return

1300 the return of the king
slowly, and kept no watch. We thought we’d left all trouble
behind us.’
‘Ah, that you haven’t, Master, more’s the pity,’ said
Butterbur. ‘But it’s no wonder they left you alone. They
wouldn’t go for armed folk, with swords and helmets and
shields and all. Make them think twice, that would. And I
must say it put me aback a bit when I saw you.’
Then the hobbits suddenly realized that people had looked
at them with amazement not out of surprise at their return
so much as in wonder at their gear. They themselves had
become so used to warfare and to riding in well-arrayed
companies that they had quite forgotten that the bright mail
peeping from under their cloaks, and the helms of Gondor
and the Mark, and the fair devices on their shields, would
seem outlandish in their own country. And Gandalf, too, was
now riding on his tall grey horse, all clad in white with a
great mantle of blue and silver over all, and the long sword
Glamdring at his side.
Gandalf laughed. ‘Well, well,’ he said, ‘if they are afraid of
just five of us, then we have met worse enemies on our travels.
But at any rate they will give you peace at night while we
stay.’
‘How long will that be?’ said Butterbur. ‘I’ll not deny we
should be glad to have you about for a bit. You see, we’re
not used to such troubles; and the Rangers have all gone
away, folk tell me. I don’t think we’ve rightly understood till
now what they did for us. For there’s been worse than robbers
about. Wolves were howling round the fences last winter.
And there’s dark shapes in the woods, dreadful things that
it makes the blood run cold to think of. It’s been very
disturbing, if you understand me.’
‘I expect it has,’ said Gandalf. ‘Nearly all lands have been
disturbed these days, very disturbed. But cheer up, Barliman!
You have been on the edge of very great troubles, and I am
only glad to hear that you have not been deeper in. But better
times are coming. Maybe, better than any you remember.
The Rangers have returned. We came back with them. And