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The vanguard passed on through the ruins of Old Gondor； and over the wide River； and on up
the long straight road that in the high days had been made to run from the fair Tower of the Sun to
the tall Tower of the Moon； which now was Minas Morgul in its accursed vale。 Five miles beyond
Osgiliath they halted； ending their first day's march。
But the horsemen pressed on and ere evening they came to the Cross…roads and the great ring of
trees； and all was silent。 No sign of any enemy had they seen； no cry or call had been heard； no
shaft had sped from rock or thicket by the way； yet ever as they went forward they felt the
watchfulness of the land increase。 Tree and stone； blade and leaf were listening。 The darkness had
been dispelled； and far away westward sunset was on the Vale of Anduin； and the white peaks of
the mountains blushed in the blue air； but a shadow and a gloom brooded upon the Ephel Dúath。
Then Aragorn set trumpeters at each of the four roads that ran into the ring of trees； and they
blew a great fanfare； and the heralds cried aloud： 'The Lords of Gondor have returned and all this
land that is theirs they take back。' The hideous orc…head that was set upon the carven figure was
cast down and broken in pieces； and the old king's head was raised and set in its place once more；
still crowned with white and golden flowers： and men laboured to wash and pare away all the foul
scrawls that orcs had put upon the stone。
Now in their debate some had counselled that Minas Morgul should first be assailed； and if they
might take it； it should be utterly destroyed。 'And； maybe；' said Imrahil； 'the road that leads thence
to the pass above will prove an easier way of assault upon the Dark Lord than his northern gate。'
But against this Gandalf had spoken urgently； because of the evil that dwelt in the valley； where
the minds of living men would turn to madness and horror； and because also of the news that
Faramir had brought。 For if the Ring…bearer had indeed attempted that way； then above all they
should not draw the Eye of Mordor thither。 So the next day when the main host came up； they set a
strong guard upon the Cross…roads to make some defence； if Mordor should send a force over the
Morgul Pass； or should bring more men up from the South。 For that guard they chose mostly
archers who knew the ways of Ithilien and would lie hid in the woods and slopes about the meeting
of the ways。 But Gandalf and Aragorn rode with the vanguard to the entrance of Morgul Vale and
looked on the evil city。
It was dark and lifeless； for the Orcs and lesser creatures of Mordor that had dwelt there had
been destroyed in battle； and the Nazg？l were abroad。 Yet the air of the valley was heavy with fear
and enmity。 Then they broke the evil bridge and set red flames in the noisome fields and departed。
The day after； being the third day since they set out from Minas Tirith； the army began its
northward march along the road。 It was some hundred miles by that way from the Cross…roads to
the Morannon； and what might befall them before they came so far none knew They went openly
but heedfully； with mounted scouts before them on the road； and others on foot upon either side；
especially on the eastward flank； for there lay dark thickets； and a tumbled land of rocky ghylls and
crags； behind which the long grim slopes of the Ephel Dúath clambered up。 The weather of the
world remained fair and the wind held in the west； but nothing could waft away the glooms and the
sad mists that clung about the Mountains of Shadow； and behind them at whiles great smokes
would arise and hover in the upper winds。
Ever and anon Gandalf let blow the trumpets； and the heralds would cry： 〃The Lords of Gondor
are e！ Let all leave this land or yield them up！' But Imrahil said： 'Say not _The Lords of
Gondor_。 Say _The King Elessar_。 For that is true； even though he has not yet sat upon the throne；
and it will give the Enemy more thought； if the heralds use that name。' And thereafter thrice a day
the heralds proclaimed the ing of the King Elessar。 But none answered the challenge。
Nonetheless； though they marched in seeming peace； the hearts of all the army； from the highest
to the lowest； were downcast； and with every mile that they went north foreboding of evil grew
heavier on them。 It was near the end of the second day of their march from the Cross…roads that
they first met any offer of battle。 For a strong force of Orcs and Easterlings attempted to take their
leading panies in an ambush； and that was in the very place where Faramir had waylaid the
men of Harad； and the road went in a deep cutting through an out…thrust of the eastward hills。 But
the Captains of the West were well warned by their scouts； skilled men from Henneth Ann？n led by
Mablung； and so the ambush was itself trapped。 For horsemen went wide about westward and came
up on the flank of the enemy and from behind； and they were destroyed or driven east into the hills。
But the victory did little to enhearten the captains。 'It is but a feint；' said Aragorn； 'and its chief
purpose； I deem； was rather to draw us on by a false guess of our Enemy's weakness than to do us
much hurt； yet。' And from that evening onward the Nazg？l came and followed every move of the
army。 They still flew high and out of sight of all save Legolas； and yet their presence could be felt；
as a deepening of shadow and a dimming of the sun； and though the Ringwraiths did not yet stoop
low upon their foes and were silent； uttering no cry； the dread of them could not be shaken off。
So time and the hopeless journey wore away。 Upon the fourth day from the Cross…roads and the
sixth from Minas Tirith they came at last to the end of the living lands； and began to pass into the
desolation that lay before the gates of the Pass of Cirith Gorgor； and they could descry the marshes
and the desert that stretched north and west to the Emyn Muil。 So desolate were those places and so
deep the horror that lay on them that some of the host were unmanned； and they could neither walk
nor ride further north。
Aragorn looked at them； and there was pity in his eyes rather than wrath； for these were young
men from Rohan； from Westfold far away； or husbandmen from Lossarnach； and to them Mordor
had been from childhood a name of evil； and yet unreal； a legend that had no part in their simple
life； and now they walked like men in a hideous dream made true； and they understood not this war
nor why fate should lead them to such a pass。
'Go！' said Aragorn。 'But keep what honour you may； and do not run！ And there is a task which
you may attempt and so be not wholly shamed。 Take your way south…west till you e to Cair
Andros； and if that is still held by enemies； as I think； then re…take it； if you can； and hold it to the
last in defence of Gondor and Rohan！'
Then some being shamed by his mercy overcame their fear and went on； and the others took
new hope； hearing of a manful deed within their measure that they could turn to； and they departed。
And so； since many men had already been left at the Cross…roads； it was with less than six
thousands that the Captains of the West came at last to challenge the Black Gate and the might of
Mordor。
They advanced now slowly； expecting at every hour some answer to their challenge； and they
drew together； since it was but waste of men to send out scouts or small parties from the main host。
At nightfall of the fifth day of the march from Morgul Vale they made their last camp； and set fires
about it of such dead wood and heath as they could find。 They passed the hours of night in
wakefulness and they were aware of many things half…seen that walked and prowled all about them；
and they heard the howling of wolves。 The wind had died and all the air seemed still。 They could
see little； for though it was cloudless and the waxing moon was four nights old； there were smokes
and fumes that rose out of the earth and the white crescent was shrouded in the mists of Mordor。
It grew cold。 As morning came the wind began to stir again； bu