The Riders of Rohan

           Duskdeepened.Mistlaybehindthemamongthetreesbelow,andbroodedonthepalemarginsoftheAnduin,buttheskywasclear.Starscameout.ThewaxingmoonwasridingintheWest,andtheshadowsoftherockswereblack.Theyhadcometothefeetofstonyhills,andtheirpacewasslower,forthetrailwasnolongereasytofollow.HerethehighlandsoftheEmynMuilranfromNorthtoSouthintwolongtumbledridges.Thewesternsideofeachridgewassteepanddifficult,buttheeastwardslopesweregentler,furrowedwithmanygulliesandnarrowravines.Allnightthethreecompanionsscrambledinthisbonyland,climbingtothecrestofthefirstandtallestridge,anddownagainintothedarknessofadeepwindingvalleyontheotherside.

           Thereinthestillcoolhourbeforedawntheyrestedforabriefspace.Themoonhadlonggonedownbeforethem,thestarsglitteredabovethem;thefirstlightofdayhadnotyetcomeoverthedarkhillsbehind.ForthemomentAragornwasataloss:theorc-trailhaddescendedintothevalley,butthereithadvanished.

           ’Whichwaywouldtheyturn,doyouthink?’saidLegolas.’NorthwardtotakeastraighterroadtoIsengard,orFangorn,ifthatistheiraimasyouguess?OrsouthwardtostriketheEntwash?’

           ’Theywillnotmakefortheriver,whatevermarktheyaimat’’saidAragorn.’AndunlessthereismuchamissinRohanandthepowerofSarumanisgreatlyincreased;theywilltaketheshortestwaythattheycanfindoverthefieldsoftheRohirrim.