The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Pippin
looked
out
from
the
shelter
of
Gandalf
's
cloak
.
He
wondered
if
he
was
awake
or
still
sleeping
,
still
in
the
swift-moving
dream
in
which
he
had
been
wrapped
so
long
since
the
great
ride
began
.
The
dark
world
was
rushing
by
and
the
wind
sang
loudly
in
his
ears
.
He
could
see
nothing
but
the
wheeling
stars
,
and
away
to
his
right
vast
shadows
against
the
sky
where
the
mountains
of
the
South
marched
past
.
Sleepily
he
tried
to
reckon
the
times
and
stages
of
their
journey
,
but
his
memory
was
drowsy
and
uncertain
.
There
had
been
the
first
ride
at
terrible
speed
without
a
halt
,
and
then
in
the
dawn
he
had
seen
a
pale
gleam
of
gold
,
and
they
had
come
to
the
silent
town
and
the
great
empty
house
on
the
hill
.
And
hardly
had
they
reached
its
shelter
when
the
winged
shadow
had
passed
over
once
again
,
and
men
wilted
with
fear
.
But
Gandalf
had
spoken
soft
words
to
him
,
and
he
had
slept
in
a
corner
,
tired
but
uneasy
,
dimly
aware
of
comings
and
goings
and
of
men
talking
and
Gandalf
giving
orders
.
And
then
again
riding
,
riding
in
the
night
.
This
was
the
second
,
no
,
the
third
night
since
he
had
looked
in
the
Stone
.
And
with
that
hideous
memory
he
woke
fully
,
and
shivered
,
and
the
noise
of
the
wind
became
filled
with
menacing
voices
.
A
light
kindled
in
the
sky
,
a
blaze
of
yellow
fire
behind
dark
barriers
Pippin
cowered
back
,
afraid
for
a
moment
,
wondering
into
what
dreadful
country
Gandalf
was
bearing
him
.
He
rubbed
his
eyes
,
and
then
he
saw
that
it
was
the
moon
rising
above
the
eastern
shadows
,
now
almost
at
the
full
.
So
the
night
was
not
yet
old
and
for
hours
the
dark
journey
would
go
on
.
He
stirred
and
spoke
.
'
Where
are
we
,
Gandalf
?
'
he
asked
.
'
In
the
realm
of
Gondor
,
'
the
wizard
answered
.
'
The
land
of
Anórien
is
still
passing
by
.
'
There
was
a
silence
again
for
a
while
.
Then
,
'
What
is
that
?
'
cried
Pippin
suddenly
,
clutching
at
Gandalf
's
cloak
.
'
Look
!
Fire
,
red
fire
!
Are
there
dragons
in
this
land
?
Look
,
there
is
another
!
'
For
answer
Gandalf
cried
aloud
to
his
horse
.
'
On
,
Shadowfax
!
We
must
hasten
.
Time
is
short
.
See
!
The
beacons
of
Gondor
are
alight
,
calling
for
aid
.
War
is
kindled
.
See
,
there
is
the
fire
on
Amon
Dîn
,
and
flame
on
Eilenach
;
and
there
they
go
speeding
west
:
Nardol
,
Erelas
,
Min-Rimmon
,
Calenhad
,
and
the
Halifirien
on
the
borders
of
Rohan
.
'
But
Shadowfax
paused
in
his
stride
,
slowing
to
a
walk
,
and
then
he
lifted
up
his
head
and
neighed
.
And
out
of
the
darkness
the
answering
neigh
of
other
horses
came
;
and
presently
the
thudding
of
hoofs
was
heard
,
and
three
riders
swept
up
and
passed
like
flying
ghosts
in
the
moon
and
vanished
into
the
West
.
Then
Shadowfax
gathered
himself
together
and
sprang
away
,
and
the
night
flowed
over
him
like
a
roaring
wind
.
Pippin
became
drowsy
again
and
paid
little
attention
to
Gandalf
telling
him
of
the
customs
of
Gondor
,
and
how
the
Lord
of
the
City
had
beacons
built
on
the
tops
of
outlying
hills
along
both
borders
of
the
great
range
,
and
maintained
posts
at
these
points
where
fresh
horses
were
always
in
readiness
to
bear
his
errand-riders
to
Rohan
in
the
North
,
or
to
Belfalas
in
the
South
.
