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I won only by a single orc。 e and see how it was！ And there are caves； Merry； caves of wonder！
Shall we visit them； Legolas； do you think？'
'Nay！ There is no time；' said the Elf。 'Do not spoil the wonder with haste！ I have given you my
word to return hither with you； if a day of peace and freedom es again。 But it is now near to
noon； and at that hour we eat； and then set out again； I hear。'
Merry got up and yawned。 His few hours' sleep had not been nearly enough； he was tired and
rather dismal。 He missed Pippin； and felt that he was only a burden； while everybody was making
plans for speed in a business that he did not fully understand。 'Where is Aragorn？' he asked。
'In a high chamber of the Burg；' said Legolas。 'He has neither rested nor slept； I think。 He went
thither some hours ago； saying that he must take thought； and only his kinsman； Halbarad； went
with him； but some dark doubt or care sits on him。'
'They are a strange pany； these newers；' said Gimli。 'Stout men and lordly they are； and
the Riders of Rohan look almost as boys beside them； for they are grim men of face； worn like
weathered rocks for the most part； even as Aragorn himself； and they are silent。'
'But even as Aragorn they are courteous； if they break their silence。' said Legolas。 'And have you
marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir？ Less sombre is their gear than the others'； and they are
fair and gallant as Elven…lords； and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell。'
'Why have they e？ Have you heard？' asked Merry。 He had now dressed； and he flung his
grey cloak about his shoulders； and the three passed out together towards the ruined gate of the
Burg。
'They answered a summons； as you heard；' said Gimli。 'Word came to Rivendell； they say：
_Aragorn has need of his kindred。 Let the Dúnedain ride to him in Rohan！_ But whence this
message came they are now in doubt。 Gandalf sent it； I would guess。'
'Nay； Galadriel；' said Legolas。 'Did she not speak through Gandalf of the ride of the Grey
pany from the North？'
'Yes； you have it；' said Gimli。 'The Lady of the Wood！ She read many hearts and desires。 Now
why did not we wish for some of our own kinsfolk； Legolas？'
Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east； and his fair face
was troubled。 'I do not think that any would e；' he answered。 'They have no need to ride to war；
war already marches on their own lands。'
For a while the three panions walked together； speaking of this and that turn of the battle；
and they went down from the broken gate； and passed the mounds of the fallen on the greensward
beside the road； until they stood on Helm's Dike and looked into the Coomb。 The Death Down
already stood there； black and tall and stony； and the great trampling and scoring of the grass by the
Huorns could be plainly seen。 The Dunlendings and many men of the garrison of the Burg were at
work on the Dike or in the fields and about the battered walls behind； yet all seemed strangely quiet：
a weary valley resting after a great storm。 Soon they turned back and went to the midday meal in
the hall of the Burg。
The king was already there； and as soon as they entered he called for Merry and had a seat set
for him at his side。 'It is not as I would have it；' said Théoden； 'for this is little like my fair house in
Edoras。 And your friend is gone； who should also be here。 But it may be long ere we sit； you and I；
at the high table in Meduseld； there will be no time for feasting when I return thither。 But e
now！ Eat and drink； and let us speak together while we may。 And then you shall ride with me。'
'May I？' said Merry； surprised and delighted。 'That would be splendid！' He had never felt more
grateful for any kindness in words。 'I am afraid I am only in everybody's way；' he stammered； 'but I
should like to do anything I could； you know。'
'I doubt it not；' said the king。 'I have had a good hill…pony made ready for you。 He will bear you
as swift as any horse by the roads that we shall take。 For I will ride from the Burg by mountain
paths； not by the plain； and so e to Edoras by way of Dunharrow where the Lady éowyn awaits
me。 You shall be my esquire； if you will。 Is there gear of war in this place； éomer； that my sword…
thain could use？'
'There are no great weapon…hoards here； lord。' answered éomer。 'Maybe a light helm might be
found to fit him； but we have no mail or sword for one of his stature。'
'I have a sword；' said Merry； climbing from his seat； and drawing from its black sheath his small
bright blade。 Filled suddenly with love for this old man； he knelt on one knee； and took his hand
and kissed it。 'May I lay the sword of Meriadoc of the Shire on your lap Théoden King？' he cried。
'Receive my service； if you will！'
'Gladly will I take it；' said the king； and laying his long old hands upon the brown hair of the
hobbit； he blessed him。 'Rise now； Meriadoc； esquire of Rohan of the household of Meduseld！' he
said。 'Take your sword and bear it unto good fortune！'
'As a father you shall be to me；' said Merry。
'For a little while；' said Théoden。
They talked then together as they ate； until presently éomer spoke。 'It is near the hour that we set
for our going； lord；' he said。 'Shall I bid men sound the horns？ But where is Aragorn？ His place is
empty and he has not eaten。'
'We will make ready to ride；' said Théoden； 'but let word be sent to the Lord Aragorn that the
hour is nigh。'
The king with his guard and Merry at his side passed down from the gate of the Burg to where
the Riders were assembling on the green。 Many were already mounted。 It would be a great
pany； for the king was leaving only a small garrison in the Burg； and all who could be spared
were riding to the weapontake at Edoras。 A thousand spears had indeed already ridden away at
night； but still there would be some five hundred more to go with the king； for the most part men
from the fields and dales of Westfold。
A little apart the Rangers sat； silent； in an ordered pany； armed with spear and bow and
sword。 They were clad in cloaks of dark grey； and their hoods were cast now over helm and head。
Their horses were strong and of proud bearing； but rough…haired； and one stood there without a
rider； Aragorn's own horse that they had brought from the North； Roheryn was his name。 There was
no gleam of stone or gold； nor any fair thing in all their gear and harness： nor did their riders bear
any badge or token； save only that each cloak was pinned upon the left shoulder by a brooch of
silver shaped like a rayed star。
The king mounted his horse； Snowmane； and Merry sat beside him on his pony： Stybba was his
name。 Presently éomer came out from the gate； and with him was Aragorn； and Halbarad bearing
the great staff close…furled in black； and two tall men； neither young nor old So much alike were
they； the sons of Elrond； that few could tell them apart： dark…haired； grey…eyed； and their faces
elven…fair； clad alike in bright mail beneath cloaks of silver…grey。 Behind