The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien

hall, on the north side of the citadel, where they had sat.
‘It is a black night, and all the blacker since orders came that lights are to be dimmed within the City, and none are to
shine out from the walls. And I can give you news of another order: you will be summoned to the Lord Denethor early tomorrow.
I fear you will not be for the Third Company. Still we may hope to meet again. Farewell and sleep in peace!’
    The lodging was dark, save for a little lantern set on the table. Gandalf was not there. Gloom settled still more heavily
on Pippin. He climbed on the bench and tried to peer out of a window, but it was like looking into a pool of ink. He got down
and closed the shutter and went to bed. For a while he lay and listened for sounds of Gandalf’s return, and then he fell into
an uneasy sleep.
    In the night he was wakened by a light, and he saw that Gandalf had come and was pacing to and fro in the room beyond the
curtain of the alcove. There were candles on thetable and rolls of parchment. He heard the wizard sigh, and mutter: ‘When will Faramir return?’
    ‘Hullo!’ said Pippin, poking his head round the curtain. ‘I thought you had forgotten all about me. I am glad to see you back.
It has been a long day.’
    ‘But the night will be too short,’ said Gandalf. ‘I have come back here, for I must have a little peace, alone. You should
sleep, in a bed while you still may. At the sunrise I shall take you to the Lord Denethor again. No, when the summons comes,
not at sunrise. The Darkness has begun. There will be no dawn.’

Chapter
2
THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY
    Gandalf was gone, and the thudding hoofs of Shadowfax were lost in the night, when Merry came back to Aragorn. He had only
a light bundle, for he had lost his pack at Parth Galen, and all he had was a few useful things he had picked up among the
wreckage of Isengard. Hasufel was already saddled. Legolas and Gimli with their horse stood close by.
    ‘So four of the Company still remain,’ said Aragorn. ‘We will ride on together. But we shall not go alone, as I thought. The
king is now determined to set out at once. Since the coming of the winged shadow, he desires to return to the hills under
cover of night.’
    ‘And then whither?’ said Legolas.
    ‘I cannot say yet,’ Aragorn answered. ‘As for the king, he will go to the muster that he commanded at Edoras, four nights
from now. And there, I think, he will hear tidings of war, and the Riders of Rohan will go down to Minas Tirith. But for myself,
and any that will go with me …’
    ‘I for one!’ cried Legolas. ‘And Gimli with him!’ said the Dwarf.
    ‘Well, for myself,’ said Aragorn, ‘it is dark before me. I must go down also to Minas Tirith, but I do not yet see the road.
An hour long prepared approaches.’
    ‘Don’t leave me behind!’ said Merry. ‘I have not been of much use yet; but I don’t want to be laid aside, like baggage to
be called for when all is over. I don’t think the Riders will want to be bothered with me now. Though, of course, the king
did say that I was to sit by him when he came to his house and tell him all about the Shire.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Aragorn, ‘and your road lies with him, I think, Merry. But do not look for mirth at the ending. It will belong, I fear, ere Théoden sits at ease again in Meduseld. Many hopes will wither in this bitter Spring.’
    Soon all were ready to depart: twenty-four horses, with Gimli behind Legolas, and Merry in front of Aragorn. Presently they
were riding swiftly through the night. They had not long passed the mounds at the Fords of Isen, when a Rider galloped up
from the rear of their line.
    ‘My lord,’ he said to the king, ‘there are horsemen behind us. As we crossed the fords I thought that I heard them. Now we
are sure. They are overtaking us, riding hard.’
    Théoden at once called a halt. The Riders turned about and seized their spears. Aragorn dismounted and set Merry on the