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if you will； you shall serve the Lady éowyn； who will govern the folk in my stead。'
'But； but； lord；' Merry stammered； 'I offered you my sword。 I do not want to be parted from you
like this； Théoden King。 And as all my friends have gone to the battle' I should be ashamed to stay
behind。'
'But we ride on horses tall and swift；' said Théoden； 'and great though your heart be； you cannot
ride on such beasts。'
'Then tie me on to the back of one； or let me hang on a stirrup； or something；' said Merry。 'It is a
long way to run； but run I shall； if I cannot ride； even if I wear my feet off and arrive weeks too
late。'
Théoden smiled。 'Rather than that I would bear you with me on Snowmane；' he said。 'But at the
least you shall ride with me to Edoras and look on Meduseld； for that way I shall go。 So far Stybba
can bear you： the great race will not begin till we reach the plains。'
Then éowyn rose up。 'e now； Meriadoc！' she said。 'I will show you the gear that I have
prepared fur you。' They went out together。 'This request only did Aragorn make to me；' said éowyn；
as they passed among the tents； 'that you should be armed for battle。 I have granted it； as I could。
For my heart tells me that you will need such gear ere the end。'
Now she led Merry to a booth among the lodges of the king's guard and there an armourer
brought out to her a small helm； and a round shield； and other gear。
'No mail have we to fit you；' said éowyn； 'nor any time for the forging of such a hauberk； but
here is also a stout jerkin of leather； a belt； and a knife。 A sword you have。'
Merry bowed； and the lady showed him the shield； which was like the shield that had been given
to Gimli； and it bore on it the device of the white horse。 'Take all these things；' she said； 'and bear
them to good fortune！ Farewell now； Master Meriadoc！ Yet maybe we shall meet again； you and I。'
So it was that amid a gathering gloom the King of the Mark made ready to lead all his Riders on
the eastward road。 Hearts were heavy and many quailed in the shadow。 But they were a stern
people； loyal to their lord； and little weeping or murmuring was heard； even in the camp in the Hold
where the exiles from Edoras were housed； women and children and old men。 Doom hung over
them； but they faced it silently。
Two swift hours passed； and now the king sat upon his white horse； glimmering in the half light。
Proud and tall he seemed； though the hair that flowed beneath his high helm was like snow； and
many marvelled at him and took heart to see him unbent and unafraid。
There on the wide flats beside the noisy river were marshalled in many panies well nigh five
and fifty hundreds of Riders fully armed； and many hundreds of other men with spare horses lightly
burdened。 A single trumpet sounded。 The king raised his hand； and then silently the host of the
Mark began to move。 Foremost went twelve of the king's household…men； Riders of renown。 Then
the king followed with éomer on his right。 He had said farewell to éowyn above in the Hold； and
the memory was grievous； but now he turned his mind to the road that lay ahead。 Behind him
Merry rode on Stybba with the errand riders of Gondor； and behind them again twelve more of the
king's household。 They passed down the long ranks of waiting men with stern and unmoved faces。
But when they had e almost to the end of the line one looked up glancing keenly at the hobbit。
A young man； Merry thought as he returned the glance； less in height and girth than most。 He
caught the glint of clear grey eyes； and then he shivered； for it came suddenly to him that it was the
face of one without hope who goes in search of death。
On down the grey road they went beside the Snowbourn rushing on its stones； through the
hamlets of Underharrow and Upbourn； where many sad faces of women looked out from dark
doors； and so without horn or harp or music of men's voices the great ride into the East began with
which the songs of Rohan were busy for many long lives of men thereafter。
From dark Dunharrow in the dim morning
with thane and captain rode Thengel's son：
to Edoras he came； the ancient halls
of the Mark…wardens mist…enshrouded；
golden timbers were in gloom mantled。
Farewell he bade to his free people；
hearth and high…seat； and the hallowed places；
where long he had feasted ere the light faded。
Forth rode the king； fear behind him；
fate before him。 Fealty kept he；
oaths he had taken； all fulfilled them。
Forth rode Théoden。 Five nights and days
east and onward rode the Eorlingas
through Folde and Fenmarch and the Firienwood；
six thousand spears to Sunlending；
Mundburg the mighty under Mindolluin；
Sea…kings' city in the South…kingdom
foe…beleaguered； fire…encircled。
Doom drove them on。 Darkness took them；
Horse and horseman； hoofbeats afar
sank into silence： so the songs tell us。
It was indeed in deepening gloom that the king came to Edoras； although it was then but noon
by the hour。 There he halted only a short while and strengthened his host by some three score of
Riders that came late to the weapontake。 Now having eaten he made ready to set out again； and he
wished his esquire a kindly farewell。 But Merry begged for the last time not to be parted from him。
'This is no journey for such steeds as Stybba； as I have told you ' said Théoden。 'And in such a
battle as we think to make on the fields of Gondor what would you do； Master Meriadoc； sword…
thain though you be； and greater of heart than of stature？'
'As for that； who can tell？' answered Merry。 'But why； lord； did you receive me as sword…thain；
if not to stay by your side？ And I would not have it said of me in song only that I was always left
behind！'
'I received you for your safe…keeping；' answered Théoden； 'and also to do as I might bid。 None
of my Riders can bear you as burden。 If the battle were before my gates； maybe your deeds would
be remembered by the minstrels； but it is a hundred leagues and two to Mundburg where Denethor
is lord。 I will say no more。'
Merry bowed and went away unhappily； and stared at the lines of horsemen。 Already the
panies were preparing to start： men were tightening girths； looking to saddles； caressing their
horses； some gazed uneasily at the lowering sky。 Unnoticed a Rider came up and spoke softly in the
hobbit's ear。
'_Where will wants not； a way opens_； so we say；' he whispered； 'and so I have found myself。'
Merry looked up and saw that it was the young Rider whom he had noticed in the morning。 'You
wish to go whither the Lord of the Mark goes： I see it in your face。'
'I do；' said Merry。
'Then you shall go with me；' said the Rider。 'I will bear you before me； under my cloak until we
are far afield； and this darkness is yet darker。 Such good will should not be denied。 Say no more to
any man； but e！'
'Thank you indeed！' said Merry。 'Thank you； sir； though I do not know your name。'
'Do you not？' said the Rider softly。 'Then call me Dernhelm。'
Thus it came to pass that when the king set out； before Dernhelm sat Meriadoc the hobbit； and
the great grey steed Windfola made little of the burden； for Dernhelm was less in weight than many
men； though lithe and well…knit in frame。
On into the shadow they rode。 In the willow…thickets where Snowbourn flowed into Entwash；
twelve leagues east of Edoras； they camped that night。 And then on again through the Folde； and
through the Fenmarch； where to their right great oakwoods climbed on the skirts of the hills under
the shades of dark Halifirien by the borders of Gondor； but away to their left the mists lay on the
marshes fed by the mouths of Entwash。 And as they rode rumour came of war in the North。 Lone
men； riding wild； brought word of foes assailing their east…borders； of orc…hosts marching in the
Wold of Rohan。
'Ride on！ Ride on！' cried éomer。 'Too late now to turn aside。 The fens of Entwash must guard
our flank。 Haste now we need。 Ride on！'
And so King Théoden departed from his own realm； and mile by mile the long road wound
away； and the beacon hills marched past： Calenhad； Min…Rimmon； Erelas； Nardol。 But their fires
were quenched。 All the lands were grey and still； and ever the shadow deepened before them； and
hope waned in every heart。
_Chapter 4_
The Siege of Gondor
Pippin was roused by Gandalf。 Candles were lit in their chamber； for only a dim twilight came
through the windows； the air was heavy as with approaching thunder。
'What is the time？' said Pippin yawning。
'Past the second hour；' said Gandalf。 'Time to get up and make yourself presentable。 You are
summoned to the Lord of the City to learn your new duties。'
'And will he provide breakfast？'
'No！ I have provided it： all that you will get till noon。 Food is now doled out by order。'
Pippin looked ruefully at the small loaf and （he thought） very inadequate pat of butter which
was set out for him； beside a cup of thin milk。 'Why did you bring me here？' he said。
'You know quite well；' said Gandalf。 'To keep you out of mischief； and if you do not like being
here； you can remember that you brought it on yourself。' Pippin said no more。
Before long he was walking with Gandalf once more down the cold corridor to the door of the
Tower Hall。 There Denethor sat in a grey gloom； like an old patient spider； Pippin thought： he did
not seem to have moved since the day before。 He beckoned Gandalf to a seat； but Pippin was left
for a while standing unheeded。 Presently the old man turned to him：
'Well； Master Peregrin； I hope that you used yesterday to your profit； and to your liking？ Though
I fear that the board is barer in this city than you could wish。'
Pippin had an unfortable feeling that most of what he had said or done was somehow known
to the Lord of the City； and much was guessed of what he thought as well。 He did not answer。
'What would you do in my service？'
'I thought； sir； that you would tell me my duties。'
'I will； when I learn what you are fit for；' said Denethor。 'But that I shall learn soonest； maybe； if
I keep you beside me。 The esquire of my chamber has begged leave to go to the out…garrison； so
you shall take his place for a while。 You shall wait on me； bear errands； and talk to me； if war and
council leave me any leisure。 Can you sing？'
'Yes；' said Pippin。 'Well； yes； well enough for my own people。 But we have no songs fit for great
halls and evil times； lord。 We seldom sing of anything more terrible than wind or rain。 And most of
my songs are about things that make us laugh； or about food and drink； of course。'
'And why should such songs be unfit for my halls； or for such hours as these？ We who have
lived long under the Shadow may surely listen to echoes from a land untroubled by it？ Then we
may feel that our vigil was not fruitless； though it may have been thankless。'
Pippin's heart sank。 He did not relish the idea of singing any song of the Shire to the Lord of
Minas Tirith； certainly not the ic ones that he knew best； they were too； well； rustic for such an
occasion。 He was however spared the ordeal for the present。 He was not manded to sing。
Denethor turned to Gandalf； asking questions about the Rohirrim and their policies； and the
position of éomer； the king's nephew。 Pippin marvelled at the amount that the Lord seemed to
know about a people that lived far away； though it must； he thought； be many years since Denethor
himself had ridden abroad。
Presently Denethor waved to Pippin and dismissed him again for a while。 'Go to the armouries
of the Citadel；' he said； 'and get you there the livery and gear of the Tower。 It will be ready。 It was
manded yesterday。 Return when you are clad！'
It was as he said； and Pippin soon found himself arrayed in strange garments； all of black and
silver。 He had a small hauberk； its rings forged of steel； maybe； yet black as jet； and a high…crowned
helm with small raven…wings on either side； set with a silver star in the centre of the circlet。 Above
the mail was a short surcoat of black； but broidered on the breast in silver with the token of the Tree。
His old clothes were folded and put away； but he was permitted to keep the grey cloak of Lórien；
though not to wear it when on duty。 He looked now； had he known it； verily _Ernil i Pheriannath_；
the Prince of the Halflings； that folk had called him； but he felt unfortable。 And the gloom
began to weigh on his spirits。
It was dark and dim all day。 From the sunless dawn until evening the heavy shadow had
deepened； and all hearts in the City were oppressed。 Far above a great cloud streamed slowly
westward from the Black Land； devouring light； borne upon a wind of war； but below the air was
still and breathless； as if all the Vale of Anduin waited for the onset of a ruinous storm。