return

1022 the return of the king
he saw me, but in other guise than you see me here. If that
will aid him, then I have done ill. But I do not think so. To
know that I lived and walked the earth was a blow to his
heart, I deem; for he knew it not till now. The eyes in Orthanc
did not see through the armour of Théoden; but Sauron has
not forgotten Isildur and the sword of Elendil. Now in the
very hour of his great designs the heir of Isildur and the
Sword are revealed; for I showed the blade re-forged to him.
He is not so mighty yet that he is above fear; nay, doubt ever
gnaws him.’
‘But he wields great dominion, nonetheless,’ said Gimli;
‘and now he will strike more swiftly.’
‘The hasty stroke goes oft astray,’ said Aragorn. ‘We must
press our Enemy, and no longer wait upon him for the move.
See my friends, when I had mastered the Stone, I learned
many things. A grave peril I saw coming unlooked-for upon
Gondor from the South that will draw off great strength from
the defence of Minas Tirith. If it is not countered swiftly, I
deem that the City will be lost ere ten days be gone.’
‘Then lost it must be,’ said Gimli. ‘For what help is there
to send thither, and how could it come there in time?’
‘I have no help to send, therefore I must go myself,’ said
Aragorn. ‘But there is only one way through the mountains
that will bring me to the coastlands before all is lost. That is
the Paths of the Dead.’
‘The Paths of the Dead!’ said Gimli. ‘It is a fell name; and
little to the liking to the Men of Rohan, as I saw. Can the
living use such a road and not perish? And even if you pass
that way, what will so few avail to counter the strokes of
Mordor?’
‘The living have never used that road since the coming of
the Rohirrim,’ said Aragorn, ‘for it is closed to them. But in
this dark hour the heir of Isildur may use it, if he dare. Listen!
This is the word that the sons of Elrond bring to me from
their father in Rivendell, wisest in lore: Bid Aragorn remember
the words of the seer, and the Paths of the Dead.’
‘And what may be the words of the seer?’ said Legolas.