return

1090 the return of the king
behind, what matter? If the Stone-city falls, then we shall
have no returning. If it is saved, then the orc-host itself will
be cut off. If you are faithful, Ghân-buri-Ghân, then we will
give you rich reward, and you shall have the friendship of the
Mark for ever.’
‘Dead men are not friends to living men, and give them no
gifts,’ said the Wild Man. ‘But if you live after the Darkness,
then leave Wild Men alone in the woods and do not hunt
them like beasts any more. Ghân-buri-Ghân will not lead you
into trap. He will go himself with father of Horse-men, and
if he leads you wrong, you will kill him.’
‘So be it!’ said Théoden.
‘How long will it take to pass by the enemy and come back
to the road?’ asked Éomer. ‘We must go at foot-pace, if you
guide us; and I doubt not the way is narrow.’
‘Wild Men go quick on feet,’ said Ghân. ‘Way is wide for
four horses in Stonewain Valley yonder,’ he waved his hand
southwards; ‘but narrow at beginning and at end. Wild Man
could walk from here to Dîn between sunrise and noon.’
‘Then we must allow at least seven hours for the leaders,’
said Éomer; ‘but we must reckon rather on some ten hours
for all. Things unforeseen may hinder us, and if our host is
all strung out, it will be long ere it can be set in order when
we issue from the hills. What is the hour now?’
‘Who knows?’ said Théoden. ‘All is night now.’
‘It is all dark, but it is not all night,’ said Ghân. ‘When Sun
comes we feel her, even when she is hidden. Already she climbs
over East-mountains. It is the opening of day in the sky-fields.’
‘Then we must set out as soon as may be,’ said Éomer.
‘Even so we cannot hope to come to Gondor’s aid today.’
Merry waited to hear no more, but slipped away to get
ready for the summons to the march. This was the last stage
before the battle. It did not seem likely to him that many of
them would survive it. But he thought of Pippin and the
flames in Minas Tirith and thrust down his own dread.
All went well that day, and no sight or sound had they of