按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
checked by cold counsel。 It touched his heart； as well （may I say it） as pleasing his humour。 And at
least you are free now to move about as you will in Minas Tirith – when you are not on duty。 For
there is another side to it。 You are at his mand； and he will not forget。 Be wary still！'
He fell silent and sighed。 'Well； no need to brood on what tomorrow may bring。 For one thing；
tomorrow will be certain to bring worse than today； for many days to e。 And there is nothing
more that I can do to help it。 The board is set； and the pieces are moving。 One piece that I greatly
desire to find is Faramir； now the heir of Denethor。 I do not think that he is in the City； but I have
had no time to gather news。 I must go。 Pippin。 I must go to this lords' council and learn what I can。
But the Enemy has the move； and he is about to open his full game。 And pawns are likely to see as
much of it as any； Peregrin son of Paladin； soldier of Gondor。 Sharpen your blade！'
Gandalf went to the door； and there he turned。 'I am in haste Pippin；' he said。 'Do me a favour
when you go out。 Even before you rest； if you are not too weary。 Go and find Shadowfax and see
how he is housed。 These people are kindly to beasts； for they are a good and wise folk； but they
have less skill with horses than some。'
With that Gandalf went out； and as he did so； there came the note of a clear sweet bell ringing in
a tower of the citadel。 Three strokes it rang； like silver in the air； and ceased： the third hour from the
rising of the sun。
After a minute Pippin went to the door and down the stair and looked about the street。 The sun
was now shining warm and bright； and the towers and tall houses cast long clear…cut shadows
westward。 High in the blue air Mount Mindolluin lifted its white helm and snowy cloak。 Armed
men went to and fro in the ways of the City； as if going at the striking of the hour to changes of post
and duty。
'Nine o'clock we'd call it in the Shire；' said Pippin aloud to himself。 'Just the time for a nice
breakfast by the open window in spring sunshine。 And how I should like breakfast！ Do these people
ever have it； or is it over？ And when do they have dinner； and where？'
Presently he noticed a man； clad in black and white； ing along the narrow street from the
centre of the citadel towards him。 Pippin felt lonely and made up his mind to speak as the man
passed； but he had no need。 The man came straight up to him。
'You are Peregrin the Halfling？' he said。 'I am told that you have been sworn to the service of the
Lord and of the City。 Wele！ He held out his hand and Pippin took it。
'I am named Beregond son of Baranor。 I have no duty this morning； and I have been sent to you
to teach you the pass…words； and to tell you some of the many things that no doubt you will wish to
know。 And for my part； I would learn of you also。 For never before have we seen a halfling in this
land and though we have heard rumour of them； little is said of them in any tale that we know。
Moreover you are a friend of Mithrandir。 Do you know him well？'
'Well；' said Pippin。 'I have known _of_ him all my short life； as you might say； and lately I have
travelled far with him。 But there is much to read in that book； and I cannot claim to have seen more
than a page or two。 Yet perhaps I know him as well as any but a few。 Aragorn was the only one of
our pany； I think； who really knew him。'
'Aragorn？' said Beregond。 'Who is he？'
'Oh；' stammered Pippin； 'he was a man who went about with us。 I think he is in Rohan now。'
'You have been in Rohan； I hear。 There is much that I would ask you of that land also； for we
put much of what little hope we have in its people。 But I am forgetting my errand； which was first
to answer what you would ask。 What would you know； Master Peregrin？'
'Er well；' said Pippin； 'if I may venture to say so； rather a burning question in my mind at present
is； well； what about breakfast and all that？ I mean； what are the meal…times； if you understand me；
and where is the dining…room； if there is one？ And the inns？ I looked； but never a one could I see as
we rode up； though I had been borne up by the hope of a draught of ale as soon as we came to the
homes of wise and courtly men。'
Beregond looked at him gravely。 'An old campaigner； I see；' he said。 'They say that men who go
warring afield look ever to the next hope of food and of drink； though I am not a travelled man
myself。 Then you have not yet eaten today？'
'Well； yes； to speak in courtesy； yes；' said Pippin。 'But no more than a cup of wine and a white
cake or two by the kindness of your lord； but he racked me for it with an hour of questions； and that
is hungry work。'
Beregond laughed。 'At the table small men may do the greater deeds； we say。 But you have
broken your fast as well as any man in the Citadel； and with greater honour。 This is a fortress and a
tower of guard and is now in posture of war。 We rise ere the Sun； and take a morsel in the grey light；
and go to our duties at the opening hour。 But do not despair！' He laughed again； seeing the dismay
in Pippin's face。 'Those who have had heavy duty take somewhat to refresh their strength in the
mid…morning。 Then there is the nuncheon； at noon or after as duties allow； and men gather for the
daymeal； and such mirth as there still may be； about the hour of sunset。
'e！ We will walk a little and then go find us some refreshment； and eat and drink on the
battlement； and survey the fair morning。'
'One moment！' said Pippin blushing。 'Greed； or hunger by your courtesy； put it out of my mind。
But Gandalf； Mithrandir as you call him； asked me to see to his horse – Shadowfax； a great steed of
Rohan； and the apple of the king's eye； I am told； though he has given him to Mithrandir for his
services。 I think his new master loves the beast better than he loves many men； and if his good will
is of any value to this city； you will treat Shadowfax with all honour： with greater kindness than
you have treated this hobbit； if it is possible。'
'Hobbit？' said Beregond。
'That is what we call ourselves；' said Pippin。
'I am glad to learn it；' said Beregond； 'for now I may say that strange accents do not mar fair
speech； and hobbits are a fair…spoken folk。 But e！ You shall make me acquainted with this good
horse。 I love beasts； and we see them seldom in this stony city； for my people came from the
mountain…vales； and before that from Ithilien。 But fear not！ The visit shall be short； a mere call of
courtesy； and we will go thence to the butteries。'
Pippin found that Shadowfax had been well housed and tended。 For in the sixth circle； outside
the walls of the citadel； there were some fair stables where a few swift horses were kept； hard by
the lodgings of the errand…riders of the Lord： messengers always ready to go at the urgent mand
of Denethor or his chief captains。 But now all the horses and the riders were out and away。
Shadowfax whinnied as Pippin entered the stable and turned his head。 'Good morning！' said
Pippin。 'Gandalf will e as soon as h