The Passing of the Grey Company

           Gandalfwasgone,andthethuddinghoofsofShadowfaxwerelostinthenight,whenMerrycamebacktoAragorn.Hehadonlyalightbundle,forhehadlosthispackatParthGalen,andallhehadwasafewusefulthingshehadpickedupamongthewreckageofIsengard.Hasufelwasalreadysaddled.LegolasandGimliwiththeirhorsestoodcloseby.

           ‘SofouroftheCompanystillremain,’saidAragorn.‘Wewillrideontogether.Butweshallnotgoalone,asIthought.Thekingisnowdeterminedtosetoutatonce.Sincethecomingofthewingedshadow,hedesirestoreturntothehillsundercoverofnight.’

           ‘Andthenwhither?’saidLegolas.

           ‘Icannotsayyet,’Aragornanswered.‘Asfortheking,hewillgotothemusterthathecommandedatEdoras,fournightsfromnow.Andthere,Ithink,hewillheartidingsofwar,andtheRidersofRohanwillgodowntoMinasTirith.Butformyself,andanythatwillgowithme...’

           ‘Iforone!’criedLegolas.‘AndGimliwithhim!’saidtheDwarf.

           ‘Well,formyself,’saidAragorn,‘itisdarkbeforeme.ImustgodownalsotoMinasTirith,butIdonotyetseetheroad.Anhourlongpreparedapproaches.’

           ‘Don’tleavemebehind!’saidMerry.‘Ihavenotbeenofmuchuseyet;butIdon’twanttobelaidaside,likebaggagetobecalledforwhenallisover.Idon’tthinktheRiderswillwanttobebotheredwithmenow.Though,ofcourse,thekingdidsaythatIwastositbyhimwhenhecametohishouseandtellhimallabouttheShire.’