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can force an entrance against determined men。 They may hold out long。'
'But the Orcs have brought a devilry from Orthanc；' said Aragorn。 'They
have a blasting fire； and with it they took the Wall。 If they cannot e in
the caves； they may seal up those that are inside。 But now we must turn all
our thoughts to our own defence。'
'I fret in this prison；' said Thjoden。 'If I could have set a spear in
rest； riding before my men upon the field； maybe I could have felt again the
joy of battle； and so ended。 But I serve little purpose here。'
'Here at least you are guarded in the strongest fastness of the Mark；'
said Aragorn。 'More hope we have to defend you in the Hornburg than in
Edoras； or even at Dunharrow in the mountains。'
'It is said that the Hornburg has never fallen to assault；' said
Thjoden； 'but now my heart is doubtful。 The world changes； and all that once
was strong now proves unsure。 How shall any tower withstand such numbers and
such reckless hate？ Had I known that the strength of Isengard was grown so
great； maybe l should not so rashly have ridden forth to meet it； for all
the arts of Gandalf。 His counsel seems not now so good as it did under the
morning sun。'
'Do not judge the counsel of Gandalf； until all is over； lord；' said
Aragorn。
'The end will not be long；' said the king。 'But I will not end here；
taken like an old badger in a trap。 Snowmane and Hasufel and the horses of
my guard are in the inner court。 When dawn es； I will bid men sound
Helm's horn； and I will ride forth。 Will you ride with me then； son of
Arathorn？ Maybe we shall cleave a road； or make such an end as will be worth
a song…if any be left to sing of us hereafter。'
'I will ride with you；' said Aragorn。
Taking his leave； he returned to the walls； and passed round all their
circuit； enheartening the men； and lending aid wherever the assault was hot。
Legolas went with him。 Blasts of fire leaped up from below shaking the
stones。 Grappling…hooks were hurled； and ladders raised。 Again and again the
Orcs gained the summit of the outer wall； and again the defenders cast them
down。
At last Aragorn stood above the great gates； heedless of the darts of
the enemy。 As he looked forth he saw the eastern sky grow pale。 Then he
raised his empty hand； palm outward in token of parley。
The Orcs yelled and jeered。 'e down！ e down！' they cried。 'If you
wish to speak to us； e down！ Bring out your king！ We are the fighting
Uruk…hai。 We will fetch him from his hole； if he does not e。 Bring out
your skulking king！'
'The king stays or es at his own will；' said Aragorn。
'Then what are you doing here？' they answered。 'Why do you look out？ Do
you wish to see the greatness of our army？ We are the fighting Uruk…hai。'
'I looked out to see the dawn；' said Aragorn。
'What of the dawn？' they jeered。 'We are the Uruk…hai： we do not stop
the fight for night or day； for fair weather or for storm。 We e to kill；
by sun or moon。 What of the dawn？'
'None knows what the new day shall bring him；' said Aragorn。 'Get you
gone； ere it turn to your evil。'
'Get down or we will shoot you from the wall；' they cried。 'This is no
parley。 You have nothing to say。'
'I have still this to say；' answered Aragorn。 'No enemy has yet taken
the Hornburg。 Depart； or not one of you will be spared。 Not one will be left
alive to take back tidings to the North。 You do not know your peril。'
So great a power and royalty was revealed in Aragorn； as he stood there
alone above the ruined gates before the host of his enemies； that many of
the wild men paused； and looked back over their shoulders to the valley； and
some looked up doubtfully at the sky。 But the Orcs laughed with loud voices；
and a hail of darts and arrows whistled over the wall； as Aragorn leaped
down。
There was a roar and a blast of fire。 The archway of the gate above
which he had stood a moment before crumbled and crashed in smoke and dust。
The barricade was scattered as if by a thunderbolt。 Aragorn ran to the
king's tower。
But even as the gate fell； and the Orcs about it yelled； preparing to
charge； a murmur arose behind them。 like a wind in the distance； and it grew
to a clamour of many voices crying strange news in the dawn。 The Orcs upon
the Rock； hearing the rumour of dismay； wavered and looked back。 And then；
sudden and terrible； from the tower above； the sound of the great horn of
Helm rang out。
All that heard that sound trembled。 Many of the Orcs cast themselves on
their faces and covered their ears with their claws。 Back from the Deep the
echoes came； blast upon blast； as if on every cliff and hill a mighty herald
stood。 But on the walls men looked up； listening with wonder； for the echoes
did not die。 Ever the horn…blasts wound on among the hills； nearer now and
louder they answered one to another； blowing fierce and free。
'Helm！ Helm！' the Riders shouted。 'Helm is arisen and es back to
war。 Helm for Thjoden King！'
And with that shout the king came。 His horse was white as snow； golden
was his shield； and his spear was long。 At his right hand was Aragorn；
Elendil's heir； behind him rode the lords of the House of Eorl the Young。
Light sprang in the sky。 Night departed。
'Forth Eorlingas！' With a cry and a great noise they charged。 Down from
the gates they roared； over the causeway they swept； and they drove through
the hosts of Isengard as a wind among grass。 Behind them from the Deep came
the stern cries of' men issuing from the caves； driving forth the enemy。 Out
poured all the men that were left upon the Rock。 And ever the sound of
blowing horns echoed in the hills。
On they rode； the king and his panions。 Captains and champions fell
or fled before them。 Neither orc nor man withstood them。 Their backs were to
the swords and spears of the Riders and their faces to the valley。 They
cried and wailed； for fear and great wonder had e upon them with the
rising of the day。
So King Thjoden rode from Helm's Gate and clove his path to the great
Dike。 There the pany halted。 Light grew bright about them。 Shafts of the
sun flared above the eastern hills and glimmered on their spears。 But they
sat silent on their horses； and they gazed down upon the Deeping…coomb。
The land had changed。 Where before the green dale had lain； its grassy
slopes lapping the ever…mounting hills； there now a forest loomed。 Great
trees； bare and silent； stood； rank on rank； with tangled bough and hoary
head； their twisted roots were buried in the long green grass。 Darkness was
under them。 Between the Dike and the eaves of that nameless wood only two
open furlongs lay。 There now cowered the proud hosts of Saruman； in terror
of the king and in terror of the trees。 They streamed down from Helm's Gate
until all above the Dike was empty of them； but below it they were packed
like swarming flies。 V