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striding on foot： three hundreds。 From the uplands of Morthond； the great Blackroot Vale； tall
Duinhir with his sons； Duilin and Derufin； and five hundred bowmen。 From the Anfalas； the
Langstrand far away； a long line of men of many sorts； hunters and herdsmen and men of little
villages； scantily equipped save for the household of Golasgil their lord。 From Lamedon； a few
grim hillmen without a captain。 Fisher…folk of the Ethir； some hundred or more spared from the
ships。 Hirluin the Fair of the Green Hills from Pinnath Gelin with three hundreds of gallant green…
clad men。 And last and proudest； Imrahil； Prince of Dol Amroth； kinsman of the Lord； with gilded
banners bearing his token of the Ship and the Silver Swan； and a pany of knights in full harness
riding grey horses； and behind them seven hundreds of men at arms； tall as lords； grey…eyed； dark…
haired； singing as they came。
And that was all； less than three thousands full told。 No more would e。 Their cries and the
tramp of their feet passed into the City and died away。 The onlookers stood silent for a while。 Dust
hung in the air； for the wind had died and the evening was heavy。 Already the closing hour was
drawing nigh； and the red sun had gone behind Mindolluin。 Shadow came down on the City。
Pippin looked up； and it seemed to him that the sky had grown ashen…grey； as if a vast dust and
smoke hung above them； and light came dully through it。 But in the West the dying sun had set all
the fume on fire； and now Mindolluin stood black against a burning smoulder flecked with embers。
'So ends a fair day in wrath！' he said forgetful of the lad at his side。
'So it will； if I have not returned before the sundown…bells；' said Bergil。 'e！ There goes the
trumpet for the closing of the Gate。'
Hand in hand they went back into the City； the last to pass the Gate before it was shut； and as
they reached the Lampwrights' Street all the bells in the towers tolled solemnly。 Lights sprang in
many windows； and from the houses and wards of the men at arms along the walls there came the
sound of song。
'Farewell for this time；' said Bergil。 'Take my greetings to my ：father； and thank him for the
pany that he sent。 e again soon； I beg。 Almost I wish now that there was no war； for we
might have had some merry times。 We might have journeyed to Lossarnach； to my grandsire's
house； it is good to be there in Spring； the woods and fields are full of flowers。 But maybe we will
go thither together yet。 They will never overe our Lord； and my father is very valiant。 Farewell
and return！'
They parted and Pippin hurried back towards the citadel。 It seemed a long way； and he grew hot
and very hungry； and night closed down swift and dark。 Not a star pricked the sky。 He was late for
the daymeal in the mess； and Beregond greeted him gladly； and sat him at his side to hear news of
his son。 After the meal Pippin stayed a while； and then took his leave； for a strange gloom was on
him； and now he desired very much to see Gandalf again。
'Can you find your way？' said Beregond at the door of the small hall； on the north side of the
citadel； where they had sat。 'It is a black night； and all the blacker since orders came that lights are
to be dimmed within the City； and none are to shine out from the walls。 And I can give you news of
another order： you will be summoned to the Lord Denethor early tomorrow。 I fear you will not be
for the Third pany。 Still we may hope to meet again。 Farewell and sleep in peace！'
The lodging was dark； save for a little lantern set on the table。 Gandalf was not there。 Gloom
settled still more heavily on Pippin。 He climbed on the bench and tried to peer out of a window； but
it was like looking into a pool of ink。 He got down and closed the shutter and went to bed。 For a
while he lay and listened for sounds of Gandalf's return； and then he fell into an uneasy sleep。
In the night he was wakened by a light； and he saw that Gandalf had e and was pacing to
and fro in the room beyond the curtain of the alcove。 There were candles on the table and rolls of
parchment。 He heard the wizard sigh； and mutter： 'When will Faramir return？'
'Hullo！' said Pippin； poking his head round the curtain。 'I thought you had forgotten all about me。
I am glad to see you back。 It has been a long day。'
'But the night will be too short；' said Gandalf。 'I have e back here； for I must have a little
peace； alone。 You should sleep； in a bed while you still may。 At the sunrise I shall take you to the
Lord Denethor again。 No； when the summons es； not at sunrise。 The Darkness has begun。
There will be no dawn。'
_Chapter 2_
The Passing of the Grey pany
Gandalf was gone； and the thudding hoofs of Shadowfax were lost in the night； when Merry
came back to Aragorn。 He had only a light bundle； for he had lost his pack at Parth Galen； and all
he had was a few useful things he had picked up among the wreckage of Isengard。 Hasufel was
already saddled。 Legolas and Gimli with their horse stood close by。
'So four of the pany still remain；' said Aragorn。 'We will ride on together。 But we shall not
go alone； as I thought。 The king is now determined to set out at once。 Since the ing of the
winged shadow； he desires to return to the hills under cover of night。'
'And then whither？' said Legolas。
'I cannot say yet；' Aragorn answered。 'As for the king； he will go to the muster that he
manded at Edoras； four nights from now。 And there； I think； he will hear tidings of war； and the
Riders of Rohan will go down to Minas Tirith。 But for myself； and any that will go with me 。 。 。'
'I for one！' cried Legolas。 'And Gimli with him！' said the Dwarf。
'Well； for myself；' said Aragorn； 'it is dark before me。 I must go down also to Minas Tirith； but I
do not yet see the road。 An hour long prepared approaches。'
'Don't leave me behind！' said Merry。 'I have not been of much use yet； but I don't want to be laid
aside； like baggage to be called for when all is over。 I don't think the Riders will want to be
bothered with me now。 Though； of course； the king did say that I was to sit by him when he came
to his house and tell him all about the Shire。'
'Yes；' said Aragorn； 'and your road lies with him； I think； Merry。 But do not look for mirth at the
ending。 It will be long； I fear； ere Théoden sits at ease again in Meduseld。 Many hopes will wither
in this bitter Spring。'
Soon all were ready to depart： twenty…four horses； with Gimli behind Legolas； and Merry in
front of Aragorn。 Presently they were riding swiftly through the night。 They had not long passed the
mounds at the Fords of Isen； when a Rider galloped up from the rear of their line。
'My lord；' he said to the king； 'there are horsemen behind us。 As we crossed the fords I thought
that I heard them。 Now we are sure。 They are overtaking us； riding hard。'
Théoden at once called a halt。 The Riders turned about and seized their spears。 Aragorn
dismounted and set Merry on the ground； and drawing his sword he stood by the king's stirrup。
éomer and his esquire rode back to the rear。 Merry felt more like unneeded baggage than ever； and
he wondered； if there was a fight； what he should do。 Supposing the king's small escort was trapped
and overe； but he escaped into the darkness – alone in the wild fields of Rohan with no idea of
where he was in all the endless miles？ 'No good！' he thought。 He drew his sword and tightened his
belt。
The sinking moon was obscured by a great sailing cloud； but suddenly it rode out clear again。
Then they all heard the sound of hoofs； and at the same moment they saw dark shapes ing
swiftly on the path from the fords。 The moonlight glinted here and there on the points of spears。
The number of the pursuers could not be told； but they seemed no fewer than the king's escort； at
the least。
When they were some fifty paces off； éomer cried in a loud voice： 'Halt！ Halt！ Who rides in
Rohan？'
The pursuers brought their steeds to a sudden stand。 A silence followed： and then in the
moonlight； a horseman could be seen dismounting and walking slowly forward。 His hand showed
white as he held it up； palm outward； in token of peace； but the king's men gripped their weapons。
At ten paces the man stopped。 He was tall； a dark standing shadow。 Then his clear voice rang out。
'Rohan？ Rohan did you say？ That is a glad word。 We seek that land in haste from long afar。'
'You have found it；' said éomer。 'When you crossed the fords yonder you entered it。 But it is the
realm of Théoden the King。 None ride here save by his leave。 Who are you？ And what is your
haste？'
'Halbarad Dúnadan； Ranger of the North I am；' cried the man。 'We seek one Aragorn son of
Arathorn； and we heard that he was in Rohan。'
'And you have found him also！' cried Aragorn。 Giving his reins to Merry； he ran forward and
embraced the newer。 'Halbarad！' he said。 'Of all joys this is the least expected！'
Merry breathed a sigh of relief。 He had thought that this was some last trick of Saruman's； to
waylay the king while he had only a few men about him； but it seemed that there would be no need
to die in Théoden's defence； not yet at any rate。 He sheathed his sword。
'All is well；' said Aragorn； turning back。 'Here are some of my own kin from the far land where I
dwelt。 But why they e； and how many they be； Halbarad shall tell us。'
'I have thirty with me；' said Halbarad。 'That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste；
but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us； desiring to go to the war。 We rode as
swiftly as we might when your summons came。'
'But I did not summon you；' said Aragorn； 'save only in wish。 My thoughts have often turned to
you； and seldom more than tonight； yet I have sent no word。 But e！ All such matters must wait。
You find us riding in haste and danger。 Ride with us now； if the king will give his leave。'
Théoden was indeed glad of the news。 'It is well！' he said。 'If these kinsmen be in any way like to
yourself； my lord Aragorn； thirty such knights will be a strength that cannot be counted by heads。'
Then the Riders set out again； and Aragorn for a while rode with the Dúnedain； and when they
had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South； Elrohir said to him：
'I bring word to you from my father： _The days are short。 If thou art in haste； remember the
Paths of the Dead_。'
'Always my days have seemed to me too short to achieve my desire；' answered Aragorn。 'But
great indeed will be my haste ere I take that road。'
'That will soon be seen；' said Elrohir。 'But let us speak no more of these things upon the open
road！'
And Aragorn said to Halbarad： 'What is that that you bear； kinsman？' For he saw that instead of
a spear he bore a tall staff； as it were a standard； but it was close…furled in a black cloth bound about
with many thongs。
'It is a gift that I bring you from the Lady of Rivendell；' answered Halbarad。 'She wrought it in
secret； and long was the making。 But she also sends word to you： _The days now are short。 Either
our hope eth； or all hopes end。 Therefore I send thee what I have made for thee。 Fare well；
Elfstone！_'
And Aragorn said： 'Now I know what you bear。 Bear it still for me a while！' And he turned and
looked away to the North under the great stars； and then he fell silent and spoke no more while the
night's journey lasted。
The night was old and the East grey when they rode up at last from Deeping…coomb and came
back to the Hornburg。 There they were to lie and rest for a brief while and take counsel。
Merry slept until he was roused by Legolas and Gimli。 'The Sun is high；' said Legolas。 'All
others are up and doing。 e； Master Sluggard； and look at this place while you may！'
'There was a battle here three nights ago；' said Gimli； 'and here Legolas and I played a game that
I won only by a single orc。 e and see how it was！ And there are caves； Merry； caves of wonder！
Shall we visit them； Legolas； do you think？'
'Nay！ There is no time；' said the Elf。 'Do not spoil the wonder with haste！ I have given you my
word to return hither with you； if a day of peace and freedom es again。 But it is now near to
noon； and at that hour we eat； and then set out again； I hear。'
Merry got up and yawned。 His few hours' sleep had not been nearly enough； he was tired and
rather dismal。 He missed Pippin； and felt that he was only a burden； while everybody was making
plans for speed in a business that he did not fully understand。 'Where is Aragorn？' he asked。
'In a high chamber of the Burg；' said Legolas。 'He has neither rested nor slept； I think。 He went
thither some hours ago； saying that he must take thought； and only his kinsman； Halbarad； went
with him； but some dark doubt or care sits on him。'
'They are a strange pany； these newers；' said Gimli。 'Stout men and lordly they are； and
the Riders of Rohan look almost as boys beside them； for they are grim men of face； worn like
weathered rocks for the most part； eve