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they departed； and came at length to Helm's Deep； and there they rested two days。 Then Legolas
repaid his promise to Gimli and went with him to the Glittering Caves； and when they returned he
was silent； and would say only that Gimli alone could find fit words to speak of them。 'And never
before has a Dwarf claimed a victory over an Elf in a contest of words；' said he。 'Now therefore let
us go to Fangorn and set the score right！'
From Deeping…coomb they rode to Isengard； and saw how the Ents had busied themselves。 All
the stone…circle had been thrown down and removed； and the land within was made into a garden
filled with orchards and trees； and a stream ran through it； but in the midst of all there was a lake of
clear water； and out of it the Tower of Orthanc rose still； tall and impregnable； and its black rock
was mirrored in the pool。
For a while the travellers sat where once the old gates of Isengard had stood； and there were now
two tall trees like sentinels at the beginning of a green…bordered path that ran towards Orthanc； and
they looked in wonder at the work that had been done； but no living thing could they see far or near。
But presently they heard a voice calling _hoom…hom_； _hoom…hom_； and there came Treebeard
striding down the path to greet them with Quickbeam at his side。
'Wele to the Treegarth of Orthanc！' he said。 'I knew that you were ing； but I was at work
up the valley； there is much still to be done。 But you have not been idle either away in the south and
the east； I hear； and all that I hear is good； very good。' Then Treebeard praised all their deeds； of
which he seemed to have full knowledge； and at last he stopped and looked long at Gandalf。
'Well； e now！' he said。 'You have proved mightiest； and all your labours have gone well。
Where now would you be going？ And why do you e here？'
'To see how your work goes； my friend；' said Gandalf； 'and to thank you for your aid in all that
has been achieved。'
_'Hoom_； well； that is fair enough；' said Treebeard； 'for to be sure Ents have played their part。
And not only in dealing with that； _hoom_； that accursed tree…slayer that dwelt here。 For there was
a great inrush of those； _burárum_； those evileyed – blackhanded – bowlegged – flinthearted –
clawfingered – foulbellied – bloodthirsty； _morimaite – sincahonda_； _hoom_； well； since you are
hasty folk and their full name is as long as years of torment； those vermin of orcs； and they came
over the River and down from the North and all round the wood of Laurelindórenan； which they
could not get into； thanks to the Great ones who are here。' He bowed to the Lord and Lady of
Lórien。
'And these same foul creatures were more than surprised to meet us out on the Wold； for they
had not heard of us before； though that might be said also of better folk。 And not many will
remember us； for not many escaped us alive； and the River had most of those。 But it was well for
you； for if they had not met us； then the king of the grassland would not have ridden far； and if he
had there would have been no home to return to。'
'We know it well；' said Aragorn； 'and never shall it be forgotten in Minas Tirith or in Edoras。'
'_Never_ is too long a word even for me；' said Treebeard。 'Not while your kingdoms last； you
mean； but they will have to last long indeed to seem long to Ents。'
'The New Age begins；' said Gandalf； 'and in this age it may well prove that the kingdoms of Men
shall outlast you； Fangorn my friend。 But now e tell me： what of the task that I set you？ How is
Saruman？ Is he not weary of Orthanc yet？ For I do not suppose that he will think you have
improved the view from his windows。'
Treebeard gave Gandalf a long look； a most cunning look； Merry thought。 'Ah！' he said。 'I
thought you would e to that。 Weary of Orthanc？ Very weary at last； but not so weary of his
tower as he was weary of my voice。 _Hoom_！ I gave him some long tales； or at least what might be
thought long in your speech。'
'Then why did he stay to listen？ Did you go into Orthanc？' asked Gandalf。
_'Hoom_； no； not into Orthanc！' said Treebeard。 'But he came to his window and listened；
because he could not get news in any other way； and though he hated the news； he was greedy to
have it； and I saw that he heard it all。 But I added a great many things to the news that it was good
for him to think of。 He grew very weary。 He always was hasty。 That was his ruin。'
'l observe； my good Fangorn；' said Gandalf； 'that with great care you say _dwelt_； _was_；
_grew_。 What about _is_？ Is he dead？'
'No； not dead； so far as I know；' said Treebeard。 'But he is gone。 Yes； he is gone seven days。 I let
him go。 There was little left of him when he crawled out； and as for that worm…creature of his； he
was like a pale shadow。 Now do not tell me； Gandalf； that I promised to keep him safe； for I know
it。 But things have changed since then。 And I kept him until he was safe； safe from doing any more
harm。 You should know that above all I hate the caging of live things； and I will not keep even such
creatures as these caged beyond great need。 A snake without fangs may crawl where he will。'
'You may be right；' said Gandalf； 'but this snake had still one tooth left； I think。 He had the
poison of his voice； and I guess that he persuaded you； even you Treebeard； knowing the soft spot
in your heart。 Well； he is gone； and there is no more to be said。 But the Tower of Orthanc now goes
back to the King； to whom it belongs。 Though maybe he will not need it。'
'That will be seen later；' said Aragorn。 'But I will give to Ents all this valley to do with as they
will； so long as they keep a watch upon Orthanc and see that none enter it without my leave。'
'It is locked；' said Treebeard。 'I made Saruman lock it and give me the keys。 Quickbeam has
them。'
Quickbeam bowed like a tree bending in the wind and handed to Aragorn two great black keys
of intricate shape； joined by a ring of steel。 'Now I thank you once more；' said Aragorn； 'and I bid
you farewell。 May your forest grow again in peace。 When this valley is filled there is room and to
spare west of the mountains； where once you walked long ago。'
Treebeard's face became sad。 'Forests may grow；' he said。 'Woods may spread。 But not Ents。
There are no Entings。'
'Yet maybe there is now more hope in your search；' said Aragorn。 'Lands will lie open to you
eastward that have long been closed。'
But Treebeard shook his head and said： 'It is far to go。 And there are too many Men there in
these days。 But I am forgetting my manners！ Will you stay here and rest a while？ And maybe there
are some that would be pleased to pass through Fangorn Forest and so shorten their road home？' He
looked at Celeborn and Galadriel。
But all save Legolas said that they must now take their leave and depart； either south or west。
'e； Gimli！' said Legolas。 'Now by Fangorn's leave I will visit the deep places of the Entwood
and see such trees as are nowhere else to be found in Middle…earth。 You shall e with me and
keep your word； and thu