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the muster of rohan 1049
Éomer went out, and presently the trumpets rang in the
Hold and were answered by many others from below; but
their voices no longer sounded clear and brave as they had
seemed to Merry the night before. Dull they seemed and
harsh in the heavy air, braying ominously.
The king turned to Merry. ‘I am going to war, Master
Meriadoc,’ he said. ‘In a little while I shall take the road. I
release you from my service, but not from my friendship.
You shall abide here, and if you will, you shall serve the Lady
Éowyn, who will govern the folk in my stead.’
‘But, but, lord,’ Merry stammered, ‘I offered you my
sword. I do not want to be parted from you like this, Théoden
King. And as all my friends have gone to the battle, I should
be ashamed to stay behind.’
‘But we ride on horses tall and swift,’ said Théoden; ‘and
great though your heart be, you cannot ride on such beasts.’
‘Then tie me on to the back of one, or let me hang on a
stirrup, or something,’ said Merry. ‘It is a long way to run;
but run I shall, if I cannot ride, even if I wear my feet off and
arrive weeks too late.’
Théoden smiled. ‘Rather than that I would bear you with
me on Snowmane,’ he said. ‘But at the least you shall ride
with me to Edoras and look on Meduseld; for that way I shall
go. So far Stybba can bear you: the great race will not begin
till we reach the plains.’
Then Éowyn rose up. ‘Come now, Meriadoc!’ she said. ‘I
will show you the gear that I have prepared for you.’ They
went out together. ‘This request only did Aragorn make to
me,’ said Éowyn, as they passed among the tents, ‘that you
should be armed for battle. I have granted it, as I could. For
my heart tells me that you will need such gear ere the end.’
Now she led Merry to a booth among the lodges of the
king’s guard; and there an armourer brought out to her a
small helm, and a round shield, and other gear.
‘No mail have we to fit you,’ said Éowyn, ‘nor any time
for the forging of such a hauberk; but here is also a stout