return

1014 the return of the king
‘Rohan? Rohan did you say? That is a glad word. We seek
that land in haste from long afar.’
‘You have found it,’ said Éomer. ‘When you crossed the
fords yonder you entered it. But it is the realm of Théoden
the King. None ride here save by his leave. Who are you?
And what is your haste?’
‘Halbarad Dúnadan, Ranger of the North I am,’ cried the
man. ‘We seek one Aragorn son of Arathorn, and we heard
that he was in Rohan.’
‘And you have found him also!’ cried Aragorn. Giving his
reins to Merry, he ran forward and embraced the newcomer.
‘Halbarad!’ he said. ‘Of all joys this is the least expected!’
Merry breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought that this
was some last trick of Saruman’s, to waylay the king while he
had only a few men about him; but it seemed that there would
be no need to die in Théoden’s defence, not yet at any rate.
He sheathed his sword.
‘All is well,’ said Aragorn, turning back. ‘Here are some of
my own kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why they
come, and how many they be, Halbarad shall tell us.’
‘I have thirty with me,’ said Halbarad. ‘That is all of our kindred
that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan
and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war.
We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came.’
‘But I did not summon you,’ said Aragorn, ‘save only in
wish. My thoughts have often turned to you, and seldom
more than tonight; yet I have sent no word. But come! All
such matters must wait. You find us riding in haste and
danger. Ride with us now, if the king will give his leave.’
Théoden was indeed glad of the news. ‘It is well!’ he said.
‘If these kinsmen be in any way like to yourself, my lord
Aragorn, thirty such knights will be a strength that cannot be
counted by heads.’
Then the Riders set out again, and Aragorn for a while
rode with the Dúnedain; and when they had spoken of tidings
in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him: