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minas tirith 1003
was still shining and the banners still streaming in the breeze.
He shook himself. ‘It is passed,’ he said. ‘No, my heart will
not yet despair. Gandalf fell and has returned and is with us.
We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon
our knees.’
‘Rightly said!’ cried Beregond, rising and striding to and
fro. ‘Nay, though all things must come utterly to an end in
time, Gondor shall not perish yet. Not though the walls be
taken by a reckless foe that will build a hill of carrion before
them. There are still other fastnesses, and secret ways of
escape into the mountains. Hope and memory shall live still
in some hidden valley where the grass is green.’
‘All the same, I wish it was over for good or ill,’ said Pippin.
‘I am no warrior at all and dislike any thought of battle; but
waiting on the edge of one that I can’t escape is worst of all.
What a long day it seems already! I should be happier, if we
were not obliged to stand and watch, making no move, striking
nowhere first. No stroke would have been struck in
Rohan, I think, but for Gandalf.’
‘Ah, there you lay your finger on the sore that many feel!’
said Beregond. ‘But things may change when Faramir returns.
He is bold, more bold than many deem; for in these
days men are slow to believe that a captain can be wise and
learned in the scrolls of lore and song, as he is, and yet a man
of hardihood and swift judgement in the field. But such is
Faramir. Less reckless and eager than Boromir, but not less
resolute. Yet what indeed can he do? We cannot assault the
mountains of – of yonder realm. Our reach is shortened, and
we cannot strike till some foe comes within it. Then our hand
must be heavy!’ He smote the hilt of his sword.
Pippin looked at him: tall and proud and noble, as all the
men that he had yet seen in that land; and with a glitter
in his eye as he thought of the battle. ‘Alas! my own hand
feels as light as a feather,’ he thought, but he said nothing.
‘A pawn did Gandalf say? Perhaps; but on the wrong
chessboard.’
* * *