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heart of Legolas of the Elves； for whom the ghosts of Men have no terror。
'This is an evil door；' said Halbarad； 'and my death lies beyond it。 I will dare to pass it
nonetheless； but no horse will enter。'
'But we must go in； and therefore the horses must go too；' said Aragorn。 'For if ever we e
through this darkness； many leagues lie beyond； and every hour that is lost there will bring the
triumph of Sauron nearer。 Follow me！'
Then Aragorn led the way； and such was the strength of his will in that hour that all the
Dúnedain and their horses followed him。 And indeed the love that the horses of the Rangers bore
for their riders was so great that they were willing to face even the terror of the Door； if their
masters' hearts were steady as they walked beside them。 But Arod； the horse of Rohan； refused the
way； and he stood sweating and trembling in a fear that was grievous to see。 Then Legolas laid his
hands on his eyes and sang some words that went soft in the gloom； until he suffered himself to be
led； and Legolas passed in。 And there stood Gimli the Dwarf left all alone。
His knees shook； and he was wroth with himself。 'Here is a thing unheard of！' he said。 'An Elf
will go underground and a Dwarf dare not！' With that he plunged in。 But it seemed to him that he
dragged his feet like lead over the threshold； and at once a blindness came upon him； even upon
Gimli Glóin's son who had walked unafraid in many deep places of the world。
Aragorn had brought torches from Dunharrow； and now he went ahead bearing one aloft； and
Elladan with another went at the rear； and Gimli； stumbling behind； strove to overtake him。 He
could see nothing but the dim flame of the torches； but if the pany halted； there seemed an
endless whisper of voices all about him； a murmur of words in no tongue that he had ever heard
before。
Nothing assailed the pany nor withstood their passage； and yet steadily fear grew on the
Dwarf as he went on： most of all because he knew now that there could be no turning back； all the
paths behind were thronged by an unseen host that followed in the dark。
So time unreckoned passed； until Gimli saw a sight that he was ever afterwards loth to recall。
The road was wide； as far as he could judge； but now the pany came suddenly into a great
empty space； and there were no longer any walls upon either side。 The dread was so heavy on him
that he could hardly walk。 Away to the left something glittered in the gloom as Aragorn's torch
drew near。 Then Aragorn halted and went to look what it might be。
'Does he feel no fear？' muttered the Dwarf。 'In any other cave Gimli Glóin's son would have
been the first to run to the gleam of gold。 But not here！ Let it lie！'
Nonetheless he drew near； and saw Aragorn kneeling； while Elladan held aloft both torches。
Before him were the bones of a mighty man。 He had been clad in mail； and still his harness lay
there whole； for the cavern's air was as dry as dust； and his hauberk was gilded。 His belt was of
gold and garnets； and rich with gold was the helm upon his bony head face downward on the floor。
He had fallen near the far wall of the cave； as now could be seen； and before him stood a stony door
closed fast： his finger…bones were still clawing at the cracks。 A notched and broken sword lay by
him； as if he had hewn at the rock in his last despair。
Aragorn did not touch him； but after gazing silently for a while he rose and sighed。 'Hither shall
the flowers of _simbelmyn？_ e never unto world's end；' he murmured。 'Nine mounds and seven
there are now green with grass； and through all the long years he has lain at the door that he could
not unlock。 Whither does it lead？ Why would he pass？ None shall ever know！
'For that is not my errand！' he cried； turning back and speaking to the whispering darkness
behind。 'Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years！ Speed only we ask。 Let
us pass； and then e！ I summon you to the Stone of Erech！'
There was no answer； unless it were an utter silence more dreadful than the whispers before； and
then a chill blast came in which the torches flickered and went out； and could not be rekindled。 Of
the time that followed； one hour or many； Gimli remembered little。 The others pressed on； but he
was ever hindmost； pursued by a groping horror that seemed always just about to seize him； and a
rumour came after him like the shadow…sound of many feet。 He stumbled on until he was crawling
like a beast on the ground and felt that he could endure no more： he must either find an ending and
escape or run back in madness to meet the following fear。
Suddenly he heard the tinkle of water； a sound hard and clear as a stone falling into a dream of
dark shadow。 Light grew； and lo！ the pany passed through another gateway； high…arched and
broad； and a rill ran out beside them； and beyond； going steeply down； was a road between sheer
cliffs； knife…edged against the sky far above。 So deep and narrow was that chasm that the sky was
dark； and in it small stars glinted。 Yet as Gimli after learned it was still two hours ere sunset of the
day on which they had set out from Dunharrow； though for all that he could then tell it might have
been twilight in some later year； or in some other world。
The pany now mounted again； and Gimli returned to Legolas。 They rode in file； and
evening came on and a deep blue dusk； and still fear pursued them。 Legolas turning to speak to
Gimli looked back and the Dwarf saw before his face the glitter in the Elf's bright eyes。 Behind
them rode Elladan； last of the pany； but not the last of those that took the downward road。
'The Dead are following；' said Legolas。 'I see shapes of Men and of horses； and pale banners like
shreds of cloud； and spears like winter…thickets on a misty night。 The Dead are following。'
'Yes； the Dead ride behind。 They have been summoned；' said Elladan。
The pany came at last out of the ravine； as suddenly as it they had issued from a crack in a
wall； and there lay the uplands of a great vale before them； and the stream beside them went down
with a cold voice over many falls。
'Where in Middle…earth are we？' said Gimli； and Elladan answered： 'We have descended from
the uprising of the Morthond； the long chill river that flows at last to the sea that washes the walls
of Dol Amroth。 You will not need to ask hereafter how es its name： Blackroot men call it。'
The Morthond Vale made a great bay that beat up against the sheer southern faces of the
mountains。 Its steep slopes were grass…grown； but all was grey in that hour； for the sun had gone；
and far below lights twinkled in the homes of Men。 The vale was rich and many folk dwelt there。
Then without turning Aragorn cried aloud so that all could hear： 'Friends； forget your weariness！
Ride now； ride！ We must e to the Stone of Erech ere this day passes； and long still is the way。'
So without looking back they rode the mountain…fields； until they came to a bridge over the
growing torrent and found a road that went down into the land。
Lights went out in house and hamlet as they came； and doors were shut； and folk that were
afield cried in terror and ran wild like hunted deer。 Ever there rose the same cry in the gathering
night： 'The King of the Dead！ The King of the Dead is e upon us！'
Bells were ringing far below； and all men fled before the face of Aragorn； but the Grey
pany in their haste rode like hunters； until their horses were stumbling with weariness。 And
thus； just ere midnight； and in a darkness as black as the caverns in the mountains； they came at last
to the Hill of Erech。
Long had the terror of the Dead lain upon that hill and upon the empty fields about it。 For upon
the top stood a black stone； round as a great globe； the height of a man； though its half was buried
in the ground。 Unearthly it looked； as though it had fallen from the sky； as some believed； but those
who remembered still the lore of Westernesse told that it had been brought out of the ruin of
Númenor and there set by Isildur at his landing。 None of the people of the valley dared to approach
it； nor would they dwell near； for they said that it was a trysting…place of the Shadow…men； and
there they would gather in times of fear； thronging round the Stone and whispering。
To that Stone the pany came and halted in the dead of night。 Then Elrohir gave to Aragorn
a silver horn； and he blew upon it and it seemed to those that stood near that they heard a sound of
answering horns； as if it was an echo in deep caves far away。 No other sound they heard； and yet
they were aware of a great host gathered all about the hill on which they stood； and a chill wind like
the breath of ghosts came down from the mountains。 But Aragorn dismounted； and standing by the
Stone he cried in a great voice：
'Oathbreakers； why have ye e？'
And a voice was heard out of the night that answered him； as if from far away：
'To fulfil our oath and have peace。'
Then Aragorn said： 'The hour is e at last。 Now I go to Pelargir upon Anduin； and ye shall
e after me。 And when all this land is clean of the servants of Sauron； I will hold the oath
fulfilled； and ye shall have peace and depart for ever。 For I am Elessar； Isildur's heir of Gondor。'
And with that he bade Halbarad unfurl the great standard which he had brought； and behold！ it
was black； and if there was any device upon it； it was hidden in the darkness。 Then there was
silence； and not a whisper nor a sigh was heard again all the long night。 The pany camped
beside the Stone； but they slept little； because of the dread of the Shadows that hedged them round。
But when the dawn came； cold and pale； Aragorn rose at once； and he led the pany forth
upon the journey of greatest haste and weariness that any among them had known； save he alone；
and only his will held them to go on。 No other mortal Men could have endured it； none but the
Dúnedain of the North； and with them Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas of the Elves。
They passed Tarlang's Neck and came into Lamedon； and the Shadow Host pressed behind and
fear went on before them； until they came to Calembel upon Ciril； and the sun went down like
blood behind Pinnath Gelin away in the West behind them。 The township and the fords of Ciril they
found deserted； for many men had gone away to war； and all that were left fled to the hills at the
rumour of the ing of the King of the Dead。 But the next day there came no dawn； and the Grey
pany passed on into the darkness of the Storm of Mordor and were lost to mortal sight； but the
Dead followed them。
_Chapter 3_
The Muster of Rohan
Now all roads were running together to the East to meet the ing of war and the onset of the
Shadow。 And even as Pippin stood at the Great Gate of the City and saw the Prince of Dol Amroth
ride in with his banners； the King of Rohan came down out of the hills。
Day was waning。 In the last rays of the sun the Riders cast long pointed shadows that went on
before them。 Darkness had already crept beneath the murmuring fir…woods that clothed the steep
mountain…sides。 The king rode now slowly at the end of the day。 Presently the path turned round a
huge bare shoulder of rock and plunged into the gloom of soft…sighing trees。 Down； down they
went in a long winding file。 When at last they came to the bottom of the gorge they found that
evening had fallen in the deep places。 The sun was gone。 Twilight lay upon the waterfalls。
All day far below them a leaping stream had run down from the high pass behind； cleaving its
narrow way between pine…clad walls； and now through a stony gate it flowed out and passed into a
wider vale。 The Riders followed it； and suddenly Harrowdale lay before them； loud with the noise
of waters in the evening。 There the white Snowbourn； joined by the lesser stream； went rushing；
fuming on the stones； down to Edoras and the green hills and the plains。 Away to the right at the
head of the great dale the mighty Starkhorn loomed up above its vast buttresses swathed in cloud；
but its jagged peak； clothed in everlasting snow； gleamed far above the world； blue…shadowed upon
the East； red…stained by the sunset in the West。
Merry looked out in wonder upon this strange country； of which he had heard many tales upon
their long road。 It was a skyless world； in which his eye； through dim gulfs of shadowy air； saw
only ever…mounting slopes； great walls of stone behind great walls； and frowning precipices
wreathed with mist。 He sat for a moment half dreaming； listening to the noise of water； the whisper
of dark trees； the crack of stone； and the vast waiting silence that brooded behind all sound。 He
loved mountains； or he had loved the thought of them marching on the edge of stories brought from
far away； but now he was borne down by the insupportable weight of Middle…earth。 He longed to
shut out the immensity in a quiet room by a fire。
He was very tired； for though they had ridden slowly； they had ridden with very little rest。 Hour
after hour for