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know of this new shape in which the Ringwraiths have been clad。 His thought
is ever on the Ring。 Was it present in the battle？ Was it found？ What if
Thjoden； Lord of the Mark； should e by it and learn of its power？ That is
the danger that he sees； and he has fled back to Isengard to double and
treble his assault on Rohan。 And all the time there is another danger； close
at hand； which he does not see； busy with his fiery thoughts。 He has
forgotten Treebeard。'
'Now you speak to yourself again；' said Aragorn with a smile。
'Treebeard is not known to me。 And I have guessed part of Saruman's double
treachery； yet I do not see in what way the ing of two hobbits to Fangorn
has served； save to give us a long and fruitless chase。'
'Wait a minute！' cried Gimli。 'There is another thing that I should
like to know first。 Was it you； Gandalf； or Saruman that we saw last night？'
'You certainly did not see me；' answered Gandalf； 'therefore I must
guess that you saw Saruman。 Evidently we look so much alike that your desire
to make an incurable dent in my hat must be excused。'
'Good； good！' said Gimli。 'I am glad that it was not you。'
Gandalf laughed again。 'Yes； my good Dwarf；' he said； 'it is a fort
not to be mistaken at all points。 Do I not know it only too well！ But； of
course； I never blamed you for your wele of me。 How could I do so； who
have so often counselled my friends to suspect even their own hands when
dealing with the Enemy。 Bless you； Gimli； son of Gluin！ Maybe you will see
us both together one day and judge between us！'
'But the hobbits！' Legolas broke in。 'We have e far to seek them；
and you seem to know where they are。 Where are they now？'
'With Treebeard and the Ents；' said Gandalf。
'The Ents！' exclaimed Aragorn。 'Then there is truth in the old legends
about the dwellers in the deep forests and the giant shepherds of the trees？
Are there still Ents in the world？ I thought they were only a memory of
ancient days； if indeed they were ever more than a legend of Rohan。'
'A legend of Rohan！' cried Legolas。 'Nay； every Elf in Wilderland has
sung songs of the old Onodrim and their long sorrow。 Yet even among us they
are only a memory。 If I were to meet one still walking in this world； then
indeed I should feel young again！ But Treebeard： that is only a rendering of
Fangorn into the mon Speech； yet you seem to speak of a person。 Who is
this Treebeard？'
'Ah！ now you are asking much；' said Gandalf。 'The little that I know of
his long slow story would make a tale for which we have no time now。
Treebeard is Fangorn； the guardian of the forest； he is the oldest of the
Ents； the oldest living thing that still walks beneath the Sun upon this
Middle…earth。 I hope indeed； Legolas； that you may yet meet him。 Merry and
Pippin have been fortunate： they met him here； even where we sit。 For he
came here two days ago and bore them away to his dwelling far off by the
roots of the mountains。 He often es here； especially when his mind is
uneasy； and rumours of the world outside trouble him。 I saw him four days
ago striding among the trees； and I think he saw me； for he paused； but I
did not speak； for I was heavy with thought； and weary after my struggle
with the Eye of Mordor； and he did not speak either； nor call my name。'
'Perhaps he also thought that you were Saruman；' said Gimli。 'But you
speak of him as if he was a friend。 I thought Fangorn was dangerous。'
'Dangerous！' cried Gandalf。 'And so am I； very dangerous： more
dangerous than anything you will ever meet； unless you are brought alive
before the seat of the Dark Lord。 And Aragorn is dangerous； and Legolas is
dangerous。 You are beset with dangers； Gimli son of Gluin； for you are
dangerous yourself； in your own fashion。 Certainly the forest of Fangorn is
perilous…not least to those that are too ready with their axes； and Fangorn
himself； he is perilous too； yet he is wise and kindly nonetheless。 But now
his long slow wrath is brimming over； and all the forest is filled with it。
The ing of the hobbits and the tidings that they brought have spilled it：
it will soon be running like a flood； but its tide is turned against Saruman
and the axes of Isengard。 A thing is about to happen which has not happened
since the Elder Days： the Ents are going to wake up and find that they are
strong。'
'What will they do？' asked Legolas in astonishment。
'I do not know；' said Gandalf。 'I do not think they know themselves。 I
wonder。' He fell silent； his head bowed in thought。
The others looked at him。 A gleam of sun through fleeting clouds fell
on his hands； which lay now upturned on his lap： they seemed to be filled
with light as a cup is with water。 At last he looked up and gazed straight
at the sun。
'The morning is wearing away；' he said。 'Soon we must go。'
'Do we go to find our friends and to see Treebeard？' asked Aragorn。
'No；' said Gandalf。 'That is not the road that you must take。 I have
spoken words of hope。 But only of hope。 Hope is not victory。 War is
upon us and all our friends； a war in which only the use of the Ring
could give us surety of victory。 It fills me with great sorrow and great
fear： for much shall be destroyed and all may be lost。 I am Gandalf；
Gandalf the White； but Black is mightier still。'
He rose and gazed out eastward； shading his eyes； as if he saw things
far away that none of them could see。 Then he shook his head。 'No；' he said
in a soft voice； 'it has gone beyond our reach。 Of that at least let us be
glad。 We can no longer be tempted to use the Ring。 We must go down to face a
peril near despair； yet that deadly peril is removed。'
He turned。 'e； Aragorn son of Arathorn！' he said。 'Do not regret
your choice in the valley of the Emyn Muil； nor call it a vain pursuit。 You
chose amid doubts the path that seemed right： the choice was just； and it
has been rewarded。 For so we have met in time； who otherwise might have met
too late。 But the quest of your panions is over。 Your next journey is
marked by your given word。 You must go to Edoras and seek out Thjoden in his
hall。 For you are needed。 The light of And畆il must now be uncovered in the
battle for which it has so long waited。 There is war in Rohan； and worse
evil： it goes ill with Thjoden。'
'Then are we not to see the merry young hobbits again？' said Legolas。
'I did not say so；' said Gandalf。 'Who knows？ Have patience。 Go where
you must go； and hope！ To Edoras！ I go thither also。'
'It is a long way for a man to walk； young or old；' said Aragorn。 'I
fear the battle will be over long ere I e there。'
'We shall see； we shall see；' said Gandalf。 'Will you e now with
me？'
'Yes； we will set out together；' said Aragorn。 'But I do not doubt that
you will e there before me； if you wish。' He rose and looked long at
Gandalf。 The ot