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friend, but Gandalf came then and warned us that sudden war was preparing in Isengard. He said
     that he himself had been a prisoner in Orthanc and had hardly escaped, and he begged for help. But Théoden would not listen
     to him, and he went away. Speak not the name of Gandalf loudly in Théoden’s ears! He is wroth. For Gandalf took the horse
     that is called Shadowfax, the most precious of all the king’s steeds, chief of the
Mearas
, which only the Lord of the Mark may ride. For the sire of their race was the great horse of Eorl that knew the speech of
     Men. Seven nights ago Shadowfax returned; but the king’s anger is not less, for now the horse is wild and will let no man
     handle him.’
    ‘Then Shadowfax has found his way alone from the far North,’ said Aragorn; ‘for it was there that he and Gandalf parted. But
     alas! Gandalf will ride no longer. He fell into darkness in the Mines of Moria and comes not again.’
    ‘That is heavy tidings,’ said Éomer. ‘At least to me, and to many; though not to all, as you may find, if you come to the
     king.’
    ‘It is tidings more grievous than any in this land can understand, though it may touch them sorely ere the year is much older,’
     said Aragorn. ‘But when the great fall, the less must lead. My part it has been to guide our Company on the long road from Moria. Through Lórien we came – of which it were well
     that you should learn the truth ere you speak of it again – and thence down the leagues of the Great River to the falls of
     Rauros. There Boromir was slain by the same Orcs whom you destroyed.’
    ‘Your news is all of woe!’ cried Éomer in dismay. ‘Great harm is this death to Minas Tirith, and to us all. That was a worthy
     man! All spoke his praise. He came seldom to the Mark, for he was ever in the wars on the East-borders; but I have seen him.
     More like to the swift sons of Eorl than to the grave Men of Gondor he seemed to me, and likely to prove a great captain of
     his people when his time came. But we have had no word of this grief out of Gondor. When did he fall?’
    ‘It is now the fourth day since he was slain,’ answered Aragorn; ‘and since the evening of that day we have journeyed from
     the shadow of Tol Brandir.’
    ‘On foot?’ cried Éomer.
    ‘Yes, even as you see us.’
    Wide wonder came into Éomer’s eyes. ‘Strider is too poor a name, son of Arathorn,’ he said. ‘Wingfoot I name you. This deed
     of the three friends should be sung in many a hall. Forty leagues and five you have measured ere the fourth day is ended!
     Hardy is the race of Elendil!
    ‘But now, lord, what would you have me do! I must return in haste to Théoden. I spoke warily before my men. It is true that
     we are not yet at open war with the Black Land, and there are some, close to the king’s ear, that speak craven counsels; but
     war is coming. We shall not forsake our old alliance with Gondor, and while they fight we shall aid them: so say I and all
     who hold with me. The East-mark is my charge, the ward of the Third Marshal, and I have removed all our herds and herdfolk,
     withdrawing them beyond Entwash, and leaving none here but guards and swift scouts.’
    ‘Then you do not pay tribute to Sauron?’ said Gimli.
    ‘We do not and we never have,’ said Éomer with a flash of his eyes; ‘though it comes to my ears that that lie has been told. Some years ago the Lord of the Black Land wished to purchase
     horses of us at great price, but we refused him, for he puts beasts to evil use. Then he sent plundering Orcs, and they carry
     off what they can, choosing always the black horses: few of these are now left. For that reason our feud with the Orcs is
     bitter.
    ‘But at this time our chief concern is with Saruman. He has claimed lordship over all this land, and there has been war between
     us for many months. He has taken Orcs into his service, and Wolf-riders, and evil Men, and he has closed the Gap against us,
     so that we are