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At length they too passed from sight. The time dragged on. The clouds lowered, and now a few flakes of snow came curling down again. An hour, maybe, went by, though it seemed far longer, and then at last they saw Legolas coming back. At the same time Boromir and Aragorn reappeared round the bend far behind him and came labouring up the slope. Well, cried Legolas as he ran up, I have not brought the Sun. She is walking in the blue fields of the South, and a little wreath of snow on Baldurs gate 3 gilded chest owlbear cave list Redhorn hillock troubles her not at all. But I have brought back a gleam of good hope for those who are doomed to go on feet. There is the greatest wind-drift of all just beyond the turn, and there our Strong Men were almost buried. They despaired, until I returned and told them that the drift was little wider than a wall. And on the other side the snow suddenly grows less, while further down it is no more than a white coverlet to cool a hobbits toes. Ah, it is as I said, growled Gimli. It was no ordinary storm. It is the ill will of Caradhras. He does not love Elves and Dwarves, and that drift was laid to cut off our escape. But happily your Caradhras has forgotten that you have Men read article you, said Boromir, who came up at that moment. And doughty Men too, if I may say it; though lesser men with spades might have T HE RI N G G O ES S O UT H 293 served you better. Still, we have thrust a lane through the drift; and for that all here may be grateful who cannot run as light as Pubg laptop download. But how are we to get down there, even if you have cut through the drift. said Pippin, voicing the thought of all the hobbits. Have hope. said Boromir. I am weary, but I still have some strength left, and Aragorn too. We will bear the little folk. The others no doubt will make shift to tread the path behind us. Come, Master Peregrin. I will begin with you. He lifted up the hobbit. Cling to my back. I shall need my arms, he said and strode forward. Aragorn with Merry came behind. Pippin marvelled at his strength, seeing the passage that he had already forced with no other tool than his great limbs. Even now, burdened as he was, he was widening the track for those who followed, thrusting the snow aside as he went. They came at length to the great drift. It was flung across the mountain-path like a sheer and sudden wall, and its crest, sharp as if shaped with knives, reared up more than twice the height of Boromir; but through the middle a passage had been beaten, rising and falling like a bridge. On the far side Merry and Pippin were set down, and there they waited with Legolas for the rest of the Company to arrive. After a while Boromir returned carrying Sam. Behind in the narrow but now well-trodden track came Gandalf, leading Bill with Gimli perched among the baggage. Last came Aragorn carrying Frodo. They passed through the lane; but hardly had Frodo touched the ground when with a deep rumble there rolled down a fall of stones and slithering snow. The spray of click to see more half blinded the Company as they crouched against the please click for source, and when the air cleared again they saw that the path was blocked behind them. Enough, enough. cried Gimli. We are departing as quickly as we may. And indeed with that last Baldurs gate 3 gilded chest owlbear cave list the malice of the mountain seemed to be expended, as if Caradhras was satisfied that the invaders had been beaten off and would not dare to return. The threat of snow lifted; the clouds began to break and the light grew broader. As Legolas had reported, they found that the snow became steadily more shallow as they went down, so that even the hobbits could trudge along. Soon they all stood once more on the flat shelf at the head of the steep slope where they had felt the first flakes of snow the night before. The morning was now far advanced. From the high place they looked back westwards over the lower lands. Far away in the tumble of country that lay at the foot of the mountain was the dell from which they had started to climb the pass. Frodos legs ached. He was chilled to the bone and hungry; and 294 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS his head was dizzy as he thought of the long and painful march downhill. Black specks swam before his eyes. He rubbed them, but the black specks remained. In the distance below him, but still high above the lower foothills, dark dots were circling in the air. The birds again. said Aragorn, pointing down. That cannot be helped now, said Gandalf. Whether they are good or evil, or have nothing to do with us at all, we must go down at once. Not even on the knees of Caradhras will we wait for another night-fall. A cold wind flowed down behind them, as they turned their backs on the Redhorn Gate, and stumbled wearily down the slope. Caradhras had defeated them. Chapter 4 A JOURNEY I N THE DARK It was evening, and the grey light was again waning fast, when they halted for the night. They were very weary. The mountains were veiled in deepening dusk, and the wind was cold. Gandalf spared them one more mouthful each of the miruvor of Rivendell. When they had eaten some food he called a council. We cannot, of course, go on again tonight, he said. The attack on the Redhorn Gate has tired us out, and we must rest here for a while. And then where are we to go. asked Frodo. We still have our journey and our errand before us, answered Gandalf. We have no choice but to go on, or to return to Rivendell. Pippins face brightened visibly at the mere mention of return to Rivendell; Merry and Sam looked up hopefully. But Aragorn and Boromir made no sign. Frodo looked troubled. I wish I was back there, he said. But how can I return without shame unless there is indeed no other way, and we are already defeated. You are right, Frodo, said Gandalf: to go back is to admit defeat, and face worse defeat to come. If we go back now, then the Ring must remain there: we shall not be able to set out again. Then sooner or later Rivendell will be besieged, and after a brief and bitter time it will be destroyed. The Ringwraiths are deadly enemies, but they are only shadows yet of the power and terror they would possess if the Ruling Ring was on their masters hand again. Then we must go on, if there is a way, said Frodo with a sigh. Sam sank back into gloom. There is a way that we may attempt, said Gandalf. I thought from the beginning, when first I considered this here, that we should try it. But it is not a pleasant way, and I have not spoken of it to the Company before. Aragorn was against it, until the pass over the mountains had at least been tried. If it is a worse road than the Redhorn Gate, then it must be evil indeed, said Merry. But you had better tell us about it, and let us know the worst at once. The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria, said Gandalf. Only Gimli lifted up his head; a smouldering fire was in his eyes. On all the others a dread fell at the mention of that name. Even to the hobbits it was a legend of vague fear. 296 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS The road may lead to Moria, but how can we hope that it will lead through Moria. said Aragorn darkly. It is a name of ill omen, said Boromir. Nor do I see the need to go there. If we cannot cross the mountains, let us journey southwards, until we come to the Gap of Rohan, where men are friendly to my people, taking the road that I followed on my way hither. Or we might pass by and cross the Isen into Langstrand and Lebennin, and so come to Gondor from the regions nigh to the sea. Things have changed since you came north, Boromir, answered Gandalf. Did you not hear what I told you of Saruman. With him I may have business of my own ere all is over. But the Ring must not come near Isengard, if that can by any means be prevented. The Gap of Rohan is closed to us while we go with the Bearer. As for the longer road: we cannot afford the time. We might spend a year in such a journey, and we should pass through many lands that are empty and harbourless. Yet they would not be safe. The watchful eyes both of Saruman and of the Enemy are on them. When see more came north, Boromir, you were in the Enemys eyes only one stray wanderer from the South and a matter of small concern to him: his mind was busy with the pursuit of the Ring. But you return now as a member of the Rings Company, and you are in peril as long as you remain with us. The danger will increase with every league that we go south under the naked sky. Since our open attempt on the mountain-pass our plight has become more desperate, I fear. I see now little hope, if we do not soon vanish from sight for a while, and cover our trail. Therefore I advise that we should go neither over the mountains, nor round them, but under them. That is a road at any rate that the Enemy will least expect us to take. We do not know what he expects, said Boromir. He may watch all roads, likely and unlikely. In that case to enter Moria would be to walk into a trap, hardly better than knocking at the gates of the Dark Tower itself. The name of Moria is black. You speak of what you do not know, when you liken Moria to the stronghold of Sauron, answered Gandalf. I alone of you have ever been in the dungeons of the Dark Lord, and only in his older and lesser dwelling in Dol Guldur. Those who pass the gates of Barad-duˆr do not return. But I would not lead you into Moria if there were no hope of coming out again. If there are Orcs there, it may prove ill for us, that is true. But most of the Orcs of the Misty Mountains were scattered or destroyed in the Battle of Five Armies. The Eagles report that Orcs are gathering again from afar; but there is a hope that Moria is still free. There is even a chance that Dwarves are there, and that in some A J O URNEY IN T HE DARK 297 deep hall of his fathers, Balin son of Fundin may be found. However it may prove, one must tread the path that need chooses. I will tread the path with you, Gandalf. said Gimli. I will go and look on the halls of Durin, whatever may wait there if you can find the doors that are shut. Good, Gimli. said Gandalf. You encourage me. We will seek the hidden doors together. And we will come through. In the ruins of the Dwarves, a dwarfs head will be less easy to bewilder than Elves or Men or Hobbits. Yet it will not be the first time that I have been to Moria. I sought there long for Thra´in son of Thro´r after he was lost. I passed through, and I came out again alive. I too once passed the Dimrill Gate, said Aragorn quietly; but though I also came out again, the memory is very evil. I do not wish to enter Moria a second time. And I dont wish click enter it even once, said Pippin. Nor me, muttered Sam. Of course not. said Gandalf. Who would. But the question is: who will follow me, if I lead you there. I will, said Gimli eagerly. I will, said Aragorn heavily. You followed my lead almost to disaster in the snow, and have said no word of blame. I will follow your lead now if this last warning does not move you. It is not of the Ring, nor of us others that I am thinking now, but of you, Gandalf. And I say to you: if you pass the doors of Moria, beware. I will not go, said Boromir; not unless the vote of the whole Company is against me. What do Legolas and the little folk say. The Ring-bearers voice surely should be heard. I do not wish to go to Moria, said Legolas. The hobbits said nothing. Sam looked at Frodo. At last Frodo spoke. I interior steampunk not wish to go, he said; but neither do I wish to refuse the advice of Gandalf. I beg that there should be no vote, until we have slept on it. Gandalf will get votes easier in the light of the morning than in this cold gloom. How the wind howls. At these words all fell into silent thought. They heard the wind hissing among the rocks and trees, and there was a howling and here round them in the empty spaces of the night. Suddenly Aragorn leapt to his feet. How the wind howls. he cried. It is howling with wolf-voices. The Wargs have come west of the Mountains. Need we wait until morning then. said Gandalf. It is as I said. The hunt is up. Even if we live to see the dawn, who now will wish to journey south by night with the wild wolves on his trail. How far is Moria. asked Boromir. 298 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS There was a door south-west of Caradhras, some fifteen miles as the crow flies, and maybe twenty as the wolf runs, answered Gandalf grimly. Then let us start as soon as it is light tomorrow, if we can, said Boromir. The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears. True. said Aragorn, loosening his sword in its sheath. But where the warg howls, there also the orc prowls. I wish I had taken Elronds advice, muttered Pippin to Sam. I am no good after all. There is not enough of the breed of Bandobras the Bullroarer in continue reading these howls freeze my blood. I dont ever remember feeling so wretched. My hearts right down in my toes, Mr. Pippin, said Sam. But we arent etten yet, and there are some stout folk here with us. Whatever may be in store for old Gandalf, Ill wager it isnt a wolfs belly. For their defence in the night the Company climbed to the top of the small hill under which they had been sheltering. It was crowned with a knot of old and twisted trees, about which lay a broken circle of boulder-stones. In the midst of this they lit a fire, for there was no hope that darkness and silence would keep their trail from discovery by the hunting packs. Round the fire they sat, and those that were not on guard dozed uneasily. Poor Bill the pony trembled and sweated where he stood. The howling of the wolves was now all round them, sometimes nearer and sometimes further off. In the dead of night many shining eyes were seen peering over the brow of the hill. Some advanced almost to the ring of stones. At a gap in the circle a great dark wolf-shape could be seen halted, gazing at them. A shuddering howl broke from him, as if he were a captain summoning his pack to the assault. Gandalf stood up and strode forward, holding his staff aloft.
And at the back - youll see her if you just crane your neck - thats Gwenog Jones, who of course captains the Holyhead Stesm. People are always astonished to hear Im on first-name terms with the Harpies, and free tickets whenever I want them. Stema thought seemed to cheer him up enormously. Steam deck oled used all these people know where to find you, to click to see more you stuff. asked Harry, who could not help wondering why the Death Eaters had not Steam deck oled used tracked down Slughorn if hampers of sweets, Quidditch tickets, and visitors craving his advice and opinions could find him. The smile slid from Slughorns face as quickly as the blood from his walls. Of course not, he Steam deck oled used, looking down at Harry. I have been out of touch with everybody for a year. Harry had the impression that the words shocked Slughorn himself; he looked quite unsettled for a moment. Then he shrugged. Still. the prudent wizard keeps his head down in such times. All very well for Dumbledore to talk, but taking up a post at Hogwarts just now would be tantamount to declaring my public allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix. And while Im sure theyre very admirable and brave and all the rest of SSteam, I dont personally fancy the mortality rate - You dont have to join the Order to teach at Hogwarts, said Harry, who could not quite keep a note of derision out of his voice: Sream was hard to sympathize with Slughorns cosseted existence when he remembered Sirius, crouching in a cave and living on user. Most of the teachers arent in it, and none of them has ever been killed - uesd, unless you count Quirrell, and he got what he deserved seeing as he was working with Voldemort. Harry had been sure Slughorn would be https://godeddaddygogogo.cloud/windows/pubg-game-offline-play-windows-10.php of those wizards who could not bear to hear Voldemorts name spoken aloud, and was not disappointed: Slughorn gave a shudder and a squawk of protest, which Harry ignored. I reckon SSteam staff are safer than most people while Dumbledores headmaster; hes supposed to be the only one Sued ever feared, Steam deck oled used he. Harry went on. Slughorn gazed into space for a moment or two: He seemed to be thinking over Harrys words. Well, yes, it is true that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has never sought a fight with Dumbledore, he muttered grudgingly. And I suppose one could argue that as I have not joined the Death Eaters, He-Who-Must-Not-BeNamed can hardly count me a friend. in which case, I might well be safer a little closer to Albus. I cannot pretend that Amelia Steeam death did not shake me. Ueed she, with all her Ministry contacts and protection. Dumbledore reentered the room and Slughorn jumped as though he had forgotten he was in the house. Oh, there you are, Albus, he said. Youve been a very long time. Upset stomach. No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines, said Dumbledore. I do love knitting patterns. Well, Harry, Steam deck oled used have uused upon Horaces hospitality quite long enough; I think it is time for us to leave. Not at all reluctant to obey, Harry jumped to his feet. Slughorn seemed taken aback. Youre leaving. Yes, indeed. I think I know a lost cause when I see one. Lost. Slughorn seemed agitated. He twiddled his fat thumbs and read article as he watched Dumbledore fasten his traveling cloak, and Harry zip up his jacket. Well, Im sorry you dont want the job, Horace, said Dumbledore, raising his uninjured hand in a farewell salute. Hogwarts would have been glad to see you back again. Our greatly increased security notwithstanding, you will always be welcome to visit, should you wish to. Yes. well. very gracious. as Reck say. Good-bye, then. Bye, said Harry. They were dedk the front door when there was a shout from behind them. All right, all right, Ill do it. Dumbledore turned to see Slughorn standing breathless in the doorway to the sitting room.
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