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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 strong places
as you have； and there await the onset； for so shall the time before your end be made a little longer。'
'Then you would have us retreat to Minas Tirith； or Dol Amroth； or to Dunharrow； and there sit
like children on sand…castles when the tide is flowing？' said Imrahil。
'That would be no new counsel；' said Gandalf。 'Have you not done this and little more in all the
days of Denethor？ But no！ I said this would be prudent。 I do not counsel prudence。 I said victory
could not be achieved by arms。 I still hope for victory； but not by arms。 For into the midst of all
these policies es the Ring of Power； the foundation of Barad…d？r； and the hope of Sauron。
'Concerning this thing； my lords； you now all know enough for the understanding of our plight；
and of Sauron's。 If he regains it； your valour is vain； and his victory will be swift and plete： so
plete that none can foresee the end of it while this world lasts。 If it is destroyed； then he will
fall； and his fall will be so low that none can foresee his arising ever again。 For he will lose the best
part of the strength that was native to him in his beginning； and all that was made or begun with
that power will crumble； and he will be maimed for ever； being a mere spirit of malice that
gnaws itself in the shadows； but cannot again grow or take shape。 And so a great evil of this world
will be removed。
'Other evils there are that may e； for Sauron is himself but a servant or emissary。 Yet it is
not our part to master all the tides of the world； but to do what is in us for the succour of those years
wherein we are set； uprooting the evil in the fields that we know； so that those who live after may
have clean earth to till。 What weather they shall have is not ours to rule。
'Now Sauron knows all this； and he knows that this precious thing which he lost has been found
again； but he does not yet know where it is； or so we hope。 And therefore he is now in great doubt。
For if we have found this thing； there are some among us with strength enough to wield it。 That too
he knows。 For do I not guess rightly； Aragorn； that you have shown yourself to him in the Stone of
Orthanc？'
'I did so ere I rode from the Hornburg；' answered Aragorn。 'I deemed that the time was ripe； and
that the Stone had e to me for just such a purpose。 It was then ten days since the Ring…bearer
went east from Rauros； and the Eye of Sauron； I thought； should be drawn out from his own land。
Too seldom has he been challenged since he returned to his Tower。 Though if I had foreseen how
swift would be his onset in answer； maybe I should not have dared to show myself。 Bare time was
given me to e to your aid。'
'But how is this？' asked éomer。 'All is vain； you say； if he has the Ring。 Why should he think it
not vain to assail us； if we have it？'
'He is not yet sure；' said Gandalf； 'and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies
are secure； as we have done。 Also we could not learn how to wield the full power all in a day。
Indeed it can be used only by one master alone； not by many； and he will look for a time of strife；
ere one of the great among us makes himself master and puts down the others。 In that time the Ring
might aid him； if he were sudden。
'He is watching。 He sees much and hears much。 His Nazg？l are still abroad。 They passed over
this field ere the sunrise； though few of the weary and sleeping were aware of them。 He studies the
signs： the Sword that robbed him of his treasure re…made； the winds of fortune turning in our favour；
and the defeat unlooked…for of his first assault the fall of his great Captain。
'His doubt will be growing； even as we speak here。 His Eye is now straining towards us； blind
almost to all else that is moving。 So we must keep it。 Therein lies all our hope。 This； then； is my
counsel。 We have not the Ring。 In wisdom or great folly it has been sent away to be destroyed； lest
it destroy us。 Without it we cannot by force defeat his force。 But we must at all costs keep his Eye
from his true peril。 We cannot achieve victory by arms； but by arms we can give the Ring…bearer
his only chance； frail though it be。
'As Aragorn has begun； so we must go on。 We must push Sauron to his last throw。 We must call
out his hidden strength； so that he shall empty his land。 We must march out to meet him at once。
We must make ourselves the bait； though his jaws should close on us。 He will take that bait； in hope
and in greed； for he will think that in such rashness he sees the pride of the new Ringlord： and he
will say： 〃So！ he pushes out his neck too soon and too far。 Let him e on； and behold I will have
him in a trap from which he cannot escape。 There I will crush him； and what he has taken in his
insolence shall be mine again for ever。〃
'We must walk open…eyed into that trap； with courage； but small hope for ourselves。 For； my
lords； it may well prove that we ourselves shall perish utterly in a black battle far from the living
lands； so that even if Barad…d？r be thrown down； we shall not live to see a new age。 But this； I
deem； is our duty。 And better so than to perish nonetheless – as we surely shall； if we sit here – and
know as we die that no new age shall be。'
They were silent for a while。 At length Aragorn spoke。 'As I have begun； so I will go on。 We
e now to the very brink； where hope and despair are akin。 To waver is to fall。 Let none now
reject the counsels of Gandalf； whose long labours against Sauron e at last to their test。 But for
him all would long ago have been lost。 Nonetheless I do not yet claim to mand any man。 Let
others choose as they will。'
Then said Elrohir： 'From the North we came with this purpose； and from Elrond our father we
brought this very counsel。 We will not turn back。'
'As for myself；' said éomer； 'I have little knowledge of these deep matters； but I need it not。 This
I know； and it is enough； that as my friend Aragorn succoured me and my people； so I will aid him
when he calls。 I will go。'
'As for me；' said Imrahil； 'the Lord Aragorn I hold to be my liege…lord； whether he claim it or no。
His wish is to me a mand。 I will go also。 Yet for a while I stand in the place of the Steward of
Gondor； and it is mine to think first of its people。 To prudence some heed must still be given。 For
we must prepare against all chances； good as well as evil。 Now； it may be that we shall triumph；
and while there is any hope of this； Gondor must be protected。 I would not have us return with
victory to a City in ruins and a land ravaged behind us。 And yet we learn from the Rohirrim that
there is an army still unfought upon our northern flank。'
'That is true；' said Gandalf。 'I do not counsel you to leave the City all unmanned。 Indeed the
force that we lead east need not be great enough for any assault in earnest upon Mordor； so long as
it be great enough to challenge battle。 And it must move soon。 Therefore I ask the Captains： what
force could we muster and lead out in two days' time at the latest？ And they must be hardy men that
go willingly； knowing their peril。'
'All are weary； and very many have wounds light or grievous；' said éomer； 'and we have
suffered much loss of our horses； and that is ill to bear。 If we must ride soon； then I cannot hope to
lead even two thousands； and yet leave as many for the defence of the City。'
'We have not only to reckon with those who fought on this field ' said Aragorn。 'New strength is
on the way from the southern fiefs； now that the coasts have been rid。 Four thousands I sent
marching from Pelargir through Lossarnach two days ago； and Angbor the fearless rides before
them。 If we set out in two days more； they will draw nigh ere we depart。 Moreover many were
bidden to follow me up the River in any craft they could gather； and with this wind they will soon
be at hand； indeed several ships have already e to the Harlond。 I judge that we could lead out
seven thousands of horse and foot； and yet leave the City in better defence than it was when the
assault began。'
'The Gate is destroyed；' said Imrahil； 'and where now is the skill to rebuild it and set it up anew？'
'In Erebor in the Kingdom of Dáin there is such skill；' said Aragorn； 'and if all our hopes do not
perish； then in time I will send Gimli Glóin's son to ask for wrights of the Mountain。 But men are
better than gates； and no gate will endure against our Enemy if men desert it。'
This then was the end of the debate of the lords： that they should set forth on the second
morning from that day with seven thousands； if these might be found； and the great part of this
force should be on foot； because of the evil lands into which they would go。 Aragorn should find
some two thousands of those that he had gathered to him in the South； but Imrahil should find three
and a half thousands； and éomer five hundreds of the Rohirrim who were unhorsed but themselves
warworthy； and he himself should lead five hundreds of his best Riders on horse； and another
pany of five hundred horse there should be； among which should ride the sons of Elrond with
the Dúnedain and the knights of Dol Amroth： all told six thousand foot and a thousand horse。 But
the main strength of the Rohirrim that remained horsed and able to fight； some three thousand
under the mand of Elfhelm； should waylay the West Road against the enemy that was in
Anórien。 And at once swift riders were sent out to gather what news they could northwards； and
eastwards from Osgiliath and the road to Minas Morgul。
And when they had reckoned up all their strength and taken thought for the journeys they should
make and the roads they should choose； Imrahil suddenly laughed aloud。
'Surely；' he cried； 'this is the greatest jest in all the history of Gondor： that we should ride with
seven thousands； scarce as many as the vanguard of its army in the days of its power； to assail the
mountains and the impenetrable gate of the Black Land！ So might a child threaten a mail…clad
knight with a bow of string and green willow！ If the Dark Lord knows so much as you say；
Mithrandir； will he not rather smile than fear； and with his little finger crush us like a fly that tries
to sting him？'
'No； he will try to trap the fly and take the sting；' said Gandalf。 'And there are names among us
that are worth more than a thousand mail…clad knights apiece。 No； he will not smile。'
'Neither shall we；' said Aragorn。 'If this be jest； then it is too bitter for laughter。 Nay； it is the last
move in a great jeopardy； and for one side or the other it will bring the end of the game。' Then he
drew Andúril and held it up glittering in the sun。 'You shall not be sheathed again until the last
battle is fought；' he said。
_Chapter 10_
The Black Gate Opens
Two days later the army of the West was all assembled on the Pelennor。 The host of Orcs and
Easterlings had turned back out of Anórien； but harried and scattered by the Rohirrim they had
broken and fled with little fighting towards Cair Andros； and with that threat destroyed and new
strength arriving out of the South the City was as well manned as might be。 Scouts reported that no
enemies remained upon the roads east as far as the Cross…roads of the Fallen King。 All now was
ready for the last throw。
Legolas and Gimli were to ride again together in the pany of Aragorn and Gandalf； who
went in the van with the Dúnedain and the sons of Elrond。 But Merry to his shame was not to go
with them。
'You are not fit for such a journey；' said Aragorn。 'But do not be ashamed。 If you do no more in
this war； you have already earned great honour。 Peregrin shall go and represent the Shirefolk； and
do not grudge him his chance of peril； for though he has done as well as his fortune allowed him； he
has yet to match your deed。 But in truth all now are in like danger。 Though it may be our part to
find bitter end before the Gate of Mordor； if we do so； then you will e also to a last stand； either
here or wherever the black tide overtakes you。 Farewell！'
And so despondently Merry now stood and watched the mustering of the army。 Bergil was with
him； and he also was downcast； for his father was to march leading a pany of the Men of the
City： he could not rejoin the Guard until his case was judged。 In that same pany Pippin was
also to go； as a soldier of Gondor。 Merry could see him not far off； a small but upright figure
among the tall men of Minas Tirith。
At last the trumpets rang and the army began to move。 Troop by troop； and pany by
pany； they wheeled and went off eastward。 And long after they had passed away out of sight
down the great road to the Causeway； Merry stood there。 The last glint of the morning sun on spear
and helm twinkled and was lost； and still he remained with bowed head and heavy heart； feeling
friendless and alone。 Everyone that he