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so that many also of the riders of the first _éored_ heard him：
'Now is the hour e； Riders of the Mark； sons of Eorl！ Foes and fire are before you； and your
homes far behind。 Yet； though you fight upon an alien field； the glory that you reap there shall be
your own for ever。 Oaths ye have taken： now fulfil them all； to lord and land and league of
friendship！'
Men clashed spear upon shield。
'éomer； my son！ You lead the first _éored_；' said Théoden； 'and it shall go behind the king's
banner in the centre。 Elfhelm； lead your pany to the right when we pass the wall。 And
Grimbold shall lead his towards the left。 Let the other panies behind follow these three that
lead； as they have chance。 Strike wherever the enemy gathers。 Other plans we cannot make； for we
know not yet how things stand upon the field。 Forth now； and fear no darkness！'
The leading pany rode off as swiftly as they could； for it was still deep dark； whatever
change Wídfara might forebode。 Merry was riding behind Dernhelm； clutching with the left hand
while with the other he tried to loosen his sword in its sheath。 He felt now bitterly the truth of the
old king's words： _in such a battle what would you do Meriadoc？_ Just this；' he thought： 'encumber
a rider； and hope at best to stay in my seat and not be pounded to death by galloping hoofs！'
It was no more than a league to where the out…walls had stood。 They soon reached them； too
soon for Merry。 Wild cries broke out； and there was some clash of arms； but it was brief。 The orcs
busy about the walls were few and amazed； and they were quickly slain or driven off。 Before the
ruin of the north…gate in the Rammas the king halted again。 The first _éored_ drew up behind him
and about him on either side。 Dernhelm kept close to the king； though Elfhelm's pany was
away on the right。 Grimbold's men turned aside and passed round to a great gap in the wall further
eastward。
Merry peered from behind Dernhelm's back。 Far away； maybe ten miles or more； there was a
great burning； but between it and the Riders lines of fire blazed in a vast crescent； at the nearest
point less than a league distant。 He could make out little more on the dark plain； and as yet he
neither saw any hope of morning； nor felt any wind； changed or unchanged。
Now silently the host of Rohan moved forward into the field of Gondor； pouring in slowly but
steadily； like the rising tide through breaches in a dike that men have thought secure。 But the mind
and will of the Black Captain were bent wholly on the falling city； and as yet no tidings came to
him warning that his designs held any flaw。
After a while the king led his men away somewhat eastward； to e between the fires of the
siege and the outer fields。 Still they were unchallenged； and still Théoden gave no signal。 At last he
halted once again。 The City was now nearer。 A smell of burning was in the air and a very shadow
of death。 The horses were uneasy。 But the king sat upon Snowmane； motionless； gazing upon the
agony of Minas Tirith； as if stricken suddenly by anguish； or by dread。 He seemed to shrink down；
cowed by age。 Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him。 His
heart beat slowly。 Time seemed poised in uncertainty。 They were too late！ Too late was worse than
never！ Perhaps Théoden would quail； bow his old head； turn； slink away to hide in the hills。
Then suddenly Merry felt it at last； beyond doubt： a change。 Wind was in his face！ Light was
glimmering。 Far； far away； in the South the clouds could be dimly seen as remote grey shapes；
rolling up； drifting： morning lay beyond them。
But at that same moment there was a flash； as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the
City。 For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white； its topmost tower like a
glittering needle： and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great
_boom_。
At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect。 Tall and proud he seemed again；
and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice； more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal
man achieve before：
Arise； arise； Riders of Théoden！
Fell deeds awake： fire and slaughter！
spear shall be shaken； shield be splintered；
a sword…day； a red day； ere the sun rises！
Ride now； ride now！ Ride to Gondor！
With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner…bearer； and he blew such a blast upon it
that it burst asunder。 And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music； and the
blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the
mountains。
Ride now； ride now！ Ride to Gondor！
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away。 Behind him his banner blew
in the wind； white horse upon a field of green； but he outpaced it。 After him thundered the knights
of his house； but he was ever before them。 éomer rode there； the white horsetail on his helm
floating in his speed； and the front of the first _éored_ roared like a breaker foaming to the shore；
but Théoden could not be overtaken。 Fey he seemed； or the battle…fury of his fathers ran like new
tire in his veins； and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old； even as Orom？ the Great in
the battle of the Valar when the world was young。 His golden shield was uncovered； and lo！ it
shone like an image of the Sun； and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed。
For morning came； morning and a wind from the sea； and the darkness was removed； and the hosts
of Mordor wailed； and terror took them； and they fled； and died； and the hoofs of wrath rode over
them。 And then all the host of Rohan burst into song； and they sang as they slew； for the joy of
battle was on them； and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City。
_Chapter 6_
The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
But it was no orc…chieftain or brigand that led the assault upon Gondor。 The darkness was
breaking too soon； before the date that his Master had set for it： fortune had betrayed him for the
moment； and the world had turned against him； victory was slipping from his grasp even as he
stretched out his hand to seize it。 But his arm was long。 He was still in mand； wielding great
powers。 King； Ringwraith； Lord of the Nazg？l； he had many weapons。 He left the Gate and
vanished。
Théoden King of the Mark had reached the road from the Gate to the River； and he turned
towards the City that was now less than a mile distant。 He slackened his speed a little； seeking new
foes； and his knights came about him； and Dernhelm was with them。 Ahead nearer the walls
Elfhelm's men were among the siege…engines； hewing； slaying； driving their foes into the fire…pits。
Well nigh all the northern half of the Pelennor was overrun； and there camps were blazing； orcs
were flying towards the River like herds before the hunters； and the Rohirrim went hither and
thither at their will。 But they had not yet overthrown the siege； nor won the Gate。 Many foes stood
before it； and on the further half of the plain were other hosts still unfought。 Southward beyond the
road lay the main force of the Haradrim； and there their horsemen were gathered about the standard
of their chieftain。 And he looked out； and in the growing light he saw the banner of the king； and
that it was far ahead of the battle with few men about it。 Then he was filled with a red wrath and
shouted aloud； and displaying his standard； black serpent upon scarlet； he came against the white
horse and the green with great press of men； and the drawing of the scimitars of the Southrons was
like a glitter of stars。
Then Théoden was aware of him； and would not wait for his onset； but crying to Snowmane he
charged headlong to greet him。 Great was the clash of their meeting。 But the white fury of the
Northmen burned the hotter； and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitte