Chapter 2: The Passing Of The Grey Company

Chapter 2 THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY Gandalf was gone, and the thudding hoofs of Shadowfax were lost in the night, when Merry came back to Aragorn. He had only a light bundle, for he had lost his pack at Parth Galen, and all he had was a few useful things he had picked up among the wreckage of Isengard. Hasufel was already saddled. Legolas and Gimli with their horse stood close by. ‘So four of the Company still remain,’ said Aragorn. ‘We will ride on together. But we shall not go alone, as I thought. The king is now determined to set out at once. Since the coming of the winged shadow, he desires to return to the hills under cover of night.’ ‘And then whither?’ said Legolas. ‘I cannot say yet,’ Aragorn answered. ‘As for the king, he will go to the muster that he commanded at Edoras, four nights from now. And there, I think, he will hear tidings of war, and the Riders of Rohan will go down to Minas Tirith. But for myself, and any that will go with me...’ ‘I for one!’ cried Legolas. ‘And Gimli with him!’ said the Dwarf. ‘Well, for myself,’ said Aragorn, ‘it is dark before me. I must go down also to Minas Tirith, but I do not yet see the road. An hour long prepared approaches.’ ‘Don’t leave me behind!’ said Merry. ‘I have not been of much use yet; but I don’t want to be laid aside, like baggage to be called for when all is over. I don’t think the Riders will want to be bothered with me now. Though, of course, the king did say that I was to sit by him when he came to his house and tell him all about the Shire.’ “Yes,” said Aragorn, ‘and your road lies with him, I think, Merry. But do not look for mirth at the ending. It will be long, I fear, ere Théoden sits at ease again in Meduseld. Many hopes will wither in this bitter Spring.’ Soon all were ready to depart: twenty-four horses, with Gimli behind Legolas, and Merry in front of Aragorn. Presently they were riding swiftly through the night. They had not long passed the mounds at the Fords of Isen, when a Rider galloped up from the rear of their line. ‘My lord,’ he said to the king, ‘there are horsemen behind us. As

第二章 灰色部隊的離去 甘道夫走了，當影疾咚咚的蹄聲消失在夜色中時，梅里回到了亞拉岡身邊。他只有一個輕便的行囊，因為他的背包在帕斯加蘭遺失了，身上僅有的幾樣實用物品是在艾辛格的廢墟中撿來的。哈蘇費爾已經備好鞍。勒苟拉斯和金靂帶著他們的馬站在一旁。「所以遠征隊還剩下四個人，」亞拉岡說。「我們將一同前行。但我們不會像我原先想的那樣獨自上路。國王現在決心立即出發。自從那有翼的陰影出現後，他渴望趁著夜色掩護返回山丘。」「然後去哪裡？」勒苟拉斯問。「我還不能說，」亞拉岡回答。「至於國王，他將前往他在伊多拉斯下令舉行的集結，就在四天後。我想，他會在那裡聽到戰爭的消息，然後洛汗騎士們將南下米那斯提力斯。但至於我自己，以及任何願意跟我走的人……」「我算一個！」勒苟拉斯喊道。「金靂也跟他一起！」矮人說。「嗯，至於我自己，」亞拉岡說，「我前途未卜。我也必須前往米那斯提力斯，但我還看不清道路。一個準備已久的時刻即將到來。」「別把我拋下！」梅里說。「我至今還沒幫上什麼大忙；但我不想被擱置一旁，像戰爭結束後才有人來認領的行李。我想騎士們現在不會想被我麻煩。不過，當然，國王確實說過，等他回到家時，要我坐在他身邊，跟他講所有關於夏爾的事。」「是的，」亞拉岡說，「我想你的路是與他同行的，梅里。但別指望結局會有歡樂。恐怕要過很久，希優頓才能在梅杜西金殿安坐。許多希望都將在這苦澀的春天凋零。」很快地，所有人都準備好出發了：二十四匹馬，金靂坐在勒苟拉斯身後，梅里在亞拉岡身前。不久，他們便在夜色中疾馳。他們剛經過艾辛河渡口不久，一名騎士從隊伍後方策馬趕來。「吾王，」他對國王說，「我們後面有騎兵。因為⋯⋯」

774 THE LORD OF THE RINGS we crossed the fords I thought that I heard them. Now we are sure. They are overtaking us, riding hard.’ Theoden at once called a halt. The Riders turned about and seized their spears. Aragorn dismounted and set Merry on the ground, and drawing his sword he stood by the king’s stirrup. Eomer and his esquire rode back to the rear. Merry felt more like unneeded baggage than ever, and he wondered, if there was a fight, what he should do. Supposing the king’s small escort was trapped and overcome, but he escaped into the darkness — alone in the wild fields of Rohan with no idea of where he was in all the endless miles? ‘No good!’ he thought. He drew his sword and tightened his belt. The sinking moon was obscured by a great sailing cloud, but suddenly it rode out clear again. Then they all heard the sound of hoofs, and at the same moment they saw dark shapes coming swiftly on the path from the fords. The moonlight glinted here and there on the points of spears. The number of the pursuers could not be told, but they seemed no fewer than the king’s escort, at the least. When they were some fifty paces off, Eomer cried in a loud voice: ‘Halt! Halt! Who rides in Rohan?’ The pursuers brought their steeds to a sudden stand. A silence followed; and then in the moonlight, a horseman could be seen dismounting and walking slowly forward. His hand showed white as he held it up, palm outward, in token of peace; but the king’s men gripped their weapons. At ten paces the man stopped. He was tall, a dark standing shadow. Then his clear voice rang out. ‘Rohan? Rohan did you say? That is a glad word. We seek that land in haste from long afar.’ ‘You have found it,’ said Eomer. ‘When you crossed the fords yonder you entered it. But it is the realm of Théoden the King. None ride here save by his leave. Who are you? And what is your haste?’ ‘Halbarad Dunadan, Ranger of the North I am,’ cried the man. ‘We seek one Aragorn son of Arathorn, and we heard that he was in Rohan.’ ‘And you have found him also!’ cried Aragorn. Giving his reins to Merry, he ran forward and embraced the newcomer. ‘Halbarad!’ he said. ‘Of all joys this is the least expected!’ Merry breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought that this was some last trick of Saruman’s, to waylay the king while he had only a few men about him; but it seemed that there would be no need to die in Théoden’s defence, not yet at any rate. He sheathed his sword. ‘All is well,’ said Aragorn, turning back. ‘Here are some of my own kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why they come, and how many they be, Halbarad shall tell us.’ ‘I have thirty with me,’ said Halbarad. “That is all of our kindred

我們渡過淺灘時，我以為我聽到了他們的聲音。現在我們確定了。他們正快馬加鞭地追上我們。』希優頓立刻下令停止前進。騎士們轉過身，握緊了長矛。亞拉岡下馬，將梅里放到地上，然後拔出劍，站在國王的馬鐙旁。伊歐墨和他的侍從騎馬回到隊伍後方。梅里比以往任何時候都更覺得自己是個多餘的累贅，他心想，如果發生戰鬥，他該怎麼辦。萬一國王的小批護衛被困住並被擊敗，而他卻逃入了黑暗中——獨自一人在洛汗的荒野裡，完全不知道自己在這無盡的土地上身在何方？『不行！』他想。他拔出劍，束緊了腰帶。下沉的月亮被一大片飄過的雲遮住了，但突然間又清晰地露了出來。接著，他們都聽到了馬蹄聲，同時看到一些黑影從淺灘那邊的小路上迅速奔來。月光在矛尖上時而閃爍。追兵的數量無法判斷，但看起來至少不比國王的護衛少。當他們距離約五十步遠時，伊歐墨大聲喊道：『站住！站住！是誰在洛汗境內騎馬？』追兵們突然勒馬停下。接著是一片寂靜；然後在月光下，可以看到一名騎士下馬，緩緩向前走來。他舉起手，手心向外，以示和平，他的手在月光下顯得蒼白；但國王的部下們仍緊握著武器。那人在十步遠處停下。他身材高大，像一個矗立的黑色影子。接著，他清晰的聲音響起。『洛汗？你說的是洛汗嗎？這真是個令人高興的詞。我們從遠方匆匆趕來，尋找的就是這片土地。』『你找到了，』伊歐墨說。『當你渡過那邊的淺灘時，你就已經進入了。但這裡是希優頓國王的領土。沒有他的許可，誰也不能在此騎行。你是誰？又為何如此匆忙？』『我是哈爾巴拉德，北方的登丹遊俠，』那人喊道。『我們在尋找亞拉松之子亞拉岡，聽說他在洛汗。』『你也找到他了！』亞拉岡喊道。他把韁繩交給梅里，跑上前去擁抱新來的人。『哈爾巴拉德！』他說。『在所有的喜悅中，這是最出乎意料的！』梅里鬆了一口氣。他本以為這是薩魯曼的最後一個詭計，想在國王身邊只有少數人時伏擊他；但看來沒有必要為保衛希優頓而死了，至少目前還不用。他收劍入鞘。『一切都好，』亞拉岡轉身說。『這些是我的一些親族，來自我的故鄉。但他們為何而來，來了多少人，哈爾巴拉德會告訴我們。』『我帶了三十個人，』哈爾巴拉德說。『這就是我們所有的族人了』

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY 775 that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came.’ ‘But I did not summon you,’ said Aragorn, ‘save only in wish. My thoughts have often turned to you, and seldom more than tonight; yet I have sent no word. But come! All such matters must wait. You find us riding in haste and danger. Ride with us now, if the king will give his leave.’ Theoden was indeed glad of the news. ‘It is well!’ he said. ‘If these kinsmen be in any way like to yourself, my lord Aragorn, thirty such knights will be a strength that cannot be counted by heads.’ Then the Riders set out again, and Aragorn for a while rode with the Dunedain; and when they had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him: ‘I bring word to you from my father: The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.’ ‘Always my days have seemed to me too short to achieve my desire,’ answered Aragorn. ‘But great indeed will be my haste ere I take that road.’ “That will soon be seen,’ said Elrohir. ‘But let us speak no more of these things upon the open road!’ And Aragorn said to Halbarad: ‘What is that that you bear, kinsman?’ For he saw that instead of a spear he bore a tall staff, as it were a standard, but it was close-furled in a black cloth bound about with many thongs. ‘It is a gift that I bring you from the Lady of Rivendell,’ answered Halbarad. ‘She wrought it in secret, and long was the making. But she also sends word to you: The days now are short. Either our hope cometh, or all hope’s end. Therefore I send thee what I have made for thee. Fare well, Elfstone! And Aragorn said: ‘Now I know what you bear. Bear it still for me a while!’ And he turned and looked away to the North under the great stars, and then he fell silent and spoke no more while the night’s journey lasted. The night was old and the East grey when they rode up at last from Deeping-coomb and came back to the Hornburg. There they were to lie and rest for a brief while and take counsel. Merry slept until he was roused by Legolas and Gimli. “The Sun is high,’ said Legolas. ‘All others are up and doing. Come, Master Sluggard, and look at this place while you may!’ “There was a battle here three nights ago,’ said Gimli, ‘and here Legolas and I played a game that I won only by a single orc. Come

這是倉促間能集結到的人手；但埃爾拉丹與埃洛希爾兩兄弟也與我們一同前來，他們渴望參戰。我們一接到您的召喚，便以最快速度趕來了。」「但我並未召喚你們，」亞拉岡說，「頂多只在心裡期盼過。我的思緒時常轉向你們，今晚尤其如此；但我未曾送出任何消息。不過來吧！這些事都得先擱下。你們看見我們正倉促地在危險中趕路。如果國王允許，現在就與我們同行吧。」希優頓聽聞此訊確實十分高興。「太好了！」他說。「我的亞拉岡大人，如果這些親族在任何方面與您相似，那麼三十名這樣的騎士將是一股無法以人數衡量的力量。」於是騎士們再度出發，亞拉岡暫時與登丹人並轡而行；當他們談論了北方與南方的消息後，埃洛希爾對他說：「我為您帶來家父的話：時日無多。汝若匆忙，切記亡者之道。」「我總覺得自己的時日太短，無法實現心願，」亞拉岡回答。「但在我走上那條路之前，我的處境想必已是萬分火急了。」「那很快就會見分曉，」埃洛希爾說。「但我們別在開闊的大路上再談論這些事了！」亞拉岡又對哈爾巴拉德說：「你拿的是什麼，親族？」因為他看見哈爾巴拉德沒帶長矛，而是扛著一根高高的長桿，像是一面軍旗，但旗子被緊緊捲起，用黑布包裹，還以許多皮繩綑綁著。「這是我為您從瑞文戴爾的女主人那裡帶來的禮物，」哈爾巴拉德回答。「她秘密地製作了它，耗時良久。她也捎來口信給您：如今時日無多。我們的希望若非降臨，便是所有希望的終結。因此我將為你所造之物送上。再會了，精靈寶石！」亞拉岡說：「現在我知道你拿的是什麼了。暫時再為我保管一會兒吧！」他轉身望向北方浩瀚的星空下，隨後便陷入沉默，在餘下的夜路中再也沒有說話。夜已深沉，東方泛起灰白，他們終於從深谷馳出，回到了號角堡。他們將在那裡短暫停留休息，並商議對策。梅里一直睡到被勒苟拉斯和金靂喚醒。「太陽都曬屁股了，」勒苟拉斯說。「其他人都起來忙活了。來吧，懶蟲大師，趁你還能看，快來瞧瞧這個地方！」「三天前的夜裡這裡有場大戰，」金靂說，「勒苟拉斯和我在這裡玩了個遊戲，我只比他多殺一個半獸人而險勝。來吧

776 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and see how it was! And there are caves, Merry, caves of wonder! Shall we visit them, Legolas, do you think?’ ‘Nay! There is no time,’ said the Elf. ‘Do not spoil the wonder with haste! I have given you my word to return hither with you, if a day of peace and freedom comes again. But it is now near to noon, and at that hour we eat, and then set out again, I hear.’ Merry got up and yawned. His few hours’ sleep had not been nearly enough; he was tired and rather dismal. He missed Pippin, and felt that he was only a burden, while everybody was making plans for speed in a business that he did not fully understand. ‘Where is Aragorn?’ he asked. ‘In a high chamber of the Burg,’ said Legolas. ‘He has neither rested nor slept, I think. He went thither some hours ago, saying that he must take thought, and only his kinsman, Halbarad, went with him; but some dark doubt or care sits on him.’ “They are a strange company, these newcomers,’ said Gimli. ‘Stout men and lordly they are, and the Riders of Rohan look almost as boys beside them; for they are grim men of face, worn like weathered rocks for the most part, even as Aragorn himself; and they are silent.’ ‘But even as Aragorn they are courteous, if they break their silence,’ said Legolas. ‘And have you marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir? Less sombre is their gear than the others’, and they are fair and gallant as Elven-lords; and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell.’ ‘Why have they come? Have you heard?’ asked Merry. He had now dressed, and he flung his grey cloak about his shoulders; and the three passed out together towards the ruined gate of the Burg. “They answered a summons, as you heard,’ said Gimli. ‘Word came to Rivendell, they say: Aragorn has need of his kindred. Let the Dunedain ride to him in Rohan! But whence this message came they are now in doubt. Gandalf sent it, I would guess.’ ‘Nay, Galadriel,’ said Legolas. ‘Did she not speak through Gandalf of the ride of the Grey Company from the North?’ “Yes, you have it,’ said Gimli. “The Lady of the Wood! She read many hearts and desires. Now why did not we wish for some of our own kinsfolk, Legolas?’ Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east, and his fair face was troubled. ‘I do not think that any would come,’ he answered. “They have no need to ride to war; war already marches on their own lands.’ For a while the three companions walked together, speaking of this and that turn of the battle, and they went down from the broken gate, and passed the mounds of the fallen on the greensward beside

「而且那裡有洞穴，梅里，奇觀的洞穴！我們去看看它們好嗎，勒苟拉斯，你覺得呢？」「不！沒有時間了，」精靈說。「別因倉促而破壞了那份驚奇！我已答應你，如果和平與自由之日再次來臨，我會與你一同回來。但現在已近中午，那時我們要吃飯，然後我聽說又要出發了。」梅里起身打了個呵欠。他那幾個小時的睡眠遠遠不夠；他既疲憊又有些沮喪。他想念皮聘，並覺得自己只是個累贅，而大家都在為一件他並不完全理解的事情制定加速的計畫。「亞拉岡在哪裡？」他問。「在堡壘的一個高層房間裡，」勒苟拉斯說。「我想他既沒休息也沒睡覺。幾小時前他去了那裡，說他必須思考一下，只有他的親族哈爾巴拉德跟著他；但似乎有某種黑暗的疑慮或憂愁籠罩著他。」「這些新來的人，真是一群奇特之士，」金靂說。「他們是些魁梧而高貴的人，洛汗的騎士在他們身邊簡直像男孩；因為他們大多面容嚴肅，像風化的岩石一樣飽經風霜，就連亞拉岡本人也是如此；而且他們沉默寡言。」「但他們若打破沉默，也像亞拉岡一樣彬彬有禮，」勒苟拉斯說。「你注意到伊萊丹和伊羅何兩兄弟了嗎？他們的裝束不像其他人那樣黯淡，而且他們像精靈王侯一樣俊美英勇；這在瑞文戴爾的愛隆之子身上，也沒什麼好奇怪的。」「他們為什麼來？你聽說了嗎？」梅里問道。他此時已穿好衣服，將他的灰色斗篷披在肩上；三人一同朝著堡壘被毀的大門走去。「他們是應召喚而來，如你所聽到的，」金靂說。「據說有話傳到瑞文戴爾：亞拉岡需要他的親族。讓登丹人到洛汗去投奔他！但這訊息從何而來，他們現在也感到懷疑。我猜是甘道夫發出的。」「不，是凱蘭崔爾，」勒苟拉斯說。「難道她沒有透過甘道夫提到灰色部隊從北方前來的事嗎？」「是的，你說對了，」金靂說。「森林的女主人！她能看透許多人的內心和願望。那為什麼我們不許願我們自己的一些親族也來呢，勒苟拉斯？」勒苟拉斯站在門前，將他明亮的眼睛轉向北方和東方，他俊美的臉上帶著憂色。「我不認為會有任何人來，」他回答。「他們無需前來參戰；戰爭已經蔓延到他們自己的土地上了。」一時間，三位同伴走在一起，談論著戰鬥中的種種轉折，他們從破損的城門走下，經過了草地上陣亡將士的墳塚。

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY reel the road, until they stood on Helm’s Dike and looked into the Coomb. The Death Down already stood there, black and tall and stony, and the great trampling and scoring of the grass by the Huorns could be plainly seen. The Dunlendings and many men of the garrison of the Burg were at work on the Dike or in the fields and about the battered walls behind; yet all seemed strangely quiet: a weary valley resting after a great storm. Soon they turned back and went to the midday meal in the hall of the Burg. The king was already there, and as soon as they entered he called for Merry and had a seat set for him at his side. ‘It is not as I would have it,’ said Théoden; ‘for this is little like my fair house in Edoras. And your friend is gone, who should also be here. But it may be long ere we sit, you and I, at the high table in Meduseld; there will be no time for feasting when I return thither. But come now! Eat and drink, and let us speak together while we may. And then you shall ride with me.’ ‘May I?’ said Merry, surprised and delighted. “That would be splendid!’ He had never felt more grateful for any kindness in words. ‘I am afraid I am only in everybody’s way,’ he stammered; ‘but I should like to do anything I could, you know.’ ‘I doubt it not,’ said the king. ‘I have had a good hill-pony made ready for you. He will bear you as swift as any horse by the roads that we shall take. For I will ride from the Burg by mountain paths, not by the plain, and so come to Edoras by way of Dunharrow where the Lady Eowyn awaits me. You shall be my esquire, if you will. Is there gear of war in this place, Eomer, that my sword-thain could use?” “There are no great weapon-hoards here, lord,’ answered Eomer. ‘Maybe a light helm might be found to fit him; but we have no mail or sword for one of his stature.’ ‘I have a sword,’ said Merry, climbing from his seat, and drawing from its black sheath his small bright blade. 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 will I take it,’ said the king; and laying his long old hands upon the brown hair of the hobbit, he blessed him. ‘Rise now, Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan of the household of Meduseld!’ he said. “Take your sword and bear it unto good fortune!’ ‘As a father you shall be to me,’ said Merry. ‘For a little while,’ said Théoden. They talked then together as they ate, until presently Eomer spoke. ‘It is near the hour that we set for our going, lord,’ he said. ‘Shall I

灰衣人部隊的離去。他們沿著道路前行，直到站上聖盔堤，望向谷地。亡者丘已矗立在那裡，黑壓壓的，高聳而多石，胡恩們踐踏和刨刮草地的巨大痕跡清晰可見。登蘭德人和許多堡壘的駐軍正在堤上或田野裡，以及後方殘破的城牆周圍工作；然而一切似乎異常安靜：一個疲憊的山谷，在狂風暴雨後歇息。不久，他們轉身回去，到堡壘的大廳享用午餐。國王已經在那裡了，他們一進去，他就叫來梅里，並讓人在他身邊為他設了一個座位。「這不是我所希望的樣子，」希優頓說；「因為這裡和我伊多拉斯那美麗的家園相差甚遠。你的朋友也走了，他本該也在這裡的。但恐怕要很久以後，我們才能，你和我，一同坐在梅杜西廳的高桌旁；我回到那裡時將沒有時間舉行盛宴。不過，來吧！吃點喝點，趁我們還能說話時聊聊。然後你將與我一同騎行。」「我可以嗎？」梅里又驚又喜地說。「那太棒了！」他從未因任何一句善言而如此感激。「我怕我只會礙大家的事，」他結結巴巴地說；「但你知道的，我希望能盡我所能做任何事。」「我毫不懷疑，」國王說。「我已為你準備了一匹優良的山地小馬。在我們要走的路途上，牠會載著你如任何馬匹一樣迅速。因為我將從堡壘出發，走山路而非平原，如此經由登哈洛到達伊多拉斯，伊歐玟女士正在那裡等我。如果你願意，你將成為我的侍從。伊歐墨，此地可有我的佩劍侍衛能用的戰爭裝備？」「這裡沒有大量的武器庫存，主公，」伊歐墨回答。「或許能找到一頂輕便的頭盔給他戴；但我們沒有適合他這種身材的鎖子甲或劍。」「我有一把劍，」梅里說著，從座位上爬下來，從黑色的劍鞘中拔出他那把小巧明亮的劍刃。他心中突然充滿了對這位老人的愛，於是單膝跪下，執起他的手親吻。「希優頓王，我可否將夏爾的梅里雅達克的劍放在您的膝上？」他喊道。「如果您願意，請接受我的效忠！」「我欣然接受，」國王說；他將那雙蒼老修長的手放在哈比人棕色的頭髮上，為他祝福。「起來吧，梅里雅達克，洛汗的侍從，梅杜西廳的王室成員！」他說。「拿起你的劍，願它為你帶來好運！」「您將如我的父親一般，」梅里說。「暫時是吧，」希優頓說。他們接著邊吃邊聊，直到不久後伊歐墨開口。「主公，我們預定出發的時辰快到了，」他說。「我是否該……

778 THE LORD OF THE RINGS bid men sound the horns? But where is Aragorn? His place is empty and he has not eaten.’ ‘We will make ready to ride,’ said Théoden; “but let word be sent to the Lord Aragorn that the hour is nigh.’ The king with his guard and Merry at his side passed down from the gate of the Burg to where the Riders were assembling on the green. Many were already mounted. It would be a great company; for the king was leaving only a small garrison in the Burg, and all who could be spared were riding to the weapontake at Edoras. A thousand spears had indeed already ridden away at night; but still there would be some five hundred more to go with the king, for the most part men from the fields and dales of Westfold. A little apart the Rangers sat, silent, in an ordered company, armed with spear and bow and sword. They were clad in cloaks of dark grey, and their hoods were cast now over helm and head. Their horses were strong and of proud bearing, but rough-haired; and one stood there without a rider, Aragorn’s own horse that they had brought from the North; Roheryn was his name. There was no gleam of stone or gold, nor any fair thing in all their gear and harness; nor did their riders bear any badge or token, save only that each cloak was pinned upon the left shoulder by a brooch of silver shaped like a rayed star. The king mounted his horse, Snowmane, and Merry sat beside him on his pony: Stybba was his name. Presently Eomer came out from the gate, and with him was Aragorn, and Halbarad bearing the great staff close-furled in black, and two tall men, neither young nor old. So much alike were they, the sons of Elrond, that few could tell them apart: dark-haired, grey-eyed, and their faces elven-fair, clad alike in bright mail beneath cloaks of silver-grey. Behind them walked Legolas and Gimli. But Merry had eyes only for Aragorn, so startling was the change that he saw in him, as if in one night many years had fallen on his head. Grim was his face, grey-hued and weary. ‘I am troubled in mind, lord,’ he said, standing by the king’s horse. ‘I have heard strange words, and I see new perils far off. I have laboured long in thought, and now I fear that I must change my purpose. Tell me, Théoden, you ride now to Dunharrow, how long will it be ere you come there?’ ‘It is now a full hour past noon,’ said Eomer. ‘Before the night of the third day from now we should come to the Hold. The Moon will then be two nights past his full, and the muster that the king commanded will be held the day after. More speed we cannot make, if the strength of Rohan is to be gathered.’ Aragorn was silent for a moment. “Three days,’ he murmured, ‘and the muster of Rohan will only be begun. But I see that it cannot now be hastened.’ He looked up, and it seemed that he had made

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY 779 some decision; his face was less troubled. “Then, by your leave, lord, I must take new counsel for myself and my kindred. We must ride our own road, and no longer in secret. For me the time of stealth has passed. I will ride east by the swiftest way, and I will take the Paths of the Dead.’ “The Paths of the Dead!’ said Théoden, and trembled. ‘Why do you speak of them?’ Eomer turned and gazed at Aragorn, and it seemed to Merry that the faces of the Riders that sat within hearing turned pale at the words. ‘If there be in truth such paths,’ said Theoden, ‘their gate is in Dunharrow; but no living man may pass it.’ ‘Alas! Aragorn my friend!’ said Eomer. ‘I had hoped that we should ride to war together; but if you seek the Paths of the Dead, then our parting is come, and it is little likely that we shall ever meet again under the Sun.’ “That road I will take, nonetheless,’ said Aragorn. ‘But I say to you, Eomer, that in battle we may yet meet again, though all the hosts of Mordor should stand between.’ ‘You will do as you will, my lord Aragorn,’ said Théoden. ‘It is your doom, maybe, to tread strange paths that others dare not. This parting grieves me, and my strength is lessened by it; but now I must take the mountain-roads and delay no longer. Farewell!’ ‘Farewell, lord!’ said Aragorn. ‘Ride unto great renown! Farewell, Merry! I leave you in good hands, better than we hoped when we hunted the orcs to Fangorn. Legolas and Gimli will still hunt with me, I hope; but we shall not forget you.’ ‘Good-bye!’ said Merry. He could find no more to say. He felt very small, and he was puzzled and depressed by all these gloomy words. More than ever he missed the unquenchable cheerfulness of Pippin. The Riders were ready, and their horses were fidgeting; he wished they would start and get it over. Now Theoden spoke to Eomer, and he lifted up his hand and cried aloud, and with that word the Riders set forth. They rode over the Dike and down the Coomb, and then, turning swiftly eastwards, they took a path that skirted the foothills for a mile or so, until bending south it passed back among the hills and disappeared from view. Aragorn rode to the Dike and watched till the king’s men were far down the Coomb. Then he turned to Halbarad. ‘There go three that I love, and the smallest not the least,’ he said. ‘He knows not to what end he rides; yet if he knew, he still would go on.’ ‘A little people, but of great worth are the Shire-folk,’ said Halbarad. ‘Little do they know of our long labour for the safekeeping of their borders, and yet I grudge it not.’

亞拉岡似乎已做了某個決定；他臉上的憂慮之色減少了。「那麼，王上，若您允許，我必須為我自己和我的親族另作打算。我們必須走自己的路，而且不再秘密行事。對我而言，潛行匿蹤的時刻已經過去。我將循最快的路徑向東，我將走上亡者之道。」「亡者之道！」希優頓說，渾身顫抖。「你為什麼提起它？」伊歐墨轉頭凝視著亞拉岡，而在梅里看來，那些聽得見話語的騎士們臉上都因這句話而變得蒼白。「如果真有那樣的路，」希優頓說，「它的入口在登哈洛；但沒有活人能通過。」「唉！亞拉岡我的朋友！」伊歐墨說。「我本希望我們能並肩作戰；但如果你要尋找亡者之道，那麼我們就要在此分別了，而且我們大概很難再於陽光下相見了。」「即便如此，我還是要走那條路，」亞拉岡說。「但我告訴你，伊歐墨，我們仍可能在戰場上再會，即使魔多的所有大軍都阻隔在我們之間。」「您就照您的意願行事吧，我的主君亞拉岡，」希優頓說。「踏上他人不敢走的奇特道路，這或許是您的天命。這次分別令我悲傷，也削弱了我的力量；但我現在必須走上山路，不能再延遲了。再會了！」「再會了，王上！」亞拉岡說。「願您馳騁奔向偉大聲望！再會了，梅里！我把你交給了可靠的人，比我們在法貢森林追獵半獸人時所期望的還要好。我希望勒苟拉斯和金靂會繼續與我同行；但我們不會忘記你。」「再見！」梅里說。他再也說不出別的話了。他覺得自己非常渺小，對這些陰鬱的話語感到困惑和沮喪。他比以往任何時候都更想念皮聘那無法抑制的開朗。騎士們已經準備好了，他們的馬匹焦躁不安；他希望他們趕快出發，好讓這一切結束。此刻，希優頓對伊歐墨說了話，他舉起手高聲呼喊，隨著那句話，騎士們出發了。他們越過堤壩，沿著深谷而下，然後迅速轉向東方，走上了一條沿著山麓延伸約一英里的路，直到路徑向南彎去，回到山丘之間，消失在視野中。亞拉岡騎到堤壩上，一直望著國王的部隊遠遠地走下深谷。然後他轉向哈爾巴拉德。「我所愛的三個人走了，最小的那個並非最不重要，」他說。「他不知道自己騎馬奔赴何種結局；然而即使他知道，他仍會繼續前行。」「夏爾人是個小民族，但價值非凡，」哈爾巴拉德說。「他們對我們為守護其邊界所付出的長期辛勞知之甚少，但我對此並無怨言。」

780 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘And now our fates are woven together,’ said Aragorn. ‘And yet, alas! here we must part. Well, I must eat a little, and then we also must hasten away. Come, Legolas and Gimli! I must speak with you as I eat.’ Together they went back into the Burg; yet for some time Aragorn sat silent at the table in the hall, and the others waited for him to speak. ‘Come!’ said Legolas at last. ‘Speak and be comforted, and shake off the shadow! What has happened since we came back to this grim place in the grey morning?’ ‘A struggle somewhat grimmer for my part than the battle of the Hornburg,’ answered Aragorn. ‘I have looked in the Stone of Orthanc, my friends.’ “You have looked in that accursed stone of wizardry!’ exclaimed Gimli with fear and astonishment in his face. ‘Did you say aught to — him? Even Gandalf feared that encounter.’ “You forget to whom you speak,’ said Aragorn sternly, and his eyes glinted. ‘What do you fear that I should say to him? Did I not openly proclaim my title before the doors of Edoras? Nay, Gimli,’ he said in a softer voice, and the grimness left his face, and he looked like one who has laboured in sleepless pain for many nights. ‘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.’ He drew a deep breath. ‘It was a bitter struggle, and the weariness is slow to pass. I spoke no word to him, and in the end I wrenched the Stone to my own will. That alone he will find hard to endure. And he beheld me. Yes, Master Gimli, he saw me, but in other guise than you see me here. If that will aid him, then I have done ill. But I do not think so. To know that I lived and walked the earth was a blow to his heart, I deem; for he knew it not till now. The eyes in Orthanc did not see through the armour of Théoden; but Sauron has not forgotten Isildur and the sword of Elendil. Now in the very hour of his great designs the heir of Isildur and the Sword are revealed; for I showed the blade re-forged to him. He is not so mighty yet that he is above fear; nay, doubt ever gnaws him.’ ‘But he wields great dominion, nonetheless,’ said Gimli; ‘and now he will strike more swiftly.’ “The hasty stroke goes oft astray,’ said Aragorn. ‘We must press our Enemy, and no longer wait upon him for the move. See my friends, when I had mastered the Stone, I learned many things. A grave peril I saw coming unlooked-for upon Gondor from the South that will draw off great strength from the defence of Minas Tirith. If it is not countered swiftly, I deem that the City will be lost ere ten days be gone.’

「如今我們的命運已交織在一起了。」亞拉岡說。「然而，唉！我們必須在此分道揚鑣。好了，我得吃點東西，然後我們也必須趕快離開。來，勒苟拉斯、金靂！我必須邊吃邊跟你們談。」他們一同回到堡壘裡；然而有好一段時間，亞拉岡只是靜靜地坐在大廳的桌邊，其他人則等著他開口。「說吧！」勒苟拉斯終於開口。「說出來會好過些，把陰影甩開吧！自從我們在灰濛的早晨回到這個肅殺之地後，發生了什麼事？」「對我而言，是一場比聖盔谷之役更為嚴酷的鬥爭。」亞拉岡回答。「朋友們，我看了歐散克的晶球。」「你看了那顆該死的巫師之石！」金靂驚懼交加地大喊。「你對——祂，說了些什麼嗎？就連甘道夫都害怕那樣的接觸。」「你忘了你在跟誰說話。」亞拉岡嚴厲地說，雙眼閃過一道精光。「你怕我會對祂說什麼？我不是已在伊多拉斯門前公開宣告我的名號了嗎？不，金靂。」他的聲音柔和下來，臉上嚴峻的神情也消失了，看起來像個承受了許多個不眠夜晚的痛苦折磨的人。「不，我的朋友們，我才是那晶球的合法主人，我有權利也有力量去使用它，至少我是這麼判斷的。權利無庸置疑。力量也足夠——但僅是勉強。」他深吸一口氣。「那是一場艱苦的鬥爭，疲憊感遲遲未退。我沒對祂說任何話，而最終，我將晶球的意志強行扭轉過來，為我所用。光是這點就夠祂受的了。而且祂看見了我。是的，金靂大師，祂看見了我，但看到的不是你們現在看到的這個模樣。如果那樣反而幫了祂，就是我做錯了。但我不這麼認為。我想，得知我還活著、行走於這片大地上，對祂的內心是個沉重的打擊；因為祂直到現在才知道這件事。歐散克之眼沒能看穿希優頓的盔甲；但索倫可沒忘記埃西鐸和伊蘭迪爾的聖劍。如今，就在祂的宏大計畫即將實行之際，埃西鐸的繼承人與聖劍卻現身了；因為我向祂展示了那把重鑄的聖劍。祂還沒有強大到無所畏懼；不，懷疑永遠啃噬著祂。」「但祂依然掌握著巨大的權勢。」金靂說，「而且祂現在會更迅速地出擊。」「『忙中有錯，欲速則不達。』」亞拉岡說。「我們必須主動進逼我們的敵人，不能再等著祂出招了。聽著，朋友們，當我駕馭了晶球後，我得知了許多事。我看到一個始料未及的巨大危險正從南方逼近剛鐸，那將會從米那斯提力斯的防禦中抽走大量的兵力。如果不迅速應對，我認為那座城市不出十日便會淪陷。」

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY 781 “Then lost it must be,’ said Gimli. ‘For what help is there to send thither, and how could it come there in time?’ ‘I have no help to send, therefore I must go myself,’ said Aragorn. ‘But there is only one way through the mountains that will bring me to the coastlands before all is lost. That is the Paths of the Dead.’ “The Paths of the Dead!’ said Gimli. ‘It is a fell name; and little to the liking to the Men of Rohan, as I saw. Can the living use such a road and not perish? And even if you pass that way, what will so few avail to counter the strokes of Mordor?’ “The living have never used that road since the coming of the Rohirrim,’ said Aragorn, ‘for it is closed to them. But in this dark hour the heir of Isildur may use it, if he dare. Listen! This is the word that the sons of Elrond bring to me from their father in Rivendell, wisest in lore: Bid Aragorn remember the words of the seer, and the Paths of the Dead.’ ‘And what may be the words of the seer?’ said Legolas. “Thus spoke Malbeth the Seer, in the days of Arvedui, last king at Fornost,’ said Aragorn: Over the land there lies a long shadow, westward reaching wings of darkness. The Tower trembles; to the tombs of kings doom approaches. The Dead awaken; for the hour is come for the oathbreakers: at the Stone of Erech they shall stand again and hear there a horn in the hills ringing. Whose shall the horn be? Who shall call them from the grey twilight, the forgotten people? The heir of him to whom the oath they swore. From the North shall he come, need shall drive him: he shall pass the Door to the Paths of the Dead. ‘Dark ways, doubtless,’ said Gimli, ‘but no darker than these staves are to me.’ ‘If you would understand them better, then I bid you come with me,’ said Aragorn; ‘for that way I now shall take. But I do not go gladly; only need drives me. Therefore, only of your free will would Ihave you come, for you will find both toil and great fear, and maybe worse.’ ‘I will go with you even on the Paths of the Dead, and to whatever end they may lead,’ said Gimli. ‘I also will come,’ said Legolas, ‘for I do not fear the Dead.’ ‘I hope that the forgotten people will not have forgotten how to

「那看來是沒希望了，」金靂說。「那裡能派去什麼援兵？又怎麼能及時趕到？」「我沒有援兵可派，所以我必須親自前往，」亞拉岡說。「但要在我方全盤皆輸之前抵達沿海地區，只有一條路能穿越山脈。那就是亡者之道。」「亡者之道！」金靂說。「這名字聽起來真不祥；而且我看洛汗人也一點都不喜歡。活人能走上那樣的路而不喪命嗎？就算你通過了那條路，我們區區幾個人又能如何抵擋魔多的攻勢？」「自從洛希林人到來後，就再也沒有活人走過那條路，」亞拉岡說，「因為那條路對他們是封閉的。但在這個黑暗時刻，埃西鐸的繼承人若有膽量，或許可以使用它。你聽！這是愛隆的兒子們從他們在瑞文戴爾的父親，那位學識最淵博的智者，帶給我的話：『叫亞拉岡記起預言家之言，以及亡者之道。』」「那預言家說了什麼？」勒苟拉斯問。「在佛諾斯特的末代國王亞帆都的時代，預言家馬爾貝斯曾如此說道：」亞拉岡說：「大地之上籠罩著長長的陰影，黑暗的翅膀向西伸展。高塔在顫抖；末日正逼近君王之墓。亡者已甦醒；因為背誓者的時刻已到來：在伊瑞赫之石前他們將再次站立，並聽見山丘上響起的號角聲。那號角將是誰的？誰將從灰色的暮光中召喚他們，那被遺忘的子民？正是他們曾向其宣誓效忠之人的繼承者。他將從北方而來，為情勢所迫：他將穿過門扉，踏上亡者之道。」「這條路無疑是黑暗的，」金靂說，「但對我來說，不比這些詩節更晦澀。」「如果你想更了解它們，那麼我邀請你與我同行，」亞拉岡說；「因為我現在就要走那條路。但我並非欣然前往，只是為情勢所迫。因此，我只希望你們出於完全的自由意志才跟隨我，因為你們將會面臨辛勞與巨大的恐懼，甚至可能更糟。」「我會跟你一起走，即使是走上亡者之道，無論它通往何種結局，」金靂說。「我也會去，」勒苟拉斯說，「因為我不怕亡者。」「我希望那些被遺忘的子民沒有忘記如何……

782 THE LORD OF THE RINGS fight,’ said Gimli; ‘for otherwise I see not why we should trouble them.’ “That we shall know if ever we come to Erech,’ said Aragorn. ‘But the oath that they broke was to fight against Sauron, and they must fight therefore, if they are to fulfil it. For at Erech there stands yet a black stone that was brought, it was said, from Numenor by Isildur; and it was set upon a hill, and upon it the King of the Mountains swore allegiance to him in the beginning of the realm of Gondor. But when Sauron returned and grew in might again, Isildur summoned the Men of the Mountains to fulfil their oath, and they would not: for they had worshipped Sauron in the Dark Years. “Then Isildur said to their king: ‘“Thou shalt be the last king. And if the West prove mightier than thy Black Master, this curse I lay upon thee and thy folk: to rest never until your oath is fulfilled. For this war will last through years uncounted, and you shall be summoned once again ere the end.’’ And they fled before the wrath of Isildur, and did not dare to go forth to war on Sauron’s part; and they hid themselves in secret places in the mountains and had no dealings with other men, but slowly dwindled in the barren hills. And the terror of the Sleepless Dead lies about the Hill of Erech and all places where that people lingered. But that way I must go, since there are none living to help me.’ He stood up. ‘Come!’ he cried, and drew his sword, and it flashed in the twilit hall of the Burg. “To the Stone of Erech! I seek the Paths of the Dead. Come with me who will!’ Legolas and Gimli made no answer, but they rose and followed Aragorn from the hall. On the green there waited, still and silent, the hooded Rangers. Legolas and Gimli mounted. Aragorn sprang upon Roheryn. Then Halbarad lifted a great horn, and the blast of it echoed in Helm’s Deep: and with that they leapt away, riding down the Coomb like thunder, while all the men that were left on Dike or Burg stared in amaze. And while Théoden went by slow paths in the hills, the Grey Company passed swiftly over the plain, and on the next day in the afternoon they came to Edoras; and there they halted only briefly, ere they passed up the valley, and so came to Dunharrow as darkness fell. The Lady Eowyn greeted them and was glad of their coming; for no mightier men had she seen than the Dunedain and the fair sons of Elrond; but on Aragorn most of all her eyes rested. And when they sat at supper with her, they talked together, and she heard of all that had passed since Théoden rode away, concerning which only hasty tidings had yet reached her; and when she heard of the battle

「戰鬥，」金靂說；「否則我看不出我們為何要打擾他們。」「如果我們真能抵達伊瑞赫，就會知道了。」亞拉岡說。「但他們違背的誓言是對抗索倫，因此，若要履行誓言，他們就必須戰鬥。因為在伊瑞赫，至今仍立著一塊黑石，據說是伊蘭迪爾從努曼諾爾帶來的；它被置於一座山丘上，山中之王曾在剛鐸王國之初，於其上向伊蘭迪爾宣誓效忠。但當索倫捲土重來、力量再度增強時，伊蘭迪爾召集山中之民履行他們的誓言，他們卻不肯：因為他們在黑暗年代曾崇拜索倫。『那麼伊蘭迪爾對他們的國王說：「你將是末代國王。倘若西方之力證明比你的黑暗主人更強大，我便將此詛咒降於你與你的族人：直到你們的誓言被履行之前，永不得安息。因為這場戰爭將持續無數歲月，而在終結之前，你們將再次被召喚。」』他們在伊蘭迪爾的怒火前逃竄，不敢出戰為索倫效力；他們藏匿於山中秘地，不與外人往來，在貧瘠的山丘中逐漸凋零。無眠死者的恐怖籠罩著伊瑞赫山丘及那些人曾經逗留過的所有地方。但我必須走那條路，因為已無生者能助我。」他站起身。「來吧！」他大喊，拔出長劍，劍光在堡壘暮色籠罩的大廳中閃爍。「前往伊瑞赫之石！我要尋找亡者之道。願者隨我同行！」勒苟拉斯和金靂沒有回答，但他們起身跟隨亞拉岡離開了大廳。在綠草地上，戴著兜帽的遊俠們靜靜地等待著。勒苟拉斯和金靂上了馬。亞拉岡躍上羅赫林。接著，哈爾巴拉德舉起一支巨大的號角，其鳴響在聖盔谷中迴盪；隨後他們便縱馬馳去，如雷霆般衝下深谷，而所有留在堤上或堡中的人都驚訝地注視著。當希優頓王在山間緩行時，灰色部隊已迅速越過平原，並在第二天的下午抵達伊多拉斯；他們在那裡只短暫停留，便繼續沿著山谷前進，在夜幕降臨時抵達登哈洛。伊歐玟女士迎接他們，為他們的到來感到欣喜；因為她從未見過比這些登丹人與愛隆的俊美兒子們更強大的人；但她的目光尤其停留在亞拉岡身上。當他們與她共進晚餐時，他們交談著，她聽說了自希優頓王騎馬離開後發生的一切，關於這些事，她之前只收到了些零星倉促的消息；而當她聽說那場戰役時

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY 783 in Helm’s Deep and the great slaughter of their foes, and of the charge of Theoden and his knights, then her eyes shone. But at last she said: ‘Lords, you are weary and shall now go to your beds with such ease as can be contrived in haste. But tomorrow fairer housing shall be found for you.’ But Aragorn said: ‘Nay, lady, be not troubled for us! If we may lie here tonight and break our fast tomorrow, it will be enough. For I ride on an errand most urgent, and with the first light of morning we must go.’ She smiled on him and said: “Then it was kindly done, lord, to ride so many miles out of your way to bring tidings to Eowyn, and to speak with her in her exile.’ ‘Indeed no man would count such a journey wasted,’ said Aragorn; ‘and yet, lady, I could not have come hither, if it were not that the road which I must take leads me to Dunharrow.’ And she answered as one that likes not what is said: “Then, lord, you are astray; for out of Harrowdale no road runs east or south; and you had best return as you came.’ ‘Nay, lady,’ said he, ‘I am not astray; for I walked in this land ere you were born to grace it. There is a road out of this valley, and that road I shall take. Tomorrow I shall ride by the Paths of the Dead.’ Then she stared at him as one that is stricken, and her face blanched, and for long she spoke no more, while all sat silent. ‘But, Aragorn,’ she said at last, ‘is it then your errand to seek death? For that is all that you will find on that road. They do not suffer the living to pass.’ “They may suffer me to pass,’ said Aragorn; ‘but at the least I will adventure it. No other road will serve.’ ‘But this is madness,’ she said. ‘For here are men of renown and prowess, whom you should not take into the shadows, but should lead to war, where men are needed. I beg you to remain and ride with my brother; for then all our hearts will be gladdened, and our hope be the brighter.’ ‘It is not madness, lady,’ he answered; ‘for I go on a path appointed. But those who follow me do so of their free will; and if they wish now to remain and ride with the Rohirrim, they may do so. But I shall take the Paths of the Dead, alone, if needs be.’ Then they said no more, and they ate in silence; but her eyes were ever upon Aragorn, and the others saw that she was in great torment of mind. At length they arose, and took their leave of the Lady, and thanked her for her care, and went to their rest. But as Aragorn came to the booth where he was to lodge with Legolas and Gimli, and his companions had gone in, there came the Lady Eowyn after him and called to him. He turned and saw her as

784 THE LORD OF THE RINGS a glimmer in the night, for she was clad in white; but her eyes were on fire. ‘Aragorn,’ she said, ‘why will you go on this deadly road?’ ‘Because I must,’ he said. ‘Only so can I see any hope of doing my part in the war against Sauron. I do not choose paths of peril, Eowyn. Were I to go where my heart dwells, far in the North I would now be wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell.’ For a while she was silent, as if pondering what this might mean. Then suddenly she laid her hand on his arm. ‘You are a stern lord and resolute,’ she said; ‘and thus do men win renown.’ She paused. ‘Lord,’ she said, ‘if you must go, then let me ride in your following. For I am weary of skulking in the hills, and wish to face peril and battle.’ ‘Your duty is with your people,’ he answered. “Too often have I heard of duty,’ she cried. ‘But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?’ ‘Few may do that with honour,’ he answered. ‘But as for you, lady: did you not accept the charge to govern the people until their lord’s return? If you had not been chosen, then some marshal or captain would have been set in the same place, and he could not ride away from his charge, were he weary of it or no.’ ‘Shall I always be chosen?’ she said bitterly. ‘Shall I always be left behind when the Riders depart, to mind the house while they win renown, and find food and beds when they return?’ ‘A time may come soon,’ said he, ‘when none will return. Then there will be need of valour without renown, for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes. Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.’ And she answered: ‘All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death.’ ‘What do you fear, lady?’ he asked. ‘A cage,’ she said. ‘To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.’ ‘And yet you counselled me not to adventure on the road that I had chosen, because it is perilous?’ ‘So may one counsel another,’ she said. ‘Yet I do not bid you flee from peril, but to ride to battle where your sword may win renown

她在夜色中像一絲微光，因她身著白衣；但她的雙眼燃燒著火焰。「亞拉岡，」她說，「你為何要走上這條死亡之路？」「因為我必須如此，」他說。「唯有如此，我才看得到一絲希望，在對抗索倫的戰爭中盡我的一份力。伊歐玟，我並非選擇險路。若我能去往我心之所向，我此刻應當正在北方瑞文戴爾那美麗的山谷中漫遊。」她沉默了一會兒，彷彿在思索這話的含意。然後她突然將手放在他的臂上。「您是一位嚴厲而果決的領主，」她說，「男人們就是這樣贏得聲望的。」她頓了頓。「大人，」她說，「如果您必須要去，那麼請讓我跟隨您同行。因為我已厭倦了在山丘中躲躲藏藏，我渴望面對危險與戰鬥。」「妳的職責在於妳的人民，」他回答。「『職責』這兩個字我聽得太多了，」她喊道。「但我難道不是伊歐家族的後代，一個盾女而不是保姆嗎？我已踏著踉蹌的腳步等待了夠久。既然我的腳步似乎不再踉蹌，我難道不能按自己的意願度過我的人生嗎？」「很少人能如此行事而保有榮譽，」他回答。「但至於您，女士：您不是已接受了在領主歸來前治理人民的責任嗎？如果當初沒有選擇您，那麼也會有某位元帥或隊長被指派到同樣的位置上，而無論他是否厭倦，都不能擅離職守。」「我永遠都是被選中的那個嗎？」她苦澀地說。「當騎士們出發時，我永遠都要被留下，在他們贏得聲望時看管家園，在他們歸來時準備食物和床鋪嗎？」「也許很快會有那麼一個時刻，」他說，「再也無人歸來。那時將需要無聞的英勇，因為沒有人會記得那些在保衛家園的最後一戰中所做的事蹟。然而，那些事蹟不會因為無人讚頌而減損其英勇。」她回答道：「您所有的話不過是想說：妳是個女人，妳的本分就在家裡。但當男人們在戰鬥與榮譽中死去後，妳就被允許在屋裡被燒死，因為男人們再也用不著它了。但我是伊歐家族的後代，不是一個女僕。我能騎馬，能揮劍，我既不畏懼痛苦也不畏懼死亡。」「那您畏懼什麼呢，女士？」他問。「一個籠子，」她說。「待在柵欄後，直到習慣與歲月讓人接受它們，直到所有建立偉業的機會都已逝去，無法憶起也無法奢望。」「然而妳卻勸我不要踏上我所選擇的道路，因為它充滿危險？」「人總是如此勸告他人，」她說。「但我並非要您逃避危險，而是要您馳騁沙場，在那裡您的劍或許能贏得聲望。

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY 785 and victory. I would not see a thing that is high and excellent cast away needlessly.’ ‘Nor would I,’ he said. “Therefore I say to you, lady: Stay! For you have no errand to the South.’ ‘Neither have those others who go with thee. They go only because they would not be parted from thee — because they love thee.’ Then she turned and vanished into the night. When the light of day was come into the sky but the sun was not yet risen above the high ridges in the East, Aragorn made ready to depart. His company was all mounted, and he was about to leap into the saddle, when the Lady Eowyn came to bid them farewell. She was clad as a Rider and girt with a sword. In her hand she bore a cup, and she set it to her lips and drank a little, wishing them good speed; and then she gave the cup to Aragorn, and he drank, and he said: ‘Farewell, Lady of Rohan! I drink to the fortunes of your House, and of you, and of all your people. Say to your brother: beyond the shadows we may meet again!’ Then it seemed to Gimli and Legolas who were nearby that she wept, and in one so stern and proud that seemed the more grievous. But she said: ‘Aragorn, wilt thou go?’ ‘I will,’ he said. “Then wilt thou not let me ride with this company, as I have asked?’ ‘I will not, lady,’ he said. ‘For that I could not grant without leave of the king and of your brother; and they will not return until tomorrow. But I count now every hour, indeed every minute. Farewell!’ Then she fell on her knees, saying: ‘I beg thee!’ ‘Nay, lady,’ he said, and taking her by the hand he raised her. Then he kissed her hand, and sprang into the saddle, and rode away, and did not look back; and only those who knew him well and were near to him saw the pain that he bore. But Eowyn stood still as a figure carven in stone, her hands clenched at her sides, and she watched them until they passed into the shadows under the black Dwimorberg, the Haunted Mountain, in which was the Door of the Dead. When they were lost to view, she turned, stumbling as one that is blind, and went back to her lodging. But none of her folk saw this parting, for they hid themselves in fear and would not come forth until the day was up, and the reckless strangers were gone. And some said: “They are Elvish wights. Let them go where they belong, into the dark places, and never return. The times are evil enough.’

我不想看到高貴美好的事物被無謂地拋棄。」「我也不願，」他說。「因此我對妳說，女士：留下吧！因為南方並沒有妳的任務。」「那些與你同行的人也沒有。他們之所以跟隨，只是因為不願與你分離——因為他們愛你。」然後她轉身，消失在夜色中。當天際已現晨光，但太陽尚未從東方高聳的山脊升起時，亞拉岡準備出發。他的同伴們都已上馬，他正要躍上馬鞍，伊歐玟女士前來為他們送行。她身穿騎士服，腰間佩劍。她手中捧著一個杯子，送到唇邊輕啜一口，祝他們一路順風；然後她將杯子遞給亞拉岡，他喝下後說道：「再會了，洛汗的女士！我為妳家族、妳以及妳所有人民的命運乾杯。請告訴妳的兄長：越過陰影之後，我們或許能再相會！」這時，在旁邊的金靂和勒苟拉斯看來，她似乎哭了，對於一個如此嚴肅高傲的人來說，這更顯悲傷。但她說：「亞拉岡，你要走嗎？」「是的，」他說。「那麼，你不能如我所求，讓我與這支隊伍同行嗎？」「不能，女士，」他說。「因為未經國王與妳兄長的允許，我不能答應；而他們要到明天才會回來。但我現在分秒必爭。再會了！」然後她跪倒在地，說道：「我求求你！」「不，女士，」他說著，伸手將她扶起。接著他親吻了她的手，躍上馬鞍，策馬離去，沒有回頭；只有那些深知他並在他身邊的人，才看見他所承受的痛苦。但伊歐玟像一座石雕般靜立不動，雙手在身側緊握成拳，凝視著他們，直到他們消失在黑色丁默山下的陰影中。那座鬧鬼之山裡，有著亡者之門。當他們從視線中消失後，她轉過身，像盲人一樣踉蹌地走回自己的住處。但她的族人沒有人看到這場離別，因為他們都因恐懼而躲藏起來，直到天亮、那些魯莽的陌生人離去後才敢出來。有些人說：「他們是精靈鬼怪。讓他們去他們該去的地方，去那些黑暗之境，永遠別再回來。這世道已經夠險惡了。」

786 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The light was still grey as they rode, for the sun had not yet climbed over the black ridges of the Haunted Mountain before them. A dread fell on them, even as they passed between the lines of ancient stones and so came to the Dimholt. There under the gloom of black trees that not even Legolas could long endure they found a hollow place opening at the mountain’s root, and right in their path stood a single mighty stone like a finger of doom. ‘My blood runs chill,’ said Gimli, but the others were silent, and his voice fell dead on the dank fir-needles at his feet. The horses would not pass the threatening stone, until the riders dismounted and led them about. And so they came at last deep into the glen; and there stood a sheer wall of rock, and in the wall the Dark Door gaped before them like the mouth of night. Signs and figures were carved above its wide arch too dim to read, and fear flowed from it like a grey vapour. The Company halted, and there was not a heart among them that did not quail, unless it were the heart of Legolas of the Elves, for whom the ghosts of Men have no terror. “This is an evil door,’ said Halbarad, ‘and my death lies beyond it. I will dare to pass it nonetheless; but no horse will enter.’ ‘But we must go in, and therefore the horses must go too,’ said Aragorn. ‘For if ever we come through this darkness, many leagues lie beyond, and every hour that is lost there will bring the triumph of Sauron nearer. Follow me!’ Then Aragorn led the way, and such was the strength of his will in that hour that all the Dunedain and their horses followed him. And indeed the love that the horses of the Rangers bore for their riders was so great that they were willing to face even the terror of the Door, if their masters’ hearts were steady as they walked beside them. But Arod, the horse of Rohan, refused the way, and he stood sweating and trembling in a fear that was grievous to see. Then Legolas laid his hands on his eyes and sang some words that went soft in the gloom, until he suffered himself to be led, and Legolas passed in. And there stood Gimli the Dwarf left all alone. His knees shook, and he was wroth with himself. ‘Here is a thing unheard of!’ he said. ‘An Elf will go underground and a Dwarf dare not!’ With that he plunged in. But it seemed to him that he dragged his feet like lead over the threshold; and at once a blindness came upon him, even upon Gimli Gldin’s son who had walked unafraid in many deep places of the world. Aragorn had brought torches from Dunharrow, and now he went ahead bearing one aloft; and Elladan with another went at the rear, and Gimli, stumbling behind, strove to overtake him. He could see

他們騎馬前行時，天色依舊灰濛，因為太陽尚未越過眼前那座鬼影山的黑色山脊。當他們穿過一排排古老的石頭，來到丁懷特谷時，一股恐懼籠罩了他們。在連勒苟拉斯都無法久待的黑樹幽暗之下，他們發現山腳處有個凹陷的洞口，正對著他們路徑的，是一塊巨大的獨石，宛如厄運的手指。「我的血都涼了。」金靂說，但其他人一片沉默，他的聲音落在他腳下潮濕的冷杉針葉上，便寂然無聲。馬匹不肯越過那塊充滿威脅的石頭，直到騎士們下馬牽著牠們繞過去。他們終於深入峽谷；那裡矗立著一道陡峭的岩壁，壁上的黑暗之門在他們面前張開，如同黑夜的巨口。寬闊的拱門上方刻著模糊不清的符號與圖案，恐懼如灰色的水氣從中流瀉而出。隊伍停了下來，他們之中沒有一顆心不為之顫抖，除非是精靈勒苟拉斯的心，因為人類的鬼魂對他毫無威脅。「這是一扇邪惡的門，」哈爾巴拉德說，「我的死期就在門後。儘管如此，我仍敢於通過；但沒有馬匹會進去。」「但我們必須進去，所以馬匹也必須跟著進去，」亞拉岡說。「因為一旦我們穿過這片黑暗，前方還有許多里格的路要走，每耽擱一小時，都將使索倫的勝利更近一步。跟著我！」於是亞拉岡帶頭前行，在那一刻，他的意志力是如此強大，以至於所有的登丹人與他們的馬匹都跟隨了他。的確，遊俠的馬匹對主人的愛是如此深厚，只要主人在身旁行走時心志堅定，牠們甚至願意面對那扇門的恐怖。但洛汗的馬兒亞羅德卻拒絕前行，牠站在原地，汗流浹背，渾身顫抖，那恐懼的模樣令人不忍卒睹。於是勒苟拉斯將手放在牠的眼睛上，在幽暗中輕聲吟唱了幾句，直到牠願意被牽引，勒苟拉斯便走了進去。於是，只剩下矮人金靂獨自一人站在那裡。他的膝蓋發抖，對自己感到憤怒。「這真是聞所未聞！」他說。「一個精靈願意走入地下，一個矮人卻不敢！」說完，他便一頭衝了進去。但他感覺自己的雙腳像灌了鉛一樣拖過門檻；一陣目盲瞬間襲來，即使是曾在世上許多深處無畏行走的葛羅音之子金靂，也無法倖免。亞拉岡從登哈洛帶來了火把，此刻他高舉著一支走在最前頭；伊萊丹拿著另一支走在隊伍末尾，金靂跌跌撞撞地跟在後面，努力想追上他。他能看見

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY 787 nothing but the dim flame of the torches; but if the Company halted, there seemed an endless whisper of voices all about him, a murmur of words in no tongue that he had ever heard before. Nothing assailed the Company nor withstood their passage, and yet steadily fear grew on the Dwarf as he went on: most of all because he knew now that there could be no turning back; all the paths behind were thronged by an unseen host that followed in the dark. So time unreckoned passed, until Gimli saw a sight that he was ever afterwards loth to recall. The road was wide, as far as he could judge, but now the Company came suddenly into a great empty space, and there were no longer any walls upon either side. The dread was so heavy on him that he could hardly walk. Away to the left something glittered in the gloom as Aragorn’s torch drew near. Then Aragorn halted and went to look what it might be. ‘Does he feel no fear?? muttered the Dwarf. ‘In any other cave Gimli Gloin’s son would have been the first to run to the gleam of gold. But not here! Let it lie!’ Nonetheless he drew near, and saw Aragorn kneeling, while Elladan held aloft both torches. Before him were the bones of a mighty man. He had been clad in mail, and still his harness lay there whole; for the cavern’s air was as dry as dust, and his hauberk was gilded. His belt was of gold and garnets, and rich with gold was the helm upon his bony head face downward on the floor. He had fallen near the far wall of the cave, as now could be seen, and before him stood a stony door closed fast: his finger-bones were still clawing at the cracks. A notched and broken sword lay by him, as if he had hewn at the rock in his last despair. Aragorn did not touch him, but after gazing silently for a while he rose and sighed. ‘Hither shall the flowers of szmbelmyné come never unto world’s end,’ he murmured. ‘Nine mounds and seven there are now green with grass, and through all the long years he has lain at the door that he could not unlock. Whither does it lead? Why would he pass? None shall ever know! ‘For that is not my errand!’ he cried, turning back and speaking to the whispering darkness behind. ‘Keep your hoards and your secrets hidden in the Accursed Years! Speed only we ask. Let us pass, and then come! I summon you to the Stone of Erech!’ There was no answer, unless it were an utter silence more dreadful than the whispers before; and then a chill blast came in which the torches flickered and went out, and could not be rekindled. Of the time that followed, one hour or many, Gimli remembered little. The others pressed on, but he was ever hindmost, pursued by a groping horror that seemed always just about to seize him; and a

灰色部隊的通行 787 除了火炬的昏暗火焰外什麼也看不見；但如果隊伍停下，他周圍似乎就有無盡的私語聲，是用他從未聽過的語言發出的喃喃細語。沒有任何東西攻擊或阻擋隊伍的通行，然而隨著矮人繼續前行，恐懼卻穩定地增長：最主要的原因是他現在知道已無回頭路；身後所有的路徑都被一支看不見的大軍佔據，在黑暗中跟隨著他們。時間就這樣在不知不覺中流逝，直到金靂看到了一個他日後總是不願回憶的景象。就他所能判斷，道路很寬，但現在隊伍突然來到一個巨大的空曠空間，兩側再也沒有牆壁。恐懼沉重地壓在他身上，使他幾乎無法行走。在左邊遠處，隨著亞拉岡的火炬靠近，有東西在幽暗中閃閃發光。於是亞拉岡停下腳步，前去查看那可能是什麼。「他難道不害怕嗎？」矮人喃喃自語。「在任何其他洞穴裡，葛羅音之子金靂都會是第一個衝向金光的人。但這裡不行！讓它留在那吧！」儘管如此，他還是走近了，看見亞拉岡跪著，而伊萊丹高舉著兩支火炬。在他面前是一具高大男子的骸骨。他曾身穿鎖子甲，而他的盔甲至今仍完好無損；因為洞穴裡的空氣像灰塵一樣乾燥，他的鎖子甲上還鍍了金。他的腰帶由黃金和石榴石製成，戴在他那面朝地板的骷髏頭上的頭盔也鑲滿了黃金。他倒在洞穴遠端的牆邊，現在可以看見了，他面前立著一扇緊閉的石門：他的指骨還在抓撓著門縫。一把有缺口且斷裂的劍躺在他身旁，彷彿他在最後的絕望中曾猛砍岩石。亞拉岡沒有碰他，只是靜靜地凝視了一會兒，然後起身嘆息。「直到世界末日，辛白穆奈之花也永不會開到此地，」他低語道。「如今有九座加七座墳塚長滿了綠草，而在這漫長的歲月裡，他一直躺在這扇他無法打開的門前。這門通向何方？他為何想通過？無人會知曉！」「因為那不是我的使命！」他轉身對著身後竊竊私語的黑暗大喊。「在受詛咒的歲月裡，守好你們的寶藏和秘密吧！我們只求速度。讓我們通過，然後再來！我召喚你們到伊瑞赫之石！」沒有回應，除非說那比之前的私語更可怕的全然死寂算是回應；接著一陣寒風吹來，火炬閃爍著熄滅了，再也無法點燃。對於之後的時間，無論是一小時還是許多小時，金靂幾乎不記得。其他人繼續前進，但他總是落在最後，被一種摸索的恐懼追趕著，那恐懼似乎隨時都要抓住他；而

788 THE LORD OF THE RINGS rumour came after him like the shadow-sound of many feet. He stumbled on until he was crawling like a beast on the ground and felt that he could endure no more: he must either find an ending and escape or run back in madness to meet the following fear. Suddenly he heard the tinkle of water, a sound hard and clear as a stone falling into a dream of dark shadow. Light grew, and lo! the Company passed through another gateway, high-arched and broad, and a rill ran out beside them; and beyond, going steeply down, was a road between sheer cliffs, knife-edged against the sky far above. So deep and narrow was that chasm that the sky was dark, and in it small stars glinted. Yet as Gimli after learned it was still two hours ere sunset of the day on which they had set out from Dunharrow; though for all that he could then tell it might have been twilight in some later year, or in some other world. The Company now mounted again, and Gimli returned to Legolas. They rode in file, and evening came on and a deep blue dusk; and still fear pursued them. Legolas turning to speak to Gimli looked back and the Dwarf saw before his face the glitter in the Elf’s bright eyes. Behind them rode Elladan, last of the Company, but not the last of those that took the downward road. “The Dead are following,’ said Legolas. ‘I see shapes of Men and of horses, and pale banners like shreds of cloud, and spears like winter-thickets on a misty night. The Dead are following.’ “Yes, the Dead ride behind. They have been summoned,’ said Elladan. The Company came at last out of the ravine, as suddenly as if they had issued from a crack in a wall; and there lay the uplands of a great vale before them, and the stream beside them went down with a cold voice over many falls. ‘Where in Middle-earth are we?’ said Gimli; and Elladan answered: ‘We have descended from the uprising of the Morthond, the long chill river that flows at last to the sea that washes the walls of Dol Amroth. You will not need to ask hereafter how comes its name: Blackroot men call it.’ The Morthond Vale made a great bay that beat up against the sheer southern faces of the mountains. Its steep slopes were grassgrown; but all was grey in that hour, for the sun had gone, and far below lights twinkled in the homes of Men. The vale was rich and many folk dwelt there. Then without turning Aragorn cried aloud so that all could hear: ‘Friends, forget your weariness! Ride now, ride! We must come to the Stone of Erech ere this day passes, and long still is the way.’ So

謠言般的聲響在他身後追趕，像是許多腳步的影子聲。他踉蹌前行，直到像野獸一樣在地上爬行，感覺再也無法忍受：他要嘛找到出口逃脫，要嘛就瘋狂地轉身回去面對那緊隨的恐懼。突然間，他聽見了滴水聲，那聲音堅實而清晰，像一顆石頭落入黑暗陰影的夢境。光線漸亮，看啊！遠征隊穿過了另一道高大寬闊的門，一條小溪在他們身旁流出；而在前方，一條路在陡峭的懸崖之間急遽下行，懸崖的邊緣映襯著遠方的天空，銳利如刀。那峽谷如此深邃狹窄，以至於天空一片漆黑，只有幾顆小星星在其中閃爍。然而，正如金靂後來得知的，那時距離他們從登哈洛出發那天的日落其實還有兩個小時；儘管就他當時所能判斷的，那也可能是未來某年的黃昏，或是在某個異世界。遠征隊此刻再次上馬，金靂回到了勒苟拉斯身邊。他們列隊前行，夜幕降臨，深藍的暮色籠罩大地；而恐懼依舊追逐著他們。勒苟拉斯轉身想對金靂說話時向後看了一眼，矮人看見精靈明亮的眼眸在他面前閃爍著光芒。伊萊丹騎在他們身後，是遠征隊的最後一人，卻不是走上這條下行之路的最後一個。「亡者在跟著我們，」勒苟拉斯說。「我看見了人與馬的形影，還有蒼白的旗幟，像是撕裂的雲片，長矛則像霧夜裡的冬日灌木叢。亡者在跟著我們。」「是的，亡者在後面騎行。他們已經被召喚了。」伊萊丹說。遠征隊終於走出了峽谷，那樣突然，彷彿他們是從一道牆縫中鑽出來的；眼前展現的是一個巨大谷地的高地，身旁的溪流以冰冷的聲音奔瀉過許多瀑布。「我們在中土大陸的什麼地方？」金靂問道；伊萊丹回答：「我們從墨松河的源頭下來了，這條長而冰冷的河流最終會流入那沖刷著多爾安羅斯城牆的大海。你以後就不需要問它的名字是怎麼來的了：人們稱它為黑根。」墨松谷形成一個巨大的海灣，拍打著山脈南面的峭壁。它陡峭的斜坡上長滿了草；但在那時，一切都是灰色的，因為太陽已經下山，遠方下方人類家園的燈火在閃爍。這個山谷富饒，有許多人居住。接著，亞拉岡沒有轉身，大聲喊道，好讓所有人都聽見：「朋友們，忘掉你們的疲憊！立刻策馬，快騎！我們必須在今天結束前趕到伊瑞赫之石，路還很長。」

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY 789 without looking back they rode the mountain-fields, until they came to a bridge over the growing torrent and found a road that went down into the land. Lights went out in house and hamlet as they came, and doors were shut, and folk that were afield cried in terror and ran wild like hunted deer. Ever there rose the same cry in the gathering night: “The King of the Dead ! The King of the Dead is come upon us!’ Bells were ringing far below, and all men fled before the face of Aragorn; but the Grey Company in their haste rode like hunters, until their horses were stumbling with weariness. And thus, just ere midnight, and in a darkness as black as the caverns in the mountains, they came at last to the Hill of Erech. Long had the terror of the Dead lain upon that hill and upon the empty fields about it. For upon the top stood a black stone, round as a great globe, the height of a man, though its half was buried in the ground. Unearthly it looked, as though it had fallen from the sky, as some believed; but those who remembered still the lore of Westernesse told that it had been brought out of the ruin of Numenor and there set by Isildur at his landing. None of the people of the valley dared to approach it, nor would they dwell near; for they said that it was a trysting-place of the Shadow-men and there they would gather in times of fear, thronging round the Stone and whispering. To that Stone the Company came and halted in the dead of night. Then Elrohir gave to Aragorn a silver horn, and he blew upon it; and it seemed to those that stood near that they heard a sound of answering horns, as if it was an echo in deep caves far away. No other sound they heard, and yet they were aware of a great host gathered all about the hill on which they stood; and a chill wind like the breath of ghosts came down from the mountains. But Aragorn dismounted, and standing by the Stone he cried in a great voice: ‘Oathbreakers, why have ye come?’ And a voice was heard out of the night that answered him, as if from far away: “To fulfil our oath and have peace.’ Then Aragorn said: “The hour is come at last. Now I go to Pelargir upon Anduin, and ye shall come after me. And when all this land is clean of the servants of Sauron, I will hold the oath fulfilled, and ye shall have peace and depart for ever. For I am Elessar, Isildur’s heir of Gondor.’ And with that he bade Halbarad unfurl the great standard which he had brought; and behold! it was black, and if there was any device upon it, it was hidden in the darkness. Then there was silence, and not a whisper nor a sigh was heard again all the long night. The

他們頭也不回地馳騁在山間田野，直到來到一座橫跨漸趨洶湧急流的橋上，找到一條通往下方土地的道路。他們所到之處，房屋與村莊的燈火紛紛熄滅，門戶緊閉，田野裡的人們驚恐地尖叫，像被追獵的鹿一樣狂奔。在漸濃的夜色中，同樣的哭喊聲不斷響起：「亡靈之王！亡靈之王來找我們了！」遠處下方的鐘聲響起，所有人在亞拉岡面前倉皇逃竄；但灰色部隊急於趕路，如獵人般策馬疾馳，直到馬匹都因疲憊而步履蹣跚。就這樣，就在午夜之前，在如山中洞穴般漆黑的夜裡，他們終於抵達了伊瑞赫之丘。長久以來，亡靈的恐怖一直籠罩著那座山丘及其周圍空曠的田野。因為山頂上立著一塊黑石，像個大圓球般渾圓，有一人高，儘管它的一半埋在地下。它看起來不似凡間之物，彷彿是從天而降，有些人也如此相信；但那些還記得西方皇族傳說的人說，它是從努曼諾爾的廢墟中帶出，由埃西鐸在登陸時所立。山谷裡的居民無人敢靠近它，也不願住在附近；因為他們說那是幽影之人的集會地點，在恐懼的時刻，他們會聚集在那裡，圍繞著石頭低語。灰色部隊來到那塊石頭前，在深夜時分停了下來。接著，伊羅何給了亞拉岡一支銀號角，他吹響了它；站在附近的人彷彿聽見了回應的號角聲，如同來自遠方深邃洞穴的回音。他們沒有聽到其他聲音，卻感覺到有一支龐大的軍隊聚集在他們所站的山丘周圍；一陣寒風，如同鬼魂的氣息，從山間吹下。但亞拉岡下馬，站在石頭旁，大聲呼喊：「背誓者，你們為何而來？」一個聲音從黑夜中傳來回答他，彷彿來自遠方：「為了履行我們的誓言並獲得安息。」於是亞拉岡說：「時候終於到了。我現在要去安都因河上的佩拉格，你們要跟隨我。當這片土地上所有索倫的僕人都被清除後，我將視誓言為已履行，你們便可獲得安息，永遠離去。因為我是埃萊薩，剛鐸的埃西鐸繼承人。」說完，他吩咐哈爾巴拉展開他帶來的那面巨大旗幟；看啊！旗幟是黑色的，如果上面有任何圖案，也隱藏在黑暗之中。接著是一片寂靜，整個長夜再也聽不到一絲低語或嘆息。

790 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Company camped beside the Stone, but they slept little, because of the dread of the Shadows that hedged them round. But when the dawn came, cold and pale, Aragorn rose at once, and he led the Company forth upon the journey of greatest haste and weariness that any among them had known, save he alone, and only his will held them to go on. No other mortal Men could have endured it, none but the Dunedain of the North, and with them Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas of the Elves. They passed Tarlang’s Neck and came into Lamedon; and the Shadow Host pressed behind and fear went on before them, until they came to Calembel upon Ciril, and the sun went down like blood behind Pinnath Gelin away in the West behind them. The township and the fords of Ciril they found deserted, for many men had gone away to war, and all that were left fled to the hills at the rumour of the coming of the King of the Dead. But the next day there came no dawn, and the Grey Company passed on into the darkness of the Storm of Mordor and were lost to mortal sight; but the Dead followed them.

遠征隊在巨石旁紮營，但他們幾乎沒睡，因為周遭環伺的陰影帶來了恐懼。當冰冷蒼白的黎明到來時，亞拉岡立刻起身，帶領遠征隊踏上他們之中除了他以外，無人經歷過的最倉促疲憊的旅程。只有他的意志力支撐著他們繼續前行。沒有其他凡人能忍受這一切，除了北方登丹人，以及與他們同行的矮人金靂和精靈勒苟拉斯。他們越過塔朗隘口，進入拉梅頓；陰影大軍在後緊追不捨，恐懼在他們前方蔓延，直到他們抵達西瑞爾河畔的凱倫貝爾。在他們身後西方的綠丘之後，太陽如血般沉落。他們發現鎮上和西瑞爾河的渡口都空無一人，因為許多男人已赴戰場，而所有留下的人一聽到亡者之王即將到來的謠言，都逃進了山丘。然而，第二天黎明沒有到來，灰色部隊繼續前行，進入魔多風暴的黑暗之中，從凡人的視線中消失；但亡靈大軍緊隨其後。