Nikolay returns to his regiment with a great sense of peace. He feels it is as"unchangeably dear and precious" to him as his parental home. As before, Rostov and Denisov share quarters but now their common affection for Natasha draws them closer together. Their regiment, encamped near an utterly ruined German village, loses more men from hunger and disease than from battle. When Denisov waylays a transport delivering food to the infantry in a valiant attempt to feed his hungry men, he is threatened with court-martial for brigandage. To avoid trial, Denisov goes into the infirmary with the excuse of suffering a minor flesh wound. Rostov visits him some weeks later. Humbling his pride, Denisov has composed a petition for pardon to the emperor and asks Nikolay to ride to Tilsit and deliver the letter.
This is the time of truce after the battle of Friedland when Alexander and Napoleon meet at Tilsit to sign their alliance. Boris Drubetskoy is among the suite accompanying Alexander and he welcomes Nikolay to his social circle of high-ranking French and Russian officers. Angered at having to regard his former foes as friends, Rostov avoids Boris's invitations. His main business here is to gain audience with the emperor. Finally a general in Alexander's suite offers to sponsor Denisov's petition and, while Nikolay looks on, he presents the letter to the tsar. The youthful emperor reads the paper, smiles, and shakes his head. The law is mightier than I, Alexander says, and I cannot grant this pardon. Despite his deep disappointment, Nikolay is caught up in the cheering crowd that follows the tsar down the street to the public square.
