towers

664 the two towers
nor any horse more proud than is one of these that bear you.
He is one of the Mearas, unless our eyes are cheated by some
spell. Say, are you not a wizard, some spy from Saruman, or
phantoms of his craft? Speak now and be swift!’
‘We are no phantoms,’ said Aragorn, ‘nor do your eyes
cheat you. For indeed these are your own horses that we ride,
as you knew well ere you asked, I guess. But seldom does
thief ride home to the stable. Here are Hasufel and Arod, that
Éomer, the Third Marshal of the Mark, lent to us, only two
days ago. We bring them back now, even as we promised
him. Has not Éomer then returned and given warning of our
coming?’
A troubled look came into the guard’s eyes. ‘Of Éomer I
have naught to say,’ he answered. ‘If what you tell me is
truth, then doubtless Théoden will have heard of it. Maybe
your coming was not wholly unlooked-for. It is but two nights
ago that Wormtongue came to us and said that by the will of
Théoden no stranger should pass these gates.’
‘Wormtongue?’ said Gandalf, looking sharply at the guard.
‘Say no more! My errand is not to Wormtongue, but to the
Lord of the Mark himself. I am in haste. Will you not go or
send to say that we are come?’ His eyes glinted under his
deep brows as he bent his gaze upon the man.
‘Yes, I will go,’ he answered slowly. ‘But what names shall
I report? And what shall I say of you? Old and weary you
seem now, and yet you are fell and grim beneath, I deem.’
‘Well do you see and speak,’ said the wizard. ‘For I am
Gandalf. I have returned. And behold! I too bring back a
horse. Here is Shadowfax the Great, whom no other hand
can tame. And here beside me is Aragorn son of Arathorn,
the heir of Kings, and it is to Mundburg that he goes. Here
also are Legolas the Elf and Gimli the Dwarf, our comrades.
Go now and say to your master that we are at his gates and
would have speech with him, if he will permit us to come
into his hall.’
‘Strange names you give indeed! But I will report them as
you bid, and learn my master’s will,’ said the guard. ‘Wait