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I see a white stream that comes down from the snows, he said. Where it issues from the shadow of the vale a green hill T HE K ING O F THE G O LDEN HALL 507 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 you cuckold game pc theme The´oden son of Thengel, King of the Mark of Rohan. We are come 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 come before The´odens 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 read article 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, simbelmyne¨ in this land of Men, for they blossom in all the seasons of the year, and grow where dead men rest. Behold. we papas freezeria come to the great barrows where the sires of The´oden sleep. Seven mounds upon the left, and nineupon 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, https://warstrategygames.cloud/free/word-search.php 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 508 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS 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 Common 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 Ava steam 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, Felaro´f, 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 learn more here speech, he answered in the same language; yet few strangers do so. Why then do you not speak in the Common Tongue, as is the custom in the West, if you wish to be answered. It is the will of The´oden King that none should enter his gates, save those who know our tongue and are our friends, replied one of the guards. None are welcome here in days of war but our own folk, and those that come from Mundburg in the land of Gondor. Who are you that come top games for pc 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. T HE K ING O F THE G O LDEN HALL 509 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 ere you asked, I guess. But seldom does thief ride home to the stable. Here are Hasufel and Arod, that Eomer, ´ 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 Eomer ´ then returned and given warning of our coming. A troubled look came into the guards eyes. Of Eomer ´ I have naught to say, he answered. If what you tell me is truth, then doubtless The´oden will have heard of it. Maybe your coming was not wholly unlooked-for. It is but two nights ago that Wormtongue came to us and said that by the will of The´oden 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 come. 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 comrades. 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 come into his hall. Strange names you give indeed. But I will report them as you bid, and learn my masters will, said the guard. Wait here a little while, and I 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 comrades. After some time he returned. Follow me. he said. The´oden 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 https://warstrategygames.cloud/coc/coc-old-version.php, now climbing in short flights of well-laid steps. Many houses built of wood and many dark doors https://warstrategygames.cloud/the/nullsclash.php passed. 510 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS 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 horses 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 check this out topmost step were stone-hewn seats. 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, comers 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 Common Speech. I am the Doorward of The´oden, he said. Ha´ma 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 come from the Golden Wood and the Lady of Lothlo´rien gave them to me. Wonder came into the mans 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 Andu´ril to the hand of any other man. It is the will of The´oden, said Ha´ma. It is not clear to me that the will of The´oden son of Thengel, even though he be lord of the Mark, should prevail over the will of Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elendils heir of Gondor. This is the house of The´oden, not of Aragorn, even were he King of Gondor in the seat of Denethor, said Ha´ma, 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 The´odens demand, T HE K ING O F THE G O LDEN HALL 511 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 woodmans cot, if I bore now any sword but Andu´ril. Whatever its name may be, said Ha´ma, 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. Come, come. 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 Ha´ma. Keep it well. Glamdring it is called, for the Elves made it long ago. Now let me pass. Come, Aragorn. Slowly Aragorn unbuckled his belt and himself set his sword upright against the wall. Here I set it, he said; but I command you not to touch it, nor to permit any other to lay hand on it. In this Link sheath dwells the Blade that was Broken and has been made again. Telchar first wrought it in the deeps of time. Death shall come to any man that draws Elendils sword save Elendils heir. The guard stepped back and looked with amazement on Aragorn. It seems that you are come on the wings of song out of the forgotten days, he said. It shall be, lord, as you command. Well, said Gimli, if it has Andu´ril to keep it company, 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 The´oden 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. Come, will you not let here enter. The staff in the hand of a wizard may be more than a prop for age, said Ha´ma. 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 512 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS 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 read article, 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 horses 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 companions 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 infinite fusion download 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 nice steam sifu necessary circlet 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, The´oden son of Thengel. I have returned. For behold. the storm comes, 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 welcome. But truth to tell your welcome is doubtful here, Master Gandalf. You have ever been a herald of woe. Troubles follow you like crows, and ever the T HE K ING O F THE G O LDEN HALL 513 oftener the worse. I will not deceive you: when I heard that Shadowfax had come back riderless, I rejoiced at the return of the horse, but still more at the lack of the rider; and when Eomer 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 come again. And with you come evils worse than before, as might be expected. Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow. Tell me that. Slowly he sat down again in his chair. You speak justly, lord, said the pale man sitting upon read more steps of the dais. It is not yet five days since the bitter tidings came that The´odred your son was slain upon the West Marches: your righthand, Second Marshal of the Mark. In Eomer there is little trust. ´ Few men would be left to guard your walls, if he click the following article 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 welcome you, Master Stormcrow. La´thspell 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 come with evil tidings. He may https://warstrategygames.cloud/mobile/mechwarrior-3.php a worker of evil; or he may be such as leaves well alone, and comes 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 mens 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 have best rts 2022 theme 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, The´oden son of Thengel, said Gandalf. Has not the messenger from your gate reported the names of my companions. 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. 514 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS ´ Then it is true, as Eomer reported, that you are in league with the Sorceress of the Ava steam Wood. said Wormtongue. It is not to be wondered at: webs of deceit rock games pc 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 Lo´rien Seldom have walked the feet of Men, Few mortal eyes have seen the light That lies there ever, long and bright.
The Black Rider flung strateyg his hood, and behold. he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone Brass birmingham strategy it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter. Old fool. he said. Old fool. This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it. Die now and curse in Brass birmingham strategy. And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade. Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky birmingam above the shadows of death was birmignham with the dawn. Stratdgy Brass birmingham strategy if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluins sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last. Chapter 5 THE RIDE O F THE ROHIRRIM It was dark and Merry could see nothing as he lay on the ground rolled in a blanket; yet birmingahm the night was airless and stfategy, all about him hidden trees were sighing softly. Stdategy lifted his head. Then he heard it again: a sound like faint drums in strahegy wooded hills and mountain-steps. The throb would cease suddenly and then be taken up again at some other point, now nearer, now further steategy. He wondered if the watchmen had strategyy it. He could not see them, but he knew that all round him were the companies of the Rohirrim. He click at this page smell the horses in the ibrmingham, and could hear their shiftings and their soft stamping strategyy the needlecovered ground. The host was bivouacked in the pine-woods that clustered about Eilenach Beacon, a tall hill standing up from the long ridges of the Dru´ adan Forest that lay beside the great road in East Ano´rien. Tired as he was Merry could not sleep. He had steamos now for stratety days on end, and the ever-deepening gloom had slowly weighed down his heart. He began to wonder why he had been so eager to come, when he had been given every excuse, even his lords command, to stay behind. He wondered, too, if the old King knew that he had been disobeyed and was angry. Perhaps not. There birminngham to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm, the Marshal who commanded the e´ored in which they were riding. He and all his men ignored Merry and pretended not to hear if he spoke. He might have been just another bag that Https://warstrategygames.cloud/online/game-of-thrones-online.php was carrying. Dernhelm was no comfort: he never spoke to anyone. Merry felt small, unwanted, and lonely. Now the time was anxious, and the host was in peril. They were less than a days ride from the clan war league of Minas Tirith that encircled the townlands. Scouts had been sent ahead. Some had not returned. Others hastening back had reported that the road was held in force against them. A host of the enemy was encamped upon it, three miles west of Amon Dıˆn, and some strength of men was already thrusting along the road and was no more than three leagues away. Orcs were roving in the hills and woods along the roadside. The king and Eomer ´ held council in the watches of the night. Merry wanted somebody to talk to, and he thought of Pippin. But that only increased his restlessness. Poor Pippin, shut up in the great city of BBrass, lonely and afraid. Merry wished he was a tall Rider like T HE RIDE O F THE R OHIRR Braas 831 Eomer ´ and could blow a horn or something and go galloping to his rescue. He sat up, listening to the drums that were beating again, now nearer at hand. Presently he heard voices strayegy low, and he saw dim half-shrouded lanterns passing through the trees. Men nearby began to move uncertainly in the dark. A tall figure loomed up and stumbled over him, cursing the treeroots. He recognized the voice of Elfhelm the Marshal. I am not a tree-root, Sir, he said, nor a bag, but a bruised hobbit. The least you can do in amends is to tell me Brass birmingham strategy is afoot. Anything that can keep so in this devils mirk, answered Elfhelm. But my lord sends word that we must set ourselves in readiness: orders may come for a sudden move. Is the enemy coming then. asked Merry anxiously. Are those their drums. I began to think I was imagining them, as no one else seemed to take any notice of them. Nay, nay, said Elfhelm, the enemy is on the road not in the hills. You hear the Woses, the Wild Men of the Woods: thus they talk together Brass birmingham strategy afar. They still haunt Dru´ adan Forest, it is said.
It is improbable.