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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； even as Aragorn himself； and they are silent。'
'But even as Aragorn they are courteous； if they break their silence。' said Legolas。 'And have you
marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir？ Less sombre is their gear than the others'； and they are
fair and gallant as Elven…lords； and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell。'
'Why have they e？ Have you heard？' asked Merry。 He had now dressed； and he flung his
grey cloak about his shoulders； and the three passed out together towards the ruined gate of the
Burg。
'They answered a summons； as you heard；' said Gimli。 'Word came to Rivendell； they say：
_Aragorn has need of his kindred。 Let the Dúnedain ride to him in Rohan！_ But whence this
message came they are now in doubt。 Gandalf sent it； I would guess。'
'Nay； Galadriel；' said Legolas。 'Did she not speak through Gandalf of the ride of the Grey
pany from the North？'
'Yes； you have it；' said Gimli。 'The Lady of the Wood！ She read many hearts and desires。 Now
why did not we wish for some of our own kinsfolk； Legolas？'
Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east； and his fair face
was troubled。 'I do not think that any would e；' he answered。 'They have no need to ride to war；
war already marches on their own lands。'
For a while the three panions walked together； speaking of this and that turn of the battle；
and they went down from the broken gate； and passed the mounds of the fallen on the greensward
beside the road； until they stood on Helm's Dike and looked into the Coomb。 The Death Down
already stood there； black and tall and stony； and the great trampling and scoring of the grass by the
Huorns could be plainly seen。 The Dunlendings and many men of the garrison of the Burg were at
work on the Dike or in the fields and about the battered walls behind； yet all seemed strangely quiet：
a weary valley resting after a great storm。 Soon they turned back and went to the midday meal in
the hall of the Burg。
The king was already there； and as soon as they entered he called for Merry and had a seat set
for him at his side。 'It is not as I would have it；' said Théoden； 'for this is little like my fair house in
Edoras。 And your friend is gone； who should also be here。 But it may be long ere we sit； you and I；
at the high table in Meduseld； there will be no time for feasting when I return thither。 But e
now！ Eat and drink； and let us speak together while we may。 And then you shall ride with me。'
'May I？' said Merry； surprised and delighted。 'That would be splendid！' He had never felt more
grateful for any kindness in words。 'I am afraid I am only in everybody's way；' he stammered； 'but I
should like to do anything I could； you know。'
'I doubt it not；' said the king。 'I have had a good hill…pony made ready for you。 He will bear you
as swift as any horse by the roads that we shall take。 For I will ride from the Burg by mountain
paths； not by the plain； and so e to Edoras by way of Dun