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up and dismounted at his side； he drew his sword and stood face to face with
Aragorn； surveying him keenly； and not without wonder。 At length he spoke
again。
'At first I thought that you yourselves were Orcs；' he said； 'but now I
see that it is not so。 Indeed you know little of Orcs； if you go hunting
them in this fashion。 They were swift and well…armed； and they were many。
You would have changed from hunters to prey； if ever you had overtaken them。
But there is something strange about you； Strider。' He bent his clear bright
eyes again upon the Ranger。 'That is no name for a Man that you give。 And
strange too is your raiment。 Have you sprung out of the grass？ How did you
escape our sight？ Are you elvish folk？'
'No；' said Aragorn。 'One only of us is an Elf； Legolas from the
Woodland Realm in distant Mirkwood。 But we have passed through Lothlurien；
and the gifts and favour of the Lady go with us。'
The Rider looked at them with renewed wonder； but his eyes hardened。
'Then there is a Lady in the Golden Wood； as old tales tell！' he said。 'Few
escape her nets； they say。 These are strange days！ But if you have her
favour； then you also are net…weavers and sorcerers； maybe。' He turned a
cold glance suddenly upon Legolas and Gimli。 'Why do you not speak； silent
ones？' he demanded。
Gimli rose and planted his feet firmly apart： his hand gripped the
handle of his axe； and his dark eyes flashed。 'Give me your name；
horse…master； and I will give you mine； and more besides；' he said。
'As for that；' said the Rider； staring down at the Dwarf； 'the stranger
should declare himself first。 Yet I am named Jomer son of Jomund； and am
called the Third Marshal of Riddermark。'
'Then Jomer son of Jomund； Third Marshal of Riddermark； let Gimli the
Dwarf Gluin's son warn you against foolish words。 You speak evil of that
which is fair beyond the reach of your thought； and only little wit can
excuse you。'
Jomer's eyes blazed； and the Men of Rohan murmured angrily； and closed
in； advancing their spears。 'I would cut off your head； beard and all；
Master Dwarf； if it stood but a little higher from the ground ' said Jomer。
'He stands not alone；' said Legolas； bending his bow and fitting an
arrow with hands that moved quicker than sight。 'You would die before your
stroke fell。'
Jomer raised his sword； and things might have gone ill； but Aragorn
sprang between them； and raised his hand。 'Your pardon； Jomer！' he cried。
'When you know more you will understand why you have angered my panions。
We intend no evil to Rohan； nor to any of its folk； neither to man nor to
horse。 Will you not hear our tale before you strike？'
'I will；' said Jomer lowering his blade。 'But wanderers in the
Riddermark would be wise to be less haughty in these days of doubt。 First
tell me your right name。'
'First tell me whom you serve；' said Aragorn。 'Are you friend or foe of
Sauron； the Dark Lord of Mordor？'
'I serve only the Lord of the Mark； Thjoden King son of Thengel；'
answered Jomer。 'We do not serve the Power of the Black Land far away； but
neither are we yet at open war with him； and if you are fleeing from him；
then you had best leave this land。 There is trouble now on all our borders；
and we are threatened； but we desire only to be free； and to live as we have
lived； keeping our own； and serving no foreign lord； good or evil。 We
weled guests kindly in the better days； but in these times the unbidden
stranger finds us swift and hard。 e！ Who are you？ Whom do you serve？ At
whose mand do you hunt Orcs in our land？'
'I serve no man；' said Aragorn； 'but the servants of Sauron I pursue
into whatever land they may go。 There are few among mortal Men who know more
of Orcs； and I do not hunt them in this fashion out of choice。 The Orcs whom
we pursued took captive two of my friends。 In such need a man that has no
horse will go on foot； and he will not ask for leave to follow the trail。
Nor will he count the heads of the enemy save with a sword。 I am not
weaponless。'
Aragorn threw back his cloak。 The elven…sheath glittered as he grasped
it； and the bright blade of And畆il shone like a sudden flame as he swept it
out。 'Elendil！' he cried。 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn and am called
Elessar； the Elfstone； D畁adan； the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor。
Here is the Sword that was Broken and is forged again！ Will you aid me or
thwart me？ Choose swiftly！'
Gimli and Legolas looked at their panion in amazement； for they had
not seen him in this mood before。 He seemed to have grown in stature while
Jomer had shrunk； and in his living face they caught a brief vision of the
power and majesty of the kings of stone。 For a moment it seemed to the eyes
of Legolas that a white flame flickered on the brows of Aragorn like a
shining crown。
Jomer stepped back and a look of awe was in his face。 He cast down his
proud eyes。 'These are indeed strange days；' he muttered。 'Dreams and
legends spring to life out of the grass。
'Tell me； lord；' he said； 'what brings you here？ And what was the
meaning of the dark words？ Long has Boromir son of Denethor been gone
seeking an answer； and the horse that we lent him came back riderless。 What
doom do you bring out of the North？'
'The doom of choice；' said Aragorn。 'You may say this to Thjoden son of
Thengel： open war lies before him； with Sauron or against him。 None may live
now as they have lived； and few shall keep what they call their own。 But of
these great matters we will speak later。 If chance allows； I will e
myself to the king。 Now I am in great need； and I ask for help； or at least
for tidings。 You heard that we are pursuing an orc…host that carried off our
friends。 What can you tell us？'
'That you need not pursue them further；' said Jomer。 'The Orcs are
destroyed。'
'And our friends？'
'We found none but Orcs。'
'But that is strange indeed；' said Aragorn。 'Did you search the slain？
Were there no bodies other than those of orc…kind？ They would be small。 Only
children to your eyes； unshod but clad in grey。'
'There were no dwarves nor children；' said Jomer。 'We counted all the
slain and despoiled them； and then we piled the carcases and burned them； as
is our custom。 The ashes are smoking still。'
'We do not speak of dwarves or children；' said Gimli。 'Our friends were
hobbits。'
'Hobbits？' said Jomer。 'And what may they be？ It is a strange name。'
'A strange name for a strange folk；' said Gimli。 'But these were very
dear to us。 It seems that you have heard in Rohan of the words that troubled
Minas Tirith。 They spoke of the Halfling。 These hobbits are Halflings。'
'Halflings！' laughed the Rider that stood beside Jomer。 'Halflings！ But
they are only a little people in old songs and children's tales out of the
North。 Do we walk in