Timeline Event
Minas Tirith evacuated before the Siege
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - Ring War
Date: March 9, 3019
Description:
An event in the prelude to the Siege of Minas Tirith; see that entry for an overview:
Pippin could see all the Pelennor laid out before him, dotted into the distance with farmsteads..., but nowhere could he see any kine or other beasts. Many roads and tracks crossed the green fields, and there was much coming and going: wains moving in lines towards the Great Gate, and others passing out. Now and again a horseman would ride up, and leap from the saddle and hasten into the City. But most of the traffic went out along the chief highway, and that turned south, and then bending swifter than the River skirted the hills and passed soon from sight. It was wide and well-paved, and along its eastern edge ran a broad green riding-track, and beyond that a wall. On the ride horsemen galloped to and fro, but all the street seemed to be choked with great covered wains going south. But soon Pippin saw that all was in fact well-ordered: the wains were moving in three lines, one swifter drawn by horses; another slower, great waggons with fair housings of many colours, drawn by oxen; and along the west rim of the road many smaller carts hauled by trudging men.
'That is the road to the vales of Tumladen and Lossarnach, and the mountain-villages, and then on to Lebennin,' said Beregond. 'There go the last of the wains that bear away to refuge the aged, the children, and the women that must go with them. They must all be gone from the Gate and the road clear for a league before noon: that was the order. It is a sad necessity.' He sighed. 'Few, maybe, of those now sundered will meet again. And there were always too few children in this city; but now there are none — save some young lads that will not depart, and may find some task to do: my own son is one of them.'
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith
[In the Houses of Healing] dwelt the few women that had been permitted to remain in Minas Tirith, since they were skilled in healing or in the service of the healers.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 7, The Pyre of Denethor
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 18Oct06, 14Mar08
