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It grew cold。 As morning came the wind began to stir again； but now it came from the North；
and soon it freshened to a rising breeze。 All the night…walkers were gone； and the land seemed
empty。 North amid their noisome pits lay the first of the great heaps and hills of slag and broken
rock and blasted earth； the vomit of the maggot…folk of Mordor； but south and now near loomed the
great rampart of Cirith Gorgor； and the Black Gate amidmost； and the two Towers of the Teeth tall
and dark upon either side。 For in their last march the Captains had turned away from the old road as
it bent east； and avoided the peril of the lurking hills； and so now they were approaching the
Morannon from the north…west； even as Frodo had done。
The two vast iron doors of the Black Gate under its frowning arch were fast closed。 Upon the
battlement nothing could be seen。 All was silent but watchful。 They were e to the last end of
their folly； and stood forlorn and chill in the grey light of early day before towers and walls which
their army could not assault with hope； not even if it had brought thither engines of great power；
and the Enemy had no more force than would suffice for the manning of the gate and wall alone。
Yet they knew that all the hills and rocks about the Morannon were filled with hidden foes； and the
shadowy defile beyond was bored and tunnelled by teeming broods of evil things。 And as they
stood they saw all the Nazg？l gathered together； hovering above the Towers of the Teeth like
vultures； and they knew that they were watched。 But still the Enemy made no sign。
No choice was left them but to play their part to its end。 Therefore Aragorn now set the host in
such array as could best be contrived； and they were drawn up on two great hills of blasted stone
and earth that orcs had piled in years of labour。 Before them towards Mordor lay like a moat a great
mire of reeking mud and foul…smelling pools。 When all was ordered； the Captains rode forth
towards the Black Gate with a great guard of horsemen and the banner and heralds and trumpeters。
There was Gandalf as chief herald； and Aragorn with the sons of Elrond； and éomer of Rohan； and
Imrahil； and Legolas and Gimli and Peregrin were bidden to go also； so that all the enemies of
Mordor should have a witness。
They came within cry of the Morannon； and unfurled the banner； and blew upon their trumpets；
and the heralds stood out and sent their voices up over the battlement of Mordor。
'e forth！' they cried。 'Let the Lord of the Black Land e forth！ Justice shall be done upon
him。 For wrongfully he has made war upon Gondor and wrested its lands。 Therefore the King of
Gondor demands that he should atone for his evils； and depart then for ever。 e forth！'
There was a long silence； and from wall and gate no cry or sound was heard in answer。 But
Sauron had already laid his plans； and he had a mind first to play these mice cruelly before he
struck to kill。 So it was that； even as the Captains were about to turn away； the silence was broken
suddenly。 There came a long rolling of great drums like thunder in the mountains； and then a
braying of horns that shook the very stones and stunned men's ears。 And thereupon the middle door
of the Black Gate was thrown open with a great clang； and out of it there came an embassy from
the Dark Tower。
At its head there rode a tall and evil shape； mounted upon a black horse； if horse it was； for it
was huge and hideous； and its face was a frightful mask； more like a skull than a living head； and in
the sockets of its eyes and in its nostrils there burned a flame。 The rider was robed all in black； and
black was his lofty helm； yet this was no Ringwraith but a living man。 The Lieutenant of the Tower
of Barad…d？r he was； and his name is remembered in no tale； for he himself had forgotten it； and he
said： 'I am the Mouth of Sauron。' But it is told that he was a renegade； who came of the race of
those that are named the Black Númenóreans； for they established their dwellings in Middle…earth
during the years of Sauron's domination； and they worshipped him； being enamoured of evil
knowledge。 And he entered the service of the Dark Tower when it first rose again； and because of
his cunning he grew ever higher in the Lord's favour； and he learned great sorcery； and knew much
of the mind of Sauron； and he was more cruel than any orc。
He it was that now rode out； and with him came only a small pany of black…harnessed
soldiery； and a single banner； black but bearing on it in red the Evil Eye。 Now halting a few paces
before the Captains of the West he looked them up and down and laughed。
'Is there anyone in this rout with authority to treat with me？' he asked。 'Or indeed with wit to
understand me？ Not thou at least！' he mocked； turning to Aragorn with scorn。 'It needs more to
make a king than a piece of elvish glass； or a rabble such as this。 Why； any brigand of the hills can
show as good a following！'
Aragorn said naught in answer； but he took the other's eye and held it； and for a moment they
strove thus； but soon； though Aragorn did not stir nor move hand to weapon； the other quailed and
gave back as if menaced with a blow。 'I am a herald and ambassador； and may not be assailed！' he
cried。
'Where such laws hold；' said Gandalf； 'it is also the custom for ambassadors to use less insolence。
But no one has threatened you。 You have naught to fear from us； until your errand is done。 But
unless your master has e to new wisdom； then with all his servants you will be in great peril。'
'So！' said the Messenger。 'Then thou art the spokesman； old greybeard？ Have we not heard of
thee at whiles； and of thy wanderings； ever hatching plots and mischief at a safe distance？ But this
time thou hast stuck out thy nose too far； Master Gandalf； and thou shalt see what es to him
who sets his foolish webs before the feet of Sauron the Great。 I have tokens that I was bidden to
show to thee – to thee in especial； if thou shouldst dare to e。' He signed to one of his guards；
and he came forward bearing a bundle swathed in black cloths。
The Messenger put these aside； and there to the wonder and dismay of all the Captains he held
up first the short sword that Sam had carried； and next a grey cloak with an elven…brooch； and last
the coat of mithril…mail that Frodo had worn wrapped in his tattered garments。 A blackness came
before their eyes； and it seemed to them in a moment of silence that the world stood still； but their
hearts were dead and their last hope gone。 Pippin who stood behind Prince Imrahil sprang forward
with a cry of grief。
'Silence！' said Gandalf sternly； thrusting him back； but the Messenger laughed aloud。
'So you have yet another of these imps with you！' he cried。 'What use you find in them I cannot
guess； but to send them as spies into Mordor is beyond even your accustomed folly。 Still； I thank
him； for it is plain that this brat at least has seen these tokens before； and it would be vain for you to
deny them now。'
'I do not wish to deny them；' said Gandalf。 'Indeed； I know them all and all their history； and
despite your scorn； foul Mouth of Sauron； you cannot say as much。 But why do you bring them
here？'
'Dwarf…coat； elf…cloak； blade of the downfallen West； and spy from the little rat…land of the
Shire…nay； do not start！ We know it well – here are the marks of a conspiracy。 Now； maybe he that
bore these things was a creature that you would not grieve to lose； and maybe otherwise： one dear
to you； perhaps？ If so； take swift counsel with what little wit is left to you。 For Sauron does not
love spies； and what his fate shall be depends now on your choice。'
No one answered him； but he saw their faces grey with fear and the horror in their eyes； and he
laughed again； for it seemed to him that his sport went well。 'Good； good！' he said。 'He was dear to
you； I see。 Or else his errand was one that you did not wish to fail？ It has。 And now he shall endure
the slow torment of years； as long and slow as our arts in the Great Tower can contrive； and neve