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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！ Ther