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rested also。 But the others； all that were not hurt or wounded； began a
great labour； for many had fallen in the battle and lay dead upon the field
or in the Deep。
No Orcs remained alive； their bodies were uncounted。 But a great many
of the hillmen had given themselves up； and they were afraid； and cried for
mercy。
The Men of the Mark took their weapons from them； and set them to work。
'Help now to repair the evil in which you have joined；' said
Erkenbrand； 'and afterwards you shall take an oath never again to pass the
Fords of Isen in arms； nor to march with the enemies of Men； and then you
shall go free back to your land。 For you have been deluded by Saruman。 Many
of you have got death as the reward of your trust in him； but had you
conquered； little better would your wages have been。'
The men of Dunland were amazed； for Saruman had told them that the men
of Rohan were cruel and burned their captives alive。
In the midst of the field before the Hornburg two mounds were raised；
and beneath them were laid all the Riders of the Mark who fell in the
defence； those of the East Dales upon one side； and those of Westfold upon
the other。 In a_ grave alone under the shadow of the Hornburg lay Hbma；
captain of the King's guard。 He fell before the Gate。
The Orcs were piled in great heaps； away from the mounds of Men； not
far from the eaves of the forest。 And the people were troubled in their
minds； for the heaps of carrion were too great for burial or for burning。
They had little wood for firing； and none would have dared to take an axe to
the strange trees； even if Gandalf had not warned them to hurt neither bark
nor bough at their great peril。
'Let the Orcs lie；' said Gandalf。 'The morning may bring new counsel。'
In the afternoon the King's pany prepared to depart。 The work of
burial was then but beginning； and Thjoden mourned for the loss of Hbma； his
captain； and cast the first earth upon his grave。 'Great injury indeed has
Saruman done to me and all this land；' he said； 'and I will remember it；
when we meet。'
The sun was already drawing near the hills upon the west of the Coomb；
when at last Thjoden and Gandalf and their panions rode down from the
Dike。 Behind them were gathered a great host； both of the Riders and of the
people of Westfold； old and young； women and children； who had e out from
the caves。 A song of victory they sang with clear voices； and then they fell
silent； wondering what would chance； for their eyes were on the trees and
they feared them。
The Riders came to the wood； and they halted； horse and man； they were
unwilling to pass in。 The trees were grey and menacing； and a shadow or a
mist was about them。 The ends of their long sweeping boughs hung down like
searching fingers； their roots stood up from the ground like the limbs of
strange monsters； and dark caverns opened beneath them。 But Gandalf went
forward； leading the pany； and where the road from the Hornburg met the
trees they saw now an opening like an arched gate under mighty boughs； and
through it Gandalf passed； and they followed him。 Then to their amazement
they found that the road ran on； and the Deeping…stream beside it； and the
sky was open above and full of golden light。 But on either side the great
aisles of the wood were already wrapped in dusk； stretching away into
impenetrable shadows； and there they heard the creaking and groaning of
boughs； and far cries； and a rumour of wordless voices； murmuring angrily。
No Orc or other living creature could be seen。
Legolas and Gimli were now riding together upon one horse； and they
kept close beside Gandalf； for Gimli was afraid of the wood。
'It is hot in here；' said Legolas to Gandalf。 'I feel a great wrath
about me。 Do you not feel the air throb in your ears？'
'Yes；' said Gandalf。
'What has bee of the miserable Orcs？' said Legolas。
'That； I think； no one will ever know；' said Gandalf。
They rode in silence for a while； but Legolas was ever glancing from
side to side； and would often have halted to listen to the sounds of the
wood； if Gimli had allowed it。
'These are the strangest trees that ever I saw；' he said； 'and I have
seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age。 I wish that there were
leisure now to walk among them： they have voices； and in time I might e
to understand their thought。'
'No； no！' said Gimli。 'Let us leave them！ I guess their thought
already： hatred of all that go on two legs； and their speech is of crushing
and strangling。'
'Not of all that go on two legs；' said Legolas。 'There I think you are
wrong。 It is Orcs that they hate。 For they do not belong here and know
little of Elves and Men。 Far away are the valleys where they sprang。 From
the deep dales of Fangorn； Gimli； that is whence they e； I guess。'
'Then that is the most perilous wood in Middle…earth；' said Gimli。 'I
should be grateful for the part they have played； but I do not love them。
You may think them wonderful； but I have seen a greater wonder in this land；
more beautiful than any grove or glade that ever grew： my heart is still
full of ft。 'Strange are the ways of Men； Legolas！ Here they have one of the
marvels of the Northern World； and what do they say of it？ Caves； they say！
Caves！ Holes to fly to in time of war； to store fodder in！ My good Legolas；
do you know that the caverns of Helm's Deep are vast and beautiful？ There
would be an endless pilgrimage of Dwarves； merely to gaze at them； if such
things were known to be。 Aye indeed； they would pay pure gold for a brief
glance！'
'And I would give gold to be excused；' said Legolas； 'and double to be
let out； if I strayed in！'
'You have not seen； so I forgive your jest；' said Gimli。 'But you speak
like a fool。 Do you think those halls are fair； where your King dwells under
the hill in Mirkwood； and Dwarves helped in their making long ago？ They are
but hovels pared with the caverns I have seen here： immeasurable halls；
filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools； as fair
as Kheled…zvram in the starlight。
'And； Legolas； when the torches are kindled and men walk on the sandy
floors under the echoing domes； ah！ then； Legolas； gems and crystals and
veins of precious ore glint in the polished walls； and the light glows
through folded marbles； shell…like； translucent as the living hands of Queen
Galadriel。 There are columns of white and saffron and dawn…rose； Legolas；
fluted and twisted into dreamlike forms； they spring up from many…coloured
floors to meet the glistening pendants of the roof： wings； ropes； curtains
fine as frozen clouds； spears； banners； pinnacles of suspended palaces！
Still lakes mirror them： a glimmering world looks up from dark pools covered
with clear glass； cities。 such as the mind of Durin could scarce have