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With those ill…boding words the third day closed since Pippin came to Minas Tirith。 Few went to
rest； for small hope had any now that even Faramir could hold the fords for long。
The next day； though the darkness had reached its full and grew no deeper； it weighed heavier
on men's hearts； and a great dread was on them。 Ill news came soon again。 The passage of Anduin
was won by the Enemy。 Faramir was retreating to the wall of the Pelennor； rallying his men to the
Causeway Forts； but he was ten times outnumbered。
'If he wins back at all across the Pelennor； his enemies will be on his heels；' said the messenger。
'They have paid dear for the crossing but less dearly than we hoped。 The plan has been well laid。 It
is now seen that in secret they have long been building floats and barges in great numbers in East
Osgiliath。 They swarmed across like beetles。 But it is the Black Captain that defeats us。 Few will
stand and abide even the rumour of his ing。 His own folk quail at him； and they would slay
themselves at his bidding。'
'Then I am needed there more than here；' said Gandalf； and rode off at once； and the glimmer of
him faded soon from sight。 And all that night Pippin alone and sleepless stood upon the wall and
gazed eastward。
The bells of day had scarcely rung out again； a mockery in the unlightened dark； when far away
he saw fires spring up； across in the dim spaces where the walls of the Pelennor stood。 The
watchmen cried aloud； and all men in the City stood to arms。 Now ever and anon there was a red
flash； and slowly through the heavy air dull rumbles could be heard。
'They have taken the wall！' men cried。 'They are blasting breaches in it。 They are ing！'
'Where is Faramir？' cried Beregond in dismay。 'Say not that he has fallen！'
It was Gandalf that brought the first tidings。 With a handful of horsemen he came in the middle
morning； riding as escort to a line of wains。 They were filled with wounded men； all that could be
saved from the wreck of the Causeway Forts。 At once he went to Denethor。 The Lord of the City
sat now in a high chamber above the Hall of the White Tower with Pippin at his side； and through
the dim windows； north and south and east； he bent his dark eyes； as if to pierce the shadows of
doom that ringed him round。 Most to the north he looked； and would pause at whiles to listen as if
by some ancient art his ears might hear the thunder of hoofs on the plains far away。
'Is Faramir e？' he asked。
'No；' said Gandalf。 'But he still lived when I left him。 Yet he is resolved to stay with the
rearguard； lest the retreat over the Pelennor bee a rout。 He may； perhaps； hold his men together
long enough； but I doubt it。 He is pitted against a foe too great。 For one has e that I feared。'
'Not – the Dark Lord？' cried Pippin； forgetting his place in his terror。
Denethor laughed bitterly。 'Nay； not yet； Master Peregrin！ He will not e save only to
triumph over me when all is won。 He uses others as his weapons。 So do all great lords； if they are
wise； Master Halfling。 Or why should I sit here in my tower and think； and watch； and wait；
spending even my sons？ For I can still wield a brand。'
He stood up and cast open his long black cloak； and behold！ he was clad in mail beneath； and
girt with a long sword； great…hilted in a sheath of black and silver。 'Thus have I walked； and thus
now for many years have I slept；' he said； 'lest with age the body should grow soft and timid。'
'Yet now under the Lord of Barad…d？r the most fell of all his captains is already master of your
outer walls；' said Gandalf。 'King of Angmar long ago； Sorcerer； Ringwraith； Lord of the Nazg？l； a
spear of terror in the hand of Sauron； shadow of despair。'
'Then； Mithrandir； you had a foe to match you；' said Denethor。 'For myself； I have long known
who is the chief captain of the hosts of the Dark Tower。 Is this all that you have returned to say？ Or
can it be that you have withdrawn because you are overmatched？'
Pippin trembled； fearing that Gandalf would be stung to sudden wrath； but his fear was needless。
'It might be so；' Gandalf answered softly。 'But our trial of strength is not yet e。 And if words
spoken of old be true； not by the hand of man shall he fall； and hidden from the Wise is the doom
that awaits him。 However that may be； the Captain of Despair does not press forward； yet。 He rules
rather according to the wisdom that you have just spoken； from the rear； driving his slaves in
madness on before。
'Nay； I came rather to guard the hurt men that can yet be healed； for the Rammas is breached far
and wide； and soon the host of Morgul will enter in at many points。 And I came chiefly to say this。
Soon there will be battle on the fields。 A sortie must be made ready。 Let it be of mounted men。 In
them lies our brief hope； for in one thing only is the enemy still poorly provided： he has few
horsemen。'
'And we also have few。 Now would the ing of Rohan be in the nick of time；' said Denethor。
'We are likely to see other newers first；' said Gandalf。 'Fugitives from Cair Andros have
already reached us。 The isle has fallen。 Another army is e from the Black Gate； crossing from
the north…east。'
'Some have accused you； Mithrandir； of delighting to bear ill news；' said Denethor； 'but to me
this is no longer news： it was known to mw ere nightfall yesterday。 As for the sortie； I had already
given thought to it。 Let us go down。'
Time passed。 At length watchers on the walls could see the retreat of the out…panies。 Small
bands of weary and often wounded men came first with little order； some were running wildly as if
pursued。 Away to the eastward the distant fires flickered； and now it seemed that here and there
they crept across the plain。 Houses and barns were burning。 Then from many points little rivers of
red flame came hurrying on； winding through the gloom； converging towards the line of the broad
road that led from the City…gate to Osgiliath。
'The enemy；' men murmured。 'The dike is down。 Here they e pouring through the breaches！
And they carry torches； it seems。 Where are our own folk？'
It drew now to evening by the hour； and the light was so dim that even far…sighted men upon the
Citadel could discern little clearly out upon the fields； save only the burnings that ever multiplied；
and the lines of fire that grew in length and speed。 At last； less than a mile from the City； a more
ordered mass of men came into view； marching not running； still holding together。
The watchers held their breath。 'Faramir must be there；' they said。 'He can govern man and beast。
He will make it yet。'
Now the main retreat was scarcely two furlongs distant。 Out of the gloom behind a small
pany of horsemen galloped； all that was left of the rearguard。 Once again they turned at bay；
facing the oning lines of fire。 Then suddenly there was a tumult of fierce cries。 Horsemen of
the enemy swept up。 The lines of fire became flowing torrents； file upon file of Orcs bearing flames；
and wild Southron men with red banners； shouting with harsh tongues； surging up； overtaking the
retreat。 And with a piercing cry out of the dim sky fell the winged shadows； the Nazg？l stooping to
the kill。
The retreat became a rout。 Already men were breaking away； flying wild and witless here and
there； flinging away their weapons； crying out in fear； falling to the ground。
And then a trumpet rang from the Citadel； and Denethor at last released the sortie。 Drawn up
within the shadow of the Gate and under the looming walls outside they had waited for his signal：
all the mounted men that were left in the City。 Now they sprang forward； formed； quickened to a
gallop； and charged with a great shout。 And from the walls an answering shout went up； for
foremost on the field rode the swan…knights of Dol Amroth with their Prince and his blue banner at
their head。
'Amroth for Gondor！' they cried。 'Amroth to Faramir！'
Like thunder they broke upon the enemy on either flank of the retreat； but one rider outran them
all； swift as the wind in the grass： Shadowfax bore him； shining； unveiled once more； a light
starting from his upraised hand。
The Nazg？l screeched and swept away； for their Captain was not yet e to challenge the
white fire of his foe。 The hosts of Morgul intent on their prey； taken at unawares in wild career；
broke； scattering like sparks in a gale。 The out…panies with a great cheer turned and smote their
pursuers。 Hunters became the hunted。 The retreat became an onslaught。 The field was strewn with
stricken orcs and men； and a reek arose of torches cast away； sputtering out in swirling smoke。 The
cavalry rode on。
But Denethor did not permit them to go far。 Though the enemy was checked； and for the
moment driven back； great forces were flowing in from the East。 Again the trumpet rang； sounding
the retreat。 The cavalry of Gondor halted。 Behind their screen the out…panies re…formed。 Now
steadily they came marching back。 They reached the Gate of the City and entered； stepping proudly：
and proudly the people of the City looked on them and cried their praise； and yet they were
troubled in heart。 For the panies were grievously reduced。 Faramir had lost a third of his men。
And where was he？
Last of all he came。 His men passed in。 The mounted knights returned； and at their rear the
banner of Dol Amroth； and the Prince。 And in his arms before him on his horse he bore the body of
his kinsman； Faramir son of Denethor； found upon the stricken field。
'Faramir！ Faramir！' men cried； weeping in the streets。 But he did not answer； and they bore him
away up the winding road to the Citadel and his father。 Even as the Nazg？l had swerved aside from
the onset of the White Rider； there came flying a deadly dart； and Faramir； as he held at bay a
mounted champion of Harad； had fallen to the earth。 Only the charge of Dol Amroth had saved him
from the red southland swords that would have hewed him as he lay。
The Prince Imrahil brought Faramir to the White Tower； and he said： Your son has returned；
lord； after great deeds； and he told all that he had seen。 But Denethor rose and looked on the face of
his son and was silent。 Then he bade them make a bed in the chamber and lay Faramir upon it and
depart。 But he himself went up alone into the secret room under the summit of the Tower； and
many who looked up thither at that time saw a pale light that gleamed and flickered from the
narrow windows for a while； and then flashed and went out。 And when Denethor descended again
he went to Faramir and sat beside him without speaking； but the face of the Lord was grey； more
deathlike than his son's。
So now at last the City was besieged； enclosed in a ring of foes。 The Rammas was broken； and
all the Pelennor abandoned to the Enemy。 The last word to e from outside the walls was
brought by men flying down the northward road ere the Gate was shut。 They were the remnant of
the guard that was kept at that point where the way from Anórien and Rohan ran into the townlands：
Ingold led them； the same who had admitted Gandalf and Pippin less than five days before； while
the sun still rose and there was hope in the morning。
'There is no news of the Rohirrim；' he said。 'Rohan will not e now。 Or if they e； it will
not avail us。 The new host that we had tidings of has e first； from over the River by way of
Andros； it is said。 They are strong： battalions of Orcs of the Eye； and countless panies of Men
of a new sort that we have not met before。 Not tall； but broad and grim； bearded like dwarves；
wielding great axes。 Out of some savage land in the wide East they e； we deem。 They hold the
northward road； and many have passed on into Anórien。 The Rohirrim cannot e。'
The Gate was shut。 All night watchmen on the walls heard the rumour of the enemy that roamed
outside； burning field and tree； and hewing any man that they found abroad； living or dead。 The
numbers that had already passed over the River could not be guessed in the darkness； but when
morning； or its dim shadow； stole over the plain； it was seen that even fear by night had scarcely
over…counted them。 The plain was dark with their marching panies； and as far as eyes could
strain in the mirk there sprouted； like a foul fungus…growth； all about the beleaguered city great
camps of tents； black or sombre red。
Busy as ants hurrying orcs were digging； digging lines of deep trenches in a huge ring； just out
of bowshot from the walls； and as the trenches were made each was filled with fire； though how it
was kindled or fed； by art or devilry； none could see。 All day the labour went forward； while the
men of Minas Tirith looked on； unable to hinder it。 And as each length of trench was pleted；
they could see great wains approaching； and soon yet more panies of the enemy were swiftly
setting up； each behind the cover of a trench； great engines for the casting of missiles。 There were
none upon the City walls large enough to reach so far or to stay the work。
At first men laughed and did not greatly fear such