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Gandalf went to the door； and there he turned。 'I am in haste Pippin；' he said。 'Do me a favour
when you go out。 Even before you rest； if you are not too weary。 Go and find Shadowfax and see
how he is housed。 These people are kindly to beasts； for they are a good and wise folk； but they
have less skill with horses than some。'
With that Gandalf went out； and as he did so； there came the note of a clear sweet bell ringing in
a tower of the citadel。 Three strokes it rang； like silver in the air； and ceased： the third hour from the
rising of the sun。
After a minute Pippin went to the door and down the stair and looked about the street。 The sun
was now shining warm and bright； and the towers and tall houses cast long clear…cut shadows
westward。 High in the blue air Mount Mindolluin lifted its white helm and snowy cloak。 Armed
men went to and fro in the ways of the City； as if going at the striking of the hour to changes of post
and duty。
'Nine o'clock we'd call it in the Shire；' said Pippin aloud to himself。 'Just the time for a nice
breakfast by the open window in spring sunshine。 And how I should like breakfast！ Do these people
ever have it； or is it over？ And when do they have dinner； and where？'
Presently he noticed a man； clad in black and white； ing along the narrow street from the
centre of the citadel towards him。 Pippin felt lonely and made up his mind to speak as the man
passed； but he had no need。 The man came straight up to him。
'You are Peregrin the Halfling？' he said。 'I am told that you have been sworn to the service of the
Lord and of the City。 Wele！ He held out his hand and Pippin took it。
'I am named Beregond son of Baranor。 I have no duty this morning； and I have been sent to you
to teach you the pass…words； and to tell you some of the many things that no doubt you will wish to
know。 And for my part； I would learn of you also。 For never before have we seen a halfling in this
land and though we have heard rumour of them； little is said of them in any tale that we know。
Moreover you are a friend of Mithrandir。 Do you know him well？'
'Well；' said Pippin。 'I have known _of_ him all my short life； as you might say； and lately I have
travelled far with him。 But there is much to read in that book； and I cannot claim to have seen more
than a page or two。 Yet perhaps I know him as well as any but a few。 Aragorn was the only one of
our pany； I think； who really knew him。'
'Aragorn？' said Beregond。 'Who is he？'
'Oh；' stammered Pippin； 'he was a man who went about with us。 I think he is in Rohan now。'
'You have been in Rohan； I hear。 There is much that I would ask you of that land also； for we
put much of what little hope we have in its people。 But I am forgetting my errand； which was first
to answer what you would ask。 What would you know； Master Peregrin？'
'Er well；' said Pippin； 'if I may venture to say so； rather a burning question in my mind at present
is； well； what about breakfast and all that？ I mean； what are the meal…times； if you understand me；
and where is the dining…room； if there is one？ And the inns？ I looked； but never a one could I see as
we rode up； though I had been borne up by the hope of a draught of ale as soon as we came to the
homes of wise and courtly men。'
Beregond looked at him gravely。 'An old campaigner； I see；' he said。 'They say that men who go
warring afield look ever to the next hope of food and of drink； though I am not a travelled man
myself。 Then you have not yet eaten today？'
'Well； yes； to speak in courtesy； yes；' said Pippin。 'But no more than a cup of wine and a white
cake or two by the kindness of your lord； but he racked me for it with an hour of questions； and that
is hungry work。'
Beregond laughed。 'At the table small men may do the greater deeds； we say。 But you have
broken your fast as well as any man in the Citadel； and with greater honour。 This is a fortress and a
tower of guard and is now in posture of war。 We rise ere the Sun； and take a morsel in the grey light；
and go to our duties at the opening hour。 But do not despair！' He laughed again； seeing the dismay
in Pippin's face。 'Those who have had heavy duty take somewhat to refresh their strength in the
mid…morning。 Then there is the nuncheon； at noon or after as duties allow； and men gather for the
daymeal； and such mirth as there still may be； about the hour of sunset。
'e！ We will walk a little and then go find us some refreshment； and eat and drink on the
battlement； and survey the fair morning。'
'One moment！' said Pippin blushing。 'Greed； or hunger by your courtesy； put it out of my mind。
But Gandalf； Mithrandir as you call him； asked me to see to his horse – Shadowfax； a great steed of
Rohan； and the apple of the king's eye； I am told； though he has given him to Mithrandir for his
services。 I think his new master loves the beast better than he loves many men； and if his good will
is of any value to this city； you will treat Shadowfax with all honour： with greater kindness than
you have treated this hobbit； if it is possible。'
'Hobbit？' said Beregond。
'That is what we call ourselves；' said Pippin。
'I am glad to learn it；' said Beregond； 'for now I may say that strange accents do not mar fair
speech； and hobbits are a fair…spoken folk。 But e！ You shall make me acquainted with this good
horse。 I love beasts； and we see them seldom in this stony city； for my people came from the
mountain…vales； and before that from Ithilien。 But fear not！ The visit shall be short； a mere call of
courtesy； and we will go thence to the butteries。'
Pippin found that Shadowfax had been well housed and tended。 For in the sixth circle； outside
the walls of the citadel； there were some fair stables where a few swift horses were kept； hard by
the lodgings of the errand…riders of the Lord： messengers always ready to go at the urgent mand
of Denethor or his chief captains。 But now all the horses and the riders were out and away。
Shadowfax whinnied as Pippin entered the stable and turned his head。 'Good morning！' said
Pippin。 'Gandalf will e as soon as he may。 He is busy； but he sends greetings； and I am to see
that all is well with you； and you resting； I hope； after your long labours。'
Shadowfax tossed his head and stamped。 But he allowed Beregond to handle his head gently and
stroke his great flanks。
'He looks as if he were spoiling for a race； and not newly e from a great journey；' said
Beregond。 'How strong and proud he is！ Where is his harness？ It should be rich and fair。'
'None is rich and fair enough for him；' said Pippin。 'He will have none。 If he will consent to bear
you； bear you he does； and if not； well； no bit； bridle； whip； or thong will tame him。 Farewell；
Shadowfax！ Have patience。 Battle is ing。'
Shadowfax lifted up his head and neighed； so that the stable shook； and they covered their ears。
Then they took their leave； seeing that the manger was well filled。
'And now for our manger；' said Beregond； and he led Pippin back to the citadel； and so to a door
in the north side of the great tower。 There they went down a long cool stair into a wide alley lit with
lamps。 There were hatches in the walls at the side； and one of these was open。
'This is the storehouse and buttery of my pany of the Guard。' said Beregond。 'Greetings；
Targon！' he called through the hatch。 'It is early yet； but here is a newer that the Lord has taken
into his service。 He has ridden long and far with a tight belt； and has had sore labour this morning；
and he is hungry。 Give us what you have！'
They got there bread； and butter； and cheese and apples： the last of the winter store； wrinkled but
sound and sweet； and a leather flagon of new…drawn ale； and wooden platters and cups。 They put all
into a wicker basket and climbed back into the sun； and Beregond brought Pippin to a place at the
east end of the great out…thrust battlement where there was an embrasure in the walls with a stone
seat beneath the sill。 From there they could look out on the morning over the world。
They ate and drank； and they talked now of Gondor and its ways and customs； now of the Shire
and the strange countries that Pippin had seen。 And ever as they talked Beregond was more amazed；
and looked with greater wonder at the hobbit； swinging his short legs as he sat on the seat； or
standing tiptoe upon it to peer over the sill at the lands below。
'I will not hide from you； Master Peregrin；' said Beregond； 'that to us you look almost as one of
our children； a lad of nine summers or so； and yet you have endured perils and seen marvels that
few of our greybeards could boast of。 I thought it was the whim of our Lord to take him a noble
page； after the manner of the kings of old； they say。 But I see that it is not so； and you must pardon
my foolishness。'
'I do；' said Pippin。 'Though you are not far wrong。 I am still little more than a boy in the
reckoning of my own people； and it will be four years yet before I 〃e of age〃； as we say in the
Shire： But do not bother about me。 e and look and tell me what I can see。'
The sun was now climbing； and the mists in the vale below had been drawn up。 The last of them
were floating away； just overhead； as wisps of white cloud borne on the stiffening breeze from the
East； that was now flapping and tugging the flags and white standards of the citadel。 Away down in
the valley…bottom； five leagues or so as the eye leaps； the Great River could now be seen grey and
glittering； ing out of the north…west； and bending in a mighty sweep south and west again； till it
was lost to view in a haze and shimmer； far beyond which lay the Sea fifty leagues away。
Pippin could see all the Pelennor laid out before him； dotted into the distance with farmsteads
and little walls； barns and byres； but nowhere could he see any kine or other beasts。 Many roads
and tracks crossed the green fields； and there was much ing and going： wains moving in lines
towards the Great Gate； and others passing out。 Now and again a horseman would ride up； and leap
from the saddle and hasten into the City。 But most of the traffic went out along the chief highway；
and that turned south； and then bending swifter than the River skirted the hills and passed soon
from sight。 It was wide and well…paved； and along its eastern edge ran a broad green riding…track；
and beyond that a wall。 On the ride horsemen galloped to and fro； but all the street seemed to be
choked with great covered wains going south。 But soon Pippin saw that all was in fact well…ordered：
the wains were moving in three lines； one swifter drawn by horses； another slower； great waggons
with fair housings of many colours； drawn by oxen； and along the west rim of the road many
smaller carts hauled by trudging men。
'That is the road to the vales of Tumladen and Lossarnach； and the mountain…villages； and then
on to Lebennin；' said Beregond。 'There go the last of the wains that bear away to refuge the aged the
children； and the women that must go with them。 They must all be gone from the Gate and the road
clear for a league before noon： that was the order。 It is a sad necessity。' He sighed。 'Few； maybe； of
those now sundered will meet again。 And there were always too few children in this city； but now
there are none…save some young lads that will not depart； and may find some task to do： my own
son is one of them。'
They fell silent for a while。 Pippin gazed anxiously eastward； as if at any moment he might see
thousands of orcs pouring over the fields。 'What can I see there？' he asked； pointing down to the
middle of the great curve of the Anduin。 'Is that another city； or what is it？'
'It was a city；' said Beregond； 'the chief city of Gondor； of which this was only a fortress。 For
that is the ruin of Osgiliath on either side of Anduin； which our enemies took and burned long ago。
Yet we won it back in the days of the youth of Denethor： not to dwell in； but to hold as an outpost；
and to rebuild the bridge for the passage of our arms。 And then came the Fell Riders out