that he caught a glint of white： far away perchance the sun twinkled on a
pinnacle of the Tower of Guard。 And further still； endlessly remote and yet
a present threat； there was a tiny tongue of flame。
Slowly Thjoden sat down again； as if weariness still struggled to
master him against the will of Gandalf。 He turned and looked at his great
house。 'Alas！' he said； 'that these evil days should be mine； and should
e in my old age instead of that peace which I have earned。 Alas for
Boromir the brave！ The young perish and the old linger； withering。' He
clutched his knees with his wrinkled hands。
'Your fingers would remember their old strength better； if they grasped
a sword…hilt；' said Gandalf。
Thjoden rose and put his hand to his side； but no sword hung at his
belt。 'Where has Grnma stowed it？' he muttered under his breath。
'Take this； dear lord！' said a clear voice。 'It was ever at your
service。' Two men had e softly up the stair and stood now a few steps
from the top。 Jomer was there。 No helm was on his head； no mail was on his
breast； but in his hand he held a drawn sword； and as he knelt he offered
the hilt to his master。
'How es this？' said Thjoden sternly。 He turned towards Jomer and the
men looked in wonder at him； standing now proud and erect。 Where was the old
man whom they had left crouching in his chair or leaning on his stick？
'It is my doing； lord；' said Hbma； trembling。 I understood that Jomer
was to be set free。 Such joy was in my heart that maybe I have erred。 Yet；
since he was free again； and he a Marshal of the Mark；！ brought him his
sword as he bade me。'
'To lay at your feet； my lord；' said Jomer。
For a moment of silence Thjoden stood looking down at Jomer as he knelt
still before him。 Neither moved。
'Will you not take the sword？' said Gandalf。
Slowly Thjoden stretched forth his hand。 As his fingers took the hilt；
it seemed to the watchers that firmness and strength returned to his thin
arm。 Suddenly he lifted the blade and swung it shimmering and whistling in
the air。 Then he gave a great cry。 His voice rang clear as he chanted in the
tongue of Rohan a call to arms。
Arise now； arise； Riders of Thjoden！
Dire deeds awake； dark is it eastward。
Let horse be bridled； horn be sounded！
Forth Eorlingas！
The guards； thinking that they were summoned； sprang up the stair。 They
looked at their lord in amazement； and then as one man they drew their
swords and laid them at his feet。 'mand us！' they said。
'Westu Thjoden hbl！' cried Jomer。 'It is a joy to us to see you return
into your own。 Never again shall it be said； Gandalf； that you e only
with grief！'
'Take back your sword； Jomer； sister…son！' said the king。 'Go； Hbma；
and seek my own sword！ Grnma has it in his keeping。 Bring him to me also。
Now； Gandalf； you said that you had counsel to give； if I would hear it。
What is your counsel？'
'You have yourself already taken it；' answered Gandalf。 'To put your
trust in Jomer； rather than in a man of crooked mind。 To cast aside regret
and fear。 To do the deed at hand。 Every man that can ride should be sent
west at once； as Jomer counselled you： we must first destroy the threat of
Saruman； while we have time。 If we fail； we fall。 If we succeed then we
will face the next task。 Meanwhile your people that are left； the women and
the children and the old； should stay to the refuges that you have in the
mountains。 Were they not prepared against just such an evil day as this？ Let
them take provision； but delay not； nor burden themselves with treasures；
great or small。 It is their lives that are at stake。'
'This counsel seems good to me now；' said Thjoden。 'Let all my folk get
ready！ But you my guests…truly you said； Gandalf； that the courtesy of my
hall is lessened。 You have ridden through the night； and the morning wears
away。 You have had neither sleep nor food。 A guest…house shall be made
ready： there you shall sleep； when you have eaten。'
'Nay； lord；' said Aragorn。 'There is no rest yet for the weary。 The men
of Rohan must ride forth today； and we will ride with them； axe； sword； and
bow。 We did not bring them to rest against your wall； Lord of the Mark。 And
I promised Jomer that my sword and his should be drawn together。'
'Now indeed there is hope of victory！' said Jomer。
'Hope； yes；' said Gandalf。 'But Isengard is strong。 And other perils
draw ever nearer。 Do not delay； Thjoden； when we are gone。 Lead your people
swiftly to the Hold of Dunharrow in the hills！'
'Nay； Gandalf！' said the king。 'You do not know your own skill in
healing。 It shall not be so。 I myself will go to war； to fall in the front
of the battle； if it must be。 Thus shall I sleep better。'
'Then even the defeat of Rohan will be glorious in song；' said Aragorn。
The armed men that stood near clashed their weapons； crying： 'The Lord of
the Mark will ride！ Forth Eorlingas！'
'But your people must not be both unarmed and shepherdless' said
Gandalf。 'Who shall guide them and govern them in your place？'
'I will take thought for that ere I go；' answered Thjoden。 'Here es
my counsellor。'
At that moment Hbma came again from the hall。 Behind him cringing
between two other men； came Grnma the Wormtongue。 His face was very white。
His eyes blinked in the sunlight。 Hbma knelt and presented to Thjoden a long
sword in a scabbard clasped with gold and set with green gems。 'Here； lord；
is Herugrim； your ancient blade；' he said。 'It was found in his chest。 Loth
was he to render up the keys。 Many other things are there which men have
missed。'
'You lie；' said Wormtongue。 'And this sword your master himself gave
into my keeping。'
'And he now requires it of you again；' said Thjoden。 'Does that
displease you？'
'Assuredly not。 lord；' said Wormtongue。 'I care for you and yours as
best I may。 But do not weary yourself； or tax too heavily your strength。 Let
others deal with these irksome guests。 Your meat is about to be set on the
board。 Will you not go to it？'
'I will；' said Thjoden。 'And let food for my guests be set on the board
beside me。 The host rides today。 Send the heralds forth！ Let them summon all
who dwell nigh！ Every man and strong lad able to bear arms； all who have
horses； let them be ready in the saddle at the gate ere the second hour from
noon！'
'Dear lord！' cried Wormtongue。 'It is as I feared。 This wizard has
bewitched you。 Are none to be left to defend the Golden Hall of your
fathers； and all your treasure？ None to guard the Lord of the Mark？'
'If this is bewitchment；' said Thjoden； 'it seems to me more wholesome
than your whisperings。 Your leechcraft ere long would have had me walking on
all fours like a beast。 No； not one shall be left； not even Grnma。 Grnma
shall ride too。 Go！ You have yet time to clean the rust f