Gimli had his axe in hand, and Legolas his long knife: all his arrows were spent. They came from the western slopes of the hill, silently, creeping through the trees as if they were hunting. So it was that Legolas and Gimli found him. He knelt for a while, bent with weeping, still clasping Boromir's hand. What shall I do now? Boromir has laid it on me to go to Minas Tirith, and my heart desires it but where are the Ring and the Bearer? How shall I find them and save the Quest from disaster?' 'Thus passes the heir of Denethor, Lord of the Tower of Guard! This is a bitter end. 'Which way did they go? Was Frodo there?' said Aragorn. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!' 'No!' said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. 'Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed.' Orcs bound them.' He paused and his eyes closed wearily. 'They have gone: the Halflings: the Orcs have taken them. I have paid.' His glance strayed to his fallen enemies twenty at least lay there. 'I tried to take the Ring from Frodo,' he said. Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. Many Orcs lay slain, piled all about him and at his feet.Īragorn knelt beside him. But Aragorn saw that he was pierced with many black-feathered arrows his sword was still in his hand, but it was broken near the hilt his horn cloven in two was at his side. He was sitting with his back to a great tree, as if he was resting. Drawing his bright sword and crying Elendil! Elendil! he crashed through the trees.Ī mile, maybe, from Parth Galen in a little glade not far from the lake he found Boromir. Aragorn raced down the last slope, but before he could reach the hill's foot, the sounds died away and as he turned to the left and ran towards them they retreated, until at last he could hear them no more. Fierce and shrill rose the yells of the Orcs, and suddenly the horn-calls ceased. Where is Sam?'Īs he ran the cries came louder, but fainter now and desperately the horn was blowing. 'Alas! An ill fate is on me this day, and all that I do goes amiss. 'He is in need!' He sprang down the steps and away, leaping down the path. Then suddenly with a deep-throated call a great horn blew, and the blasts of it smote the hills and echoed in the hollows, rising in a mighty shout above the roaring of the falls. There were cries, and among them, to his horror, he could distinguish the harsh voices of Orcs. He turned from the North back again to North, and saw nothing save the distant hills, unless it were that far away he could see again a great bird like an eagle high in the air, descending slowly in wide circles down towards the earth.Įven as he gazed his quick ears caught sounds in the woodlands below, on the west side of the River. But the sun seemed darkened, and the world dim and remote. Then sitting in the high seat he looked out. Suddenly he leaped forward, and ran to the summit, across the great flag-stones, and up the steps. He desired to go to the high seat himself, hoping to see there something that would guide him in his perplexities but time was pressing. I wonder what he saw there? But he returned by the same way, and went down the hill again.'Īragorn hesitated. 'I read the signs aright,' he said to himself. Hobbits go light, and their footprints are not easy even for a Ranger to read, but not far from the top a spring crossed the path, and in the wet earth he saw what he was seeking. Every now and again he bent to the ground.
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