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'And you； Master Dwarf； pray take your hand from your axe…haft； till I
am up！ You will not need such arguments。'
Gimli started and then stood still as stone； staring； while the old man
sprang up the rough steps as nimbly as a goat。 All weariness seemed to have
left him。 As he stepped up on to the shelf there was a gleam； too brief for
certainty； a quick glint of white； as if some garment shrouded by the grey
rags had been for an instant revealed The intake of Gimli's breath could be
heard as a loud hiss in the silence。
'Well met； I say again！' said the old man； ing towards them。 When he
was a few feet away； he stood； stooping over his staff； with his head thrust
forward； peering at them from under his hood。 'And what may you be doing in
these parts？ An Elf； a Man； and a Dwarf。 all clad in elvish fashion。 No
doubt there is a tale worth hearing behind it all。 Such things are not often
seen here。'
'You speak as one that knows Fangorn well；' said Aragorn。 'Is that so？'
'Not well；' said the old man： 'that would be the study of many lives。
But I e here now and again。'
'Might we know your name； and then hear what it is that you have to say
to us？' said Aragorn。 'The morning passes； and we have an errand that will
not wait。'
'As for what I wished to say； I have said it： What may you be doing；
and what tale can you tell of yourselves？ As for my name！' He broke off；
laughing long and softly。 Aragorn felt a shudder run through him at the
sound； a strange cold thrill； and yet it was not fear or terror that he
felt： rather it was like the sudden bite of a keen air； or the slap of a
cold rain that wakes an uneasy sleeper。
'My name！' said the old man again。 'Have you not guessed it already？
You have heard it before； I think。 Yes； you have heard it before。 But e
now； what of your tale？'
The three panions stood silent and made no answer。
'There are some who would begin to doubt whether your errand is fit to
tell；' said the old man。 'Happily I know something of it。 You are tracking
the footsteps of two young hobbits； I believe。 Yes； hobbits。 Don't stare； as
if you had never heard the strange name before。 You have； and so have I。
Well； they climbed up here the day before yesterday； and they met someone
that they did not expect。 Does that fort you？ And now you would like to
know where they were taken？ Well； well； maybe I can give you some news about
that。 But why are we standing？ Your errand； you see； is no longer as urgent
as you thought。 Let us sit down and be more at ease。'
The old man turned away and went towards a heap of fallen stones and
rock at the foot of the cliff behind。 Immediately； as if a spell had been
removed； the others relaxed and stirred。 Gimli's hand went at once to his
axe…haft。 Aragorn drew his sword。 Legolas picked up his bow。
The old man took no notice； but stooped and sat himself on a low flat
stone。 Then his grey cloak drew apart； and they saw； beyond doubt； that he
was clothed beneath all in white。
'Saruman！' cried Gimli； springing towards him with axe in hand。 'speak！
Tell us where you have hidden our friends！ What have you done with them？
Speak； or I will make a dint in your hat that even a wizard will find it
hard to deal with！'
The old man was too quick for him。 He sprang to his feet and leaped to
the top of a large rock。 There he stood； grown suddenly tall； towering above
them。 His hood and his grey rags were flung away。 His white garments shone。
He lifted up his staff； and Gimli's axe leaped from his grasp and fell
ringing on the ground。 The sword of Aragorn； stiff in his motionless hand；
blazed with a sudden fire。 Legolas gave a great shout and shot an arrow high
into the air： it vanished in a flash of flame。
'Mithrandir！' he cried。 'Mithrandir！'
'Well met； I say to you again。 Legolas！' said the old man。
They all gazed at him。 His hair was white as snow in the sunshine； and
gleaming white was his robe； the eyes under his deep brows were bright；
piercing as the rays of the sun； power was in his hand。 Between wonder； joy；
and fear they stood and found no words to say。
At last Aragorn stirred。 'Gandalf！' he said。 'Beyond all hope you
return to us in our need！ What veil was over my sight？ Gandalf！' Gimli said
nothing； hut sank to his knees； shading his eyes。
'Gandalf；' the old man repeated； as if recalling from old memory a long
disused word。 'Yes； that was the name。 I was Gandalf。'
He stepped down from the rock； and picking up his grey cloak wrapped it
about him： it seemed as if the sun had been shining； but now was hid in
cloud again。 'Yes； you may still call me Gandalf；' he said； and the voice
was the voice of their old friend and guide。 'Get up； my good Gimli！ No
blame to you； and no harm done to me。 Indeed my friends； none of you have
any weapon that could hurt me。 Be merry！ We meet again。 At the turn of the
tide。 The great storm is ing； but the tide has turned。'
He laid his hand on Gimli's head； and the Dwarf looked up and laughed
suddenly。 'Gandalf！' he said。 'But you are all in white！'
'Yes； I am white now；' said Gandalf。 'Indeed I am Saruman； one might
almost say； Saruman as he should have been。 But e now； tell me of
yourselves！ I have passed through fire and deep water； since we parted。 I
have forgotten much that I thought I knew； and learned again much that I had
forgotten。 I can see many things far off； but many things that are close at
hand I cannot see。 Tell me of yourselves！'
'What do you wish to know？' said Aragorn。 'All that has happened since
we parted on the bridge would be a long tale。 Will you not first give us
news of the hobbits？ Did you find them； and are they safe？'
'No； I did not find them；' said Gandalf。 'There was a darkness over the
valleys of the Emyn Muil； and I did not know of their captivity； until the
eagle told me。'
'The eagle！' said Legolas。 'I have seen an eagle high and far off： the
last time was three days ago； above the Emyn Muil。'
'Yes；' said Gandalf； 'that was Gwaihir the Windlord； who rescued me
from Orthanc。 I sent him before me to watch the River and gather tidings。
His sight is keen； but he cannot see all that passes under hill and tree。
Some things he has seen； and others I have seen myself。 The Ring now has
passed beyond my help； or the help of any of the pany that set out from
Rivendell。 Very nearly it was revealed to the Enemy； but it escaped。 I had
some part in that： for I sat in a high place； and I strove with the Dark
Tower； and the Shadow passed。 Then I was weary； very weary； and I walked
long in dark thought。'
'Then you know about Frodo！' said Gimli。 'How do things go with him？'
'I cannot say。 He was saved from a great peril； but many lie before him
still。 He resolved to go alone to Mordor； and he set out： that is all that I
can say。'
'Not alone；' said Leg