towers

666 the two towers
‘Hail, comers from afar!’ they said, and they turned
the hilts of their swords towards the travellers in token of
peace. Green gems flashed in the sunlight. Then one of
the guards stepped forward and spoke in the Common
Speech.
‘I am the Doorward of Théoden,’ he said. ‘Háma is my
name. Here I must bid you lay aside your weapons before
you enter.’
Then Legolas gave into his hand his silver-hafted knife, his
quiver, and his bow. ‘Keep these well,’ he said, ‘for they come
from the Golden Wood and the Lady of Lothlórien gave
them to me.’
Wonder came into the man’s eyes, and he laid the weapons
hastily by the wall, as if he feared to handle them. ‘No man
will touch them, I promise you,’ he said.
Aragorn stood a while hesitating. ‘It is not my will,’ he said,
‘to put aside my sword or to deliver Andúril to the hand of
any other man.’
‘It is the will of Théoden,’ said Háma.
‘It is not clear to me that the will of Théoden son of
Thengel, even though he be lord of the Mark, should prevail
over the will of Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elendil’s heir of
Gondor.’
‘This is the house of Théoden, not of Aragorn, even were
he King of Gondor in the seat of Denethor,’ said Háma,
stepping swiftly before the doors and barring the way. His
sword was now in his hand and the point towards the
strangers.
‘This is idle talk,’ said Gandalf. ‘Needless is Théoden’s
demand, but it is useless to refuse. A king will have his way
in his own hall, be it folly or wisdom.’
‘Truly,’ said Aragorn. ‘And I would do as the master of
the house bade me, were this only a woodman’s cot, if I bore
now any sword but Andúril.’
‘Whatever its name may be,’ said Háma, ‘here you shall
lay it, if you would not fight alone against all the men in
Edoras.’