The Pyre of Denethor

           WhenthedarkshadowattheGatewithdrewGandalfstillsatmotionless.ButPippinrosetohisfeet,asifagreatweighthadbeenliftedfromhim;andhestoodlisteningtothehorns,anditseemedtohimthattheywouldbreakhisheartwithjoy.Andneverinafteryearscouldhehearahornblowninthedistancewithouttearsstartinginhiseyes.Butnowsuddenlyhiserrandreturnedtohismemory,andheranforward.AtthatmomentGandalfstirredandspoketoShadowfax,andwasabouttoridethroughtheGate.

           ‘Gandalf,Gandalf!‘criedPippin,andShadowfaxhalted.

           ‘Whatareyoudoinghere?’saidGandalf.‘IsitnotalawintheCitythatthosewhoweartheblackandsilvermuststayintheCitadel,unlesstheirlordgivesthemleave?’

           ‘Hehas,’saidPippin.‘Hesentmeaway.ButIamfrightened.Somethingterriblemayhappenupthere.TheLordisoutofhismind,Ithink.Iamafraidhewillkillhimself,andkillFaramirtoo.Can’tyoudosomething?’

           GandalflookedthroughthegapingGate,andalreadyonthefieldsheheardthegatheringsoundofbattle.Heclenchedhishand.‘Imustgo‘hesaid.‘TheBlackRiderisabroad,andhewillyetbringruinonus.Ihavenotime.’

           ‘ButFaramir!’criedPippin.‘Heisnotdead,andtheywillburnhimalive,ifsomeonedoesnotstopthem.’

           ‘Burnhimalive?’saidGandalf.