Beregond

A soldier of the Citadel

Beregond son of Baranor was a plain soldier of the Third Company of the Guard of the Citadel in Minas Tirith, wearing the black and silver of the Tower and the winged helm, and living in the city with his young son Bergil. He was not of the great houses and had never been outside Gondor, but he had fought at the outposts and knew the city's ways, and Denethor chose him on 9 March 3019 to look after the new recruit Pippin, teach him the passwords and show him the walls. The two became friends at once. Beregond took the hobbit to the mess of the Guard, walked him round the outer wall, pointed out Osgiliath and Minas Morgul, and asked him about the Halflings and the world beyond; and when the Nazgûl swept over the Pelennor and Faramir rode in with them at his heels, Beregond was the man who explained to Pippin who the captain was and why the city loved him.

Rath Dínen

On 15 March, in the darkest hour of the siege, Denethor ordered Faramir carried to the House of the Stewards in the Silent Street and commanded oil and wood for a pyre. Pippin ran for Gandalf and, on the way, found Beregond and told him. Beregond faced a choice no soldier of the Citadel had ever faced: to obey the Steward, whose word was law and whose sentence for leaving a post was death, or to save the captain he loved. He left his post at the Gate, ran to the Closed Door of Rath Dínen, and when the porter would not admit him he killed the man and took the key. At the door of the House of the Stewards he held the passage with his sword against Denethor's servants, and killed two who tried to force past him with torches, and would not let the fire be brought until Gandalf arrived. It was because of him that Faramir was lifted living from the pyre.

Judgement

Beregond had shed blood in the Hallows, where no weapon was permitted, and killed the porter, and left his post in time of war; each was a capital offence. He was held under guard until the war ended, then brought before Aragorn after the coronation. The king gave judgement that was both sentence and reward: for his crimes Beregond was dismissed from the Guard of the Citadel and must leave the city; and because he had saved Faramir he was sent to Ithilien as Captain of the White Company, the guard of the Prince, to live in Emyn Arnen in honour and peace with the lord for whose life he had risked everything. Beregond wept with relief at the sentence. He went with Faramir to Ithilien, and Bergil with him.

Removed from the Guard and appointed Captain of the White Company, guard of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien.