Summary — Chapter 7: The Pyre of Denethor
“I would have things as they were in
all the days of my life . . . and in the days of my longfathers
before me. . . . But if doom denies this to me, then I will have
naught: neither life diminished, nor love halved, nor honour abated.”
(See Important Quotations Explained)
The narrative returns to the perspective of Pippin. When
the Black Captain disappears from the gate of Minas Tirith, Pippin
runs to Gandalf and tells him of Denethor’s madness and the situation
in the tower. Gandalf wishes to pursue the Nazgûl but knows he must
save Faramir. As they race to the Citadel, Gandalf laments the Enemy’s ability
to bring evil and discord to the inner circle of Minas Tirith. Reaching
the door to the House of Stewards, the two find Denethor’s servants
bearing swords and torches, standing before the lone figure of Beregond,
who holds the door against them. Two servants have already fallen
to Beregond’s sword. The men cower at the sight of Gandalf, whose
appearance is like a burst of white light.
Denethor throws open the door, drawing his sword, but
Gandalf lifts his hand and the sword flies from Denethor’s grip.
The wizard decries Denethor’s madness, but the Steward says that
Faramir has already burned. Rushing past, Gandalf finds Faramir
still alive on the funeral pyre. To Denethor’s protests and tears,
Gandalf lifts Faramir and carries him away with a strength that
surprises Pippin. Denethor, the wizard says, does not have the authority
to order Faramir’s death.
Denethor laughs. Standing proudly, he produces from his
cloak a palantír, similar to the Stone of Orthanc.
He warns that the West is doomed, as he has foreseen the black ships
of the Enemy approaching. The Steward condemns Gandalf for bringing
a young upstart Ranger to replace him as ruler. Denethor wishes
that things would remain as they always have been in Minas Tirith.
He springs for Faramir, but Beregond stops him. Grabbing a torch
from a servant, Denethor lights the funeral pyre. He throws himself
into the raging fire, clutching the palantír.
Gandalf and Beregond carry Faramir to the Houses of Healing. As
they exit, the House of Stewards collapses in flames, and Denethor’s
servants run out. Soon after, they hear a great cry from the battlefield—the
sound of Éowyn and Merry’s defeat of the Lord of the Nazgûl. A sense
of hope returns as the sun breaks through the Darkness. Gandalf
discusses Denethor’s palantír with Pippin and Beregond.
Gandalf says he had always suspected that the Steward possessed
one of the seven seeing-stones. The wizard surmises that Denethor,
in his growing distress, began to use the stone, and through it
he fell prey to the lies of Sauron.
Summary — Chapter 8: The Houses of Healing
Crying and in pain, Merry accompanies the procession carrying Théoden
and Éowyn into the city. As Merry ascends the city roads, he runs
into Pippin, who is startled and glad, and notices that Merry is
stumbling badly. Merry’s arm has gone completely numb after he stabbed
the Nazgûl. Pippin escorts Merry to the Houses of Healing.
After the battle, Aragorn furls his banner and orders
his men to prepare tents outside the city. He refuses to claim his
throne until the war with Mordor is decided, for good or ill. Aragorn
plans to wait outside the gate until the Lord of Minas Tirith bids
him to enter. Aragorn, learning of Denethor’s fate, assigns Imrahil
to act as the interim leader of Gondor. Aragorn, Éomer, and Imrahil
secretly agree, though, that Gandalf is their true leader for the
remainder of the war against Mordor.
