Jomer then returned and given warning of our ing？'
A troubled look came into the guard's eyes。 'Of Jomer I have naught to
say；' he answered。 'If what you tell me is truth； then doubtless Thjoden
will have heard of it。 Maybe your ing was not wholly unlooked…for。 It is
but two nights ago that Wormtongue came to us and said that by the will of
Thjoden no stranger should pass these gates。'
'Wormtongue？' said Gandalf； looking sharply at the guard。 'Say no more！
My errand is not to Wormtongue； but to the Lord of the Mark himself。 I am in
haste。 Will you not go or send to say that we are e？' His eyes glinted
under his deep brows as he bent his gaze upon the man。
'Yes； I will go；' he answered slowly。 'But what names shall I report？
And what shall I say of you？ Old and weary you seem now； and yet you are
fell and grim beneath； I deem'
'Well do you see and speak；' said the wizard。 'For I am Gandalf。 I have
returned。 And behold！ I too bring back a horse。 Here is Shadowfax the Great；
whom no other hand can tame。 And here beside me is Aragorn son of Arathorn；
the heir of Kings； and it is to Mundburg that he goes。 Here also are Legolas
the Elf and Gimli the Dwarf； our rades。 Go now and say to your master
that we are at his gates and would have speech with him； if he will permit
us to e into his hall。' 'Strange names you give indeed！ But I will report
them as you bid and learn my master's will；' said the guard。 'Wait here a
little while； and f will bring you such answer as seems good to him。 Do not
hope too much！ These are dark days。' He went swiftly away； leaving the
strangers in the watchful keeping of his rades。 After some time he
returned。 'Follow me！' he said。 'Thjoden gives you leave to enter； but any
weapon that you bear； be it only a staff； you must leave on the threshold。
The doorwardens will keep them。'
The dark gates were swung open。 The travellers entered； walking in file
behind their guide。 They found a broad path； paved with hewn stones； now
winding upward； now climbing in short flights of well…laid steps。 Many
houses built of wood and many dark doors they passed。 Beside the way in a
stone channel a stream of clear water flowed； sparkling and chattering。 At
length they came to the crown of the hill。 There stood a high platform above
a green terrace； at the foot of which a bright spring gushed from a stone
carved in the likeness of a horse's head； beneath was a wide basin from
which the water。 spilled and fed the falling stream。 Up the green terrace
went a stair of stone； high and broad； and on either side of the topmost
step were stone…hewn sea； There sat other guards； with drawn swords laid
upon their knees。 Their golden hair was braided on their shoulders the sun
was blazoned upon their green shields； their long corslets were burnished
bright； and when they rose taller they seemed than mortal men。
'There are the doors before you；' said the guide。 'I must return now to
my duty at the gate。 Farewell！ And may the Lord of the Mark be gracious to
you！'
He turned and went swiftly back down the road。 The others climbed the
long stair under the eyes of the tall watchmen。 Silent they stood now above
and spoke no word； until Gandalf stepped out upon the paved terrace at the
stairs head。 Then suddenly with clear voices they spoke a courteous greeting
in their own tongue。
Hail； corners from afar！' they said； and they turned the hilts of their
swords towards the travellers in token of peace。 Green gems flashed in the
sunlight。 Then one of the guards stepped forward and spoke in the mon
Speech。
'I am the Doorward of Thjoden；' he said。 'Hbma is my name。 Here I must
bid you lay aside your weapons before you enter。'
Then Legolas gave into his hand his silver…hafted knife； his quiver and
his bow。 'Keep these well；' he said； 'for they e from the Golden Wood and
the Lady of Lothlurien gave them to me。'
Wonder came into the man's eyes； and he laid the weapons hastily by the
wall； as if he feared to handle them。 'No man will touch them I promise
you；' he said。
Aragorn stood a while hesitating。 'It is not my will；' he said； 'to put
aside my sword or to deliver And畆il to the hand of any other man。'
'It is the will of Thjoden；' said Hbma。
'It is not clear to me that the will of Thjoden son of Thengel even
though he be lord of the Mark； should prevail over the will of Aragorn son
of Arathorn； Elendil's heir of Gondor。'
'This is the house of Thjoden； not of Aragorn； even were he King of
Gondor in the seat of Denethor；' said Hbma； stepping swiftly before the
doors and barring the way。 His sword was now in his hand and the point
towards the strangers。
'This is idle talk；' said Gandalf。 'Needless is Thjoden's demand； but
it is useless to refuse。 A king will have his way in his own hall； be it
folly or wisdom。'
'Truly；' said Aragorn。 'And I would do as the master of the house bade
me； were this only a woodman's cot； if I bore now any sword but And畆il。'
'Whatever its name may be；' said Hbma； 'here you shall lay it； if you
would not fight alone against all the men in Edoras。'
'Not alone！' said Gimli； fingering the blade of his axe； and looking
darkly up at the guard； as if he were a young tree that Gimli had a mind to
fell。 'Not alone！'
'e； e！' said Gandalf。 'We are all friends here。 Or should be； for
the laughter of Mordor will be our only reward； if we quarrel。 My errand is
pressing。 Here at least is my sword； goodman Hbma。 Keep it well。 Glamdring
it is called； for the Elves made it long ago。 Now let me pass。 e；
Aragorn！'
Slowly Aragorn unbuckled his belt and himself set his sword upright
against the wall。 'Here I set it；' he said； 'but I mand you not to touch
it； nor to permit any other to lay hand on it。 In this elvish heath dwells
the Blade that was Broken and has been made again。 Telchar first wrought it
in the deeps of time。 Death shall e to any man that draws Elendil's sword
save Elendil's heir。'
The guard stepped back and looked with amazement on Aragorn。 'It seems
that you are e on the wings of song out of the forgotten days he said。 It
shall be； lord； as you mand。
'Well；' said Gimli； 'if it has And畆il to keep it pany； my axe may
stay here； too； without shame'； and he laid it on the floor。 'Now then； if
all is as you wish； let us go and speak with your master。'
The guard still hesitated。 'Your staff；' he said to Gandalf。 'Forgive
me； but that too must be left at the doors。'
'Foolishness！' said Gandalf。 'Prudence is one thing； but discourtesy is
another。 I am old。 If I may not lean on my stick as I go； then I will sit
out here； until it pleases Thjoden to hobble out himself to speak with me。'
Aragorn laughed。 'Every man has something too dear to trust to another。
But would you part an old man from his support？ e； will you not let us
enter？'
'Th