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Timeline Event

Gandalf and Pippin admitted through the Out-wall of Minas Tirith

Event Type: General

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 woke to the sound of voices. Another day of hiding and a night of journey had fleeted by. It was twilight: the cold dawn was at hand again.... Many tall men heavily cloaked stood beside him, and behind them in the mist loomed a wall of stone. Partly ruinous it seemed, but... the sound of hurried labour could be heard.... Gandalf was speaking to the men that barred his way, and... Pippin became aware that he himself was being discussed.

'Yea truly, we know you, Mithrandir,' said the leader of the men, 'and you know the pass-words of the Seven Gates and are free to go forward. But we do not know your companion. What is he...? We wish for no strangers in the land at this time, unless they be mighty men of arms....'

'I will vouch for him before... Denethor,' said Gandalf. 'And as for valour, that cannot be computed by stature. He has passed through more battles... than you have, Ingold, though you be twice his height; and he comes now from the storming of Isengard, of which we bear tidings.... His name is Peregrin, a very valiant man.'

'Man?' said Ingold dubiously; and the others laughed.

'Man!' cried Pippin.... 'Man! Indeed not! I am a hobbit and no more valiant than I am a man, save perhaps now and again by necessity.'....

'Many a doer of great deeds might say no more,' said Ingold. 'But what is a hobbit?'

'A Halfling,' answered Gandalf. 'Nay, not the one that was spoken of,' he added seeing the wonder in the men's faces. 'Not he, yet one of his kindred.'

'Yes, and one who journeyed with him,' said Pippin. 'And Boromir of your City was with us, and he saved me in the snows of the North, and at the last he was slain defending me from many foes.'

'Peace!' said Gandalf. 'The news... should have been told first to the father.'

'It has been guessed already,' said Ingold; 'for there have been strange portents here of late. But pass on now quickly! For the Lord of Minas Tirith will be eager to see any that bear the latest tidings of his son, be he man or —'

'Hobbit,' said Pippin. 'Little service can I offer to your lord, but what I can do, I would do, remembering Boromir the brave.'

'Fare you well!' said Ingold; and the men made way for Shadowfax, and he passed through a narrow gate in the wall. 'May you bring good counsel to Denethor in his need, and to us all, Mithrandir!' Ingold cried. 'But you come with tidings of grief and danger, as is your wont, they say.'

'Because I come seldom but when my help is needed,' answered Gandalf. 'And as for counsel, to you I would say that you are over-late in repairing the wall of the Pelennor. Courage will now be your best defence against the storm that is at hand — that and such hope as I bring. For not all the tidings that I bring are evil. But leave your trowels and sharpen your swords!'

'The work will be finished ere evening,' said Ingold. 'This is the last portion of the wall to be put in defence: the least open to attack, for it looks towards our friends of Rohan. Do you know aught of them? Will they answer the summons, think you?'

'Yes, they will come. But they have fought many battles at your back. This road and no road looks towards safety any longer. Be vigilant! But for Gandalf Stormcrow you would have seen a host of foes coming out of Anórien and no Riders of Rohan. And you may yet. Fare you well, and sleep not!'

Gandalf passed now into the wide land beyond the Rammas Echor.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 14Mar08

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