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and see such trees as are nowhere else to be found in Middle…earth。 You shall e with me and
keep your word； and thus we will journey on together to our own lands in Mirkwood and beyond。'
To this Gimli agreed； though with no great delight； it seemed。
'Here then at last es the ending of the Fellowship of the Ring；' said Aragorn。 'Yet I hope that
ere long you will return to my land with the help that you promised。'
'We will e； if our own lords allow it；' said Gimli。 'Well； farewell。 my hobbits！ You should
e safe to your own homes now； and I shall not be kept awake for fear of your peril。 We will
send word when we may； and some of us may yet meet at times； but I fear that we shall not all be
gathered together ever again。'
Then Treebeard said farewell to each of them in turn； and he bowed three times slowly and with
great reverence to Celeborn and Galadriel。 'It is long； long since we met by stock or by stone； _A
vanimar_； _vanimálion nostari！_' he said。 'It is sad that we should meet only thus at the ending。 For
the world is changing： I feel it in the water； I feel it in the earth； and I smell it in the air。 I do not
think we shall meet again。'
And Celeborn said： 'I do not know； Eldest。' But Galadriel said： 'Not in Middle…earth； nor until
the lands that lie under the wave are lifted up again。 Then in the willow…meads of Tasarinan we
may meet in the Spring。 Farewell！'
Last of all Merry and Pippin said good…bye to the old Ent； and he grew gayer as he looked at
them。 'Well； my merry folk；' he said； 'will you drink another draught with me before you go？'
'Indeed we will；' they said； and he took them aside into the shade of one of the trees； and there
they saw that a great stone jar had been set。 And Treebeard filled three bowls； and they drank； and
they saw his strange eyes looking at them over the rim of his bowl。 'Take care take care！' he said。
'For you have already grown since I saw you last。' And they laughed and drained their bowls。
'Well； good…bye！' he said。 'And don't forget that if you hear any news of the Entwives in your
land； you will send word to me。' Then he waved his great hands to all the pany and went off
into the trees。
The travellers now rode with more speed； and they made their way towards the Gap of Rohan；
and Aragorn took leave of them at last close to that very place where Pippin had looked into the
Stone of Orthanc。 The Hobbits were grieved at this parting； for Aragorn had never failed them and
he had been their guide through many perils。
'I wish we could have a Stone that we could see all our friends in；' said Pippin； 'and that we
could speak to them from far away！'
'Only one now remains that you could use；' answered Aragorn for you would not wish to see
what the Stone of Minas Tirith would show you。 But the Palantír of Orthanc the King will keep； to
see what is passing in his realm； and what his servants are doing。 For do not forget； Peregrin Took；
that you are a knight of Gondor； and I do not release you from your service。 You are going now on
leave； but I may recall you。 And remember； dear friends of the Shire； that my realm lies also in the
North； and I shall e there one day。'
Then Aragorn took leave of Celeborn and Galadriel； and the Lady said to him： 'Elfstone；
through darkness you have e to your hope； and have now all your desire。 Use well the days！'
But Celeborn said： 'Kinsman； farewell！ May your doom be other than mine； and your treasure
remain with you to the end！'
With that they parted； and it was then the time of sunset； and when after a while they turned and
looked back； they saw the King of the West sitting upon his horse with his knights about him； and
the falling Sun shone upon them and made all their harness to gleam like red gold； and the white
mantle of Aragorn was turned to a flame。 Then Aragorn took the green stone and held it up； and
there came a green fire from his hand。
Soon the dwindling pany； following the Isen； turned west and rode through the Gap into the
waste lands beyond； and then they turned northwards； and passed over the borders of Dunland。 The
Dunlendings fled and hid themselves； for they were afraid of Elvish Folk； though few indeed ever
came to their country； but the travellers did not heed them； for they were still a great pany and
were well provided with all that they needed； and they went on their way at their leisure； setting up
their tents when they would。
On the sixth day since their parting from the King they journeyed through a wood climbing
down from the hills at the feet of the Misty Mountains that now marched on their right hand。 As
they came out again into the open country at sundown they overtook an old man leaning on a staff；
and he was clothed in rags of grey or dirty white； and at his heels went another beggar； slouching
and whining。
'Well Saruman！' said Gandalf。 'Where are you going？'
'What is that to you？' he answered。 'Will you still order my goings； and are you not content with
my ruin？'
'You know the answers；' said Gandalf： 'no and no。 But in any case the time of my labours now
draws to an end。 The King has taken on the burden。 If you had waited at Orthanc； you would have
seen him； and he would have shown you wisdom and mercy。'
'Then all the more reason to have left sooner；' said Saruman； 'for I desire neither of him。 Indeed
if you wish for an answer to your first question； I am seeking a way out of his realm。'
'Then once more you are going the wrong way；' said Gandalf； 'and I see no hope in your journey。
But will you scorn our help？ For we offer it to you。'
'To me？' said Saruman。 'Nay； pray do not smile at me！ I prefer your frowns。 And as for the Lady
here； I do not trust her： she always hated me； and schemed for your part。 I do not doubt that she has
brought you this way to have the pleasure of gloating over my poverty。 Had I been warned of your
pursuit； I would have denied you the pleasure。'
'Saruman；' said Galadriel； 'we have other errands and other cares that seem to us more urgent
than hunting for you。 Say rather that you are overtaken by good fortune； for now you have a last
chance。'
'If it be truly the last； I am glad；' said Saruman； 'for I shall be spared the trouble of refusing it
again。 All my hopes are ruined； but I would not share yours。 If you have any。'
For a moment his eyes kindled。 'Go！' he said。 'I did not spend long study on these matters for
naught。 You have doomed yourselves； and you know it。 And it will afford me some fort as I
wander to think that you pulled down your own house when you destroyed mine。 And now； what
ship will bear you back across so wide a sea？' he mocked。 'It will be a grey ship； and full of ghosts。'
He laughed； but his voice was cracked and hideous。
'Get up； you idiot！' he shouted to the other beggar； who had sat down on the ground； and he
struck him with his staff。 'Turn about！ If these fine folk are going our way； then we will take
another。 Get on； or I'll give you no crust for your supper！'
The beggar turned and slouched past whimpering： 'Po