The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien Read Free Book Online

in the land.’
    ‘Then it is far beyond me,’ said Pippin. ‘Take me back to our room, and if Gandalf is not there, I will go where you like
– as your guest.’
    Gandalf was not in the lodging and had sent no message; so Pippin went with Beregond and was made known to the men of the
Third Company. And it seemed that Beregond got as much honour from it as his guest, for Pippin was very welcome. There had
already been much talk in the citadel about Mithrandir’s companion and his long closeting with the Lord; and rumour declared
that a Prince of the Halflings had come out of the North to offer allegiance to Gondor and five thousand swords. And some
said that when the Riders came from Rohan each would bring behind him a halfling warrior, small maybe, but doughty.
    Though Pippin had regretfully to destroy this hopeful tale, he could not be rid of his new rank, only fitting, men thought,
to one befriended by Boromir and honoured by the LordDenethor; and they thanked him for coming among them, and hung on his words and stories of the outlands, and gave him as much
food and ale as he could wish. Indeed his only trouble was to be ‘wary’ according to the counsel of Gandalf, and not to let
his tongue wag freely after the manner of a hobbit among friends.
    At length Beregond rose. ‘Farewell for this time!’ he said. ‘I have duty now till sundown, as have all the others here, I
think. But if you are lonely, as you say, maybe you would like a merry guide about the City. My son would go with you gladly.
A good lad, I may say. If that pleases you, go down to the lowest circle and ask for the Old Guesthouse in the Rath Celerdain,
the Lampwrights’ Street. You will find him there with other lads that are remaining in the City. There may be things worth
seeing down at the Great Gate ere the closing.’
    He went out, and soon after all the others followed. The day was still fine, though it was growing hazy, and it was hot for
March, even so far southwards. Pippin felt sleepy, but the lodging seemed cheerless, and he decided to go down and explore
the City. He took a few morsels that he had saved to Shadowfax, and they were graciously accepted, though the horse seemed
to have no lack. Then he walked on down many winding ways.
    People stared much as he passed. To his face men were gravely courteous, saluting him after the manner of Gondor with bowed
head and hands upon the breast; but behind him he heard many calls, as those out of doors cried to others within to come and
see the Prince of the Halflings, the companion of Mithrandir. Many used some other tongue than the Common Speech, but it was
not long before he learned at least what was meant by
Ernil i Pheriannath
and knew that his title had gone down before him into the City.
    He came at last by arched streets and many fair alleys and pavements to the lowest and widest circle, and there he was directed
to the Lampwrights’ Street, a broad way runningtowards the Great Gate. In it he found the Old Guesthouse, a large building of grey weathered stone with two wings running
back from the street, and between them a narrow greensward, behind which was the many-windowed house, fronted along its whole
width by a pillared porch and a flight of steps down on to the grass. Boys were playing among the pillars, the only children
that Pippin had seen in Minas Tirith, and he stopped to look at them. Presently one of them caught sight of him, and with
a shout he sprang across the grass and came into the street, followed by several others. There he stood in front of Pippin,
looking him up and down.
    ‘Greetings!’ said the lad. ‘Where do you come from? You are a stranger in the City.’
    ‘I was,’ said Pippin; ‘but they say I have become a man of Gondor.’
    ‘Oh come!’ said the lad. ‘Then we are all men here. But how old are you, and what is your name? I am ten years already, and
shall soon be five feet. I am taller than you. But then my father is a