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great burning； but between it and the Riders lines of fire blazed in a vast crescent； at the nearest
point less than a league distant。 He could make out little more on the dark plain； and as yet he
neither saw any hope of morning； nor felt any wind； changed or unchanged。
Now silently the host of Rohan moved forward into the field of Gondor； pouring in slowly but
steadily； like the rising tide through breaches in a dike that men have thought secure。 But the mind
and will of the Black Captain were bent wholly on the falling city； and as yet no tidings came to
him warning that his designs held any flaw。
After a while the king led his men away somewhat eastward； to e between the fires of the
siege and the outer fields。 Still they were unchallenged； and still Théoden gave no signal。 At last he
halted once again。 The City was now nearer。 A smell of burning was in the air and a very shadow
of death。 The horses were uneasy。 But the king sat upon Snowmane； motionless； gazing upon the
agony of Minas Tirith； as if stricken suddenly by anguish； or by dread。 He seemed to shrink down；
cowed by age。 Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him。 His
heart beat slowly。 Time seemed poised in uncertainty。 They were too late！ Too late was worse than
never！ Perhaps Théoden would quail； bow his old head； turn； slink away to hide in the hills。
Then suddenly Merry felt it at last； beyond doubt： a change。 Wind was in his face！ Light was
glimmering。 Far； far away； in the South the clouds could be dimly seen as remote grey shapes；
rolling up； drifting： morning lay beyond them。
But at that same moment there was a flash； as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the
City。 For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white； its topmost tower like a
glittering needle： and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great
_boom_。
At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect。 Tall and proud he seemed again；
and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice； more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal
man achieve before：
Arise； arise； Riders of Théoden！
Fell deeds awake： fire and slaughter！
spear shall be shaken； shield be splintered；
a sword…day； a red day； ere the sun rises！
Ride now； ride now！ Ride to Gondor！
With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner…bearer； and he blew such a blast upon it
that it burst asunder。 And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music； and the
blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the
mountains。
Ride now； ride now！ Ride to Gondor！
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away。 Behind him his banner blew
in the wind； white horse upon a field of green； but he outpaced it。 After him thundered the knights
of his house； but he was ever before them。 éomer rode there； the white horsetail on his helm
floating in his speed； and the front of the first _éored_ roared like a breaker foaming to the shore；
but Théoden could not be overtaken。 Fey he seemed； or the battle…fury of his fathers ran like new
tire in his veins； and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old； even as Orom？ the Great in
the battle of the Valar when the world was young。 His golden shield was uncovered； and lo！ it
shone like an image of the Sun； and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed。
For morning came； morning and a wind from the sea； and the darkness was removed； and the hosts
of Mordor wailed； and terror took them； and they fled； and died； and the hoofs of wrath rode over
them。 And then all the host of Rohan burst into song； and they sang as they slew； for the joy of
battle was on them； and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City。
_Chapter 6_
The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
But it was no orc…chieftain or brigand that led the assault upon Gondor。 The darkness was
breaking too soon； before the date that his Master had set for it： fortune had betrayed him for the
moment； and the world had turned against him； victory was slipping from his grasp even as he
stretched out his hand to seize it。 But his arm was long。 He was still in mand； wielding great
powers。 King； Ringwraith； Lord of the Nazg？l； he had many weapons。 He left the Gate and
vanished。
Théoden King of the Mark had reached the road from the Gate to the River； and he turned
towards the City that was now less than a mile distant。 He slackened his speed a little； seeking new
foes； and his knights came about him； and Dernhelm was with them。 Ahead nearer the walls
Elfhelm's men were among the siege…engines； hewing； slaying； driving their foes into the fire…pits。
Well nigh all the northern half of the Pelennor was overrun； and there camps were blazing； orcs
were flying towards the River like herds before the hunters； and the Rohirrim went hither and
thither at their will。 But they had not yet overthrown the siege； nor won the Gate。 Many foes stood
before it； and on the further half of the plain were other hosts still unfought。 Southward beyond the
road lay the main force of the Haradrim； and there their horsemen were gathered about the standard
of their chieftain。 And he looked out； and in the growing light he saw the banner of the king； and
that it was far ahead of the battle with few men about it。 Then he was filled with a red wrath and
shouted aloud； and displaying his standard； black serpent upon scarlet； he came against the white
horse and the green with great press of men； and the drawing of the scimitars of the Southrons was
like a glitter of stars。
Then Théoden was aware of him； and would not wait for his onset； but crying to Snowmane he
charged headlong to greet him。 Great was the clash of their meeting。 But the white fury of the
Northmen burned the hotter； and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitter。
Fewer were they but they clove through the Southrons like a fire…bolt in a forest。 Right through the
press drove Théoden Thengel's son； and his spear was shivered as he threw down their chieftain。
Out swept his sword； and he spurred to the standard； hewed staff and bearer； and the black serpent
foundered。 Then all that was left unslain of their cavalry turned and fled far away。
But lo！ suddenly in the midst of the glory of the king his golden shield was dimmed。 The new
morning was blotted from the sky。 Dark fell about him。 Horses reared and screamed。 Men cast from
the saddle lay grovelling on the ground。
'To me！ To me！' cried Théoden。 'Up Eorlingas！ Fear no darkness！' But Snowmane wild with
terror stood up on high； fighting with the air； and then with a great scream he crashed upon his side：
a black dart had pierced him。 The king fell beneath him。
The great shadow descended like a falling cloud。 And behold！ it was a winged creature： if bird；
then greater than all other birds； and it was naked； and neither quill nor feather did it bear； and its
vast pinions were as webs of hide between horned fingers； and it stank。 A creature of an older
world maybe it was； whose kind； fingering in forgotten mountains cold beneath the Moon；
outstayed their day； and in hideous eyrie bred this last untimely brood； apt to evil。 And the Dark
Lord took it； and nursed it with fell meats； until it grew beyond the measure of all other things that
fly； and he gave it to his servant to be his steed。 Down； down it came； and then； folding its fingered
webs； it gave a croaking cry； and settled upon the body of Snowmane； digging in its claws；
stooping its long naked neck。
Upon it sat a shape； black…mantled； huge and threatening。 A crown of steel he bore； but between
rim and robe naught was there to see； save only a deadly gleam of eyes： the Lord of the Nazg？l。 To
the air he had returned； summoning his steed ere the darkness failed； and now he was e again；
bringing ruin； turning hope to despair； and victory to death。 A great black mace he wielded。
But Théoden was not utterly forsaken。 The knights of his house lay slain about him； or else
mastered by the madness of their steeds were borne far away。 Yet one stood there still： Dernhelm
the young； faithful beyond fear； and he wept； for he had loved his lord as a father。 Right through the
charge Merry had been borne unharmed behind him； until the Shadow came； and then Windfola
had thrown them in his terror； and now ran wild upon the plain。 Merry crawled on all fours like a
dazed beast； and such a horror was on him that he was blind and sick。
'King's man！ King's man！' his heart cried within him。 'You must stay by him。 As a father you
shall be to me； you said。' But his will made no answer； and his body shook。 He dared not open his
eyes or look up。
Then out of the blackness in his mind he thought that he heard Dernhelm speaking； yet now the
voice seemed strange； recalling some other voice that he had known。
'Begone； foul dwimmerlaik； lord of carrion！ Leave the dead in peace！'
A cold voice answered： 'e not between the Nazg？l and his prey！ Or he will not slay thee in
thy turn。 He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation； beyond all darkness； where thy flesh
shall be devoured； and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye。'
A sword rang as it was drawn。 'Do what you will； but I will hinder it； if I may。'
'Hinder me？ Thou fool。 No living man may hinder me！'
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest。 It seemed that Dernhelm laughed； and
the clear voice was like the ring of steel。 'But no living man am I！ You look upon a woman。 éowyn
I am； éomund's daughter。 You stand between me and my lord and kin。 Begone； if you be not
deathless！ For living or dark undead； I will smite you； if you touch him。'
The winged creature screamed at her； but the Ringwraith made no answer； and was silent； as if
in sudden doubt。 Very amazement for a moment conquered Merry's fear。 He opened his eyes and
the blackness was lifted from them。 There some paces from him sat the great beast； and all seemed
dark about it； and above it loomed the Nazg？l Lord like a shadow of despair。 A little to the left
facing them stood she whom he had called Dernhelm。 But the helm of her secrecy； had fallen from
her； and her bright hair； released from its bonds； gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders。 Her
eyes grey as the sea were hard and fell； and yet tears were on her cheek。 A sword was in her hand；
and she raised her shield against the horror of her enemy's eyes。
éowyn it was； and Dernhelm also。 For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he
saw at the riding from Dunharrow： the face of one that goes seeking death； having no hope。 Pity
filled his heart and great wonder； and suddenly the slow…kindled courage of his race awoke。 He
clenched his hand。 She should not die； so fair； so desperate At least she should not die alone；
unaided。
The face of their enemy was not turned towards him； but still he hardly dared to move； dreading
lest the deadly eyes should fall on him。 Slowly； slowly he began to crawl aside； but the Black
Captain； in doubt and malice intent upon the woman before him； heeded him no more than a worm
in the mud。
Suddenly the great beast beat its hideous wings； and the wind of them was foul。 Again it leaped
into the air； and then swiftly fell down upon éowyn； shrieking； striking with beak and claw。
Still she did not blench： maiden of the Rohirrim； child of kings； slender but as a steel…blade； fair
but terrible。 A swift stroke she dealt； skilled and deadly。 The outstretched neck she clove asunder；
and the hewn head fell like a stone。 Backward she sprang as the huge shape crashed to ruin； vast
wings outspread； crumpled on the earth； and with its fall the shadow passed away。 A light fell about
her； and her hair shone in the sunrise。
Out of the wreck rose the Black Rider； tall and threatening； towering above her。 With a cry of
hatred that stung the very ears like venom he let fall his mace。 Her shield was shivered in many
pieces； and her arm was broken； she stumbled to her knees。 He bent over her like a cloud； and his
eyes glittered； he raised his mace to kill。
But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain； and his stroke went wide；
driving into the ground。 Merry's sword had stabbed him from behind； shearing through the black
mantle； and passing up beneath the hauberk had pierced the sinew behind his mighty knee。
'éowyn！ éowyn！' cried Merry。 Then tottering； struggling up； with her last strength she drove her
sword between crown and mantle； as the great shoulders bowed before her。 The sword broke
sparkling into many shards。 The crown rolled away with a clang。 éowyn fell forward upon her
fallen foe。 But lo！ the mantle and hauberk were empty。 Shapeless they lay now on the ground； torn
and tumbled； and a cry went up into the shuddering air； and faded to a shrill wailing； passi