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more the strain between their wills； but now almost it seemed as if their glances were like blades
from eye to eye； flickering as they fenced。 Pippin trembled fearing some dreadful stroke。 But
suddenly Denethor relaxed and grew cold again。 He shrugged his shoulders。
'If I had！ If you had！' he said。 'Such words and ifs are vain。 It has gone into the Shadow； and only
time will show what doom awaits it and us。 The time will not be long。 In what is left； let all who
fight the Enemy in their fashion be at one； and keep hope while they may； and after hope still the
hardihood to die free。' He turned to Faramir。 'What think you of the garrison at Osgiliath？'
'It is not strong；' said Faramir。 'I have sent the pany of Ithilien to strengthen it； as I have
said。'
'Not enough； I deem；' said Denethor。 'It is there that the first blow will fall。 They will have need
of some stout captain there。'
'There and elsewhere in many places；' said Faramir； and sighed。 'Alas for my brother； whom I
too loved！' He rose。 'May I have your leave； father？' And then he swayed and leaned upon his
father's chair。
'You are weary； I see；' said Denethor。 'You have ridden fast and far； and under shadows of evil
in the air； I am told。'
'Let us not speak of that！' said Faramir。
'Then we will not；' said Denethor。 'Go now and rest as you may。 Tomorrow's need will be
sterner。'
All now took leave of the Lord of the City and went to rest while they still could。 Outside there
was a starless blackness as Gandalf with Pippin beside him bearing a small torch； made his way to
their lodging。 They did not speak until they were behind closed doors。 Then at last Pippin took
Gandalf's hand。
'Tell me；' he said； 'is there any hope？ For Frodo； I mean； or at least mostly for Frodo。'
Gandalf put his hand on Pippin's head。 'There never was much hope；' he answered。 'Just a fool's
hope； as I have been told。 And when I heard of Cirith Ungol–––' He broke off and strode to the
window as if his eyes could pierce the night in the East。 'Cirith Ungol！' he muttered。 'Why that way；
I wonder？' He turned。 'Just now； Pippin； my heart almost failed me； hearing that name。 And yet in
truth I believe that the news that Faramir brings has some hope in it。 For it seems clear that our
Enemy has opened his war at last and made the first move while Frodo was still free。 So now for
many days he will have his eye turned this way and that； away from his own land。 And yet； Pippin；
I feel from afar his haste and fear。 He has begun sooner than he would。 Something has happened to
stir him。'
Gandalf stood for a moment in thought。 'Maybe；' he muttered。 'Maybe even your foolishness
helped； my lad。 Let me see： some five days ago now he would discover that we had thrown down
Saruman and had taken the Stone。 Still what of that？ We could not use it to much purpose； or
without his knowing。 Ah！ I wonder。 Aragorn？ His time draws near。 And he is strong and stern
underneath； Pippin； bold； determined； able to take his own counsel and dare great risks at need。
That may be it。 He may have used the Stone and shown himself to the Enemy； challenging him； for
this very purpose。 I wonder。 Well； we shall not know the answer till the Riders of Rohan e； if
they do not e too late。 There are evil days ahead。 To sleep while we may！'
'But；' said Pippin。
'But what？' said Gandalf。 'Only one _but_ will I allow tonight。'
'Gollum；' said Pippin。 'How on earth could they be going about _with_ him； even following him？
And I could see that Faramir did not like the place he was taking them to any more than you do。
What is wrong？'
'I cannot answer that now；' said Gandalf。 'Yet my heart guessed that Frodo and Gollum would
meet before the end。 For good； or for evil。 But of Cirith Ungol I will not speak tonight。 Treachery；
treachery I fear； treachery of that miserable creature。 But so it must be。 Let us remember that a
traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend。 It can be so； sometimes。 Good night！
'
The next day came with a morning like a brown dusk； and the hearts of men； lifted for a while
by the return of Faramir； sank low again。 The winged Shadows were not seen again that day； yet
ever and anon； high above the city； a faint cry would e； and many who heard it would stand
stricken with a passing dread； while the less stout…hearted quailed and wept。
And now Faramir was gone again。 'They give him no rest；' some murmured。 'The Lord drives his
son too hard； and now he must do the duty of two； for himself and for the one that will not return。'
And ever men looked northward； asking： 'Where are the Riders of Rohan？'
In truth Faramir did not go by his own choosing。 But the Lord of the City was master of his
Council； and he was in no mood that day to bow to others。 Early in the morning the Council had
been summoned。 There all the captains judged that because of the threat in the South their force
was too weak to make any stroke of war on their own part； unless perchance the Riders of Rohan
yet should e。 Meanwhile they must man the walls and wait。
'Yet；' said Denethor； 'we should not lightly abandon the outer defences； the Rammas made with
so great a labour。 And the Enemy must pay dearly for the crossing of the River。 That he cannot do；
in force to assail the City； either north of Cair Andros because of the marshes； or southwards
towards Lebennin because of the breadth of the River； that needs many boats。 It is at Osgiliath that
he will put his weight； as before when Boromir denied him the passage。'
'That was but a trial；' said Faramir。 'Today we may make the Enemy pay ten times our loss at the
passage and yet rue the exchange。 For he can afford to lose a host better than we to lose a pany。
And the retreat of those that we put out far afield will be perilous； if he wins across in force。'
'And what of Cair Andros？' said the Prince。 'That； too； must be held； if Osgiliath is defended。 Let
us not forget the danger on our left。 The Rohirrim may e； and they may not。 But Faramir has
told us of great strength drawing ever