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us pass； and then e！ I summon you to the Stone of Erech！'
There was no answer； unless it were an utter silence more dreadful than the whispers before； and
then a chill blast came in which the torches flickered and went out； and could not be rekindled。 Of
the time that followed； one hour or many； Gimli remembered little。 The others pressed on； but he
was ever hindmost； pursued by a groping horror that seemed always just about to seize him； and a
rumour came after him like the shadow…sound of many feet。 He stumbled on until he was crawling
like a beast on the ground and felt that he could endure no more： he must either find an ending and
escape or run back in madness to meet the following fear。
Suddenly he heard the tinkle of water； a sound hard and clear as a stone falling into a dream of
dark shadow。 Light grew； and lo！ the pany passed through another gateway； high…arched and
broad； and a rill ran out beside them； and beyond； going steeply down； was a road between sheer
cliffs； knife…edged against the sky far above。 So deep and narrow was that chasm that the sky was
dark； and in it small stars glinted。 Yet as Gimli after learned it was still two hours ere sunset of the
day on which they had set out from Dunharrow； though for all that he could then tell it might have
been twilight in some later year； or in some other world。
The pany now mounted again； and Gimli returned to Legolas。 They rode in file； and
evening came on and a deep blue dusk； and still fear pursued them。 Legolas turning to speak to
Gimli looked back and the Dwarf saw before his face the glitter in the Elf's bright eyes。 Behind
them rode Elladan； last of the pany； but not the last of those that took the downward road。
'The Dead are following；' said Legolas。 'I see shapes of Men and of horses； and pale banners like
shreds of cloud； and spears like winter…thickets on a misty night。 The Dead are following。'
'Yes； the Dead ride behind。 They have been summoned；' said Elladan。
The pany came at last out of the ravine； as suddenly as it they had issued from a crack in a
wall； and there lay the uplands of a great vale before them； and the stream beside them went down
with a cold voice over many falls。
'Where in Middle…earth are we？' said Gimli； and Elladan answered： 'We have descended from
the uprising of the Morthond； the long chill river that flows at last to the sea that washes the walls
of Dol Amroth。 You will not need to ask hereafter how es its name： Blackroot men call it。'
The Morthond Vale made a great bay that beat up against the sheer southern faces of the
mountains。 Its steep slopes were grass…grown； but all was grey in that hour； for the sun had gone；
and far below lights twinkled in the homes of Men。 The vale was rich and many folk dwelt there。
Then without turning Aragorn cried aloud so that all could hear： 'Friends； forget your weariness！
Ride now； ride！ We must e to the Stone of Erech ere this day passes； and long still is the way。'
So without looking back they rode the mountain…fields； until they came to a bridge over the
growing torrent and found a road that went down into the land。
Lights went out in house and hamlet as they came； and doors were shut； and folk that were
afield cried in terror and ran wild like hunted deer。 Ever there rose the same cry in the gathering
night： 'The King of the Dead！ The King of the Dead is e upon us！'
Bells were ringing far below； and all men fled before the face of Aragorn； but the Grey
pany in their haste rode like hunters； until their horses were stumbling with weariness。 And
thus； just ere midnight； and in a darkness as black as the caverns in the mountains； they came at last
to the Hill of Erech。
Long had the terror of the Dead lain upon that hill and upon the empty fields about it。 For upon
the top stood a black stone； round as a great globe； the height of a man； though its half was buried
in the ground。 Unearthly it looked； as though it had fallen from the sky； as some believed； but those
who remembered still the lore of Westernesse told that it had been brought out of the ruin of
Númenor and there set by Isildur at his landing。 None of the people of the valley dared to approach
it； nor would they dwell near； for they said that it was a trysting…place of the Shadow…men； and
there they would gather in times of fear； thronging round the Stone and whispering。
To that Stone the pany came and halted in the dead of night。 Then Elrohir gave to Aragorn
a silver horn； and he blew upon it and it seemed to those that stood near that they heard a sound of
answering horns； as if it was an echo in deep caves far away。 No other sound they heard； and yet
they were aware of a great host gathered all about the hill on which they stood； and a chill wind like
the breath of ghosts came down from the mountains。 But Aragorn dismounted； and standing by the
Stone he cried in a great voice：
'Oathbreakers； why have ye e？'
And a voice was heard out of the night that answered him； as if from far away：
'To fulfil our oath and have peace。'
Then Aragorn said： 'The hour is e at last。 Now I go to Pelargir upon Anduin； and ye shall
e after me。 And when all this land is clean of the servants of Sauron； I will hold the oath
fulfilled； and ye shall have peace and depart for ever。 For I am Elessar； Isildur's heir of Gondor。'
And with that he bade Halbarad unfurl the great standard which he had brought； and behold！ it
was black； and if there was any device upon it； it was hidden in the darkness。 Then there was
silence； and not a whisper nor a sigh was heard again all the long night。 The pany camped
beside the Stone； but they slept little； because of the dread of the Shadows that hedged them round。
But when the dawn came； cold and pale； Aragorn rose at once； and he led the pany forth
upon the journey of greatest haste and weariness that any among them had known； save he alone；
and only his will held them to go on。 No other mortal Men could have endured it； none but the
Dúnedain of the North； and with them Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas of the Elves