Legolas and Gimli roused Merry a little before noon and the camp was busy with movement. They had spent the night in the Deeping Coomb. The three comrades spoke and walked together. Aragorn was not present, he had spent the night with Halbarad, Elladan, and Elrohir. Legolas and Gimli took Merry around the battlefield talking of Helm's Deep. They discussed the Rangers and why they had come. Legolas thought that they had been summoned by Galadriel as she read Aragorn's desires in Lothlorien. Eventually they turned back and rejoined the camp.
King Theoden called for Merry to take lunch with him so they could talk; the king was regretful it was not Edoras but he was not certain that time would allow them to reach his royal house. Perhaps to make up for that Theode requested that Merry ride with him. This delighted the hobbit who had felt useless so far and extremely lonely now that Pippin was gone. "Filled suddenly with love for this old man, he knelt on one knee, and took his hand and kissed it. 'May I lay the sword of Meriadoc of the Shire on your lap Theoden King?' he cried. 'Receive my service, if you will.' 'Gladly I will take it,' said the king; and laying his old hands upon the brown hair of the hobbit, he blessed him" (p. 50, The Return of the King). This is a perfect example of why I am completely captivated by Tolkien's Middle-earth. These are men of honor. They live by an honor code; Merry offers up his service and even his life for this old king who does not discount this honorable act though a Halfling has little to offer. I, more than anything, want to be a man of honor. Middle-earth shows me the way.
At last the hour was nigh for them to depart. Aragron was called. It was clear he had slept none and was very grim. He spoke with Theoden about his troubled mind and asked how long it would be before they reached Edoras. Eomer guessed three days with the muster of Rohan beginning the next. This made up Aragorn's mind and he declared he would now part from the Theoden and travel the Path's of the Dead. This greatly dismayed the Men of Rohan but they parted ways with Merry leaving him with Theoden. Aragorn called Gimli and Legolas to eat with him and discuss his plans. He revealed to them that he had looked into the Orthanc stone which alarmed Gimli. The dwarf questioned the wisdom in that action.
"'You forget to whom you speak,' said Aragorn sternly...'Nay, my friends, I am the lawful master of the Stone, and I had both the right and the strength to use it, or so I judged. The right cannot be doubted. The strength was enough--barely'" (p. 53, The Return of the King). Aragorn had revealed himself to Sauron and wrenched control of the Stone away from the Dark Lord. Aragorn was sure this would produce fear and doubt in Sauron, especially after seeing the sword of Elendil reforged. While the deed could provoke Sauron to strike it would most likely produce action quicker than Sauron planned which could aid his foes. As he looked in the Stone Aragorn saw Minis Tirith's end coming soon as an unforseen enemy was approaching the city. Therefore, he needed all haste and it was this need that led him to choose the Paths of the Dead. He recited the words of Malbeth the Seer to Gimli and Legolas.
Aragorn explained that long ago the Men of the Mountains made an oath to Isildur at the Stone of Erech to fight against Sauron but they did not come when called. Isildur placed a curse on them to rest never until the oath was fulfilled. This seemed to Aragorn the only help he could muster to help Gondor in both time and strength. Being Isildur's heir he could revoke the curse should the Dead fight but it was not clear what they were riding into. Though the path was ominous both Gimli and Legolas pledged to follow Aragorn to whatever end. With that they rose, mounted horses, and along with the Rangers and Elrond's sons departed for the Stone of Erech.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 6th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 48-56
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