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was hoped； for it had taken time for the Riders； walking and leading their horses； to find paths over
the thickly wooded ridges behind their camp and down into the hidden Stonewain Valley。 It was
late in the afternoon when the leaders came to wide grey thickets stretching beyond the eastward
side of Amon D？n； and masking a great gap in the line of hills that from Nardol to D？n ran east and
west。 Through the gap the forgotten wain…road long ago had run down； back into the main horse…
way from the City through Anórien； but now for many lives of men trees had had their way with it；
and it had vanished； broken and buried under the leaves of uncounted years。 But the thickets
offered to the Riders their last hope of cover before they went into open battle； for beyond them lay
the road and the plains of Anduin； while east and southwards the slopes were bare and rocky； as the
writhen hills gathered themselves together and climbed up； bastion upon bastion； into the great
mass and shoulders of Mindolluin。
The leading pany was halted； and as those behind filed up out of the trough of the
Stonewain Valley they spread out and passed to camping…places under the grey trees。 The king
summoned the captains to council。 éomer sent out scouts to spy upon the road； but old Ghan shook
his head。
'No good to send Horse…men；' he said。 'Wild Men have already seen all that can be seen in the
bad air。 They will e soon and speak to me here。'
The captains came； and then out of the trees crept warily other púkel…shapes so like old Ghan
that Merry could hardly tell them apart。 They spoke to Ghan in a strange throaty language。
Presently Ghan turned to the king。 'Wild Men say many things ' he said。 'First； be wary！ Still
many men in camp beyond D？n； an hour's walk yonder；' he waved his arm west towards the black
beacon。 'But none to see between here and Stone…folk's new walls。 Many busy there。 Walls stand up
no longer： _gorg？n_ knock them down with earth…thunder and with clubs of black iron。 They are
unwary and do not look about them。 They think their friends watch all roads！' At that old Ghan
made a curious gurgling noise； and it seemed that he was laughing。
'Good tidings！' cried éomer。 'Even in this gloom hope gleams again。 Our Enemy's devices oft
serve us in his despite。 The accursed darkness itself has been a cloak to us。 And now； lusting to
destroy Gondor and throw it down stone from stone； his orcs have taken away my greatest fear。 The
out…wall could have been held long against us。 Now we can sweep through – if once we win so far。'
'Once again I thank you； Ghan…buri…Ghan of the woods；' said Théoden。 'Good fortune go with
you for tidings and for guidance！'
'Kill _gorg？n_！ Kill orc…folk！ No other words please Wild Men ' answered Ghan。 'Drive away
bad air and darkness with bright iron！'
'To do these things we have ridden far；' said the king； 'and we shall attempt them。 But what we
shall achieve only tomorrow will show。'
Ghan…buri…Ghan squatted down and touched the earth with his horny brow in token of farewell。
Then he got up as if to depart。 But suddenly he stood looking up like some startled woodland
animal snuffling a strange air。 A light came in his eyes。
'Wind is changing！' he cried； and with that； in a twinkling as it seemed； he and his fellows had
vanished into the glooms； never to be seen by any Rider of Rohan again。 Not long after far away
eastward the faint drums throbbed again。 Yet to no heart in all the host came any fear that the Wild
Men were unfaithful； strange and unlovely though they might appear。
'We need no further guidance；' said Elfhelm； 'for there are riders in the host who have ridden
down to Mundburg in days of peace。 I for one。 When we e to the road it will veer south； and
there will lie before us still seven leagues ere we reach the wall of the townlands。 Along most of
that way there is much grass on either side of the road。 On that stretch the errand…riders of Gondor
reckoned to make their greatest speed。 We may ride it swiftly and without great rumour。'
'Then since we must look for fell deeds and the need of all our strength；' said éomer； 'I counsel
that we rest now； and set out hence by night； and so time our going that we e upon the fields
when tomorrow is as light as it will be； or when our lord gives the signal。'
To this the king assented； and the captains departed。 But soon Elfhelm returned。 'The scouts
have found naught to report beyond the grey wood； lord；' he said； 'save two men only： two dead
men and two dead horses。'
'Well？' said éomer。 'What of it？'
'This； lord： they were errand…riders of Gondor； Hirgon was one maybe。 At least his hand still
clasped the Red Arrow； but his head was hewn off。 And this also： it would seem by the signs that
they were fleeing _westward_ when they fell。 As I read it； they found the enemy already on the out…
wall； or assailing it； when they returned – and that would be two nights ago； if they used fresh
horses from the posts； as is their wont。 They could not reach the City and turned back。'
'Alas！' said Théoden。 'Then Denethor has heard no news of our riding and will despair of our
ing。'
'_Need brooks no delay； yet late is better than never_；' said éomer。 'And mayhap in this time
shall the old saw be proved truer than ever before since men spoke with mouth。'
It was night。 On either side of the road the host of Rohan was moving silently。 Now the road
passing about the skirts of Mindolluin turned southward。 Far away and almost straight ahead there
was a red glow under the black sky and the sides of the great mountain loomed dark against it。
They were drawing near the Rammas of the Pelennor； but the day was not yet e。
The king rode in the midst of the leading pany； his household…men about him。 Elfhelm's
_éored_ came next； and now Merry noticed that Dernhelm had left his place and in the darkness
was moving steadily forward； until at last he was riding just in rear of the king's guard。 There came
a check。 Merry heard voices in front speaking softly。 Out…riders had e back who had ventured
forward almost to the wall。 They came to the king。
'There are great fires； lord；' said one。 'The City is all set about with flame； and the field is full of
foes。 But all seem drawn off to the assault。 As well as we could guess； there are few left upon the
out…wall； and they are heedless； busy in destruction。'
'Do you remember the Wild Man's words； lord？' said another。 'I live upon the open Wold in days
of peace； Wídfara is my name； and to me also the air brings messages。 Already the wind is turning。
There es a breath out of the South； there is a sea…tang in it； faint though it be。 The morning will
bring new things。 Above the reek it will be dawn when you pass the wall。'
'If you speak truly； Wídfara； then may you live beyond this day in years of blessedness！' said
Théoden。 He turned to the men of his household who were near； and he spoke now in a clear voice
so that many also of the riders of the first _éored_ heard him：
'Now is the hour e； Riders of the Mark； sons of Eorl！ Foes and fire are before you； and your
homes far behind。 Yet； though you fight upon an alien field； the glory that you reap there shall be
your own for ever。 Oaths ye have taken： now fulfil them all； to lord and land and league of
friendship！'
Men clashed spear upon shield。
'éomer； my son！ You lead the first _éored_；' said Théoden； 'and it shall go behind the king's
banner in the centre。 Elfhelm； lead your pany to the right when we pass the wall。 And
Grimbold shall lead his towards the left。 Let the other panies behind follow these three that
lead； as they have chance。 Strike wherever the enemy gathers。 Other plans we cannot make； for we
know not yet how things stand upon the field。 Forth now； and fear no darkness！'
The leading pany rode off as swiftly as they could； for it was still deep dark； whatever
change Wídfara might forebode。 Merry was riding behind Dernhelm； clutching with the left hand
while with the other he tried to loosen his sword in its sheath。 He felt now bitterly the truth of the
old king's words： _in such a battle what would you do Meriadoc？_ Just this；' he thought： 'encumber
a rider； and hope at best to stay in my seat and not be pounded to death by galloping hoofs！'
It was no more than a league to where the out…walls had stood。 They soon reached them； too
soon for Merry。 Wild cries broke out； and there was some clash of arms； but it was brief。 The orcs
busy about the walls were few and amazed； and they were quickly slain or driven off。 Before the
ruin of the north…gate in the Rammas the king halted again。 The first _éored_ drew up behind him
and about him on either side。 Dernhelm kept close to the king； though Elfhelm's pany was
away on the right。 Grimbold's men turned aside and passed round to a great gap in the wall further
eastward。
Merry peered from behind Dernhelm's back。 Far away； maybe ten miles or more； there was a
great burning； but between it and the Riders lines of fire blazed in a vast cres