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heart。 Never in all my life had I met them； until we came to Pelargir； and there I heard them crying
in the air as we rode to the battle of the ships。 Then I stood still； forgetting war in Middle…earth； for
their wailing voices spoke to me of the Sea。 The Sea！ Alas！ I have not yet beheld it。 But deep in the
hearts of all my kindred lies the sea…longing； which it is perilous to stir。 Alas！ for the gulls。 No
peace shall I have again under beech or under elm。'
'Say not so！' said Gimli。 'There are countless things still to see in Middle…earth； and great works
to do。 But if all the fair folk take to the Havens； it will be a duller world for those who are doomed
to stay。'
'Dull and dreary indeed！' said Merry： 'You must not go to the Havens； Legolas。 There will
always be some folk； big or little； and even a few wise dwarves like Gimli； who need you。 At least I
hope so。 Though I feel somehow that the worst of this war is still to e。 How I wish it was all
over； and well over！'
'Don't be so gloomy！' cried Pippin。 'The Sun is shining； and here we are together for a day or two
at least。 I want to hear more about you all。 e； Gimli！ You and Legolas have mentioned your
strange journey with Strider about a dozen times already this morning。 But you haven't told me
anything about it。'
'The Sun may shine here；' said Gimli； 'but there are memories of that road that I do not wish to
recall out of the darkness。 Had I known what was before me； I think that not for any friendship
would I have taken the Paths of the Dead。'
'The Paths of the Dead？' said Pippin。 'I heard Aragorn say that and I wondered what he could
mean。 Won't you tell us some more？'
'Not willingly；' said Gimli。 'For upon that road I was put to shame： Gimli Glóin's son； who had
deemed himself more tough than Men； and hardier under earth than any Elf。 But neither did I prove；
and I was held to the road only by the will of Aragorn。'
'And by the love of him also；' said Legolas。 'For all those who e to know him e to love
him after his own fashion； even the cold maiden of the Rohirrim。 It was at early morn of the day ere
you came there； Merry； that we left Dunharrow； and such a fear was on all the folk that none would
look on our going； save the Lady éowyn； who lies now hurt in the House below。 There was grief at
that parting； and I was grieved to behold it。'
'Alas！ I had heart only for myself；' said Gimli。 'Nay！ I will not speak of that journey。'
He fell silent； but Pippin and Merry were so eager for news that at last Legolas said： 'I will tell
you enough for your peace； for I felt not the horror； and I feared not the shadows of Men； powerless
and frail as I deemed them。'
Swiftly then he told of the haunted road under the mountains； and the dark tryst at Erech； and
the great ride thence； ninety leagues and three； to Pelargir on Anduin。 'Four days and nights； and on
into a fifth； we rode from the Black Stone；' he said。 'And lo！ in the darkness of Mordor my hope
rose； for in that gloom the Shadow Host seemed to grow stronger and more terrible to look upon。
Some I saw riding； some striding； yet all moving with the same great speed。 Silent they were； but
there was a gleam in their eyes。 In the uplands of Lamedon they overtook our horses； and swept
round us； and would have passed us by； if Aragorn had not forbidden them。
'At his mand they fell back。 〃Even the shades of Men are obedient to his will；〃 I thought。
〃They may serve his needs yet！ 〃
'One day of light we rode； and then came the day without dawn； and still we rode on； and Ciril
and Ringló we crossed； and on the third day we came to Linhir above the mouth of Gilrain。 And
there men of Lamedon contested the fords with fell folk of Umbar and Harad who had sailed up the
river。 But defenders and foes alike gave up the battle and fled when we came； crying out that the
King of the Dead was upon them。 Only Angbor； Lord of Lamedon； had the heart to abide us； and
Aragorn bade him gather his folk and e behind； if they dared； when the Grey Host had passed。
' 〃At Pelargir the Heir of Isildur will have need of you；〃 he said。
'Thus we crossed over Gilrain； driving the allies of Mordor in rout before us； and then we rested
a while。 But soon Aragorn arose； saying： 〃Lo！ already Minas Tirith is assailed。 I fear that it will fall
ere we e to its aid。〃 So we mounted again before night had passed and went on with all the
speed that our horses could endure over the plains of Lebennin。'
Legolas paused and sighed； and turning his eyes southward softly he sang：
_Silver flow the streams from Celos to Erui
In the green fields of Lebennin！
Tall grows the grass there。 In the wind from the Sea
The white lilies sway；
And the golden bells are shaken of mallos and alfirin
In the green fields of Lebennin；
In the wind from the Sea！_
'Green are those fields in the songs of my people； but they were dark then； grey wastes in the
blackness before us。 And over the wide land； trampling unheeded the grass and the flowers； we
hunted our foes through a day and a night； until we came at the bitter end to the Great River at last。
'Then I thought in my heart that we drew near to the Sea； for wide was the water in the darkness；
and sea…birds innumerable cried on its； shores。 Alas for the wailing of the gulls！ Did not the Lady
tell me to beware of them？ And now I cannot forget them。'
'For my part I heeded them not；' said Gimli； 'for we came then at last upon battle in earnest。
There at Pelargir lay the main fleet of Umbar； fifty great ships and smaller vessels beyond count。
Many of those that we pursued had reached the havens before us； and brought their fear with them；
and some of the ships had put off； seeking to escape down the River or to reach the far shore； and
many of the smaller craft were ablaze。 But the Haradrim； being now driven to the brink； turned at
bay； and they were fierce in despair； and they laughed when they looked on us； for they were a
great army still。
'But Aragorn halted and cried with a great voice： 〃Now e！ By the Black Stone I call you！ 〃
And suddenly the Shadow Host that had hung back at the last came up like a grey tide； sweeping all
away before it。 Faint cries I heard； and dim horns blowing； and a murmur as of countless far voices：
it was like the echo of some forgotten battle in the Dark Years long ago。 Pale swords were drawn；
but I know not whether their blades would still bite； for the Dead needed no longer any weapon but
fear。 None would withstand them。
'To every ship they came that was drawn up； and then they passed over the water to those that
were anchored； and all the mariners were filled with a madness of terror and leaped overboard； save
the slaves chained to the oars。 Reckless we rode among our fleeing foes； driving them like leaves；
until we came to the shore。 And then to each of the great ships that remained Aragorn sent one of
the Dúnedain； and they forted the captives that were aboard； and bade them put aside fear and
be free。
'Ere that dark day ended none of the enemy were left to resist us all were drowned； or were
flying south in the hope to find their own lands upon foot。 Strange and wonderful I thought it that
the designs of Mordor should be overthrown by such wraiths of fear and darkness。 With its own
weapons was it worsted！'
'Strange indeed；' said Legolas。 'In that hour I looked on Aragorn and thought how great and
terrible a Lord he might have bee in the strength of his will； had he taken the Ring to himself。
Not for naught does Mordor fear him。 But nobler is his spirit than the understanding of Sauron； for
is he not of the children of Lúthien？ Never shall that line fail； though the years may lengthen
beyond count。'
'Beyond the eyes of the Dwarves are such foretellings；' said Gimli。 'But mighty indeed was
Aragorn that day。 Lo！ all the black fleet was in his hands； and he chose the greatest ship to be his
own； and he went up into it。 Then he let sound a great concourse of trumpets taken from the enemy；
and the Shadow Host withdrew to the shore。 There they stood silent； hardly to be seen； save for a
red gleam in their eyes that caught the glare of the ships that were burning。 And Aragorn spoke in a
loud voice to the Dead Men； crying：
' 〃Hear now the words of the Heir of Isildur！ Your oath is fulfilled。 Go back and trouble not the
valleys ever again！ Depart and be at rest！ 〃
'And thereupon the King of the Dead stood out before the host and broke his spear and cast it
down。 Then he bowed low and turned away； and swiftly the whole grey host drew off and vanished
like a mist that is driven back by a sudden wind； and it seemed to me that I awoke from a dream。
'That night we rested while others laboured。 For there were many captives set free； and many
slaves released who had been folk of Gondor taken in raids； and soon also there was a great
gathering of men out of Lebennin and the Ethir； and Angbor of Lamedon came up with all the
horsemen that he could muster。 Now that the fear of the Dead was removed they came to aid us and
to look on the Heir of Isildur； for the rumour of that name had run like fire in the dark。
'And that is near the end of our tale。 For during that evening and night many ships were made
ready and manned； and in the morning the fleet set forth。 Long past it now seems； yet it was but the
morn of the day ere yesterday； the sixth since we rode from Dunharrow。 But still Aragorn was
driven by fear that time was too short。
' 〃It is forty leagues and two from Pelargir to the landings at the Harlond；〃 he said。 〃Yet to the
Harlond we must e tomorrow or fail utterly。〃
'The oars were now wielded by free men； and manfully they laboured； yet slowly we passed up
the Great River； for we strove against its stream； and though that is not swift down in the South； we
had no help of wind。 Heavy would my heart have been； for all our victory at the havens； if Legolas
had not laughed suddenly。
' 〃Up with your beard； Durin's son！ 〃 he said。 〃For thus is it spoken： _Oft hope is born； when all
is forlorn_。〃 But what hope he saw from afar he would not tell。 When night came it did but deepen
the darkness； and our hearts were hot； for away in the North we saw a red glow under the cloud；
and Aragorn said： 〃Minas Tirith is burning。〃
'But at midnight hope was indeed born anew。 Sea…crafty men of the Ethir gazing southward
spoke of a change ing with a fresh wind from the Sea。 Long ere day the masted ships hoisted
sail； and our speed grew； until dawn whitened the foam at our prows。 And so it was； as you know；
that we came in the third hour of the morning with a fair wind and the Sun unveiled； and we
unfurled the great standard in battle。 It was a great day and a great hour； whatever may e after。'
'Follow what may； great deeds are not lessened in worth；' said Legolas。 'Great deed was the
riding of the Paths of the Dead； and great it shall remain； though none be left in Gondor to sing of it
in the days that are to e。'
'And that may well befall；' said Gimli。 'For the faces of Aragorn and Gandalf are grave。 Much I
wonder what counsels they are taking in the tents there below。 For my part； like Merry； I wish that
with our victory the war was now over。 Yet whatever is still to do； I hope to have a part in it； for the
honour of the folk of the Lonely Mountain。'
'And I for the folk of the Great Wood；' said Legolas； 'and for the love of the Lord of the White
Tree。'
Then the panions fell silent； but a while they sat there in the high place； each busy with his
own thoughts； while the Captains debated。
When the Prince Imrahil had parted from Legolas and Gimli； at once he sent for éomer； and he
went down with him from the City； and they came to the tents of Aragorn that were set up on the
field not far from the place where King Théoden had fallen。 And there they took counsel together
with Gandalf and Aragorn and the sons of Elrond。
'My lords；' said Gandalf； 'listen to the words of the Steward of Gondor before he died： _You
may triumph on the fields of the Pelennor for a day； but against the Power that has now arisen there
is no victory_。 I do not bid you despair； as he did； but to ponder the truth in these words。
'The Stones of Seeing do not lie； and not even the Lord of Barad…d？r can make them do so。 He
can； maybe； by his will choose what things shall be seen by weaker minds； or cause them to
mistake the meaning of what they see。 Nonetheless it cannot be doubted that when Denethor saw
great forces arrayed against him in Mordor； and more still being gathered； he saw that which truly
is。
'Hardly has our strength sufficed to beat off the first great assault。 The next will be greater。 This
war then is without final hope； as Denethor perceived。 Victory cannot be achieved by arms；
whether you sit here to endure siege after siege； or march out to be overwhelmed beyond the River。
You have only a choice of evils； and prudence would counsel you to strengthen such stron