The Tale
We return to the time and
place Gandalf and Pippin parted with Merry. The hobbit joins Aragorn, Gimli,
and Legolas. They are all ready to ride. They will go with King Theoden to
Edoras, who, after the Nazgul sighting, wants to leave right away under the
cover of night to oversee the muster of the Riders of Rohan to go to the aid of
Minas Tirith. But he is not sure if that is his road.
Legolas and Gimli declare
that they will go with him wherever his way takes him, and Merry begs to go
along too. He doesn’t want to be left behind like baggage. Aragorn thinks he
will be safer with the Riders. Merry recalls he did promise to tell the King
all about the Shire. Aragorn thinks it may be long before Theoden sits in peace
in his house to listen to tales.
The company departs; twenty
four horses, with Legolas and Gimli riding double on Arod and Aragorn and Merry
on Hasufel. The King’s Company have not ridden far past the Fords of Isen when
they hear a band of horsemen approaching. Theoden calls a halt and they wait.
Aragorn dismounts and stands at the King’s side. Merry feels more like baggage
than ever. If there is a fight, what can he do? He can’t flee heedlessly into
the wild fields, to be lost again. ‘He drew his sword and tightened his belt.’
They can see dark shapes approaching in the moonlight, horses and riders, spears glinting, uncountable in the dim light but no less than their own company. When they are fifty paces away, Eomer calls for them to halt and asks who rides in Rohan? The pursuers halt, and one man comes forward, hand held open in token of peace. Rohan, did he say? That is good news indeed. They have been looking for Rohan.
Well, you’ve found it, Eomer
replies. But none ride here except by King Theoden’s leave. Who are you? ‘Halbarad
Dunadan, Ranger of the North I am.’ They are seeking Aragorn, son of Arathorn.
They heard he was in Rohan. Aragorn joyfully cries that he has found him. He
rushes forward and embraces the newcomer. This is a welcome if unexpected
surprise!
Merry is relieved. Not need
to die defending the King yet. He had feared some last trick of Saruman. He
sheathes his sword.
Aragorn introduces them as
kinsmen of his from the North. Halbarad says there are thirty with him, all
that could be gathered quickly, but also the sons of Elrond, Elladan and
Elrohir ride with them. All are here to answer his summons.
Aragorn replies he sent no
summons, except in thought, wishing they were here. He asks Theoden if they may
ride with his company, and Theoden gladly agrees. If these kinsmen are anything
like Aragorn, they will be ‘a strength that cannot be counted by heads.’
As they ride together,
Elrohir (Elrond’s son) tells Aragorn that his father sends this word of advice:
‘The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.’
Aragorn replies that he’ll really need haste before he takes that road. They
will not speak more of it under the open sky.
Aragorn asks Halbarad what
he is bearing. It is a tall staff with a furled black cloth bound with many
thongs. It comes with a message from Arwen, Lady of Rivendell, Elrond’s
daughter. ‘The days now are short. Either our hope cometh, or all hope’s
end. Therefore I send thee what I have made for you. Fare well, Elfstone!’ Aragorn
now knows what it is. He asks Halbarad to hold it for him for a while yet. ‘And
he turned and looked away to the North under the great stars, and then he fell
silent and spoke no more while the night’s journey lasted.’
Bits and Bobs
The Grey Company is of course the name given to Halbarad, the Dunadan Rangers, and the sons of Elrond, cloaked in Elven-grey, as they ride to Aragorn’s aid. Halbarad might mean (hal high + barad tower) in Sindarin. Elladan means (el elf + adan man), referring to his mixed heritage through Elrond to Earendil; Elrohir also means (el elf+ rohir knight, man); the brothers were twins, just like their father Elrond (who chose to be Elven) and his twin Elros (who chose to be mortal), first King of Numenor. This makes them distant relatives to Aragorn. They too will have the choice whether to remain Elven or to be human.
Aragorn says he sent no
summons; who actually called the Grey Company will be revealed shortly. The
Paths of the Dead are mentioned as a possibility; such a name of ill-omen is
not good to speak ‘under the open sky.’
Merry begins his journey
towards courage to stand in battle; he has been courageous before, but not in
this particular way. We are reminded of Arwen, not mentioned since Rivendell;
she will come to play an increasingly obvious part in Aragorn’s path of destiny,
not least by inspiration. Arwen calls him Elf-stone, ‘Elessar’, which will become
his kingly name, after the green and silver brooch Galadriel gave him in
Lothlorien.
Arwen’s use of ‘Fare well!’
as two words reminds us of the origin of the word ‘farewell’, not simply as a
way of saying goodbye, but as a wish that one will travel (fare’) safely (‘well’)
and to a purpose.
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