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they are only a little people in old songs and children's tales out of the
North。 Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight？'
'A man may do both；' said Aragorn。 'For not we but those who e after
will make the legends of our time。 The green earth； say you？ That is a
mighty matter of legend； though you tread it under the light of day！'
'Time is pressing；' said the Rider； not heeding Aragorn。 'We must
hasten south； lord。 Let us leave these wild folk to their fancies。 Or let us
bind them and take them to the king。'
'Peace； Jothain！' said Jomer in his own tongue。 'Leave me a while。 Tell
the jored to assemble on the path' and make ready to ride to the Entwade。'
Muttering Jothain retired； and spoke to the others。 Soon they drew off
and left Jomer alone with the three panions。
'All that you say is strange； Aragorn。' he said。 'Yet you speak the
truth； that is plain： the Men of the Mark do not lie； and therefore they are
not easily deceived。 But you have not told all。 Will you not now speak more
fully of your errand； so that I may judge what to do？'
'I set out from Imladris； as it is named in the rhyme； many weeks ago；'
answered Aragorn。 'With me went Boromir of Minas Tirith。 My errand was to go
to that city with the son of Denethor； to aid his folk in their war against
Sauron。 But the pany that I journeyed with had other business。 Of that I
cannot speak now。 Gandalf the Grey was our leader。'
'Gandalf！' Jomer exclaimed。 'Gandalf Greyhame is known in the Mark： but
his name； I warn you； is no longer a password to the king's favour。 He has
been a guest in the land many times in the memory of men； ing as he will；
after a season； or after many years。 He is ever the herald of strange
events： a bringer of evil； some now say。
'Indeed since his last ing in the summer all things have gone amiss。
At that time our trouble with Saruman began。 Until then we counted Saruman
our friend； hut Gandalf came then and warned us that sudden war was
preparing in Isengard。 He said that he himself had been a prisoner in
Orthanc and had hardly escaped； and he begged for help。 But Thjoden would
not listen to him； and he went away。 Speak not the name of Gandalf loudly in
Thjoden's ears！ He is wroth。 For Gandalf took the horse that is called
Shadowfax； the most precious of all the king's steeds； chief of the Mearas；
which only the Lord of the Mark may ride。 For the sire of their race was the
great horse of Eorl that knew the speech of Men。 Seven nights ago Shadowfax
returned； but the king's anger is not less； for now the horse is wild and
will let no man handle him。'
'Then Shadowfax has found his way alone from the far North；' said
Aragorn； 'for it was there that he and Gandalf parted。 But alas！ Gandalf
will ride no longer。 He fell into darkness in the Mines of Moria and es
not again。'
'That is heavy tidings；' said Jomer。 'At least to me； and to many；
though not to all； as you may find； if you e to the king。'
'It is tidings more grievous than any in this land can understand；
though it may touch them sorely ere the year is much older；' said Aragorn。
'But when the great fall； the less must lead。 My part it has been to guide
our pany on the long road from Moria。 Through Lurien we came of which
it were well that you should learn the truth ere you speak of it again
and thence down the leagues of the Great River to the falls of Rauros。 There
Boromir was slain by the same Orcs whom you destroyed。'
'Your news is all of woe！' cried Jomer in dismay。 'Great harm is this
death to Minas Tirith； and to us all。 That was a worthy man！ All spoke his
praise。 He came seldom to the Mark； for he was ever in the wars on the
East…borders； but I have seen him。 More like to the swift sons of Eorl than
to the grave Men of Gondor he seemed to me； and likely to prove a great
captain of his people when his time came。 But we have had no word of this
grief out of Gondor。 When did he fall？'
'It is now the fourth day since he was slain；' answered Aragorn； 'and
since the evening of that day we have journeyed from the shadow of Tol
Brandir。'
'On foot？' cried Jomer。
'Yes； even as you see us。'
Wide wonder came into Jomer's eyes。 'Strider is too poor a name； son of
Arathorn；' he said。 'Wingfoot I name you。 This deed of the three friends
should be sung in many a hall。 Forty leagues and five you have measured ere
the fourth day is ended！ Hardy is the race of Elendil！
'But now； lord； what would you have me do！ I must return in haste to
Thjoden。 I spoke warily before my men。 It is true that we are not yet at
open war with the Black Land； and there are some； close to the king's ear；
that speak craven counsels； but war is ing。 We shall not forsake our old
alliance with Gondor； and while they fight we shall aid them： so say I and
all who hold with me。 The East…mark is my charge。 the ward of the Third
Marshal； and I have removed all our herds and herdfolk； withdrawing them
beyond Entwash； and leaving none here but guards and swift scouts。'
'Then you do not pay tribute to Sauron？' said Gimli。
'We do not and we never have。' said Jomer with a flash of his eyes；
'though it es to my ears that that lie has been told。 Some years ago the
Lord of the Black Land wished to purchase horses of us at great price； but
we refused him。 for he puts beasts to evil use。 Then he sent plundering
Orcs； and they carry off what they can； choosing always the black horses：
few of these are now left。 For that reason our feud with the Orcs is bitter。
'But at this time our chief concern is with Saruman。 He has claimed
lordship over all this land； and there has been war between us for many
months。 He has taken Orcs into his service； and Wolf…riders； and evil Men；
and he has closed the Gap against us； so that we are likely to be beset both
east and west。
'It is ill dealing with such a foe： he is a wizard both cunning and
dwimmer…crafty； having many guises。 He walks here and there； they say； as an
old man hooded and cloaked； very like to Gandalf； as many now recall。 His
spies slip through every net； and his birds of ill omen are abroad in the
sky。 I do not know how it will all end； and my heart misgives me； for it
seems to me that his friends do not all dwell in Isengard。 But if you e
to the king's house； you shall see for yourself。 Will you not e？ Do I
hope in vain that you have been sent to me for a help in doubt and need？'
'I will e when I may；' said Aragorn。
'e now！' said Jomer。 'The Heir of Elendil would be a strength indeed
to the Sons of Eorl in this evil tide。 There is battle even now upon the
Westemnet； and I fear that it may go ill for us。
'Indeed in this riding north I went without the king's leave； for in my
absence his house is left with little guard。 But scouts warned me of the
orc…host ing down out of