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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 of Minas
Morgul。'
'The Black Riders？' said Pippin； opening his eyes； and they were wide and dark with an old fear
re…awakened。
'Yes； they were black；' said Beregond； 'and I see that you know something of them； though you
have not spoken of them in any of your tales。'
'I know of them；' said Pippin softly； 'but I will not speak of them now； so near； so near。' He
broke off and lifted his eyes above the River； and it seemed to him that all he could see was a vast
and threatening shadow。 Perhaps it was mountains looming on the verge of sight； their jagged
edges softened by wellnigh twenty leagues of misty air； perhaps it was but a cloud…wall； and
beyond that again a yet deeper gloom。 But even as he looked it seemed to his eyes that the gloom
was growing and gathering； very slowly； slowly rising to smother the regions of the sun。
'So near to Mordor？' said Beregond quietly。 'Yes； there it lies。 We seldom name it； but we have
dwelt ever in sight of that shadow： sometimes it seem