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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