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upon the table。 Wood was piled under it； and high all about it； and all was drenched with oil； even
the garments of Faramir and the coverlets； but as yet no fire had been set to the fuel。 Then Gandalf
revealed the strength that lay hid in him； even as the light of his power was hidden under his grey
mantle。 He leaped up on to the faggots； and raising the sick man lightly he sprang down again； and
bore him towards the door。 But as he did so Faramir moaned and called on his father in his dream。
Denethor started as one waking from a trance； and the flame died in his eyes； and he wept； and
he said： 'Do not take my son from me！ He calls for me。'
'He calls；' said Gandalf； 'but you cannot e to him yet。 For he must seek healing on the
threshold of death； and maybe find it not。 Whereas your part is to go out to the battle of your City；
where maybe death awaits you。 This you know in your heart。'
'He will not wake again；' said Denethor。 'Battle is vain。 Why should we wish to live longer？
Why should we not go to death side by side？'
'Authority is not given to you； Steward of Gondor； to order the hour of your death；' answered
Gandalf。 'And only the heathen kings； under the domination of the Dark Power； did thus； slaying
themselves in pride and despair； murdering their kin to ease their own death。' Then passing through
the door he took Faramir from the deadly house and laid him on the bier on which he had been
brought； and which had now been set in the porch。 Denethor followed him； and stood trembling；
looking with longing on the face of his son。 And for a moment； while all were silent and still；
watching the Lord in his throes； he wavered。
'e！' said Gandalf。 'We are needed。 There is much that you can yet do。'
Then suddenly Denethor laughed。 He stood up tall and proud again； and stepping swiftly back to
the table he lifted from it the pillow on which his head had lain。 Then ing to the doorway he
drew aside the covering； and lo！ he had between his hands a _palantír_。 And as he held it up； it
seemed to those that looked on that the globe began to glow with an inner flame； so that the lean
face of the Lord was lit as with a red fire； and it seemed cut out of hard stone； sharp with black
shadows； noble； proud； and terrible。 His eyes glittered。
'Pride and despair！' he cried。 'Didst thou think that the eyes of the White Tower were blind？ Nay；
I have seen more than thou knowest； Grey Fool。 For thy hope is but ignorance。 Go then and labour
in healing！ Go forth and fight！ Vanity。 For a little space you may triumph on the field； for a day。
But against the Power that now arises there is no victory。 To this City only the first finger of its
hand has yet been stretched。 All the East is moving。 And even now the wind of thy hope cheats thee
and wafts up Anduin a fleet with black sails。 The West has failed。 It is time for all to depart who
would not be slaves。'
'Such counsels will make the Enemy's victory certain indeed；' said Gandalf。
'Hope on then！' laughed Denethor。 'Do I not know thee； Mithrandir？ Thy hope is to rule in my
stead； to stand behind every throne； north； south； or west。 I have read thy mind and its policies。 Do I
not know that you manded this halfling here to keep silence？ That you brought him hither to be
a spy within my very chamber？ And yet in our speech together I have learned the names and
purpose of all thy panions。 So！ With the left hand thou wouldst use me for a little while as a
shield against Mordor； and with the right bring up this Ranger of the North to supplant me。
'But I say to thee； Gandalf Mithrandir； I will not be thy tool！ I am Steward of the House of
Anárion。 I will not step down to be the dotard chamberlain of an upstart。 Even were his claim
proved to me； still he es but of the line of Isildur。 I will not bow to such a one； last of a ragged
house long bereft of lordship and dignity。'
'What then would you have；' said Gandalf； 'if your will could have its way？'
'I would have things as they were in all the days of my life；' answered Denethor； 'and in the days
of my longfathers before me： to be the Lord of this City in peace； and leave my chair to a son after
me； who would be his own master and no wizard's pupil。 But if doom denies this to me； then I will
have _naught_： neither life diminished； nor love halved； nor honour abated。'
'To me it would not seem that a Steward who faithfully surrenders his charge is diminished in
love or in honour；' said Gandalf。 'And at the least you shall not rob your son of his choice while his
death is still in doubt。'
At those words Denethor's eyes flamed again； and taking the Stone under his arm he drew a
knife and strode towards the bier。 But Beregond sprang forward and set himself before Faramir。
'So！' cried Denethor。 'Thou hadst already stolen half my son's love。 Now thou stealest the hearts
of my knights also； so that they rob me wholly of my son at the last。 But in this at least thou shalt
not defy my will： to rule my own end。'
'e hither！' he cried to his servants。 'e； if you are not all recreant！' Then two of them ran
up the steps to him。 Swiftly he snatched a torch from the hand of one and sprang back into the
house。 Before Gandalf could hinder him he thrust the brand amid the fuel； and at once it crackled
and roared into flame。
Then Denethor leaped upon the table； and standing there wreathed in fire and smoke he took up
the staff of his stewardship that lay at his feet and broke it on his knee。 Casting the pieces into the
blaze he bowed and laid himself on the table； clasping the _palantír_ with both hands upon his
breast。 And it was said that ever after； if any man looked in that Stone； unless he had a great
strength of will to turn it to other purpose； he saw only two aged hands withering in flame。
Gandalf in grief and horror turned his face away and closed the door。 For a while he stood in
thought； silent upon the threshold； while those outside heard the greedy roaring of the fire within。
And then Denethor gave a great cry； and afterwards spoke no more； nor was ever again seen by
mortal men。
'So passes Denethor； son of Ecthelion；' said Gandalf： Then he turned to Beregond and the Lord's
servants that stood there aghast。 'And so pass also the days of Gondor that you have known； for
good or evil they are ended。 Ill deeds have been done here； but let now all enmity that lies between
you be put away； for it was contrived by the Enemy and works his will。 You have been caught in a
net of warring duties that you did not weave。 But think； you servants of the Lord； blind in your
obedience； that but for the treason of Beregond Faramir； Captain of the White Tower； would now
also be burned。
'Bear away from this unhappy place your rades who have fallen。 And we will bear Faramir；
Steward of Gondor； to a place where he can sleep in peace； or die if that be his doom。'
Then Gandalf and Beregond taking up the bier bore it away towards the Houses of Healing；
while behind them walked Pippin with downcast head。 But the servants of the Lord stood gazing as
stricken men at the house of the dead； and even as Gandalf came to the end of Rath Dínen there
was a great noise。 Looking back they saw the dome of the house crack and smokes issue forth； and
then with a rush and rumble of stone it fell in a flurry of fire； but still unabated the flames danced
and flickered among the ruins。 Then in terror the servants fled and followed Gandalf。
At length they came back to the Steward's Door； and Beregond looked with grief at the porter。
'This deed I shall ever rue；' he said； 'but a madness of haste was on me； and he would not listen； but
drew sword against me。' Then taking the key that he had wrested from the slain man he closed the
door and locked it。 'This should now be given to the Lord Faramir；' he said。
'The Prince of Dol Amroth is in mand in the absence of the Lord；' said Gandalf； 'but since
he is not here； I must take this on myself。 I bid you keep the key and guard it； until the City is set in
order again。'
Now at last they passed into the high circles of the City； and in the light of morning they went
their way towards the Houses of Healing； and these were fair houses set apart； for the care of those
who were grievously sick； but now they were prepared for the tending of men hurt in battle or
dying。 They stood not far from the Citadel…gate； in the sixth circle； nigh to its southward wall； and
about them was a garden and a greensward with trees； the only such place in the City。 There dwelt
the few women that had been permitted to remain in Minas Tirith； since they were skilled in
healing or in the service of the healers。
But even as Gandalf and his panions came carrying the bier to the main door of the Houses；
they heard a great cry that went up from the field before the Gate and rising shrill and piercing into
the sky passed； and died away on the wind。 So terrible was the cry that for a moment all stood still；
and yet when it had passed； suddenly their hearts were lifted up in such a hope as they had not
known since the darkness came out of the East； and it seemed to them that the light grew clear and
the sun broke through the clouds。
But Gandalf's face was grave and sad； and bidding Beregond and Pippin to take Faramir into the
Houses of Healing； he went up on to the walls nearby； and there like a figure carven in white he
stood in the new sun and looked out。 And he beheld with the sight that was given to him all that had
befallen； and when éomer rode out from the forefront of his battle and stood beside those who lay
upon the field； he sighed； and he cast his cloak about him again； and went from the walls。 And
Beregond and Pippin found him standing in thought before the door of the Houses when they came
out。
They looked at him； and for a while he was silent。 At last he spoke。 'My friends；' he said； 'and all
you people of this city and of the Western lands！ Things of great sorrow and renown have e to
pass。 Shall we weep or be glad？ Beyond hope the Captain of our foes has been destroyed； and you
have heard the echo of his last despair。 But he has not gone without woe and bitter loss。 And that I
might have averted but for the madness of Denethor。 So long has the reach of our Enemy bee！
Alas！ but now I perceive how his will was able to enter into the very heart of the City。
'Though the Stewards deemed that it was a secret kept only by themselves； long ago I guessed
that here in the White Tower； one at least of the Seven Seeing Stones was preserved。 In the days of
his wisdom Denethor did not presume to use it； nor to challenge Sauron； knowing the limits of his
own strength。 But his wisdom failed； and I fear that as the peril of his realm grew he looked in the
Stone and was deceived： far too often； I guess； since Boromir departed。 He was too great to be
subdued to the will of the Dark Power； he saw nonetheless only those things which that Power
permitted him to see。 The knowledge which he obtained was； doubtless； often of service to him； yet
the vision of the great might of Mordor that was shown to him fed the despair of his heart until it
overthrew his mind。'
'Now I understand what seemed so strange to me！' said Pippin shuddering at his memories as he
spoke。 'The Lord went away from the room where Faramir lay； and it was only when he returned
that I first thought he was changed； old and broken。'
'It was in the very hour that Faramir was brought to the Tower that many of us saw a strange
light in the topmost chamber；' said Beregond。 'But we have seen that light before； and it has long
been rumoured in the City； that the Lord would at times wrestle in thought with his Enemy。'
'Alas！ then I have guessed rightly；' said Gandalf。 'Thus the will of Sauron entered into Minas
Tirith； and thus I have been delayed here。 And here I shall still be forced to remain； for I shall soon
have other charges； not Faramir only。
'Now I must go down to meet those who e。 I have seen a sight upon the field that is very
grievous to my heart； and greater sorrow may yet e to pass。 e with me； Pippin！ But you；
Beregond； should return to the Citadel and tell the chief of the Guard there what has befallen。 It will
be his duty； I fear； to withdraw you from the Guard； but say to him that； if I may give him counsel；
you should be sent to the Houses of Healing； to be the guard and servant of your captain； and to be
at his side when he awakes – if that shall ever be again。 For by you he was saved from the fire。 Go
now！ I shall return soon。'
With that he turned away and went with Pippin down towards the lower city。 And even as they
hastened on their way the wind brought a grey rain； and all the fires sank； and there arose a great
smoke before them。
_Chapter 8_
The Houses of Healing
A mist was in Merry's eyes of tears and weariness when they drew near the ruined Gate of
Minas Tirith。 He gave little heed to the wreck and slaughter that lay about all。 Fire and smoke and
stench was in the air； for many engin