Middle-Earth Tours

Tour 2: The Places of Middle-Earth

Minas Tirith: The Upper Levels

At the Court of the Fountain,
by Ted Nasmith		 The door opened, but no one could be seen to open it. Pippin looked into a great hall. It was lit by deep windows in the wide aisles at either side, beyond the rows of tall pillars that upheld the roof. Monoliths of black marble, they rose to great capitals carved in many strange figures of beasts and leaves; and far above in shadow the wide vaulting gleamed with dull gold, inset with flowing traceries of many colours. No hangings nor storied webs, nor any thing of woven stuff or of wood, were to be seen in that long solemn hall; but between the pillars there stood a silent company of tall images graven in cold stone. --RotK, "Minas Tirith"

image from a RotK trailer
image from a Decipher playing card
Suddenly Pippin was reminded of the hewn rocks of Argonath, and awe fell on him, as he looked down that avenue of kings long dead. At the far end upon a dais of many steps was set a high throne under a canopy of marble shaped like a crowned helm; behind it was carved upon the wall and set with gems an image of a tree in flower. But the throne was empty. At the foot of the dais, upon the lowest step which was broad and deep, there was a stone chair, black and unadorned, and on it sat an old man gazing at his lap. In his hand was a white rod with a golden knob. He did not look up. Solemnly they paced the long floor towards him, until they stood three paces from his footstool....
     Then the old man looked up. Pippin saw his carven face with its proud bones and skin like ivory, and the long curved nose between the deep dark eyes; and he was reminded not so much of Boromir as of Aragorn. --description of Denethor, from RotK, "Minas Tirith"
Gandalf and Pippin Meet
Denethor, by Alan Lee

Gandalf and Pippin meet Denethor, image from Orlando Bloom Multimedia
Your Son Has Returned, Lord...
by Anke-Katrin Eiszmann
The Domes of the Dead, by
Ted Nasmith

image courtesy of theonering.net

 'Denethor has gone to the Tombs,' said Pippin. 'And has taken Faramir, and he says we are all to burn, and he will not wait, and they are to make a pyre and burn him on it, and Faramir as well. And he has sent men to fetch wood and oil. And I have told Beregond, but I'm afraid he won't dare to leave his post: he is on guard. And what can he do anyway?' So Pippin poured out his tale, reaching up and touching Gandalf's knee with trembling hands. 'Can't you save Faramir?'--RotK, "The Pyre of Denethor"

image courtesy of The Framecap Library		 Suddenly the silence was broken, and they heard below them the cries and the ringing of swords: such sounds as had not been heard in the hallowed places since the building of the City. At last they came to Rath Dínen and hastened toward the House of the Stewards, looming in the twilight under its great dome.
     "Stay! Stay!' cried Gandalf, springing forward to the stone stair before the door. 'Stay this madness!'
     For there were servants of Denethor with swords and torches in their hands; but alone in the porch upon the topmost step stood Beregond, clad in the black and silver of the Guard; and he held the door against them. --RotK, "The Pyre of Denethor"
Now Aragorn knelt beside Faramir, and held a hand upon his brow. And those that watched felt that some great struggle was going on. For Aragorn's face grew grey with weariness; and ever and anon he called the name of Faramir, but each time more faintly to their hearing, as if Aragorn himself was removed from them, and walked afar in some dark vale, calling for one that was lost.
     ....Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he looked on Aragorn who bent over him; and a light of knowledge and love was kindled in his eyes, and he spoke softly. 'My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?'--RotK, "The Pyre of Denethor"
image courtesy of theonering.net

The lord Faramir was walking alone in the garden of the Houses of Healing, and the sunlight warmed him, and he felt life run new in his veins; but his heart was heavy, and he looked out over the walls eastward. And coming, the Warden spoke his name, and he turned and saw the Lady Éowyn of Rohan; and he was moved with pity, for he saw that she was hurt, and his clear sight perceived her sorrow and unrest. --RotK, "The Steward and the King"


Eowyn is Brought to Faramir,
by Anke-Katrin Eiszmann
The Houses of Healing,
by Anke-Katrin Eiszmann
"And so they stood on the walls,"
by Anke-Katrin Eiszmann

And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden, streamed out mingling in the air. And the Shadow departed, and the Sun was unveiled, and light leaped forth; and the waters of Anduin shone like silver, and in all the houses of the City men sang for joy that welled up in their hearts from what source they could not tell. --RotK, "The Steward and the King"

image from the Framecap Library

image from a "For Your Consideration" ad via theonering.net		 Estel, Estel!" she cried, and with that even as he took her hand and kissed it, he fell into sleep. Then a great beauty was revealed in him, so that all who after came there looked on him in wonder; for they saw that the grave of his youth, and the valour of his manhood, and the wisdom and majesty of his age were blended together. And long there he lay, an image of the splendour of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.
      But Arwen went forth from the House, and the light of her eyes was quenched, and it seemed to her people that she had become cold and grey as nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Then she said farewell to Eldarion, and to her daughters, and to all whom she had loved; and she went out from the city of Minas Tirith and passed away to the land of Lórien, and dwelt there alone under the fading trees until winter came. --RotK, Appendix A, part V: "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
Full-size versions of these pictures are on display at Rolozo Tolkien.