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has yet to match your deed。 But in truth all now are in like danger。 Though it may be our part to
find bitter end before the Gate of Mordor； if we do so； then you will e also to a last stand； either
here or wherever the black tide overtakes you。 Farewell！'
And so despondently Merry now stood and watched the mustering of the army。 Bergil was with
him； and he also was downcast； for his father was to march leading a pany of the Men of the
City： he could not rejoin the Guard until his case was judged。 In that same pany Pippin was
also to go； as a soldier of Gondor。 Merry could see him not far off； a small but upright figure
among the tall men of Minas Tirith。
At last the trumpets rang and the army began to move。 Troop by troop； and pany by
pany； they wheeled and went off eastward。 And long after they had passed away out of sight
down the great road to the Causeway； Merry stood there。 The last glint of the morning sun on spear
and helm twinkled and was lost； and still he remained with bowed head and heavy heart； feeling
friendless and alone。 Everyone that he cared for had gone away into the gloom that hung over the
distant eastern sky； and little hope at all was left in his heart that he would ever see any of them
again。
As if recalled by his mood of despair； the pain in his arm returned； and he felt weak and old； and
the sunlight seemed thin。 He was roused by the touch of Bergil's hand。
'e； Master Perian！' said the lad。 'You are still in pain； I see。 I will help you back to the
Healers。 But do not fear！ They will e back。 The Men of Minas Tirith will never be overe。
And now they have the Lord Elfstone； and Beregond of the Guard too。'
Ere noon the army came to Osgiliath。 There all the workers and craftsmen that could be spared
were busy。 Some were strengthening the ferries and boat…bridges that the enemy had made and in
part destroyed when they fled； some gathered stores and booty； and others on the eastern side
across the River were throwing up hasty works of defence。
The vanguard passed on through the ruins of Old Gondor； and over the wide River； and on up
the long straight road that in the high days had been made to run from the fair Tower of the Sun to
the tall Tower of the Moon； which now was Minas Morgul in its accursed vale。 Five miles beyond
Osgiliath they halted； ending their first day's march。
But the horsemen pressed on and ere evening they came to the Cross…roads and the great ring of
trees； and all was silent。 No sign of any enemy had they seen； no cry or call had been heard； no
shaft had sped from rock or thicket by the way； yet ever as they went forward they felt the
watchfulness of the land increase。 Tree and stone； blade and leaf were listening。 The darkness had
been dispelled； and far away westward sunset was on the Vale of Anduin； and the white peaks of
the mountains blushed in the blue air； but a shadow and a gloom brooded upon the Ephel Dúath。
Then Aragorn set trumpeters at each of the four roads that ran into the ring of trees； and they
blew a great fanfare； and the heralds cried aloud： 'The Lords of Gondor have returned and all this
land that is theirs they take back。' The hideous orc…head that was set upon the carven figure was
cast down and broken in pieces； and the old king's head was raised and set in its place once more；
still crowned with white and golden flowers： and men laboured to wash and pare away all the foul
scrawls that orcs had put upon the stone。
Now in their debate some had counselled that Minas Morgul should first be assailed； and if they
might take it； it should be utterly destroyed。 'And； maybe；' said Imrahil； 'the road that leads thence
to the pass above will prove an easier way of assault upon the Dark Lord than his northern gate。'
But against this Gandalf had spoken urgently； because of the evil that dwelt in the valley； where
the minds of living men would turn to madness and horror； and because also of the news that
Faramir had brought。 For if the Ring…bearer had indeed attempted that way； then above all they
should not draw the Eye of Mordor thither。 So the next day when the main host came up； they set a
strong guard upon the Cross…roads to make some defence； if Mordor should send a force over the
Morgul Pass； or should bring more men up from the South。 For that guard they chose mostly
archers who knew the ways of Ithilien and would lie hid in the woods and slopes about the meeting
of the ways。 But Gandalf and Aragorn rode with the vanguard to the entrance of Morgul Vale and
looked on the evil city。
It was dark and lifeless； for the Orcs and lesser creatures of Mordor that had dwelt there had
been destroyed in battle； and the Nazg？l were abroad。 Yet the air of the valley was heavy with fear
and enmity。 Then they broke the evil bridge and set red flames in the noisome fields and departed。
The day after； being the third day since they set out from Minas Tirith； the army began its
northward march along the road。 It was some hundred miles by that way from the Cross…roads to
the Morannon； and what might befall them before they came so far none knew They went openly
but heedfully； with mounted scouts before them on the road； and others on foot upon either side；
especially on the eastward flank； for there lay dark thickets； and a tumbled land of rocky ghylls and
crags； behind which the long grim slopes of the Ephel Dúath clambered up。 The weather of the
world remained fair and the wind held in the west； but nothing could waft away the glooms and the
sad mists that clung about the Mountains of Shadow； and behind them at whiles great smokes
would arise and hover in the upper winds。
Ever and anon Gandalf let blow the trumpets； and the heralds would cry： 〃The Lords of Gondor
are e！ Let all leave this land or yield them up！' But Imrahil said： 'Say not _The Lords of
Gondor_。 Say _The King Elessar_。 For that is true； even though he has not yet sat upon the throne；
and it will give the Enemy more thought； if the heralds use that name。' And thereafter thrice a day
the heralds proclaimed the ing of the King Elessar。 But none answered the challenge。
Nonetheless； though they marched in seeming peace； the hearts of all the army； from the highest
to the lowest； were downcast； and with every mile that they went north foreboding of evil grew
heavier on them。 It was near the end of the second day of their march from the Cross…roads that
they first met any offer of battle。 For a strong force of Orcs and Easterlings attempted to take their
leading panies in an ambush； and that was in the very place where Faramir had waylaid the
men of Harad； and the road went in a deep cutting through an out…thrust of the eastward hills。 But
the Captains of the West were well warned by their scouts； skilled men from Henneth Ann？n led by
Mablung； and so the ambush was itself trapped。 For horsemen went wide about westward and came
up on the flank of the enemy and from behind； and they were destroyed or driven east into the hills。
But the victory did little to enhearten the captains。 'It is but a feint；' said Arago