Timeline Event
Pippin and Beregond protect Faramir from Denethor's madness
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - Ring War
Date: March 15, 3019
Description:
An event in the Siege of Minas Tirith; see that entry for an overview:
'By your leave, lord!' said Pippin and turned and fled in terror from the deathly house. 'Poor Faramir!' he thought. ... 'Quite likely he needs medicine more than tears. Oh, where can I find Gandalf?' ...
At the door he turned to one of the servants who had remained on guard there. 'Your master is not himself,' he said. 'Go slow! Bring no fire to this place while Faramir lives! Do nothing until Gandalf comes!'
'Who is the master of Minas Tirith?' the man answered. 'The Lord Denethor or the Grey Wanderer?'
'The Grey Wanderer or no one, it would seem,' said Pippin, and he sped back and up the winding way as swiftly as his feet would carry him ... till he came near the gate of the Citadel. The sentinel hailed him as he went by, and he recognized the voice of Beregond.
'Whither do you run, Master Peregrin?' he cried.
'To find Mithrandir,' Pippin answered.
'The Lord's errands are urgent ...,' said Beregond; 'but tell me quickly, if you may: what goes forward? Whither has my Lord gone? ... I heard that he passed towards the Closed Door, and men were bearing Faramir before him.'
'Yes,' said Pippin....
Beregond bowed his head to hide his tears. 'They said that he was dying,' he sighed, 'and now he is dead.'
'No,' said Pippin, 'not yet. And even now his death might be prevented, I think. But the Lord of the City, Beregond, has fallen before his city is taken. He is fey and dangerous.' Quickly he told of Denethor's strange words and deeds. 'I must find Gandalf at once. ... The Lord has given me leave. But, Beregond, if you can, do something to stop any dreadful thing happening.'
'The Lord does not permit those who wear the black and silver to leave their post for any cause, save at his own command.'
'Well, you must choose between orders and the life of Faramir,' said Pippin. 'And as for orders, I think you have a madman to deal with, not a lord. I must run. I will return if I can.'
He ran on, down, down towards the outer city. ... At last he was through the Second Gate, beyond which great fires leaped up between the walls. ... Then suddenly there was a dreadful cry and a great shock, and a deep echoing boom. Forcing himself on against a gust of fear and horror that shook him almost to his knees, Pippin turned a corner opening on the wide place behind the City Gate. He stopped dead. He had found Gandalf; but he shrank back, cowering into a shadow.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 4, The Siege of Gondor
When the dark shadow at the Gate withdrew Gandalf still sat motionless. But Pippin rose to his feet, as if a great weight had been lifted from him ... But now suddenly his errand returned to his memory, and he ran forward. ...
'Gandalf, Gandalf! ' cried Pippin, and Shadowfax halted.
'What are you doing here?' said Gandalf. 'Is it not a law in the City that those who wear the black and silver must stay in the Citadel, unless their lord gives them leave?'
'He has,' said Pippin. 'He sent me away. But I am frightened. Something terrible may happen up there. The Lord is out of his mind, I think. I am afraid he will kill himself, and kill Faramir too. Can't you do something?'
Gandalf looked through the gaping Gate, and already on the fields he heard the gathering sound of battle. He clenched his hand. 'I must go,' he said. 'The Black Rider is abroad, and he will yet bring ruin on us. I have no time.'
'But Faramir!' cried Pippin. 'He is not dead, and they will burn him alive, if someone does not stop them.'
'Burn him alive?' said Gandalf. 'What is this tale? Be quick!'
'Denethor has gone to the Tombs,' said Pippin, 'and he has taken Faramir, and he says we are all to burn, and he will not wait, and they are to make a pyre and burn him on it, and Faramir as well. And he has sent men to fetch wood and oil. And I have told Beregond, but I'm afraid he won't dare to leave his post: he is on guard. ... Can't you save Faramir?'
'Maybe I can,' said Gandalf; 'but if I do, then others will die, I fear. Well, I must come, since no other help can reach him. ... Even in the heart of our stronghold the Enemy has power to strike us: for his will it is that is at work.'
Then having made up his mind he acted swiftly; and catching up Pippin and setting him before him, he turned Shadowfax with a word. Up the climbing streets of Minas Tirith they clattered, while the noise of war rose behind them. Everywhere men were rising from their despair and dread, seizing their weapons ...
They met the Prince Imrahil, and he called to them: 'Whither now, Mithrandir? The Rohirrim are fighting on the fields of Gondor! We must gather all the strength that we can find.'
'You will need every man and more,' said Gandalf. 'Make all haste. I will come when I can. ... Take command in the Lord's absence!' ...
At the gate of the Citadel they found no guard. 'Then Beregond has gone,' said Pippin more hopefully. They turned away and hastened along the road to the Closed Door. It stood wide open, and the porter lay before it. He was slain and his key had been taken.
'Work of the Enemy!' said Gandalf. 'Such deeds he loves: friend at war with friend; loyalty divided in confusion of hearts.' Now he dismounted and bade Shadowfax return to his stable. ...
They passed the Door and walked on down the steep winding road. ...
Suddenly the silence was broken, and they heard below them cries and the ringing of swords.... At last they came to Rath Dínen and hastened towards the House of the Stewards....
'Stay! Stay!' cried Gandalf, springing forward to the stone stair before the door. 'Stay this madness!'
For there were the servants of Denethor with swords and torches in their hands; but alone in the porch upon the topmost step stood Beregond, clad in the black and silver of the Guard; and he held the door against them. Two of them had already fallen to his sword, staining the hallows with their blood; and the others cursed him, calling him outlaw and traitor to his master.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 7, The Pyre of Denethor
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 10Sep04
