Radagast, Saruman, Faramir and Pippin rode swiftly east from Isengard to Gondor, the southeastern land inhabited by Men and bordering the dark region of Mordor. They head toward Minas Tirith, the major city of Gondor, traveling by night to elude the searching Nazgûl whose eerie cries echo throughout the land.

They came to the great outer gates of Minas Tirith and the guards ask Faramir who or what Pippin is. Faramir replied:

'And as for valor, that cannot be computed by stature. He has passed through more battles and perils than you have, Ingold, though you be twice his height; and he comes now from the storming of Isengard, of which we bear tiding .... His name is Peregrin, a very valiant man.'

Pippin explained to them that he is a Hobbit and Saruman clarified that he is a halfling.  The guards looked at Saruman in question as well, but he was well hidden under a grey cloak and his face was hidden beneath a hood.  Faramir told the guards to sharpen their swords and when they ask if Rohan is coming he replied that they will be here as quickly as they can. Between the outer wall and the city are four leagues of land filled with farms, orchards and houses.  Minas Tirith is built into the side of a mountain. It had seven levels each tier surrounded by one of seven concentric semicircular stone walls. The massive doors to enter each section are staggered. Upon the crown of the hill is the Great Citadel, and within the Citadel is the High Court, at the feet of the White Tower. The sight of the iridescent city amazed Pippin. The Hobbit noticed, however, that Minas Tirith is slowly falling into decay.
The four reached the gate of the Citadel, which opened to a court in which a pleasant fountain trickled water off the broken branches of a dead tree. The Tower Guards, who still wore the ancient symbol of Elendil, an image of the White Tree, allowed Faramir and his companion’s entrance without question. Approaching the court, Faramir warned Pippin to watch his words and to avoid mentioning the subject of Aragorn, who maintains a claim to the kingship of Gondor. Pippin tried to ask more questions, but Saruman told him that there was not time to answer all of his questions.

In the Hall of Kings, the high throne remained empty. Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, sat upon a black stone chair at the foot of the steps to the throne. While his body appeared proud and healthy, he was an old man.

From the outset, there was a palpable yet unspoken tension between Faramir and Denethor.  The lord took little interest in the two wizards, but Denethor soon took great interest in Pippin.  The hobbit, upon hearing of Gondors plight, and feeling the need to defend his companaion, offered his sword to Gondor in service and payment. Denethor, flattered and amused, accepted Pippin into his Guard.

Radagast asked if he has heard of the fall of Isengard and he said that he had. Denethor bid for food and chairs to be brought out. Pippin wove the long tale, but mentioned nothing of Aragorn.  Denethor asked Pippin questions about the Company, deliberately ignoring the others. Pippin sensed Saruman growing angry beside him. The two old men stared at each other with intensity.

Denethor commanded for lodgings to be prepared for the three guests and spoke with Faramir. Saruman knew that the old steward had more interest in the tale than to simply hear tidings of their journey. The steward spoke of the king returning and Radagast reminded him that he should pay more attention to maintaining a kingdom for him to return to. They left silently. Once they got back to their lodging Pippin asked if Faramir was mad at him. Faramir laughed and said that he was not.  He explained to Pippin that Denethor possessed the ability to read men’s minds and praised Pippin for kindly offering service to Denethor in spite of the Steward’s rudeness, but he warned the hobbit to be wary around Denethor. Faramir expressed his longing for Boromir, Denethor’s other son and Faramir’s brother, to return to Gondor and told Pippin that he planned to go to a committee of lords.  Radagast then asked if Pippin would check on Shadowfax for him.

The next morning all three of the Hobbits companions were gone and Pippin was thinking of breakfast when he met a soldier, Beregond, who was instructed to give the hobbit the passwords of the city. He asked Pippin about Gandalf and Rohan. Pippin asked about the mealtimes. Beregond laughed and told him that they would be able to eat soon. They went out and found that Shadowfax had been well taken care of. Beregond was amazed that Shadowfax had neither bit nor harness. Pippin and Beregond went through the city finding food. The guard admitted that he at first took Pippin for a child. They ascended the walls and Pippin looked over the landscape to the ruins of Osgiliath and the mountains of Mordor. They spoke briefly of the Black Riders and Pippin mentioned how one of his companions had helped to destroy one of them, again deftly leaving Aragorns name out of the tale. Beregond expressed his great surprise and wondered what great aid a troop of Hobbits might be if they came marching out of the North.  Pippin laughed.  Pippin then asked when they expected the onslaught but they did not know. Denethor sat in his tower most of the time and the people of Gondor think that he has some farseeing ability. He had told the guards that there was a great black fleet sailing up the Anduin. Beregond asked Pippin if he felt hope and the hobbit said that he had faith in his companions abroad. Beregond's conviction was strengthened but Pippin wished the whole affair were already over. Beregond said that the city seemed happier now that Faramir had returned.  They talked long into the day and then ate in the mess hall. Pippin's coming was welcomed. The men of Gondor thought that he is a halfling prince and some rumor that an army of fierce halflings was coming to help them.

Beregond departed for his watch duty and others followed. Later Pippin walked out into the city and was an object of interest to many of its inhabitants. He came to a group of children playing around pillars and they ask where he is from. He told them that he is from the Shire but this meant nothing to them. One of the boys said that he could overcome Pippin in strength and Pippin laughed. He told the boy that if he tried that he would kill him. The boy was scared for a moment but then put up his fists. Pippin laughs again and told the boy, whose name was Bergil, that he knew his father, Beregond. They then went to see his father and Bergil was allowed to pass the gate because he was with Pippin. On the way there they saw at the foot of the City the dust of the lord of the outer lands approaching. "Behind him march proudly a dusty line of men, well-armed and bearing great battle-axes; grim-faced they were, and shorter and somewhat swarthier than any men that Pippin had yet seen in Gondor.” Only 200 men march into the city; they had hoped for ten times this number. For the rest of the day, bands of men entered the city. The largest band numbered at 700 and was led by Prince Imrahil. At the end of the day there were 3000 armed men in the city. The captains of Gondor had hoped for many more than this. Bergil and Pippin watched every band enter the walls and then went back into the city. Pippin met Beregond at dinner and then decided that he wanted to see Faramir and Radagast. Beregond told him that he had been summoned to Denethor's tower the following day. When Pippin finally found his companions, he was wondering how long it would be until Boromir returned.

That night, a black cloud settled over Minas Tirith and enshrouded it in a terrible gloom. Saruman ominously explained to Pippin that for some time there would be no dawn, for the Darkness had begun.