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These staves he spoke； yet he laughed as he said them。 For once more lust of battle was on him；
and he was still unscathed； and he was young； and he was king： the lord of a fell people。 And lo！
even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships； and he lifted up his sword to
defy them。
And then wonder took him； and a great joy； and he cast his sword up in the sunlight and sang as
he caught it。 And all eyes followed his gaze； and behold！ upon the foremost ship a great standard
broke； and the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond。 There flowered a White Tree；
and that was for Gondor； but Seven Stars were about it； and a high crown above it； the signs of
Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count。 And the stars flamed in the sunlight； for they
were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond； and the crown was bright in the morning； for
it was wrought of mithril and gold。
Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn； Elessar； Isildur's heir； out of the Paths of the Dead； borne
upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor； and the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of
laughter and a flashing of swords； and the joy and wonder of the City was a music of trumpets and
a ringing of bells。 But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment； and a great wizardry it
seemed to them that their own ships should be filled with their foes； and a black dread fell on them；
knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was at hand。
East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them： troll…men and Variags and
orcs that hated the sunlight。 South strode éomer and men fled before his face； and they were caught
between the hammer and the anvil。 For now men leaped from the ships to the quays of the Harlond
and swept north like a storm。 There came Legolas； and Gimli wielding his axe； and Halbarad with
the standard； and Elladan and Elrohir with stars on their brow； and the dour…handed Dúnedain；
Rangers of the North； leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of
the South。 But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West； Andúril like a new fire kindled；
Narsil re…forged as deadly as of old： and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil。
And so at length éomer and Aragorn met in the midst of the battle； and they leaned on their
swords and looked on one another and were glad。
'Thus we meet again； though all the hosts of Mordor lay between us；' said Aragorn。 'Did I not
say so at the Hornburg？'
'So you spoke；' said éomer； 'but hope oft deceives； and I knew not then that you were a man
foresighted。 Yet twice blessed is help unlooked for； and never was a meeting of friends more
joyful。' And they clasped hand in hand。 'Nor indeed more timely；' said éomer。 'You e none too
soon； my friend。 Much loss and sorrow has befallen us。'
'Then let us avenge it； ere we speak of it！' said Aragorn； and they rode back to battle together。
Hard fighting and long labour they had still； for the Southrons were bold men and grim； and
fierce in despair； and the Easterlings were strong and war…hardened and asked for no quarter。 And
so in this place and that； by burned homestead or barn； upon hillock or mound； under wall or on
field； still they gathered and rallied and fought until the day wore away。
Then the Sun went at last behind Mindolluin and filled all the sky with a great burning； so that
the hills and the mountains were dyed as with blood； fire glowed in the River； and the grass of the
Pelennor lay red in the nightfall。 And in that hour the great Battle of the field of Gondor was over；
and not one living foe was left within the circuit of the Rammas。 All were slain save those who fled
to die； or to drown in the red foam of the River。 Few ever came eastward to Morgul or Mordor； and
to the land of the Haradrim came only a tale from far off： a rumour of the wrath and terror of
Gondor。
Aragorn and éomer and Imrahil rode back towards the Gate of the City； and they were now
weary beyond joy or sorrow。 These three were unscathed； for such was their fortune and the skill
and might of their arms； and few indeed had dared to abide them or look on their faces in the hour
of their wrath。 But many others were hurt or maimed or dead upon the field。 The axes hewed
Forlong as he fought alone and unhorsed； and both Duilin of Morthond and his brother were
trampled to death when they assailed the _m？makil_； leading their bowmen close to shoot at the
eyes of the monsters。 Neither Hirluin the fair would return to Pinnath Gelin； nor Grimbold to
Grimslade； nor Halbarad to the Northlands； dour…handed Ranger。 No few had fallen； renowned or
nameless； captain or soldier； for it was a great battle and the full count of it no tale has told。 So long
afterward a maker in Rohan said in his song of the Mounds of Mundburg：
We heard of the horns in the hills ringing；
the swords shining in the South…kingdom。
Steeds went striding to the Stoningland
as wind in the morning。 War was kindled。
There Théoden fell； Thengling mighty；
to his golden halls and green pastures
in the Northern fields never returning；
high lord of the host。 Harding and Guthláf
Dúnhere and Déorwine； doughty Grimbold；
Herefara and Herubrand； Horn and Fastred；
fought and fell there in a far country：
in the Mounds of Mundburg under mould they lie
with their league…fellows； lords of Gondor。
Neither Hirluin the Fair to the hills by the sea；
nor Forlong the old to the flowering vales
ever； to Arnach； to his own country
returned in triumph； nor the tall bowmen；
Derufin and Duilin； to their dark waters；
meres of Morthond under mountain…shadows。
Death in the morning and at day's ending
lords took and lowly。 Long now they sleep
under grass in Gondor by the Great River。
Grey now as tears； gleaming silver；
red then it rolled； roaring water：
foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset；
as beacons mountains burned at evening；
red fell the dew in Rammas Echor。
_Chapter 7_
The Pyre of Denethor
When the dark shadow at the Gate withdrew Gandalf still sat motionless。 But Pippin rose to his
feet； as if a great weight had been lifted from him； and he stood listening to the horns； and it
seemed to him that they would break his heart with joy。 And never in after years could he hear a
horn blown in the distance without tears starting in his eyes。 But now suddenly his errand returned
to his memory； and he ran forward。 At that moment Gandalf stirred and spoke to Shadowfax； and
was about to ride through the Gate。
'Gandalf； Gandalf！ ' cried Pippin； and Shadowfax halted。
'What are you doing here？' said Gandalf。 'Is it not a law in the City that those who wear the
black and silver must stay in the Citadel； unless their lord gives them leave？'
'He has；' said Pippin。 'He sent me away。 But I am frightened。 Something terrible may happen up
there。 The Lord is out of his mind； I think。 I am afraid he will kill himself； and kill Faramir too。
Can't you do something？'
Gandalf looked through the gaping Gate； and already on the fields he heard the gathering sound
of battle。 He clenched his hand。 'I must go ' he said。 'The Black Rider is abroad； and he will yet
bring ruin on us。 I have no time。'
'But Faramir！' cried Pippin。 'He is not dead； and they will burn him alive； if someone does not
stop them。'
'Burn him alive？' said Gandalf。 'What is this tale？ Be quick！'
'Denethor has gone to the Tombs；' said Pippin； 'and he has taken Faramir； and he says we are all
to burn； and he will not wait； and they are to make a pyre and burn him on it； and Faramir as well。
And he has sent men to fetch wood and oil。 And I have told Beregond； but I'm afraid he won't dare
to leave his post： he is on guard。 And what can he do anyway？' So Pippin poured out his tale；
reaching up and touching Gandalf's knee with trembling hands。 'Can't you save Faramir？'
'Maybe I can；' said Gandalf； 'but if I do； then others will die； I fear。 Well； I must e； since no
other help can reach him。 But evil and sorrow will e of this。 Even in the heart of our stronghold
the Enemy has power to strike us： for his will it is that is at work。'
Then having made up his mind he acted swiftly； and catching up Pippin and setting him before
him； he turned Shadowfax with a word。 Up the climbing streets of Minas Tirith they clattered；
while the noise of war rose behind them。 Everywhere men were rising from their despair and dread；
seizing their weapons； crying one to another： 'Rohan has e！' Captains were shouting； panies
were mustering； many already were marching down to the Gate。
They met the Prince Imrahil； and he called to them： 'Whither now； Mithrandir？ The Rohirrim are
fighting on the fields of Gondor！ We must gather all the strength that we can find。'
'You will need every man and more；' said Gandalf。 'Make all haste。 I will e when I can。 But
I have an errand to the Lord Denethor that will not wait。 Take mand in the Lord's absence！'
They passed on； and as they climbed and drew near to the Citadel they felt the wind blowing in
their faces； and they caught the glimmer of morning far away； a light growing in the southern sky。
But it brought little hope to them； not knowing what evil lay before them； fearing to e too late。
'Darkness is passing；' said Gandalf； 'but it still lies heavy on this City。'
At the gate of the Citadel they found no guard。 'Then Beregond has gone；' said Pippin more
hopefully。 They turned away and hastened along the road to the Closed Door。 It stood wide open；
and the porter lay before it。 He was slain and his key had been taken。
'Work of the Enemy！' said Gandalf。 'Such deeds he loves： friend at war with friend； loyalty
divided in confusion of hearts。' Now he dismounted and bade Shadowfax return to his stable。 'For；
my friend；' he said； 'you and I should have ridden to the fields long ago； but other matters delay me。
Yet e swiftly if I call！'
They passed the Door and walked on down the steep winding road。 Light was growing； and the
tall columns and carven figures beside the way went slowly by like grey ghosts。
Suddenly the silence was broken； and they heard below them cries and the ringing of swords：
such sounds as had not been heard in the hallowed places since the building of the City。 At last they
came to Rath Dínen and hastened towards the House of the Stewards； looming in the twilight under
its great dome。
'Stay！ Stay！' cried Gandalf； springing forward to the stone stair before the door。 'Stay this
madness！'
For there were the servants of Denethor with swords and torches in their hands； but alone in the
porch upon the topmost step stood Beregond； clad in the black and silver of the Guard； and he held
the door against them。 Two of them had already fallen to his sword； staining the hallows with their
blood； and the others cursed him； calling him outlaw and traitor to his master。
Even as Gandalf and Pippin ran forward； they heard from within the house of the dead the voice
of Denethor crying： 'Haste； haste！ Do as I have bidden！ Slay me this renegade！ Or must I do so
myself？' Thereupon the door which Beregond held shut with his left hand was wrenched open； and
there behind him stood the Lord of the City； tall and fell； a light like flame was in his eyes； and he
held a drawn sword。
But Gandalf sprang up the steps； and the men fell back from him and covered their eyes； for his
ing was like the ining of a white light into a dark place； and he came with great anger。 He
lifted up his hand； and in the very stroke； the sword of Denethor flew up and left his grasp and fell
behind him in the shadows of the house； and Denethor stepped backward before Gandalf as one
amazed。
'What is this； my lord？' said the wizard。 'The houses of the dead are no places for the living。 And
why do men fight here in the Hallows when there is war enough before the Gate？ Or has our
Enemy e even to Rath Dínen？'
'Since when has the Lord of Gondor been answerable to thee？' said Denethor。 'Or may I not
mand my own servants？'
'You may；' said Gandalf。 'But others may contest your will； when it is turned to madness and
evil。 Where is your son； Faramir？'
'He lies within；' said Denethor； 'burning； already burning。 They have set a fire in his flesh。 But
soon all shall be burned。 The West has failed。 It shall all go up in a great fire； and all shall be ended。
Ash！ Ash and smoke blown away on the wind！'
Then Gandalf seeing the madness that was on him feared that he had already done some evil
deed； and he thrust forward； with Beregond and Pippin behind him； while Denethor gave back until
he stood beside the table within。 But there they found Faramir； still dreaming in his fever； lying
upon