The Field of Cormallen

           AllaboutthehillsthehostsofMordorraged.TheCaptainsoftheWestwerefounderinginagatheringsea.Thesungleamedred,andunderthewingsoftheNazgûltheshadowsofdeathfelldarkupontheearth.Aragornstoodbeneathhisbanner,silentandstern,asonelostinthoughtofthingslongpastorfaraway;buthiseyesgleamedlikestarsthatshinethebrighterasthenightdeepens.Uponthehill-topstoodGandalf,andhewaswhiteandcoldandnoshadowfellonhim.TheonslaughtofMordorbrokelikeawaveonthebeleagueredhills,voicesroaringlikeatideamidthewreckandcrashofarms.

           Asiftohiseyessomesuddenvisionhadbeengiven,Gandalfstirred;andheturned,lookingbacknorthwheretheskieswerepaleandclear.Thenhelifteduphishandsandcriedinaloudvoiceringingabovethedin:TheEaglesarecoming!Andmanyvoicesansweredcrying:TheEaglesarecoming!TheEaglesarecoming!ThehostsofMordorlookedupandwonderedwhatthissignmightmean.

           TherecameGwaihirtheWindlord,andLandrovalhisbrother,greatestofalltheEaglesoftheNorth,mightiestofthedescendantsofoldThorondor,whobuilthiseyriesintheinaccessiblepeaksoftheEncirclingMountainswhenMiddle-earthwasyoung.Behindtheminlongswiftlinescamealltheirvassalsfromthenorthernmountains,speedingonagatheringwind.StraightdownupontheNazgûltheybore,stoopingsuddenlyoutofthehighairs,andtherushoftheirwidewingsastheypassedoverwaslikeagale.