The Window on the West

           ItseemedtoSamthathehadonlydozedforafewminuteswhenheawoketofindthatitwaslateafternoonandFaramirhadcomeback.Hehadbroughtmanymenwithhim;indeedallthesurvivorsoftheforaywerenowgatheredontheslopenearby,twoorthreehundredstrong.Theysatinawidesemicircle,betweenthearmsofwhichFaramirwasseatedontheground,whileFrodostoodbeforehim.Itlookedstrangelylikethetrialofaprisoner.

           Samcreptoutfromthefern,butnoonepaidanyattentiontohim,andheplacedhimselfattheendoftherowsofmen,wherehecouldseeandhearallthatwasgoingon.Hewatchedandlistenedintently,readytodashtohismaster’saidifneeded.HecouldseeFaramir’sface,whichwasnowunmasked:itwassternandcommanding,andakeenwitlaybehindhissearchingglance.DoubtwasinthegreyeyesthatgazedsteadilyatFrodo.

           SamsoonbecameawarethattheCaptainwasnotsatisfiedwithFrodo’saccountofhimselfatseveralpoints:whatparthehadtoplayintheCompanythatsetoutfromRivendell;whyhehadleftBoromir;andwherehewasnowgoing.InparticularhereturnedoftentoIsildur’sBane.PlainlyhesawthatFrodowasconcealingfromhimsomematterofgreatimportance.

           ’ButitwasatthecomingoftheHalflingthatIsildur’sBaneshouldwaken,orsoonemustreadthewords,’heinsisted.`IfthenyouaretheHalflingthatwasnamed,doubtlessyoubroughtthisthing,whateveritmaybe,totheCouncilofwhichyouspeak,andthereBoromirsawit.Doyoudenyit?’

           Frodomadenoanswer.