°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
climbed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡mountain¡tops¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡gone¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'You¡¡are¡¡grieved£»¡¡daughter£»'¡¡said¡¡Th¨¦oden¡£¡¡'What¡¡has¡¡happened£¿¡¡Tell¡¡me£»¡¡did¡¡he¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡that¡¡
road£¿'¡¡He¡¡pointed¡¡away¡¡along¡¡the¡¡darkening¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡stones¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Dwimorberg¡£¡¡'Of¡¡the¡¡Paths¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡Dead£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Yes£»¡¡lord£»'¡¡said¡¡¨¦owyn¡£¡¡'And¡¡he¡¡has¡¡passed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡from¡¡which¡¡none¡¡have¡¡returned¡£¡¡I¡¡
could¡¡not¡¡dissuade¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡gone¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Then¡¡our¡¡paths¡¡are¡¡sundered£»'¡¡said¡¡¨¦omer¡£¡¡'He¡¡is¡¡lost¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡ride¡¡without¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡our¡¡hope¡¡
dwindles¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Slowly¡¡they¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡short¡¡heath¡¡and¡¡upland¡¡grass£»¡¡speaking¡¡no¡¡more£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡came¡¡
to¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡pavilion¡£¡¡There¡¡Merry¡¡found¡¡that¡¡everything¡¡was¡¡made¡¡ready£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡himself¡¡was¡¡
not¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡A¡¡little¡¡tent¡¡had¡¡been¡¡pitched¡¡for¡¡him¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡lodging£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡alone£»¡¡
while¡¡men¡¡passed¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro£»¡¡going¡¡in¡¡to¡¡the¡¡king¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡counsel¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡Night¡¡came¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡
the¡¡half¡seen¡¡heads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡westward¡¡were¡¡crowned¡¡with¡¡stars£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡East¡¡was¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡
blank¡£¡¡The¡¡marching¡¡stones¡¡faded¡¡slowly¡¡from¡¡sight£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡beyond¡¡them£»¡¡blacker¡¡than¡¡the¡¡gloom£»¡¡
brooded¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡crouching¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dwimorberg¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'The¡¡Paths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dead£»'¡¡he¡¡muttered¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡'The¡¡Paths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dead£¿¡¡What¡¡does¡¡all¡¡this¡¡mean£¿¡¡
They¡¡have¡¡all¡¡left¡¡me¡¡now¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡all¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡some¡¡doom£º¡¡Gandalf¡¡and¡¡Pippin¡¡to¡¡war¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
East£»¡¡and¡¡Sam¡¡and¡¡Frodo¡¡to¡¡Mordor£»¡¡and¡¡Strider¡¡and¡¡Legolas¡¡and¡¡Gimli¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Paths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dead¡£¡¡
But¡¡my¡¡turn¡¡will¡¡e¡¡soon¡¡enough£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡£¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡what¡¡they¡¡are¡¡all¡¡talking¡¡about£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡
the¡¡king¡¡means¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡For¡¡I¡¡must¡¡go¡¡where¡¡he¡¡goes¡¡now¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡these¡¡gloomy¡¡thoughts¡¡he¡¡suddenly¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡very¡¡hungry£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡
got¡¡up¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡see¡¡if¡¡anyone¡¡else¡¡in¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡camp¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡But¡¡at¡¡that¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡a¡¡
trumpet¡¡sounded£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡came¡¡summoning¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡esquire£»¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡at¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡board¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pavilion¡¡was¡¡a¡¡small¡¡space£»¡¡curtained¡¡off¡¡with¡¡broidered¡¡hangings£»¡¡and¡¡
strewn¡¡with¡¡skins£º¡¡and¡¡there¡¡at¡¡a¡¡small¡¡table¡¡sat¡¡Th¨¦oden¡¡with¡¡¨¦omer¡¡and¡¡¨¦owyn£»¡¡and¡¡D¨²nhere£»¡¡
lord¡¡of¡¡Harrowdale¡£¡¡Merry¡¡stood¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡stool¡¡and¡¡waited¡¡on¡¡him¡¡till¡¡presently¡¡the¡¡old¡¡
man£»¡¡ing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡thought£»¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡smiled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'e£»¡¡Master¡¡Meriadoc£¡'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'You¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡stand¡£¡¡You¡¡shall¡¡sit¡¡beside¡¡me£»¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡I¡¡
remain¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡lands£»¡¡and¡¡lighten¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡with¡¡tales¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Room¡¡was¡¡made¡¡for¡¡the¡¡hobbit¡¡at¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡left¡¡hand£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡one¡¡called¡¡for¡¡any¡¡tale¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡
indeed¡¡little¡¡speech£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡ate¡¡and¡¡drank¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part¡¡in¡¡silence£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡plucking¡¡up¡¡
courage£»¡¡Merry¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡question¡¡that¡¡was¡¡tormenting¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Twice¡¡now£»¡¡lord£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Paths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dead£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'What¡¡are¡¡they£¿¡¡And¡¡where¡¡has¡¡
Strider£»¡¡I¡¡mean¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡Aragorn¡¡where¡¡has¡¡he¡¡gone£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡king¡¡sighed£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡one¡¡answered£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡last¡¡¨¦omer¡¡spoke¡£¡¡'We¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡our¡¡
hearts¡¡are¡¡heavy£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'But¡¡as¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Paths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dead£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡yourself¡¡walked¡¡on¡¡their¡¡first¡¡
steps¡£¡¡Nay¡£¡¡I¡¡speak¡¡no¡¡words¡¡of¡¡ill¡¡omen£¡¡¡The¡¡road¡¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡climbed¡¡is¡¡the¡¡approach¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
Door£»¡¡yonder¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Dimholt¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡lies¡¡beyond¡¡no¡¡man¡¡knows¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'No¡¡man¡¡knows£»'¡¡said¡¡Th¨¦oden£º¡¡'yet¡¡ancient¡¡legend£»¡¡now¡¡seldom¡¡spoken£»¡¡has¡¡somewhat¡¡to¡¡report¡£¡¡
If¡¡these¡¡old¡¡tales¡¡speak¡¡true¡¡that¡¡have¡¡e¡¡down¡¡from¡¡father¡¡to¡¡son¡¡in¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Eorl£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡
Door¡¡under¡¡Dwimorberg¡¡leads¡¡to¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡way¡¡that¡¡goes¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡to¡¡some¡¡forgotten¡¡
end¡£¡¡But¡¡none¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡ventured¡¡in¡¡to¡¡search¡¡its¡¡secrets£»¡¡since¡¡Baldor£»¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Brego£»¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡
Door¡¡and¡¡was¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡among¡¡men¡¡again¡£¡¡A¡¡rash¡¡vow¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡drained¡¡the¡¡horn¡¡at¡¡that¡¡
feast¡¡which¡¡Brego¡¡made¡¡to¡¡hallow¡¡new¡built¡¡Meduseld£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡came¡¡never¡¡to¡¡the¡¡high¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡
which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡heir¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Folk¡¡say¡¡that¡¡Dead¡¡Men¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dark¡¡Years¡¡guard¡¡the¡¡way¡¡and¡¡will¡¡suffer¡¡no¡¡living¡¡man¡¡to¡¡
e¡¡to¡¡their¡¡hidden¡¡halls£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡whiles¡¡they¡¡may¡¡themselves¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡passing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡door¡¡like¡¡
shadows¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stony¡¡road¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Harrowdale¡¡shut¡¡fast¡¡their¡¡doors¡¡and¡¡shroud¡¡
their¡¡windows¡¡and¡¡are¡¡afraid¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Dead¡¡e¡¡seldom¡¡forth¡¡and¡¡only¡¡at¡¡times¡¡of¡¡great¡¡unquiet¡¡
and¡¡ing¡¡death¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Yet¡¡it¡¡is¡¡said¡¡in¡¡Harrowdale£»'¡¡said¡¡¨¦owyn¡¡in¡¡a¡¡low¡¡voice¡£¡¡'that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moonless¡¡nights¡¡but¡¡little¡¡
while¡¡ago¡¡a¡¡great¡¡host¡¡in¡¡strange¡¡array¡¡passed¡¡by¡£¡¡Whence¡¡they¡¡came¡¡none¡¡knew£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡went¡¡up¡¡
the¡¡stony¡¡road¡¡and¡¡vanished¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hill£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡went¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡tryst¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Then¡¡why¡¡has¡¡Aragorn¡¡gone¡¡that¡¡way£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Merry¡£¡¡'Don't¡¡you¡¡know¡¡anything¡¡that¡¡would¡¡
explain¡¡it£¿'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Unless¡¡he¡¡has¡¡spoken¡¡words¡¡to¡¡you¡¡as¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡not¡¡heard£»'¡¡said¡¡¨¦omer£»¡¡'none¡¡now¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡the¡¡living¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡his¡¡purpose¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Greatly¡¡changed¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡since¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡first¡¡in¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡house£»'¡¡said¡¡¨¦owyn£º¡¡
'grimmer£»¡¡older¡£¡¡Fey¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡like¡¡one¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡Dead¡¡call¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Maybe¡¡he¡¡was¡¡called£»'¡¡said¡¡Th¨¦oden£»¡¡'and¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡tells¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡see¡¡him¡¡again¡£¡¡Yet¡¡
he¡¡is¡¡a¡¡kingly¡¡man¡¡of¡¡high¡¡destiny¡£¡¡And¡¡take¡¡fort¡¡in¡¡this£»¡¡daughter£»¡¡since¡¡fort¡¡you¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡
need¡¡in¡¡your¡¡grief¡¡for¡¡this¡¡guest¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡said¡¡that¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Eorlingas¡¡came¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡North¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡
at¡¡length¡¡up¡¡the¡¡Snowbourn£»¡¡seeking¡¡strong¡¡places¡¡of¡¡refuge¡¡in¡¡time¡¡of¡¡need£»¡¡Brego¡¡and¡¡his¡¡son¡¡
Baldor¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡Stair¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Hold¡¡and¡¡so¡¡came¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Door¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡threshold¡¡sat¡¡an¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡
aged¡¡beyond¡¡guess¡¡of¡¡years£»¡¡tall¡¡and¡¡kingly¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡he¡¡was¡¡withered¡¡as¡¡an¡¡old¡¡stone¡£¡¡
Indeed¡¡for¡¡stone¡¡they¡¡took¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡not£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡said¡¡no¡¡word£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡
him¡¡by¡¡and¡¡enter¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡came¡¡out¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡their¡¡
amaze¡¡it¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡the¡¡western¡¡tongue£º¡¡_The¡¡way¡¡is¡¡shut_¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Then¡¡they¡¡halted¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he¡¡lived¡¡still£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡at¡¡them¡£¡¡_The¡¡
way¡¡is¡¡shut_£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡said¡¡again¡¡_It¡¡was¡¡made¡¡by¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡Dead£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Dead¡¡keep¡¡it£»¡¡until¡¡
the¡¡time¡¡es¡£¡¡The¡¡way¡¡is¡¡shut¡£_
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'_And¡¡when¡¡will¡¡that¡¡time¡¡be£¿_said¡¡Baldor¡£¡¡But¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡did¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡get¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡died¡¡
in¡¡that¡¡hour¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡other¡¡tidings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡dwellers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡
have¡¡our¡¡folk¡¡ever¡¡learned¡£¡¡Yet¡¡maybe¡¡at¡¡last¡¡the¡¡time¡¡foretold¡¡has¡¡e£»¡¡and¡¡Aragorn¡¡may¡¡pass¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'But¡¡how¡¡shall¡¡a¡¡man¡¡discover¡¡whether¡¡that¡¡time¡¡be¡¡e¡¡or¡¡no£»¡¡save¡¡by¡¡daring¡¡the¡¡Door£¿'¡¡said¡¡
¨¦omer¡£¡¡'And¡¡that¡¡way¡¡I¡¡would¡¡not¡¡go¡¡though¡¡all¡¡the¡¡hosts¡¡of¡¡Mordor¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡were¡¡
alone¡¡and¡¡had¡¡no¡¡other¡¡refuge¡£¡¡Alas¡¡that¡¡a¡¡fey¡¡mood¡¡should¡¡fall¡¡on¡¡a¡¡man¡¡so¡¡greathearted¡¡in¡¡this¡¡
hour¡¡of¡¡need£¡¡¡Are¡¡there¡¡not¡¡evil¡¡things¡¡enough¡¡abroad¡¡without¡¡seeking¡¡them¡¡under¡¡the¡¡earth£¿¡¡War¡¡is¡¡
at¡¡hand¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡paused£»¡¡for¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡noise¡¡outside£»¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡voice¡¡crying¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡
Th¨¦oden£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡challenge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guard¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Presently¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Guard¡¡thrust¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡curtain¡£¡¡'A¡¡man¡¡is¡¡here£»¡¡lord£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'an¡¡
errand¡rider¡¡of¡¡Gondor¡£¡¡He¡¡wishes¡¡to¡¡e¡¡before¡¡you¡¡at¡¡once¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Let¡¡him¡¡e£¡'¡¡said¡¡Th¨¦oden¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡tall¡¡man¡¡entered£»¡¡and¡¡Merry¡¡choked¡¡back¡¡a¡¡cry£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Boromir¡¡
was¡¡alive¡¡again¡¡and¡¡had¡¡returned¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stranger£»¡¡though¡¡as¡¡
like¡¡to¡¡Boromir¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡kin£»¡¡tall¡¡and¡¡grey¡eyed¡¡and¡¡proud¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡clad¡¡as¡¡a¡¡rider¡¡
with¡¡a¡¡cloak¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡green¡¡over¡¡a¡¡coat¡¡of¡¡fine¡¡mail£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡his¡¡helm¡¡was¡¡wrought¡¡a¡¡small¡¡
silver¡¡star¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡he¡¡bore¡¡a¡¡single¡¡arrow£»¡¡black¡feathered¡¡and¡¡barbed¡¡with¡¡steel£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡point¡¡
was¡¡painted¡¡red¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡sank¡¡on¡¡one¡¡knee¡¡and¡¡presented¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡to¡¡Th¨¦oden¡£¡¡'Hail¡¡Lord¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Rohirrim£»¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡
Gondor£¡'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'Hirgon¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¡errand¡rider¡¡of¡¡Denethor£»¡¡who¡¡bring¡¡you¡¡this¡¡token¡¡of¡¡war¡£¡¡Gondor¡¡
is¡¡in¡¡great¡¡need¡£¡¡Often¡¡the¡¡Rohirrim¡¡have¡¡aided¡¡us£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡Denethor¡¡asks¡¡for¡¡all¡¡your¡¡
strength¡¡and¡¡all¡¡your¡¡speed£»¡¡lest¡¡Gondor¡¡fall¡¡at¡¡last¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'The¡¡Red¡¡Arrow£¡'¡¡said¡¡Th¨¦oden£»¡¡holding¡¡it£»¡¡as¡¡one¡¡who¡¡receives¡¡a¡¡summons¡¡long¡¡expected¡¡and¡¡
yet¡¡dreadful¡¡when¡¡it¡¡es¡£¡¡His¡¡hand¡¡trembled¡£¡¡'The¡¡Red¡¡Arrow¡¡has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Mark¡¡in¡¡
all¡¡my¡¡years£¡¡¡Has¡¡it¡¡indeed¡¡e¡¡to¡¡that£¿¡¡And¡¡what¡¡does¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡Denethor¡¡reckon¡¡that¡¡all¡¡my¡¡
strength¡¡and¡¡all¡¡my¡¡speed