The Siege of Gondor

           PippinwasrousedbyGandalf.Candleswerelitintheirchamber,foronlyadimtwilightcamethroughthewindows;theairwasheavyaswithapproachingthunder.

           ‘Whatisthetime?’saidPippinyawning.

           ‘Pastthesecondhour,’saidGandalf.‘Timetogetupandmakeyourselfpresentable.YouaresummonedtotheLordoftheCitytolearnyournewduties.’

           ‘Andwillheprovidebreakfast?’

           ‘No!Ihaveprovidedit:allthatyouwillgettillnoon.Foodisnowdoledoutbyorder.’

           Pippinlookedruefullyatthesmallloafand(hethought)veryinadequatepatofbutterwhichwassetoutforhim,besideacupofthinmilk.‘Whydidyoubringmehere?’hesaid.

           ‘Youknowquitewell,’saidGandalf.‘Tokeepyououtofmischief;andifyoudonotlikebeinghere,youcanrememberthatyoubroughtitonyourself.’Pippinsaidnomore.

           BeforelonghewaswalkingwithGandalfoncemoredownthecoldcorridortothedooroftheTowerHall.ThereDenethorsatinagreygloom,likeanoldpatientspider,Pippinthought:hedidnotseemtohavemovedsincethedaybefore.HebeckonedGandalftoaseat,butPippinwasleftforawhilestandingunheeded.Presentlytheoldmanturnedtohim:

           ‘Well,MasterPeregrin,Ihopethatyouusedyesterdaytoyourprofit,andtoyourliking?ThoughIfearthattheboardisbarerinthiscitythanyoucouldwish.’

           PippinhadanuncomfortablefeelingthatmostofwhathehadsaidordonewassomehowknowntotheLordoftheCity,andmuchwasguessedofwhathethoughtaswell.Hedidnotanswer.