone into the Shadow； and only
time will show what doom awaits it and us。 The time will not be long。 In what is left； let all who
fight the Enemy in their fashion be at one； and keep hope while they may； and after hope still the
hardihood to die free。' He turned to Faramir。 'What think you of the garrison at Osgiliath？'
'It is not strong；' said Faramir。 'I have sent the pany of Ithilien to strengthen it； as I have
said。'
'Not enough； I deem；' said Denethor。 'It is there that the first blow will fall。 They will have need
of some stout captain there。'
'There and elsewhere in many places；' said Faramir； and sighed。 'Alas for my brother； whom I
too loved！' He rose。 'May I have your leave； father？' And then he swayed and leaned upon his
father's chair。
'You are weary； I see；' said Denethor。 'You have ridden fast and far； and under shadows of evil
in the air； I am told。'
'Let us not speak of that！' said Faramir。
'Then we will not；' said Denethor。 'Go now and rest as you may。 Tomorrow's need will be
sterner。'
All now took leave of the Lord of the City and went to rest while they still could。 Outside there
was a starless blackness as Gandalf with Pippin beside him bearing a small torch； made his way to
their lodging。 They did not speak until they were behind closed doors。 Then at last Pippin took
Gandalf's hand。
'Tell me；' he said； 'is there any hope？ For Frodo； I mean； or at least mostly for Frodo。'
Gandalf put his hand on Pippin's head。 'There never was much hope；' he answered。 'Just a fool's
hope； as I have been told。 And when I heard of Cirith Ungol–––' He broke off and strode to the
window as if his eyes could pierce the night in the East。 'Cirith Ungol！' he muttered。 'Why that way；
I wonder？' He turned。 'Just now； Pippin； my heart almost failed me； hearing that name。 And yet in
truth I believe that the news that Faramir brings has some hope in it。 For it seems clear that our
Enemy has opened his war at last and made the first move while Frodo was still free。 So now for
many days he will have his eye turned this way and that； away from his own land。 And yet； Pippin；
I feel from afar his haste and fear。 He has begun sooner than he would。 Something has happened to
stir him。'
Gandalf stood for a moment in thought。 'Maybe；' he muttered。 'Maybe even your foolishness
helped； my lad。 Let me see： some five days ago now he would discover that we had thrown down
Saruman and had taken the Stone。 Still what of that？ We could not use it to much purpose； or
without his knowing。 Ah！ I wonder。 Aragorn？ His time draws near。 And he is strong and stern
underneath； Pippin； bold； determined； able to take his own counsel and dare great risks at need。
That may be it。 He may have used the Stone and shown himself to the Enemy； challenging him； for
this very purpose。 I wonder。 Well； we shall not know the answer till the Riders of Rohan e； if
they do not e too late。 There are evil days ahead。 To sleep while we may！'
'But；' said Pippin。
'But what？' said Gandalf。 'Only one _but_ will I allow tonight。'
'Gollum；' said Pippin。 'How on earth could they be going about _with_ him； even following him？
And I could see that Faramir did not like the place he was taking them to any more than you do。
What is wrong？'
'I cannot answer that now；' said Gandalf。 'Yet my heart guessed that Frodo and Gollum would
meet before the end。 For good； or for evil。 But of Cirith Ungol I will not speak tonight。 Treachery；
treachery I fear； treachery of that miserable creature。 But so it must be。 Let us remember that a
traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend。 It can be so； sometimes。 Good night！
'
The next day came with a morning like a brown dusk； and the hearts of men； lifted for a while
by the return of Faramir； sank low again。 The winged Shadows were not seen again that day； yet
ever and anon； high above the city； a faint cry would e； and many who heard it would stand
stricken with a passing dread； while the less stout…hearted quailed and wept。
And now Faramir was gone again。 'They give him no rest；' some murmured。 'The Lord drives his
son too hard； and now he must do the duty of two； for himself and for the one that will not return。'
And ever men looked northward； asking： 'Where are the Riders of Rohan？'
In truth Faramir did not go by his own choosing。 But the Lord of the City was master of his
Council； and he was in no mood that day to bow to others。 Early in the morning the Council had
been summoned。 There all the captains judged that because of the threat in the South their force
was too weak to make any stroke of war on their own part； unless perchance the Riders of Rohan
yet should e。 Meanwhile they must man the walls and wait。
'Yet；' said Denethor； 'we should not lightly abandon the outer defences； the Rammas made with
so great a labour。 And the Enemy must pay dearly for the crossing of the River。 That he cannot do；
in force to assail the City； either north of Cair Andros because of the marshes； or southwards
towards Lebennin because of the breadth of the River； that needs many boats。 It is at Osgiliath that
he will put his weight； as before when Boromir denied him the passage。'
'That was but a trial；' said Faramir。 'Today we may make the Enemy pay ten times our loss at the
passage and yet rue the exchange。 For he can afford to lose a host better than we to lose a pany。
And the retreat of those that we put out far afield will be perilous； if he wins across in force。'
'And what of Cair Andros？' said the Prince。 'That； too； must be held； if Osgiliath is defended。 Let
us not forget the danger on our left。 The Rohirrim may e； and they may not。 But Faramir has
told us of great strength drawing ever to the Black Gate。 More than one host may issue from it； and
strike for more than one passage。'
'Much must be risked in war；' said Denethor。 'Cair Andros is manned and no more can be sent so
far。 But I will not yield the River and the Pelennor unfought – not if there is a captain here who has
still the courage to do his lord's will。'
Then all were silent； but at length Faramir said： 'I do not oppose your will； sire。 Since you are
robbed of Boromir； I will go and do what I can in his stead – if you mand it。'
'I do so；' said Denethor。
'Then farewell！' said Faramir。 'But if I should return； think better of me！'
'That depends on the manner of your return；' said Denethor。
Gandalf it was that last spoke to Faramir ere he rode east。 'Do not throw your live away rashly or
in bitterness；' he said。 'You will be needed here； for other things than war。 Your father loves you；
Faramir； and will remember it ere the end。 Farewell！'
So now the Lord Faramir had gone forth again； and had taken with him such strength of men as
were willing to go or could be spared。 On the walls some gazed through the gloom towards the
ruined city； and they wondered what chanced there； for nothing could be seen。 And others； as ever；
looked north and counted the leagues to Théoden in Rohan。 'Will he e？ Will he remember our
old alliance？' they said。
'Yes； he will e；' said Gandalf； 'even if he es too late。 But think！ At best the Red Arrow
cannot have reached him more than two days ago； and the miles are long from Edoras。'
It was night again ere news came。 A man rode in haste from the fords； saying that a host had
issued from Minas Morgul and was already drawing nigh to Osgiliath； and it had been joined by
regiments from the South； Haradrim； cruel and tall。 'And we have learned ' said the messenger； 'that
the Black Captain leads them once again； and the fear of him has passed before him over the River。'
With those ill…boding words the third day closed since Pippin came to Min