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he is a kingly man of high destiny。 And take fort in this； daughter； since fort you seem to
need in your grief for this guest。 It is said that when the Eorlingas came out of the North and passed
at length up the Snowbourn； seeking strong places of refuge in time of need； Brego and his son
Baldor climbed the Stair of the Hold and so came before the Door。 On the threshold sat an old man；
aged beyond guess of years； tall and kingly he had been； but now he was withered as an old stone。
Indeed for stone they took him； for he moved not； and he said no word； until they sought to pass
him by and enter。 And then a voice came out of him； as it were out of the ground； and to their
amaze it spoke in the western tongue： _The way is shut_。
'Then they halted and looked at him and saw that he lived still； but he did not look at them。 _The
way is shut_； his voice said again _It was made by those who are Dead； and the Dead keep it； until
the time es。 The way is shut。_
'_And when will that time be？_said Baldor。 But no answer did he ever get。 For the old man died
in that hour and fell upon his face； and no other tidings of the ancient dwellers in the mountains
have our folk ever learned。 Yet maybe at last the time foretold has e； and Aragorn may pass。'
'But how shall a man discover whether that time be e or no； save by daring the Door？' said
éomer。 'And that way I would not go though all the hosts of Mordor stood before me； and I were
alone and had no other refuge。 Alas that a fey mood should fall on a man so greathearted in this
hour of need！ Are there not evil things enough abroad without seeking them under the earth？ War is
at hand。'
He paused； for at that moment there was a noise outside； a man's voice crying the name of
Théoden； and the challenge of the guard。
Presently the captain of the Guard thrust aside the curtain。 'A man is here； lord；' he said； 'an
errand…rider of Gondor。 He wishes to e before you at once。'
'Let him e！' said Théoden。
A tall man entered； and Merry choked back a cry； for a moment it seemed to him that Boromir
was alive again and had returned。 Then he saw that it was not so； the man was a stranger； though as
like to Boromir as if he were one of his kin； tall and grey…eyed and proud。 He was clad as a rider
with a cloak of dark green over a coat of fine mail； on the front of his helm was wrought a small
silver star。 In his hand he bore a single arrow； black…feathered and barbed with steel； but the point
was painted red。
He sank on one knee and presented the arrow to Théoden。 'Hail Lord of the Rohirrim； friend of
Gondor！' he said。 'Hirgon I am； errand…rider of Denethor； who bring you this token of war。 Gondor
is in great need。 Often the Rohirrim have aided us； but now the Lord Denethor asks for all your
strength and all your speed； lest Gondor fall at last。'
'The Red Arrow！' said Théoden； holding it； as one who receives a summons long expected and
yet dreadful when it es。 His hand trembled。 'The Red Arrow has not been seen in the Mark in
all my years！ Has it indeed e to that？ And what does the Lord Denethor reckon that all my
strength and all my speed may be？'
'That is best known to yourself； lord；' said Hirgon。 'But ere long it may well e to pass that
Minas Tirith is surrounded； and unless you have the strength to break a siege of many powers； the
Lord Denethor bids me say that he judges that the strong arms of the Rohirrim would be better
within his walls than without。'
'But he knows that we are a people who fight rather upon horseback and in the open； and that we
are also a scattered people and time is needed for the gathering of our Riders。 Is it not true； Hirgon；
that the Lord of Minas Tirith knows more than he sets in his message？ For we are already at war； as
you may have seen； and you do not find us all unprepared。 Gandalf the Grey has been among us；
and even now we are mustering for battle in the East。'
'What the Lord Denethor may know or guess of all these things I cannot say；' answered Hirgon。
'But indeed our case is desperate。 My lord does not issue any mand to you； he begs you only to
remember old friendship and oaths long spoken； and for your own good to do all that you may。 It is
reported to us that many kings have ridden in from the East to the service of Mordor。 From the
North to the field of Dagorlad there is skirmish and rumour of war。 In the South the Haradrim are
moving； and fear has fallen on all our coastlands； so that little help will e to us thence。 Make
haste！ For it is before the walls of Minas Tirith that the doom of our time will be decided； and if the
tide be not stemmed there； then it will flow over all the fair fields of Rohan； and even in this Hold
among the hills there shall be no refuge。'
'Dark tidings；' said Théoden； 'yet not all unguessed。 But say to Denethor that even if Rohan itself
felt no peril； still we would e to his aid。 But we have suffered much loss in our battles with
Saruman the traitor； and we must still think of our frontier to the north and east； as his own tidings
make clear。 So great a power as the Dark Lord seems now to wield might well contain us in battle
before the City and yet strike with great force across the River away beyond the Gate of Kings。
'But we will speak no longer counsels of prudence。 We will e。 The weapontake was set for
the morrow。 When all is ordered we will set out。 Ten thousand spears I might have sent riding over
the plain to the dismay of your foes。 It will be less now； I fear； for I will not leave my strongholds
all unguarded。 Yet six thousands at the least shall ride behind me。 For say to Denethor that in this
hour the King of the Mark himself will e down to the land of Gondor； though maybe he will
not ride back。 But it is a long road； and man and beast must reach the end with strength to fight。 A
week it may be from tomorrow's morn ere you hear the cry of the Sons of Eorl ing from the
North。
'A week！' said Hirgon。 'If it must be so； it must。 But you are like to find only ruined walls in
seven days from now； unless other help unlooked…for es。 Still； you may at the least disturb the
Orcs and Swarthy Men from their feasting in the White Tower。'
'At the least we will do that；' said Théoden。 'But I myself am new…e from battle and long
journey； and I will now go to rest。 Tarry here this night。 Then you shall look on the muster of
Rohan and ride away the gladder for the sight； and the swifter for the rest。 In the morning counsels
are best； and night changes many thoughts。
With that the king stood up； and they all rose。 'Go now each to your rest。' he said； 'and sleep well。
And you； Master Meriadoc； I need no more tonight。 But be ready to my call as soon as the Sun is
risen。'
'I will be ready；' said Merry； 'even if you bid me ride with you on the Paths of the Dead。'
'Speak not words of omen！' said the king。 'For there may be more roads than one that could bear
that name。 But I did not say that I would bid you ride with me on any road。 Good night！'
'I won't be left behind； to be called for on return！' said M