But would you part an old man from his support？ e； will you not let us
enter？'
'The staff in the hand of a wizard may be more than a prop for age'
said Hbma。 He looked hard at the ash…staff on which Gandalf leaned。 'Yet in
doubt a man of worth will trust to his own wisdom。 I believe you are friends
and folk worthy of honour； who have no evil purpose。 You may go in。'
The guards now lifted the heavy bars of the doors and swung them slowly
inwards grumbling on their great hinges。 The travellers entered。 Inside it
seemed dark and warm after the clear air upon the hill。 The hall was long
and wide and filled with shadows and half lights； mighty pillars upheld its
lofty roof。 But here and there bright sunbeams fell in glimmering shafts
from the eastern windows； high under the deep eaves。 Through the louver in
the roof； above the thin wisps of issuing smoke； the sky showed pale and
blue。 As their eyes changed； the travellers perceived that the floor was
paved with stones of many hues； branching runes and strange devices
intertwined beneath their feet。 They saw now that the pillars were richly
carved； gleaming dully with gold and half…seen colours。 Many woven cloths
were hung upon the walls； and over their wide spaces marched figures of
ancient legend； some dim with years； some darkling in the shade。 But upon
one form the sunlight fell： a young man upon a white horse。 He was blowing a
great horn； and his yellow hair was flying in the wind。 The horse's head was
lifted； and its nostrils were wide and red as it neighed； smelling battle
afar。 Foaming water； green and white； rushed and curled about its knees。
'Behold Eorl the Young！' said Aragorn。 'Thus he rode out of the North
to the Battle of the Field of Celebrant。'
Now the four panions went forward； past the clear wood…fire burning
upon the long hearth in the midst of the hall。 Then they halted。 At the far
end of the house； beyond the hearth and facing north towards the doors； was
a dais with three steps； and in the middle of the dais was a great gilded
chair。 Upon it sat a man so bent with age that he seemed almost a dwarf； but
his white hair was long and thick and fell in great braids from beneath a
thin golden circle set upon his brow。 In the centre upon his forehead shone
a single white diamond。 His beard was laid like snow upon his knees； but his
eyes still burned with a bright light； glinting as he gazed at the
strangers。 Behind his chair stood a woman clad in white。 At his feet upon
the steps sat a wizened figure of a man； with a pale wise face and
heavy…lidded eyes。
There was a silence。 The old man did not move in his chair。 At length
Gandalf spoke。 'Hail； Thjoden son of Thengel！ I have returned。 For behold！
the storm es； and now all friends should gather together； lest each
singly be destroyed。'
Slowly the old man rose to his feet； leaning heavily upon a short black
staff with a handle of white bone； and now the strangers saw that； bent
though he was； he was still tall and must in youth have been high and proud
indeed。
'I greet you；' he said； 'and maybe you look for wele。 But truth to
tell your wele is doubtful here； Master Gandalf。 You have ever been a
herald of woe。 Troubles follow you like crows； and ever the oftener the
worse。 I will not deceive you： when I heard that Shadowfax had e back
riderless； I rejoiced at the return of the horse； but still more at the lack
of the rider； and when Jomer brought the tidings that you had gone at last
to your long home； I did not mourn。 But news from afar is seldom sooth。 Here
you e again！ And with you e evils worse than before； as might be
expected。 Why should I wele you； Gandalf Stormcrow？ Tell me that。' Slowly
he sat down again in his chair。
'You speak justly； lord；' said the pale man sitting upon the steps of
the dais。 'It is not yet five days since the bitter tidings came that
Thjodred your son was slain upon the West Marches： your right hand； Second
Marshal Of the Mark。 In Jomer there is little trust。 Few men would be left
to guard your walls； if he had been allowed to rule。 And even now we learn
from Gondor that the Dark Lord is stirring in the East。 Such is the hour in
which this wanderer chooses to return。 Why indeed should we wele you；
Master Stormcrow？ Lbthspell I name you； Ill…news； and ill news is an ill
guest they say。' He laughed grimly； as he lifted his heavy lids for a moment
and gazed on the strangers with dark eyes。
'You are held wise； my friend Wormtongue； and are doubtless a great
support to your master；' answered Gandalf in a soft voice。 'Yet in two ways
may a man e with evil tidings。 lie may be a worker of evil； or he may be
such as leaves well alone； and es only to bring aid in time of need。'
'That is so；' said Wormtongue； 'but there is a third kind： pickers of
bones； meddlers in other men's sorrows； carrion…fowl that grow fat on war。
What aid have you ever brought； Stormcrow？ And what aid do you bring now？ It
was aid from us that you sought last time that you were here。 Then my lord
bade you Choose any horse that you would and be gone； and to the wonder of
all you took Shadowfax in your insolence。 My lord was sorely grieved； yet to
some it seemed that to speed you from the land the price was not too great。
I guess that it is likely to turn out the same once more： you will seek aid
rather than render it。 Do you bring men？ Do you bring horses； swords；
spears？ That I would call aid； that is our present need。 But who are these
that follow at your tail？ Three ragged wanderers in grey； and you yourself
the most beggar…like of the four！'
'The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late； Thjoden son of
Thengel；' said Gandalf。 'Has not the messenger from your gate reported the
names of my panions？ Seldom has any lord of Rohan received three such
guests。 Weapons they have laid at your doors that are worth many a mortal
man； even the mightiest。 Grey is their raiment； for the Elves clad them； and
thus they have passed through the shadow of great perils to your hall。'
'Then it is true； as Jomer reported； that you are in league with the
Sorceress of the Golden Wood？' said Wormtongue。 'It is not to be wondered
at： webs of deceit were ever woven in Dwimordene。'
Gimli strode a pace forward； but felt suddenly the hand of Gandalf
clutch him by the shoulder； and he halted； standing stiff as stone。
In Dwimordene； in Lurien
Seldom have walked the feet of Men；
Few mortal eyes have seen the light
That lies there ever； long and bright。
Galadriel！ Galadriel！
Clear is the water of your well；
White is the star in your white hand；
Unmarred； unstained is leaf and land
In Dwimordene； in Lurien
More fair than thoughts of Mortal Men。
Thus Gandalf softly sang； and then suddenly he changed。 Casting his
tattered cloak aside； h