The Road to Isengard

           SoitwasthatinthelightofafairmorningKingThéodenandGandalftheWhiteRidermetagainuponthegreengrassbesidetheDeeping-stream.TherewasalsoAragornsonofArathorn,andLegolastheElf,andErkenbrandofWestfold,andthelordsoftheGoldenHouse.AboutthemweregatheredtheRohirrim,theRidersoftheMark:wonderovercametheirjoyinvictory,andtheireyeswereturnedtowardsthewood.

           Suddenlytherewasagreatshout,anddownfromtheDikecamethosewhohadbeendrivenbackintotheDeep.TherecameGamlingtheOld,andÉomersonofÉomund,andbesidethemwalkedGimlithedwarf.Hehadnohelm,andabouthisheadwasalinenbandstainedwithblood;buthisvoicewasloudandstrong.

           ’Forty-two,MasterLegolas!’hecried.’Alas!Myaxeisnotched:theforty-secondhadanironcollaronhisneck.Howisitwithyou?’

           ’Youhavepassedmyscorebyone,’answeredLegolas.’ButIdonotgrudgeyouthegame,sogladamItoseeyouonyourlegs!’

           ’Welcome,Éomer,sister-son!’saidThéoden.’NowthatIseeyousafe,Iamgladindeed.’

           ’Hail,LordoftheMark!’saidÉomer.’Thedarknighthaspassedanddayhascomeagain.Butthedayhasbroughtstrangetidings.’Heturnedandgazedinwonder,firstatthewoodandthenatGandalf.’Oncemoreyoucomeinthehourofneed,unlooked-for,’hesaid.

           ’Unlooked-for?’saidGandalf.’IsaidthatIwouldreturnandmeetyouhere.’

           ’Butyoudidnotnamethehour,norforetellthemannerofyourcoming.Strangehelpyoubring.