towers

560 the two towers
they halted, and wrapping their cloaks about them, they sat
huddled together upon the faded grass. The time passed
slowly and heavily. The wind was thin and searching. Gimli
was uneasy.
‘What do you know of these horsemen, Aragorn?’ he said.
‘Do we sit here waiting for sudden death?’
‘I have been among them,’ answered Aragorn. ‘They are
proud and wilful, but they are true-hearted, generous in
thought and deed; bold but not cruel; wise but unlearned,
writing no books but singing many songs, after the manner
of the children of Men before the Dark Years. But I do not
know what has happened here of late, nor in what mind the
Rohirrim may now be between the traitor Saruman and
the threat of Sauron. They have long been the friends of the
people of Gondor, though they are not akin to them. It was
in forgotten years long ago that Eorl the Young brought them
out of the North, and their kinship is rather with the Bardings
of Dale, and with the Beornings of the Wood, among whom
may still be seen many men tall and fair, as are the Riders of
Rohan. At least they will not love the Orcs.’
‘But Gandalf spoke of a rumour that they pay tribute to
Mordor,’ said Gimli.
‘I believe it no more than did Boromir,’ answered Aragorn.
‘You will soon learn the truth,’ said Legolas. ‘Already they
approach.’
At length even Gimli could hear the distant beat of galloping
hoofs. The horsemen, following the trail, had turned from
the river, and were drawing near the downs. They were riding
like the wind.
Now the cries of clear strong voices came ringing over the
fields. Suddenly they swept up with a noise like thunder, and
the foremost horseman swerved, passing by the foot of the
hill, and leading the host back southward along the western
skirts of the downs. After him they rode: a long line of mailclad
men, swift, shining, fell and fair to look upon.
Their horses were of great stature, strong and clean-