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strewn with skins： and there at a small table sat Théoden with éomer and éowyn； and Dúnhere；
lord of Harrowdale。 Merry stood beside the king's stool and waited on him till presently the old
man； ing out of deep thought； turned to him and smiled。
'e； Master Meriadoc！' he said。 'You shall not stand。 You shall sit beside me； as long as I
remain in my own lands； and lighten my heart with tales。'
Room was made for the hobbit at the king's left hand； but no one called for any tale。 There was
indeed little speech； and they ate and drank for the most part in silence； until at last； plucking up
courage； Merry asked the question that was tormenting him。
'Twice now； lord； I have heard of the Paths of the Dead；' he said。 'What are they？ And where has
Strider； I mean the Lord Aragorn where has he gone？'
The king sighed； but no one answered； until at last éomer spoke。 'We do not know； and our
hearts are heavy；' he said。 'But as for the Paths of the Dead； you have yourself walked on their first
steps。 Nay。 I speak no words of ill omen！ The road that we have climbed is the approach to the
Door； yonder in the Dimholt。 But what lies beyond no man knows。'
'No man knows；' said Théoden： 'yet ancient legend； now seldom spoken； has somewhat to report。
If these old tales speak true that have e down from father to son in the House of Eorl； then the
Door under Dwimorberg leads to a secret way that goes beneath the mountain to some forgotten
end。 But none have ever ventured in to search its secrets； since Baldor； son of Brego； passed the
Door and was never seen among men again。 A rash vow he spoke； as he drained the horn at that
feast which Brego made to hallow new…built Meduseld； and he came never to the high seat of
which he was the heir。
'Folk say that Dead Men out of the Dark Years guard the way and will suffer no living man to
e to their hidden halls； but at whiles they may themselves be seen passing out of the door like
shadows and down the stony road。 Then the people of Harrowdale shut fast their doors and shroud
their windows and are afraid。 But the Dead e seldom forth and only at times of great unquiet
and ing death。'
'Yet it is said in Harrowdale；' said éowyn in a low voice。 'that in the moonless nights but little
while ago a great host in strange array passed by。 Whence they came none knew； but they went up
the stony road and vanished into the hill； as if they went to keep a tryst。'
'Then why has Aragorn gone that way？' asked Merry。 'Don't you know anything that would
explain it？'
'Unless he has spoken words to you as his friend that we have not heard；' said éomer； 'none now
in the land of the living can tell his purpose。'
'Greatly changed he seemed to me since I saw him first in the king's house；' said éowyn：
'grimmer； older。 Fey I thought him； and like one whom the Dead call。'
'Maybe he was called；' said Théoden； 'and my heart tells me that I shall not see him again。 Yet
he is a kingly man of high destiny。 And take fort in this； daughter； since fort you seem to
need in your grief for this guest。 It is said that when the Eorlingas came out of the North and passed
at length up the Snowbourn； seeking strong places of refuge in time of need； Brego and his son
Baldor climbed the Stair of the Hold and so came before the Door。 On the threshold sat an old man；
aged beyond guess of years； tall and kingly he had been； but now he was withered as an old stone。
Indeed for stone they took him； for he moved not； and he said no word； until they sought to pass
him by and enter。 And then a voice came out of him； as it were out of the ground； and to their
amaze it spoke in the western tongue： _The way is shut_。
'Then they halted and looked at him and saw that he lived still； but he did not look at them。 _The
way is shut_； his voice said again _It was made by those who are Dead； and the Dead keep it； until
the time es。 The way is shut。_
'_And when will that time be？_said Baldor。 But no answer did he ever get。 For the old man died
in that hour and fell upon his face； and no other tidings of the ancient dwellers in the mountains
have our folk ever learned。 Yet maybe at last the time foretold has e； and Aragorn may pass。'
'But how shall a man discover whether that time be e or no； save by daring the Door？' said
éomer。 'And that way I would not go though all the hosts of Mordor stood before me； and I were
alone and had no other refuge。 Alas that a fey mood should fall on a man so greathearted in this
hour of need！ Are there not evil things enough abroad without seeking them under the earth？ War is
at hand。'
He paused； for at that moment there was a noise outside； a man's voice crying the name of
Théoden； and the challenge of the guard。
Presently the captain of the Guard thrust aside the curtain。 'A man is here； lord；' he said； 'an
errand…rider of Gondor。 He wishes to e before you at once。'
'Let him e！' said Théoden。
A tall man entered； and Merry choked back a cry； for a moment it seemed to him that Boromir
was alive again and had returned。 Then he saw that it was not so； the man was a stranger； though as
like to Boromir as if he were one of his kin； tall and grey…eyed and proud。 He was clad as a rider
with a cloak of dark green over a coat of fine mail； on the front of his helm was wrought a small
silver star。 In his hand he bore a single arrow； black…feathered and barbed with steel； but the point
was painted red。
He sank on one knee and presented the arrow to Théoden。 'Hail Lord of the Rohirrim； friend of
Gondor！' he said。 'Hirgon I am； errand…rider of Denethor； who bring you this token of war。 Gondor
is in great need。 Often the Rohirrim have aided us； but now the Lord Denethor asks for all your
strength and all your speed； lest Gondor fall at last。'
'The Red Arrow！' said Théoden； holding it； as one who receives a summons long expected and
yet dreadful when it es。 His hand trembled。 'The Red Arrow has not been seen in the Mark in
all my years！ Has it indeed e to that？ And what does the Lord Denethor reckon that all my
strength and all my speed may be？'
'That is best known to yourself； lord；' said Hirgon。 'But ere long it may well e to pass that
Minas Tirith is surrounded； and unless you have the strength to break a siege of many powers； the
Lord Denethor bids me say that he judges that the strong arms of the Rohirrim would be better
within his walls than without。'
'But he knows that we are a people who fight rather upon horseback and in the open； and that we
are also a scattered people and time is needed for the gathering of our Riders。 Is it not true； Hirgon；
that the Lord of Minas Tirith knows more than he sets in his message？ For we are already at war； as
you may have seen； and you do not find us all unprepared。 Gandalf the Grey has been among us；
and even now we are mustering for battle in the East。'
'What the Lord Denethor may know or guess of all these things I cannot say；' answered Hirgon。
'But indeed our case is desperate。 My lord does not issue any mand to you； he begs you only to
remember old friendship and oaths long spoken； and for your own good to do all that you may。 It is
reported to us that many kings have ridden in from the East to the service of Mordor。 From the
North to the field of Dagorlad there is skirmish and rumour of war。 In the South the Haradrim are
moving； and fear has fallen on all our coastlands； so that little help will e to us thence。 Make
haste！ For it is before the walls of Minas Tirith that the doom of our time will be decided； and if the
tide be not stemmed there； then it will flow over all the fair fields of Rohan； and even in this Hold
among the hills there shall be no refuge。'
'Dark tidings；' said Théoden； 'yet not all unguessed。 But say to Denethor that even if Rohan itself
felt no peril； still we would e to his aid。 But we have suffered much loss in our battles with
Saruman the traitor； and we must still think of our frontier to the north and east； as his own tidings
make clear。 So great a power as the Dark Lord seems now to wield might well contain us in battle
before the City and yet strike with great force across the River away beyond the Gate of Kings。
'But we will speak no longer counsels of prudence。 We will e。 The weapontake was set for
the morrow。 When all is ordered we will set out。 Ten thousand spears I might have sent riding over
the plain to the dismay of your foes。 It will be less now； I fear； for I will not leave my strongholds
all unguarded。 Yet six thousands at the least shall ride behind me。 For say to Denethor that in this
hour the King of the Mark himself will e down to the land of Gondor； though maybe he will
not ride back。 But it is a long road； and man and beast must reach the end with strength to fight。 A
week it may be from tomorrow's morn ere you hear the cry of the Sons of Eorl ing from the
North。
'A week！' said Hirgon。 'If it must be so； it must。 But you are like to find only ruined walls in
seven days from now； unless other help unlooked…for es。 Still； you may at the least disturb the
Orcs and Swarthy Men from their feasting in the White Tower。'
'At the least we will do that；' said Théoden。 'But I myself am new…e from battle and long
journey； and I will now go to rest。 Tarry here this night。 Then you shall look on the muster of
Rohan and ride away the gladder for the sight； and the swifter for the rest。 In the morning counsels
are best； and night changes many thoughts。
With that the king stood up； and they all rose。 'Go now each to your rest。' he said； 'and sleep well。
And you； Master Meriadoc； I need no more tonight。 But be ready to my call as soon as the Sun is
risen。'
'I will be ready；' said Merry； 'even if you bid me ride with you on the Paths of the Dead。'
'Speak not words of omen！' said the king。 'For there may be more roads than one that could bear
that name。 But I did not say that I would bid you ride with me on any road。 Good night！'
'I won't be left behind； to be called for on return！' said Merry。 'I won't be left； I won't。' And
repeating this over and over again to himself he fell asleep at last in his tent。
He was wakened by a man shaking him。 'Wake up； wake up。 Master Holbytla！' he cried； and at
length Merry came out of deep dreams and sat up with a start。 It still seemed very dark； he thought。
'What is the matter？' he asked。
'The king calls for you。'
'But the Sun has not risen； yet；' said Merry。
'No； and will not rise today； Master Holbytla。 Nor ever again； one would think under this cloud。
But time does not stand still； though the Sun be lost。 Make haste！'
Flinging on some clothes； Merry looked outside。 The world was darkling。 The very air seemed
brown； and all things about were black and grey and shadowless； there was a great stillness。 No
shape of cloud could be seen； unless it were far away westward； where the furthest groping fingers
of the great gloom still crawled onwards and a little light leaked through them。 Overhead there
hung a heavy roof； sombre and featureless； and light seemed rather to be failing than growing。
Merry saw many folk standing； looking up and muttering： all their faces were grey and sad； and
some were afraid。 With a sinking heart he made his way to the king。 Hirgon the rider of Gondor
was there before him； and beside him stood now another man； like him and dressed alike； but
shorter and broader。 As Merry entered he was speaking to the king。
'It es from Mordor； lord；' he said。 'It began last night at sunset。 From the hills in the Eastfold
of your realm I saw it rise and creep across the sky； and all night as I rode it came behind eating up
the stars。 Now the great cloud hangs over all the land between here and the Mountains of Shadow；
and it is deepening。 War has already begun。'
For a while the king sat silent。 At last he spoke。 'So we e to it in the end；' he said： 'the great
battle of our time； in which many things shall pass away。 But at least there is no longer need for
hiding。 We will ride the straight way and the open road and with all our speed。 The muster shall
begin at once； and wait for none that tarry。 Have you good store in Minas Tirith？ For if we must
ride now in all haste； then we must ride light； with but meal and water enough to last us into battle。'
'We have very great store long prepared；' answered Hirgon。 Ride now as light and as swift as
you may！'
'Then call the heralds； éomer；' said Théoden。 'Let the Riders be marshalled！'
éomer went out； and presently the trumpets rang in the Hold and were answered by many others
from below； but their voices no longer sounded clear and brave as they had seemed to Merry the
night before。 Dull they seemed and harsh in the heavy air； braying ominously。
The king turned to Merry。 'I am going to war； Master Meriadoc；' he said。 'In a little while I shall
take the road。 I release you from my service； but not from my friendship。 You shall abide here； and
if you will； you shall serve the Lady éowyn； who will govern the folk in my stead。'