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saw her as a glimmer in the night； for she was clad in white； but her eyes were on fire。
'Aragorn；' she said； 'why will you go on this deadly road？'
'Because I must；' he said。 'Only so can I see any hope of doing my part in the war against Sauron。
I do not choose paths of peril； éowyn。 Were I to go where my heart dwells； far in the North I would
now be wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell。'
For a while she was silent； as if pondering what this might mean。 Then suddenly she laid her
hand on his arm。 'You are a stern lord and resolute；' she said； 'and thus do men win renown。' She
paused。 'Lord。' she said； 'if you must go； then let me ride in your following。 For I am weary of
skulking in the hills； and wish to face peril and battle。'
'Your duty is with your people；' he answered。
'Too often have I heard of duty；' she cried。 'But am I not of the House of Eorl； a shieldmaiden
and not a dry…nurse？ I have waited on faltering feet long enough。 Since they falter no longer； it
seems； may I not now spend my life as I will？'
'Few may do that with honour；' he answered。 'But as for you； lady： did you not accept the charge
to govern the people until their lord's return？ If you had not been chosen； then some marshal or
captain would have been set in the same place； and he could not ride away from his charge； were he
weary of it or no。'
'Shall I always be chosen？' she said bitterly。 'Shall I always be left behind when the Riders
depart； to mind the house while they win renown； and find food and beds when they return？'
'A time may e soon；' said he； 'when none will return。 Then there will be need of valour
without renown； for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes。
Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised。'
And she answered： 'All your words are but to say： you are a woman； and your part is in the
house。 But when the men have died in battle and honour； you have leave to be burned in the house；
for the men will need it no more。 But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving…woman。 I can ride
and wield blade； and I do not fear either pain or death。'
'What do you fear； lady？' he asked。
'A cage；' she said。 'To stay behind bars； until use and old age accept them； and all chance of
doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire。'
'And yet you counselled me not to adventure on the road that I had chosen； because it is
perilous？'
'So may one counsel another；' she said。 'Yet I do not bid you flee from peril； but to ride to battle
where your sword may win renown and victory。 I would not see a thing that is high and excellent
cast away needlessly。'
'Nor would I；' he said。 'Therefore I say to you； lady： Stay！ For you have no errand to the South。'
'Neither have those others who go with thee。 They go only because they would not be parted
from thee – because they love thee。' Then she turned and vanished into the night。
When the light of day was e into the sky but the sun was not yet risen above the high ridges
in the East； Aragorn made ready to depart。 His pany was all mounted； and he was about to leap
into the saddle； when the Lady éowyn came to bid them farewell。 She was clad as a Rider and girt
with a sword。 In her hand she bore a cup； and she set it to her lips and drank a little； wishing them
good speed； and then she gave the cup to Aragorn； and he drank； and he said： 'Farewell； Lady of
Rohan！ I drink to the fortunes of your House； and of you； and of all your people。 Say to your
brother： beyond the shadows we may meet again！'
Then it seemed to Gimli and Legolas who were nearby that she wept； and in one so stern and
proud that seemed the more grievous。 But she said： 'Aragorn； wilt thou go？'
'I will；' he said。
'Then wilt thou not let me ride with this pany； as I have asked？'
'I will not； lady；' he said。 'For that I could not grant without leave of the king and of your brother；
and they will not return until tomorrow。 But I count now every hour； indeed every minute。
Farewell！'
Then she fell on her knees； saying： 'I beg thee！'
'Nay； lady；' he said； and taking her by the hand he raised her。 Then he kissed her hand； and
sprang into the saddle； and rode away； and did not look back； and only those who knew him well
and were near to him saw the pain that he bore。
But éowyn stood still as a figure carven in stone； her hands clenched at her sides； and she
watched them until they passed into the shadows under the black Dwimorberg； the Haunted
Mountain； in which was the Gate of the Dead。 When they were lost to view； she turned； stumbling
as one that is blind； and went back to her lodging。 But none of her folk saw this parting； for they hid
themselves in fear and would not e forth until the day was up； and the reckless strangers were
gone。
And some said： 'They are Elvish wights。 Let them go where they belong； into the dark places；
and never return。 The times are evil enough。'
The light was still grey as they rode； for the sun had not yet climbed over the black ridges of the
Haunted Mountain before them。 A dread fell on them； even as they passed between the lines of
ancient stones and so came to the Dimholt。 There under the gloom of black trees that not even
Legolas could long endure they found a hollow place opening at the mountain's root； and right in
their path stood a single mighty stone like a finger of doom。
'My blood runs chill；' said Gimli； but the others were silent； and his voice fell dead on the dank
fir…needles at his feet。 The horses would not pass the threatening stone； until the riders dismounted
and led them about。 And so they came at last deep into the glen； and there stood a sheer wall of
rock； and in the wall the Dark Door gaped before them like the mouth of night。 Signs and figures
were carved above its wide arch too dim to read； and fear flowed from it like a grey vapour。
The pany halted； and there was not a heart among them that did not quail； unless it were the
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 the