按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thither they cried in dismay； for black against the glittering stream they beheld a fleet borne up on
the wind： dromunds； and ships of great draught with many oars； and with black sails bellying in the
breeze。
'The Corsairs of Umbar！' men shouted。 'The Corsairs of Umbar！ Look！ The Corsairs of Umbar
are ing！ So Belfalas is taken； and the Ethir； and Lebennin is gone。 The Corsairs are upon us！ It
is the last stroke of doom！'
And some without order； for none could he found to mand them in the City； ran to the bells
and tolled the alarm； and some blew the trumpets sounding the retreat。 'Back to the walls！' they
cried。 'Back to the walls！ e back to the City before all are overwhelmed！' But the wind that
sped the ships blew all their clamour away。
The Rohirrim indeed had no need of news or alarm。 All too well they could see for themselves
the black sails。 For éomer was now scarcely a mile from the Harlond； and a great press of his first
foes was between him and the haven there； while new foes came swirling behind； cutting him off
from the Prince。 Now he looked to the River； and hope died in his heart； and the wind that he had
blessed he now called accursed。 But the hosts of Mordor were enheartened； and filled with a new
lust and fury they came yelling to the onset。
Stern now was éomer's mood； and his mind clear again。 He let blow the horns to rally all men to
his banner that could e thither； for he thought to make a great shield…wall at the last； and stand；
and fight there on foot till all fell； and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor； though no man
should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark。 So he rode to a green hillock and
there set his banner； and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind。
Out of doubt； out of dark to the day's rising
I came singing in the sun； sword unsheathing。
To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking：
Now for wrath； now for ruin and a red nightfall！
These staves he spoke； yet he laughed as he said them。 For once more lust of battle was on him；
and he was still unscathed； and he was young； and he was king： the lord of a fell people。 And lo！
even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships； and he lifted up his sword to
defy them。
And then wonder took him； and a great joy； and he cast his sword up in the sunlight and sang as
he caught it。 And all eyes followed his gaze； and behold！ upon the foremost ship a great standard
broke； and the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond。 There flowered a White Tree；
and that was for Gondor； but Seven Stars were about it； and a high crown above it； the signs of
Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count。 And the stars flamed in the sunlight； for they
were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond； and the crown was bright in the morning； for
it was wrought of mithril and gold。
Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn； Elessar； Isildur's heir； out of the Paths of the Dead； borne
upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor； and the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of
laughter and a flashing of swords； and the joy and wonder of the City was a music of trumpets and
a ringing of bells。 But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment； and a great wizardry it
seemed to them that their own ships should be filled with their foes； and a black dread fell on them；
knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was at hand。
East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them： troll…men and Variags and
orcs that hated the sunlight。 South strode éomer and men fled before his face； and they were caught
between the hammer and the anvil。 For now men leaped from the ships to the quays of the Harlond
and swept north like a storm。 There came Legolas； and Gimli wielding his axe； and Halbarad with
the standard； and Elladan and Elrohir with stars on their brow； and the dour…handed Dúnedain；
Rangers of the North； leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of
the South。 But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West； Andúril like a new fire kindled；
Narsil re…forged as deadly as of old： and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil。
And so at length éomer and Aragorn met in the midst of the battle； and they leaned on their
swords and looked on one another and were glad。
'Thus we meet again； though all the hosts of Mordor lay between us；' said Aragorn。 'Did I not
say so at the Hornburg？'
'So you spoke；' said éomer； 'but hope oft deceives； and I knew not then that you were a man
foresighted。 Yet twice blessed is help unlooked for； and never was a meeting of friends more
joyful。' And they clasped hand in hand。 'Nor indeed more timely；' said éomer。 'You e none too
soon； my friend。 Much loss and sorrow has befallen us。'
'Then let us avenge it； ere we speak of it！' said Aragorn； and they rode back to battle together。
Hard fighting and long labour they had still； for the Southrons were bold men and grim； and
fierce in despair； and the Easterlings were strong and war…hardened and asked for no quarter。 And
so in this place and that； by burned homestead or barn； upon hillock or mound； under wall or on
field； still they gathered and rallied and fought until the day wore away。
Then the Sun went at last behind Mindolluin and filled all the sky with a great burning； so that
the hills and the mountains were dyed as with blood； fire glowed in the River； and the grass of the
Pelennor lay red in the nightfall。 And in that hour the great Battle of the field of Gondor was over；
and not one living foe was left within the circuit of the Rammas。 All were slain save those who fled
to die； or to drown in the red foam of the River。 Few ever came eastward to Morgul or Mordor； and
to the land of the Haradrim came only a tale from far off： a rumour of the wrath and terror of
Gondor。
Aragorn and éomer and Imrahil rode back towards the Gate of the City； and they were now
weary beyond joy or sorrow。 These three were unscathed