return

1020 the return of the king
will ride east by the swiftest way, and I will take the Paths of
the Dead.’
‘The Paths of the Dead!’ said Théoden, and trembled.
‘Why do you speak of them?’ Éomer turned and gazed
at Aragorn, and it seemed to Merry that the faces of the
Riders that sat within hearing turned pale at the words. ‘If
there be in truth such paths,’ said Théoden, ‘their gate is in
Dunharrow; but no living man may pass it.’
‘Alas! Aragorn my friend!’ said Éomer. ‘I had hoped that
we should ride to war together; but if you seek the Paths of
the Dead, then our parting is come, and it is little likely that
we shall ever meet again under the Sun.’
‘That road I will take, nonetheless,’ said Aragorn. ‘But I
say to you, Éomer, that in battle we may yet meet again,
though all the hosts of Mordor should stand between.’
‘You will do as you will, my lord Aragorn,’ said Théoden.
‘It is your doom, maybe, to tread strange paths that others
dare not. This parting grieves me, and my strength is lessened
by it; but now I must take the mountain-roads and delay no
longer. Farewell!’
‘Farewell, lord!’ said Aragorn. ‘Ride unto great renown!
Farewell, Merry! I leave you in good hands, better than we
hoped when we hunted the orcs to Fangorn. Legolas and
Gimli will still hunt with me, I hope; but we shall not forget
you.’
‘Good-bye!’ said Merry. He could find no more to say. He
felt very small, and he was puzzled and depressed by all these
gloomy words. More than ever he missed the unquenchable
cheerfulness of Pippin. The Riders were ready, and their
horses were fidgeting; he wished they would start and get it
over.
Now Théoden spoke to Éomer, and he lifted up his hand
and cried aloud, and with that word the Riders set forth.
They rode over the Dike and down the Coomb, and then,
turning swiftly eastwards, they took a path that skirted the
foothills for a mile or so, until bending south it passed back
among the hills and disappeared from view. Aragorn rode to