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prepared fur you。' They went out together。 'This request only did Aragorn make to me；' said éowyn；
as they passed among the tents； 'that you should be armed for battle。 I have granted it； as I could。
For my heart tells me that you will need such gear ere the end。'
Now she led Merry to a booth among the lodges of the king's guard and there an armourer
brought out to her a small helm； and a round shield； and other gear。
'No mail have we to fit you；' said éowyn； 'nor any time for the forging of such a hauberk； but
here is also a stout jerkin of leather； a belt； and a knife。 A sword you have。'
Merry bowed； and the lady showed him the shield； which was like the shield that had been given
to Gimli； and it bore on it the device of the white horse。 'Take all these things；' she said； 'and bear
them to good fortune！ Farewell now； Master Meriadoc！ Yet maybe we shall meet again； you and I。'
So it was that amid a gathering gloom the King of the Mark made ready to lead all his Riders on
the eastward road。 Hearts were heavy and many quailed in the shadow。 But they were a stern
people； loyal to their lord； and little weeping or murmuring was heard； even in the camp in the Hold
where the exiles from Edoras were housed； women and children and old men。 Doom hung over
them； but they faced it silently。
Two swift hours passed； and now the king sat upon his white horse； glimmering in the half light。
Proud and tall he seemed； though the hair that flowed beneath his high helm was like snow； and
many marvelled at him and took heart to see him unbent and unafraid。
There on the wide flats beside the noisy river were marshalled in many panies well nigh five
and fifty hundreds of Riders fully armed； and many hundreds of other men with spare horses lightly
burdened。 A single trumpet sounded。 The king raised his hand； and then silently the host of the
Mark began to move。 Foremost went twelve of the king's household…men； Riders of renown。 Then
the king followed with éomer on his right。 He had said farewell to éowyn above in the Hold； and
the memory was grievous； but now he turned his mind to the road that lay ahead。 Behind him
Merry rode on Stybba with the errand riders of Gondor； and behind them again twelve more of the
king's household。 They passed down the long ranks of waiting men with stern and unmoved faces。
But when they had e almost to the end of the line one looked up glancing keenly at the hobbit。
A young man； Merry thought as he returned the glance； less in height and girth than most。 He
caught the glint of clear grey eyes； and then he shivered； for it came suddenly to him that it was the
face of one without hope who goes in search of death。
On down the grey road they went beside the Snowbourn rushing on its stones； through the
hamlets of Underharrow and Upbourn； where many sad faces of women looked out from dark
doors； and so without horn or harp or music of men's voices the great ride into the East began with
which the songs of Rohan were busy for many long lives of men thereafter。
From dark Dunharrow in the dim morning
with thane and captain rode Thengel's son：
to Edoras he came； the ancient halls
of the Mark…wardens mist…enshrouded；
golden timbers were in gloom mantled。
Farewell he bade to his free people；
hearth and high…seat； and the hallowed places；
where long he had feasted ere the light faded。
Forth rode the king； fear behind him；
fate before him。 Fealty kept he；
oaths he had taken； all fulfilled them。
Forth rode Théoden。 Five nights and days
east and onward rode the Eorlingas
through Folde and Fenmarch and the Firienwood；
six thousand spears to Sunlending；
Mundburg the mighty under Mindolluin；
Sea…kings' city in the South…kingdom
foe…beleaguered； fire…encircled。
Doom drove them on。 Darkness took them；
Horse and horseman； hoofbeats afar
sank into silence： so the songs tell us。
It was indeed in deepening gloom that the king came to Edoras； although it was then but noon
by the hour。 There he halted only a short while and strengthened his host by some three score of
Riders that came late to the weapontake。 Now having eaten he made ready to set out again； and he
wished his esquire a kindly farewell。 But Merry begged for the last time not to be parted from him。
'This is no journey for such steeds as Stybba； as I have told you ' said Théoden。 'And in such a
battle as we think to make on the fields of Gondor what would you do； Master Meriadoc； sword…
thain though you be； and greater of heart than of stature？'
'As for that； who can tell？' answered Merry。 'But why； lord； did you receive me as sword…thain；
if not to stay by your side？ And I would not have it said of me in song only that I was always left
behind！'
'I received you for your safe…keeping；' answered Théoden； 'and also to do as I might bid。 None
of my Riders can bear you as burden。 If the battle were before my gates； maybe your deeds would
be remembered by the minstrels； but it is a hundred leagues and two to Mundburg where Denethor
is lord。 I will say no more。'
Merry bowed and went away unhappily； and stared at the lines of horsemen。 Already the
panies were preparing to start： men were tightening girths； looking to saddles； caressing their
horses； some gazed uneasily at the lowering sky。 Unnoticed a Rider came up and spoke softly in the
hobbit's ear。
'_Where will wants not； a way opens_； so we say；' he whispered； 'and so I have found myself。'
Merry looked up and saw that it was the young Rider whom he had noticed in the morning。 'You
wish to go whither the Lord of the Mark goes： I see it in your face。'
'I do；' said Merry。
'Then you shall go with me；' said the Rider。 'I will bear you before me； under my cloak until we
are far afield； and this darkness is yet darker。 Such good will should not be denied。 Say no more to
any man； but e！'
'Thank you indeed！'