But now shall ride him into great hazard； setting silver against black： I
would not risk anything that is not my own。 And already there is a bond of
love between us。'
'You choose well；' said Thjoden； 'and I give him now gladly。 Yet it is
a great gift。 There is none like to Shadowfax。 In him one of the mighty
steeds of old has returned。 None such shall return again。 And to you my
other guests I will offer such things as may be found in my armoury。 Swords
you do not need； but there are helms and coats of mail of cunning work；
gifts to my fathers out of Gondor。 Choose from these ere we go； and may they
serve you well！'
Now men came bearing raiment of war from the king's hoard and they
arrayed Aragorn and Legolas in shining mail。 Helms too they chose； and round
shields： their bosses were overlaid with gold and set with gems； green and
red and white。 Gandalf took no armour； and Gimli needed no coat of rings；
even if one had been found to match his stature； for there was no hauberk in
the hoards of Edoras of better make than his short corslet forged beneath
the Mountain in the North。 But he chose a cap of iron and leather that
fitted well upon his round head； and a small shield he also took。 It bore
the running horse； white upon green； that was the emblem of the House of
Eorl。
'May it keep you well！' said Thjoden。 'It was made for me in Thengel's
day； while still I was a boy。'
Gimli bowed。 'I am proud； Lord of the Mark； to bear your device；' he
said。 'Indeed sooner would I bear a horse than be borne by one。 I love my
feet better。 But； maybe； I shall e yet where I can stand and fight。'
'It may well be so；' said Thjoden。
The king now rose； and at once Jowyn came forward bearing wine。 'Ferthu
Thjoden hbl！' she said。 'Receive now this cup and drink in happy hour。
Health be with thee at thy going and ing！'
Thjoden drank from the cup； and she then proffered it to the guests。 As
she stood before Aragorn she paused suddenly and looked upon him； and her
eyes were shining。 And he looked down upon her fair face and smiled； but as
he took the cup； his hand met hers； and he knew that she trembled at the
touch。 'Hail Aragorn son of Arathorn！' she said。 'Hail Lady of Rohan！' he
answered； but his face now was troubled and he did not smile。
When they had all drunk； the king went down the hall to the doors。
There the guards awaited him； and heralds stood； and all the lords and
chiefs were gathered together that remained in Edoras or dwelt nearby。
'Behold！ I go forth； and it seems like to be my last riding；' said
Thjoden。 'I have no child。 Thjodred my son is slain。 I name Jomer my
sister…son to be my heir。 If neither of us return； then choose a new lord as
you will。 But to some one I must now entrust my people that I leave behind；
to rule them in my place。 Which of you will stay？'
No man spoke。
'Is there none whom you would name？ In whom do my people trust？'
'In the House of Eorl；' answered Hbma。
'But Jomer I cannot spare； nor would he stay；' said the king； 'and he
is the last of that House。'
'I said not Jomer；' answered Hbma。 'And he is not the last。 There is
Jowyn； daughter of Jomund； his sister。 She is fearless and high…hearted。 All
love her。 Let her be as lord to the Eorlingas； while we are gone。'
'It shall be so；' said Thjoden。 'Let the heralds announce to the folk
that the Lady Jowyn will lead them！'
Then the king sat upon a seat before his doors； and Jowyn knelt before
him and received from him a sword and a fair corslet。 'Farewell
sister…daughter！' he said。 'Dark is the hour； yet maybe we shall return to
the Golden Hall。 But in Dunharrow the people may long defend themselves； and
if the battle go ill； thither will e all who escape。' 'Speak not so！' she
answered。 'A year shall I endure for every day that passes until your
return。' But as she spoke her eyes went to Aragorn who stood nearby。
'The king shall e again；' he said。 'Fear not！ Not West but East does
our doom await us。'
The king now went down the stair with Gandalf beside him。 The others
followed。 Aragorn looked back as they passed towards the gate。 Alone Jowyn
stood before the doors of the house at the stair's head； the sword was set
upright before her； and her hands were laid upon the hilt。 She was clad now
in mail and shone like silver in the sun。
Gimli walked with Legolas。 his axe on his shoulder。 'Well； at last we
set off！' he said。 'Men need many words before deeds。 My axe is restless in
my hands。 Though I doubt not that these Rohirrim are fell…handed when they
e to it。 Nonetheless this is not the warfare that suits me。 How shall I
e to the battle？ I wish I could walk and not bump like a sack at
Gandalf's saddlebow。'
'A safer seat than many； I guess；' said Legolas。 'Yet doubtless Gandalf
will gladly put you down on your feet when blows begin； or Shadowfax
himself。 An axe is no weapon for a rider。'
'And a Dwarf is no horseman。 It is orc…necks I would hew； not shave the
scalps of Men；' said Gimli； patting the haft of his axe。
At the gate they found a great host of men； old and young； all ready in
the saddle。 More than a thousand were there mustered。 Their spears were like
a springing wood。 Loudly and joyously they shouted as Thjoden came forth。
Some held in readiness the king's horse； Snowmane； and others held the
horses of Aragorn and Legolas。 Gimli stood ill at ease； frowning； but Jomer
came up to him； leading his horse。
'Hail； Gimli Gluin's son！' he cried。 'I have not had time to learn
gentle speech under your rod； as you promised。 But shall we not put aside
our quarrel？ At least I will speak no evil again of the Lady of the Wood。'
'I will forget my wrath for a while； Jomer son of Jomund；' said Gimli；
'but if ever you chance to see the Lady Galadriel with your eyes； then you
shall acknowledge her the fairest of ladies； or our friendship will end。'
'So be it！' said Jomer。 'But until that time pardon me； and in token of
pardon ride with me； I beg。 Gandalf will be at the head with the Lord of the
Mark； but Firefoot； my horse； will bear us both； if you will。'
'I thank you indeed；' said Gimli greatly pleased。 'I will gladly go
with you； if Legolas； my rade； may ride beside us。'
'It shall he so；' said Jomer。 'Legolas upon my left； and Aragorn upon
my right； and none will dare to stand before us！'
'Where is Shadowfax？' said Gandalf。
'Running wild over the grass；' they answered。 'He will let no man
handle him。 There he goes； away down by the ford； like a shadow among the
willows。'
Gandalf whistled and called aloud the horse's name； and far away he
tossed his head and neighed； and turning sped towards the host like an
arrow。
'Were the breath of the West Wind to take a body visible； even so would
it appear；' said Jomer； as the great