'Look！' he cried； and they lifted their tired eyes。 Before them stood
the mountains of the South： white…tipped and streaked with black。 The
grass…lands rolled against the hills that clustered at their feet； and
flowed up into many valleys still dim and dark； untouched by the light of
dawn； winding their way into the heart of the great mountains。 Immediately
before the travellers the widest of these glens opened like a long gulf
among the hills。 Far inward they glimpsed a tumbled mountain…mass with one
tall peak； at the mouth of the vale there stood like sentinel a lonely
height。 About its feet there flowed； as a thread of silver； the stream that
issued from the dale； upon its brow they caught； still far away； a glint in
the rising sun； a glimmer of gold。 'Speak； Legolas！' said Gandalf。 'Tell us
what you see there before us！'
Legolas gazed ahead； shading his eyes from the level shafts of the
new…risen sun。 'I see a white stream that es down from the snows；' he
said。 'Where it issues from the shadow of the vale a green hill rises upon
the east。 A dike and mighty wall and thorny fence encircle it。 Within there
rise the roofs of houses； and in the midst； set upon a green terrace； there
stands aloft a great hall of Men。 And it seems to my eyes that it is
thatched with gold。 The light of it shines far over the land。 Golden； too；
are the posts of its doors。 There men in bright mail stand； but all else
within the courts are yet asleep。'
'Edoras those courts are called；' said Gandalf； 'and Meduseld is that
golden hall。 There dwells Thjoden son of Thengel； King of the Mark of Rohan。
We are e with the rising of the day。 Now the road lies plain to see
before us。 But we must ride more warily； for war is abroad； and the
Rohirrim； the Horse…lords； do not sleep； even if it seem so from afar。 Draw
no weapon； speak no haughty word； I counsel you all； until we are e
before Thjoden's seat。'
The morning was bright and clear about them； and birds were singing；
when the travellers came to the stream。 It ran down swiftly into the plain；
and beyond the feet of the hills turned across their path in a wide bend；
flowing away east to feed the Entwash far off in its reed…choked beds。 The
land was green： in the wet meads and along the grassy borders of the stream
grew many willow…trees。 Already in this southern land they were blushing red
at their fingertips。 Feeling the approach of spring。 Over the stream there
was a ford between low banks much trampled by the passage of horses。 The
travellers passed over and came upon a wide rutted track leading towards the
uplands。
At the foot of the walled hill the way ran under the shadow of many
mounds； high and green。 Upon their western sides the grass was white as with
a drifted snow： small flowers sprang there like countless stars amid the
turf。
'Look！' said Gandalf。 'How fair are the bright eyes in the grass！
Evermind they are called； simbelmynl in this land of Men； for they blossom
in all the seasons of the year； and grow where dead men rest。 Behold！ we are
e to the great barrows where the sires of Thjoden sleep。' 'Seven mounds
upon the left； and nine upon the right；' said Aragorn。 'Many long lives of
men it is since the golden hall was built。'
'Five hundred times have the red leaves fallen in Mirkwood in my home
since then；' said Legolas； 'and but a little while does that seem to us。'
'But to the Riders of the Mark it seems so long ago；' said Aragorn；
'that the raising of this house is but a memory of song； and the years
before are lost in the mist of time。 Now they call this land their home；
their own； and their speech is sundered from their northern kin。' Then he
began to chant softly in a slow tongue unknown to the Elf and Dwarf； yet
they listened； for there was a strong music in it。
'That； I guess； is the language of the Rohirrim；' said Legolas； 'for it
is like to this land itself； rich and rolling in part； and else hard and
stern as the mountains。 But I cannot guess what it means； save that it is
laden with the sadness of Mortal Men。'
'It runs thus in the mon Speech；' said Aragorn； 'as near as I can
make it。
Where now the horse and the rider？ Where is the horn that was blowing？
Where is the helm and the hauberk； and the bright hair flowing？
Where is the hand on the harpstring； and the red fire glowing？
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing？
They have passed like rain on the mountain； like a wind in the meadow；
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow。
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning；
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning？
Thus spoke a forgotten poet long ago in Rohan； recalling how tall and
fair was Eorl the Young； who rode down out of the North； and there were
wings upon the feet of his steed； Felaruf； father of horses。 So men still
sing in the evening。'
With these words the travellers passed the silent mounds。 Following the
winding way up the green shoulders of the hills； they came at last to the
wide wind…swept walls and the gates of Edoras。
There sat many men in bright mail； who sprang at once to their feet and
barred the way with spears。 'Stay； strangers here unknown！' they cried in
the tongue of the Riddermark； demanding the names and errand of the
strangers。 Wonder was in their eyes but little friendliness； and they looked
darkly upon Gandalf。
'Well do I understand your speech；' he answered in the same language；
'yet few strangers do so。 Why then do you not speak in the mon Tongue； as
is the custom in the West； if you wish to be answered？'
'It is the will of Thjoden King that none should enter his gates； save
those who know our tongue and are our friends；' replied one of the guards。
'None are wele here in days of war but our own folk； and those that e
from Mundburg in the land of Gondor。 Who are you that e heedless over the
plain thus strangely clad； riding horses like to our own horses？ Long have
we kept guard here； and we have watched you from afar。 Never have we seen
other riders so strange； nor any horse more proud than is one of these that
bear you。 He is One of the Mearas； unless our eyes are cheated by some
spell。 Say； are you not a wizard； some spy from Saruman； or phantoms of his
craft？ Speak now and be swift！'
'We are no phantoms；' said Aragorn； 'nor do your eyes cheat you。 For
indeed these are your own horses that we ride； as you knew well are you
asked； I guess。 But seldom does thief ride home to the stable。 Here are
Hasufel and Arod； that Jomer； the Third Marshal of the Mark； lent to us；
only two days ago。 We bring them back now； even as we promised him。 Has not
Jomer then returned and given warning of our ing？'
A troubled look came into the guard's eyes。 'Of Jomer I have nau