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the siege of gondor 1059
be the Captain: he can master both beasts and men. Ah! there
one of the foul things is stooping on him. Help! help! Will no
one go out to him? Faramir!’
With that Beregond sprang away and ran off into the
gloom. Ashamed of his terror, while Beregond of the Guard
thought first of the captain whom he loved, Pippin got up
and peered out. At that moment he caught a flash of white
and silver coming from the North, like a small star down on
the dusky fields. It moved with the speed of an arrow and
grew as it came, converging swiftly with the flight of the four
men towards the Gate. It seemed to Pippin that a pale light
was spread about it and the heavy shadows gave way before
it; and then as it drew near he thought that he heard, like an
echo in the walls, a great voice calling.
‘Gandalf !’ he cried. ‘Gandalf ! He always turns up when
things are darkest. Go on! Go on, White Rider! Gandalf,
Gandalf !’ he shouted wildly, like an onlooker at a great race
urging on a runner who is far beyond encouragement.
But now the dark swooping shadows were aware of the
newcomer. One wheeled towards him; but it seemed to
Pippin that he raised his hand, and from it a shaft of white
light stabbed upwards. The Nazgûl gave a long wailing cry
and swerved away; and with that the four others wavered,
and then rising in swift spirals they passed away eastward
vanishing into the lowering cloud above; and down on the
Pelennor it seemed for a while less dark.
Pippin watched, and he saw the horseman and the White
Rider meet and halt, waiting for those on foot. Men now
hurried out to them from the City; and soon they all passed
from sight under the outer walls, and he knew that they were
entering the Gate. Guessing that they would come at once
to the Tower and the Steward, he hurried to the entrance of
the citadel. There he was joined by many others who had
watched the race and the rescue from the high walls.
It was not long before a clamour was heard in the streets
leading up from the outer circles, and there was much cheering
and crying of the names of Faramir and Mithrandir.