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'Yes； and one who journeyed with him；' said Pippin。 'And Boromir of your City was with us； and
he saved me in the snows of the North； and at the last he was slain defending me from many foes。'
'Peace！' said Gandalf。 'The news of that grief should have been told first to the father。'
'It has been guessed already；' said Ingold； 'for there have been strange portents here of late。 But
pass on now quickly！ For the Lord of Minas Tirith will be eager to see any that bear the latest
tidings of his son； be he man or…'
'Hobbit；' said Pippin。 'Little service can I offer to your lord； but what I can do； I would do；
remembering Boromir the brave。'
'Fare you well！' said Ingold； and the men made way for Shadow fax； and he passed through a
narrow gate in the wall。 'May you bring good counsel to Denethor in his need； and to us all；
Mithrandir！' Ingold cried。 'But you e with tidings of grief and danger； as is your wont； they say。'
'Because I e seldom but when my help is needed；' answered Gandalf。 'And as for counsel； to
you I would say that you are over…late in repairing the wall of the Pelennor。 Courage will now be
your best defence against the storm that is at hand – that and such hope as I bring。 For not all the
tidings that I bring are evil。 But leave your trowels and sharpen your swords！'
'The work will be finished ere evening；' said Ingold。 'This is the last portion of the wall to be put
in defence： the least open to attack； for it looks towards our friends of Rohan。 Do you know aught
of them？ Will they answer the summons； think you？'
'Yes； they will e。 But they have fought many battles at your back。 This road and no road
looks towards safety any longer。 Be vigilant！ But for Gandalf Stormcrow you would have seen a
host of foes ing out of Anórien and no Riders of Rohan。 And you may yet。 Fare you well； and
sleep not！'
Gandalf passed now into the wide land beyond the Rammas Echor。 So the men of Gondor called
the out wall that they had built with great labour； after Ithilien fell under the shadow of their Enemy。
For ten leagues or more it ran from the mountains' feet and so back again； enclosing in its fence the
fields of the Pelennor： fair and fertile townlands on the long slopes and terraces falling to the deep
levels of the Anduin。 At its furthest point from the Great Gate of the City； north…eastward； the wall
was four leagues distant； and there from a frowning bank it overlooked the long flats beside the
river； and men had made it high and strong； for at that point； upon a walled causeway； the road
came in from the fords and bridges of Osgiliath and passed through a guarded gate between
embattled towers。 At its nearest point the wall was little more than one league from the City； and
that was south…eastward。 There Anduin； going in a wide knee about the hills of Emyn Arnen in
South Ithilien； bent sharply west； and the out…wall rose upon its very brink； and beneath it lay the
quays and landings of the Harlond for craft that came upstream from the southern fiefs。
The townlands were rich； with wide tilth and many orchards； and homesteads there were with
oast and garner； fold and byre； and many rills rippling through the green from the highlands down
to Anduin。 Yet the herdsmen and husbandmen that dwelt there were not many； and the most part of
the people of Gondor lived in the seven circles of the City； or in the high vales of the mountain…
borders； in Lossarnach； or further south in fair Lebennin with its five swift streams。 There dwelt a
hardy folk between the mountains and the sea。 They were reckoned men of Gondor； yet their blood
was mingled； and there were short and swarthy folk among them whose sires came more from the
forgotten men who housed in the shadow of the hills in the Dark Years ere the ing of the kings。
But beyond； in the great fief of Belfalas； dwelt Prince Imrahil in his castle of Dol Amroth by the
sea； and he was of high blood； and his folk also； tall men and proud with sea…grey eyes。
Now after Gandalf had ridden for some time the light of day grew in the sky； and Pippin roused
himself and looked up。 To his left lay a sea of mist； rising to a bleak shadow in the East； but to his
right great mountains reared their heads； ranging from the West to a steep and sudden end； as if in
the making of the land the River had burst through a great barrier； carving out a mighty valley to be
a land of battle and debate in times to e。 And there where the White Mountains of Ered Nimrais
came to their end he saw； as Gandalf had promised； the dark mass of Mount Mindolluin； the deep
purple shadows of its high glens； and its tall face whitening in the rising day。 And upon its out…
thrust knee was the Guarded City； with its seven walls of stone so strong and old that it seemed to
have been not builded but carven by giants out of the bones of the earth。
Even as Pippin gazed in wonder the walls passed from looming grey to white； blushing faintly in
the dawn； and suddenly the sun climbed over the eastern shadow and sent forth a shaft that smote
the face of the City。 Then Pippin cried aloud； for the Tower of Ecthelion； standing high within the
topmost walls' shone out against the sky； glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver； tall and fair
and shapely； and its pinnacle glittered as if it were wrought of crystals； and white banners broke
and fluttered from the battlements in the morning breeze' and high and far he heard a clear ringing
as of silver trumpets。
So Gandalf and Peregrin rode to the Great Gate of the Men of Gondor at the rising of the sun；
and its iron doors rolled back before them。
'Mithrandir！ Mithrandir！' men cried。 'Now we know that the storm is indeed nigh！'
'It is upon you；' said Gandalf。 'I have ridden on its wings。 Let me pass！ I must e to your Lord
Denethor； while his stewardship lasts。 Whatever betide； you have e to the end of the Gondor
that you have known。 Let me pass！'
Then men fell back before the mand of his voice and questioned him no further； though they
gazed in wonder at the hobbit that sat before him and at the horse that bore him。 For the people of
the City used horses very little and they were seldom seen in their streets； save only those ridden by
the errand…riders of their lord。 And they said： 'Surely that is one of the great steeds of the King of
Rohan？ Maybe the Rohirrim will e soon to strengthen us。' But Shadowfax walked proudly up
the long winding road。
For the fashion of Minas Tirith was such that it was built on seven levels； each delved into the
hill； and about each was set a wall； and in each wall was a gate。 But the gates were not set in a line：
the Great Gate in the City Wall was at the east point of the circuit； but the next faced half south；
and the third half north； and so to and fro upwards； so that the paved way that climbed towards the
Citadel turned first this way and then that across the face of the hill。 And each time that it passed
the line of the Great Gate it went through an arched tunnel； piercing a vast pier of rock whose huge
out…thrust bulk divided in two all the c