'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 ing 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 e
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 ing 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。
〃Thus spoke Malbeth the Seer； in the days of Arvedui； last king at Fornost；' said Aragorn：
Over the land there lies a long shadow；
westward reaching wings of darkness。
The Tower trembles； to the tombs of kings
doom approaches。 The Dead awaken；
for the hour is e for the oathbreakers；
at the Stone of Erech they shall stand again
and hear there a horn in the hills ringing。
Whose shall the horn be？ Who shall call them
from the prey twilight； the forgotten people？
The heir of him to whom the oath they swore。
From the North shall he e； need shall drive him：
he shall pass the Door to the Paths of the Dead。
'Dark ways doubtless； said Gimli； but no darker than these staves are to me。'
'If you would understand them better； then I bid you e with me；' said Aragorn； 'for that way I
now shall take。 But I do not go gladly； only need drives me。 Therefore； only of your free will would
I have you e； for you will find both toil and great fear； and maybe worse。'
'I will go with you even on the Paths of the Dead； and to whatever； end they may lead；' said
Gimli。
'I also will e；' said Legolas； 'for I do not fear the Dead。'
'I hope that the forgotten people will not have forgotten how to fight；' said Gimli； 'for otherwise I
see not why we should trouble them。'
'That we shall know if ever we e to Erech；' said Aragorn。 'But the oath that they broke was
to fight against Sauron； and they must fight therefore； if they are to fulfil it。 For at Erech there
stands yet a black stone that was brought； it was said； from Númenor by Isildur； and it was set upon
a hill； and upon it the King of the Mountains swore allegiance to him in the beginning of the realm
of Gondor。 But when Sauron returned and grew in might again； Isildur summoned the Men of the
Mountains to fulfil their oath； and they would not： for they had worshipped Sauron in the Dark
Years。
'Then Isildur said to their king： 〃Thou shalt be the last king。 And if the West prove mightier than
thy Black Master； this curse I lay upon thee and thy folk： to rest never until your oath is fulfilled。
For this war will last through years uncounted； and you shall be summoned once again ere the end。〃
And they fled before the wrath of Isildur； and did not dare to go forth to war on Sauron's part； and
they hid themselves in secret places in the mountains and had no dealings with other men； but
slowly dwindled in the barren hills。 And the terror of the Sleepless Dead lies about the Hill of
Erech and all places where that people lingered。 But that way I must go； since there are none living
to help me。'
He stood up。 'e！' he cried； and drew his sword； and it flashed in the twilit hall of the Burg。
'To the Stone of Erech！ I seek the Paths of the Dead。 e with me who will！'
Legolas and Gimli made no answer； but they rose and followed Aragorn from the hall。 On the
green there waited； still and silent； the hooded Rangers。 Legolas and Gimli mounted。 Aragorn
sprang upon Roheryn。 Then Halbarad lifted a great horn； and the blast of it echoed in Helm's Deep；
and with that they leapt away； riding down the Coomb like thunder； while all the men that were left
on Dike or Burg stared in amaze。
And while Théoden went by slow paths in the hills； the Grey pany passed swiftly over the
plain； and on the next day in the afternoon they came to Edoras； and there they halted only briefly；
ere they passed up the valley； and so came to Dunharrow as darkness fell。
The Lady éowyn greeted them and was glad of their ing； for no mightier men had she seen
than the Dúnedain and the fair sons of Elrond； but on Aragorn most of all her eyes rested。 And
when they sat at supper with her； they talked together； and she heard of all that had passed since
Théoden rode away； concerning which only hasty tidings had yet reached her； and when she heard
of the battle in Helm's Deep and the great slaughter of their foes； and of the charge of Théoden and
his knights； then her eyes shone。
But at last she said： 'Lords； you are weary and shall now go to your beds with such ease as can
be contrived in haste。 But tomorrow fairer housing shall be found for you。'
But Aragorn said： 'Nay； lady； be not troubled for us！ If we may lie here tonight and break our
fast tomorrow； it will be enough。 For I ride on an errand most urgent； and with the first light of
morning we must go。'
She smiled on him and said： 'Then it was kindly done； lord； to ride so many miles out of your
way to bring tidings to éowyn； and to speak with her in her exile。'
'Indeed no man would count such a journey wasted；' said Aragorn； 'and yet； lady； I could not
have e hither； if it were not that the road which I must take leads me to Dunharrow。'
And she answered as one that likes not what is said： 〃Then； lord； you are astray； for out of
Harrowdale no road runs east or south； and you had best return as you came。'
'Nay； lady；' said he； 'I am not astray； for I walked in this land ere you were born to grace it。
There is a road out of this valley； and that road I shall take。 Tomorrow I shall ride by the Paths of
the Dead。'
Then she stared at him as one that is stricken； and her face blanched； and for long she spoke no
more； while all sat silent。 'But； Aragorn；' she said at last； 'is it then your errand to seek death？ For
that is all that you will find on that road。 They do not suffer the living to pass。'
'They may suffer me to pass；' said Aragorn； 'but at the least I will adventure it。 No other road
will serve。'
'But this is madness；' she said。 'For here are men of renown and prowess； whom you should not
take into the shadows； but should lead to war； where men are needed。 I beg you to remain and ride
with my brother； for then all our hearts will be gladdened； and our hope be the brighter。'
'It is not madness； lady；' he answered； 'for I go on a path appointed。 But those who follow me do
so of their free will； and if they wish now to remain and ride with the Rohirrim； they may do so。
But I shall take the Paths of the Dead； alone； if needs be。'
Then they said no more； and they ate in silence； but her eyes were ever upon Aragorn； and the
others saw that she was in great torment of mind。 At length they arose； and took their leave of the
Lady； and thanked her for her care； and went to their rest。
But as Aragorn came to the booth where he was to lodge with Legolas and Gimli； and his
panions had gone in。 there came the Lady éowyn after him and called to him。 He turned and
saw her as a glimmer in the night； for she was clad in white； but her eyes were on fire。
'Aragorn；' she said； 'why will you go on this deadly road？'
'Because I must；' he said。 'Only so can I see any hope of doing my part in the war against Sauron。
I do not choose paths of peril； éowyn。 Were I to go where my heart dwells； far in the North I would
now be wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell。'
For a while she was silent； as if pondering what this might mean。 Then suddenly she laid her
hand on his arm。 'You are a stern lord and resolute；' she said； 'and thus do men win renown。' She
paused。 'Lord。' she said； 'if you must go； then let me ride in your following。 For I am weary of
skulking in the hills； and wish to face peril and battle。'
'Your duty is with your people；' he answered。
'Too often have I heard of duty；' she cried。 'But am I not of the House of Eorl； a shieldmaiden
and not a dry…nurse？ I have waited on faltering feet long enough。 Since they falter no longer； it
seems； may I not now spend my life as I will？'
'Few may do that with honour；' he answered。 'But as for you； lady： did you not accept the charge
to govern the people until their lord's return？ If you had not been chosen； then some marshal or
captain would have been set in the same place； and he could not ride away from his charge； were he
weary of it or no。'
'Shall I always be chosen？' she said bitterly。 'Shall I always be left behind when the Riders
depart； to mind the house while they win renown； and find food and beds when they return？'
'A time may e soon；' said he； 'when none will return。 Then there will be need of valour
without renown； for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes。
Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised。'
And she answered： 'All your words are but to say： you are a woman； and your part is in the
house。 But when the men have died in battle and honour； you have leave to be burned in the house；
for the men will need it no more。 But I am