‘Yes；' said Frodo。 'At least； you must either accept this promise or
carry out your law。 You will get no more。 But I promised that if he came to
me； he should not be harmed。 And I would not be proved faithless。'
Faramir sat for a moment in thought。 ‘Very good；' he said at last。 ‘I
surrender you to your master； to Frodo son of Drogo。 Let him declare what he
will do with you！ '
'But； Lord Faramir；' said Frodo bowing； ‘you have not yet declared your
will concerning the said Frodo； and until that is made known； he cannot
shape his plans for himself or his panions。 Your judgement was postponed
until the morning； but that is now at hand。'
‘Then I will declare my doom；' said Faramir。 ‘As for you； Frodo； in so
far as lies in me under higher authority； I declare you free in the realm
of； Gondor to the furthest of its ancient bounds； save only that neither you
nor any that go with you have leave to e to this place unbidden。 This
doom shall stand for a year and a day； and then cease； unless you shall
before that term e to Minas Tirith and present yourself to the Lord and
Steward of the City。 Then I will entreat him to confirm what I have done and
to make it lifelong。 In the meantime； whomsoever you take under your
protection shall be under my protection and under the shield of Gondor。 Are
you answered？ '
Frodo bowed low。 'I am answered；' he said； ‘and I place myself at your
service； if that is of any worth to one so high and honourable。'
‘It is of great worth；' said Faramir。 'And now； do you take this
creature； this Smjagol； under your protection？ '
‘I do take Smjagol under my protection；' said Frodo。 Sam sighed
audibly； and not at the courtesies； of which； as any hobbit would； he
thoroughly approved。 Indeed in the Shire such a matter would have required a
great many more words and bows。
'Then I say to you；' said Faramir； turning to Gollum； 'you are under
doom of death； but while you walk with Frodo you are safe for our part。 Yet
if ever you be found by any man of Gondor astray without him； the doom shall
fall。 And may death find you swiftly； within Gondor or without； if you do
not well serve him。 Now answer me： whither would you go？ You were his guide；
he says。 Whither were you leading him？ ' Gollum made no reply。
‘This I will not have secret；' said Faramir。 ‘Answer me； or I will
reverse my judgement！ ' Still Gollum did not answer。
‘I will answer for him；' said Frodo。 ‘He brought me to the Black Gate；
as I asked； but it was impassable。'
‘There is no open gate into the Nameless Land；' said Faramir。
‘Seeing this； we turned aside and came by the Southward road ' Frodo
continued； 'for he said that there is； or there may be； a path near to Minas
Ithil。'
‘Minas Morgul；' said Faramir。
‘I do not know clearly；' said Frodo； ‘but the path climbs； I think； up
into the mountains on the northern side of that vale where the old city
stands。 It goes up to a high cleft and so down to that which is beyond。'
‘Do you know the name of that high pass？ ' said Faramir。
'No；' said Frodo。
'It is called Cirith Ungol。' Gollum hissed sharply and began muttering
to himself。 ‘Is not that its name？ ' said Faramir turning to him。
‘No！ ' said Gollum； and then he squealed； as if something had stabbed
him。 'Yes； yes； we heard the name once。 But what does the name matter to us？
Master says he must get in。 So we must try some way。 There is no other way
to try； no。'
'No other way？ ' said Faramir。 ‘How do you know that？ And who has
explored all the confines of that dark realm？ ' He looked long and
thoughtfully at Gollum。 Presently he spoke again。 ‘Take this creature away；
Anborn。 Treat him gently； but watch him。 And do not you； Smjagol； try to
dive into the falls。 The rocks have such teeth there as would slay you
before your time。 Leave us now and take your fish！ '
Anborn went out and Gollum went cringing before him。 The curtain was
drawn across the recess。
‘Frodo； I think you do very unwisely in this；' said Faramir。 ‘I do not
think you should go with this creature。 It is wicked。'
'No； not altogether wicked；' said Frodo。
'Not wholly； perhaps；' said Faramir； 'but malice eats it like a canker；
and the evil is growing。 He will lead you to no good。 If you will part with
him； I will give him safe…conduct and guidance to any point on the borders
of Gondor that he may name。'
‘He would not take it；' said Frodo。 'He would follow after me as he
long has done。 And I have promised many times to take him under my
protection and to go where he led。 You would not ask me to break faith with
him？'
'No；' said Faramir。 ‘But my heart would。 For it seems less evil to
counsel another man to break troth than to do so oneself； especially if one
sees a friend bound unwitting to his own harm。 But no if he will go with
you； you must now endure him。 But I do not think you are holden to go to
Cirith Ungol； of which he has told you less than he knows。 That much I
perceived clearly in his mind。 Do not go to Cirith Ungol！'
‘Where then shall I go？ ' said Frodo。 ‘Back to the Black Gate and
deliver myself up to the guard？ What do you know against this place that
makes its name so dreadful？ '
‘Nothing certain；' said Faramir。 'We of Gondor do not ever pass east of
the Road in these days； and none of us younger men has ever done so； nor has
any of us set foot upon the Mountains of Shadow。 Of them we know only old
report and the rumour of bygone days。 But there is some dark terror that
dwells in the passes above Minas Morgul。 If Cirith Ungol is named； old men
and masters of lore will blanch and fall silent。
；The valley of Minas Morgul passed into evil very long ago； and it was
a menace and a dread while the banished Enemy dwelt yet far away； and
Ithilien was still for the most part in our keeping。 As you know； that city
was once a strong place； proud and fair； Minas Ithil； the twin sister of our
own city。 But it was taken by fell men whom the Enemy in his first strength
had dominated； and who wandered homeless and masterless after his fall。 It
is said that their lords were men of N甿enor who had fallen into dark
wickedness； to them the Enemy had given rings of power； and he had devoured
them： living ghosts they were bee； terrible and evil。 After his going
they took Minas Ithil and dwelt there； and they filled it； and all the
valley about； with decay： it seemed empty and was not so； for a shapeless
fear lived within the ruined walls。 Nine Lords there were； and after the
return of their Master； which they aided and prepared in secret； they grew
strong again。 Then the Nine Riders issued forth from the gates of horror；
and we could not withstand them。 Do not approach their citadel。 You will be
espied。 It is a place of sleepless malice； full of lidless eyes。 Do not go