Northmen burned the hotter； and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitter。
Fewer were they but they clove through the Southrons like a fire…bolt in a forest。 Right through the
press drove Théoden Thengel's son； and his spear was shivered as he threw down their chieftain。
Out swept his sword； and he spurred to the standard； hewed staff and bearer； and the black serpent
foundered。 Then all that was left unslain of their cavalry turned and fled far away。
But lo！ suddenly in the midst of the glory of the king his golden shield was dimmed。 The new
morning was blotted from the sky。 Dark fell about him。 Horses reared and screamed。 Men cast from
the saddle lay grovelling on the ground。
'To me！ To me！' cried Théoden。 'Up Eorlingas！ Fear no darkness！' But Snowmane wild with
terror stood up on high； fighting with the air； and then with a great scream he crashed upon his side：
a black dart had pierced him。 The king fell beneath him。
The great shadow descended like a falling cloud。 And behold！ it was a winged creature： if bird；
then greater than all other birds； and it was naked； and neither quill nor feather did it bear； and its
vast pinions were as webs of hide between horned fingers； and it stank。 A creature of an older
world maybe it was； whose kind； fingering in forgotten mountains cold beneath the Moon；
outstayed their day； and in hideous eyrie bred this last untimely brood； apt to evil。 And the Dark
Lord took it； and nursed it with fell meats； until it grew beyond the measure of all other things that
fly； and he gave it to his servant to be his steed。 Down； down it came； and then； folding its fingered
webs； it gave a croaking cry； and settled upon the body of Snowmane； digging in its claws；
stooping its long naked neck。
Upon it sat a shape； black…mantled； huge and threatening。 A crown of steel he bore； but between
rim and robe naught was there to see； save only a deadly gleam of eyes： the Lord of the Nazg？l。 To
the air he had returned； summoning his steed ere the darkness failed； and now he was e again；
bringing ruin； turning hope to despair； and victory to death。 A great black mace he wielded。
But Théoden was not utterly forsaken。 The knights of his house lay slain about him； or else
mastered by the madness of their steeds were borne far away。 Yet one stood there still： Dernhelm
the young； faithful beyond fear； and he wept； for he had loved his lord as a father。 Right through the
charge Merry had been borne unharmed behind him； until the Shadow came； and then Windfola
had thrown them in his terror； and now ran wild upon the plain。 Merry crawled on all fours like a
dazed beast； and such a horror was on him that he was blind and sick。
'King's man！ King's man！' his heart cried within him。 'You must stay by him。 As a father you
shall be to me； you said。' But his will made no answer； and his body shook。 He dared not open his
eyes or look up。
Then out of the blackness in his mind he thought that he heard Dernhelm speaking； yet now the
voice seemed strange； recalling some other voice that he had known。
'Begone； foul dwimmerlaik； lord of carrion！ Leave the dead in peace！'
A cold voice answered： 'e not between the Nazg？l and his prey！ Or he will not slay thee in
thy turn。 He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation； beyond all darkness； where thy flesh
shall be devoured； and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye。'
A sword rang as it was drawn。 'Do what you will； but I will hinder it； if I may。'
'Hinder me？ Thou fool。 No living man may hinder me！'
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest。 It seemed that Dernhelm laughed； and
the clear voice was like the ring of steel。 'But no living man am I！ You look upon a woman。 éowyn
I am； éomund's daughter。 You stand between me and my lord and kin。 Begone； if you be not
deathless！ For living or dark undead； I will smite you； if you touch him。'
The winged creature screamed at her； but the Ringwraith made no answer； and was silent； as if
in sudden doubt。 Very amazement for a moment conquered Merry's fear。 He opened his eyes and
the blackness was lifted from them。 There some paces from him sat the great beast； and all seemed
dark about it； and above it loomed the Nazg？l Lord like a shadow of despair。 A little to the left
facing them stood she whom he had called Dernhelm。 But the helm of her secrecy； had fallen from
her； and her bright hair； released from its bonds； gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders。 Her
eyes grey as the sea were hard and fell； and yet tears were on her cheek。 A sword was in her hand；
and she raised her shield against the horror of her enemy's eyes。
éowyn it was； and Dernhelm also。 For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he
saw at the riding from Dunharrow： the face of one that goes seeking death； having no hope。 Pity
filled his heart and great wonder； and suddenly the slow…kindled courage of his race awoke。 He
clenched his hand。 She should not die； so fair； so desperate At least she should not die alone；
unaided。
The face of their enemy was not turned towards him； but still he hardly dared to move； dreading
lest the deadly eyes should fall on him。 Slowly； slowly he began to crawl aside； but the Black
Captain； in doubt and malice intent upon the woman before him； heeded him no more than a worm
in the mud。
Suddenly the great beast beat its hideous wings； and the wind of them was foul。 Again it leaped
into the air； and then swiftly fell down upon éowyn； shrieking； striking with beak and claw。
Still she did not blench： maiden of the Rohirrim； child of kings； slender but as a steel…blade； fair
but terrible。 A swift stroke she dealt； skilled and deadly。 The outstretched neck she clove asunder；
and the hewn head fell like a stone。 Backward she sprang as the huge shape crashed to ruin； vast
wings outspread； crumpled on the earth； and with its fall the shadow passed away。 A light fell about
her； and her hair shone in the sunrise。
Out of the wreck rose the Black Rider； tall and threatening； towering above her。 With a cry of
hatred that stung the very ears like venom he let fall his mace。 Her shield was shivered in many
pieces； and her arm was broken； she stumbled to her knees。 He bent over her like a cloud； and his
eyes glittered； he raised his mace to kill。
But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain； and his stroke went wide；
driving into the ground。 Merry's sword had stabbed him from behind； shearing through the black
mantle； and passing up beneath the hauberk had pierced the sinew behind his mighty knee。
'éowyn！ éowyn！' cried Merry。 Then tottering； struggling up； with her last strength she drove her
sword between crown and mantle； as the great shoulders bowed before her。 The sword broke
sparkling into many shards。 The crown rolled away with a clang。 éowyn fell forward upon her
fallen foe。 But lo！ the mantle and hauberk were empty。 Shapeless they lay now on the ground； torn
and tumbled； and a cry went up into the shuddering air； and faded to a shrill wailing； passing with
the wind； a voice bodiless and thin that died； and was swallowed up； and was never heard again in
that age of this world。
And there stood Meriadoc the hobbit in the midst of the slain； blinking like an owl in the
daylight； for tears blinded him； and through a mist he looked on éowyn's fair head； as she lay and
did not move； and he looked on the face of the king； fallen in the midst of his glory； For Snowmane
in his agony had rolled away from him again； yet he was the bane of his master。
Then Merry stooped and lifted his hand to kiss it； and lo！ Théoden opened his eyes； and they
were clear； and he spoke in a quiet voice though laboured。
'Farewell； Master Holbytla！' he said。 'My body is broken。 I go to my fathers。 And even in their
mighty pany I shall not now be ashamed。 I felled the black serpent。 A grim morn； and a glad
day； and a golden sunset！'
Merry could not speak； but wept anew。 'Forgive me； lord；' he said at last； 'if I broke your
mand； and yet have done no more in your service than to weep at our parting。'
The old king smiled。 'Grieve not！ It is forgiven。 Great heart will not be denied。 Live now in
blessedness； and when you sit in peace with your pipe； think of me！ For never now shall I sit with
you in Meduseld； as I promised； or listen to your herb…lore。' He closed his eyes； and Merry bowed
beside him。 Presently he spoke again。 'Where is éomer？ For my eyes darken； and I would see him
ere I go。 He must be king after me。 And I would send word to éowyn。 She； she would not have me
leave her； and now I shall not see her again； dearer than daughter。'
'Lord； lord；' began Merry brokenly； 'she is…'； but at that moment there was a great clamour； and
all about them horns and trumpets were blowing。 Merry looked round： he had forgotten the war；
and all the world beside； and many hours it seemed since the king rode to his fall； though in truth it
was only a little while。 But now he saw that they were in danger of being caught in the very midst
of the great battle that would soon be joined。
New forces of the enemy were hastening up the road from the River； and from under the walls
came the legions of Morgul； and from the southward fields came footmen of Harad with horsemen
before them； and behind them rose the huge backs of the _m？makil_ with war…towers upon them。
But northward the white crest of éomer led the great front of the Rohirrim which he had again
gathered and marshalled； and out of the City came all the strength of men that was in it； and the
silver swan of Dol Amroth was borne in the van； driving the enemy from the Gate。
For a moment the thought flitted through Merry's mind： 'Where is Gandalf？ Is he not here？
Could he not have saved the king and éowyn？' But thereupon éomer rode up in haste； and with him
came the knights of the household that still lived and had now mastered their horses。 They looked
in wonder at the carcase of the fell beast that lay there： and their steeds would not