towers

722 the two towers
At dawn they made ready to go on. The light came grey
and pale, and they did not see the rising of the sun. The air
above was heavy with fog, and a reek lay on the land about
them. They went slowly, riding now upon the highway. It
was broad and hard, and well-tended. Dimly through the
mists they could descry the long arm of the mountains rising
on their left. They had passed into Nan Curunír, the Wizard’s
Vale. That was a sheltered valley, open only to the South.
Once it had been fair and green, and through it the Isen
flowed, already deep and strong before it found the plains;
for it was fed by many springs and lesser streams among the
rain-washed hills, and all about it there had lain a pleasant,
fertile land.
It was not so now. Beneath the walls of Isengard there still
were acres tilled by the slaves of Saruman; but most of the
valley had become a wilderness of weeds and thorns.
Brambles trailed upon the ground, or clambering over bush
and bank, made shaggy caves where small beasts housed. No
trees grew there; but among the rank grasses could still be
seen the burned and axe-hewn stumps of ancient groves. It
was a sad country, silent now but for the stony noise of quick
waters. Smokes and steams drifted in sullen clouds and lurked
in the hollows. The riders did not speak. Many doubted in
their hearts, wondering to what dismal end their journey led.
After they had ridden for some miles, the highway became
a wide street, paved with great flat stones, squared and laid
with skill; no blade of grass was seen in any joint. Deep
gutters, filled with trickling water, ran down on either side.
Suddenly a tall pillar loomed up before them. It was black;
and set upon it was a great stone, carved and painted in the
likeness of a long White Hand. Its finger pointed north. Not
far now they knew that the gates of Isengard must stand, and
their hearts were heavy; but their eyes could not pierce the
mists ahead.
Beneath the mountain’s arm within the Wizard’s Vale
through years uncounted had stood that ancient place that