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the siege of gondor 1081
All was silent, save for the rumour of war in the City down
below, and they heard the water dripping sadly from the dead
branches into the dark pool. Then they went on through the
Citadel gate, where the sentinel stared at them in wonder and
dismay as they passed by. Turning westward they came at
length to a door in the rearward wall of the sixth circle. Fen
Hollen it was called, for it was kept ever shut save at times of
funeral, and only the Lord of the City might use that way, or
those who bore the token of the tombs and tended the houses
of the dead. Beyond it went a winding road that descended
in many curves down to the narrow land under the shadow
of Mindolluin’s precipice where stood the mansions of the
dead Kings and of their Stewards.
A porter sat in a little house beside the way, and with fear
in his eyes he came forth bearing a lantern in his hand. At
the Lord’s command he unlocked the door, and silently it
swung back; and they passed through, taking the lantern from
his hand. It was dark on the climbing road between ancient
walls and many-pillared balusters looming in the swaying
lantern-beam. Their slow feet echoed as they walked down,
down, until at last they came to the Silent Street, Rath Dínen,
between pale domes and empty halls and images of men long
dead; and they entered into the House of the Stewards and
set down their burden.
There Pippin, staring uneasily about him, saw that he
was in a wide vaulted chamber, draped as it were with the
great shadows that the little lantern threw upon its shrouded
walls. And dimly to be seen were many rows of tables, carved
of marble; and upon each table lay a sleeping form, hands
folded, head pillowed upon stone. But one table near at hand
stood broad and bare. Upon it at a sign from Denethor they
laid Faramir and his father side by side, and covered them
with one covering, and stood then with bowed heads as
mourners beside a bed of death. Then Denethor spoke in a
low voice.
‘Here we will wait,’ he said. ‘But send not for the embalmers.
Bring us wood quick to burn, and lay it all about us,