f Annúminas beside LakeEvendim fell into ruin； and the heirs of Valandil removed and dwelt at Fornoston the high North Downs； and that now too is desolate。 Men call it Deadmen'sDike； and they fear to tread there。 For the folk of Arnor dwindled； and theirfoes devoured them； and their lordship passed； leaving only green mounds inthe grassy hills。
'In the South the realm of Gondor long endured； and for a while itssplendour grew； recalling somewhat of the might of Númenor； ere it fell。 Hightowers that people built； and strong places。 and havens of many ships； and thewinged crown of the Kings of Men was held in awe by folk of many tongues。
Their chief city was Osgiliath； Citadel of the Stars。 through the midst ofwhich the River flowed。 And Minas Ithil they built； Tower of the Rising Moon；
eastward upon a shoulder of the Mountains of Shadow； and westward at the feetof the White Mountains Minas Anor they made； Tower of the Setting Sun。 Therein the courts of the King grew a white tree； from the seed of that tree whichIsildur brought over the deep waters； and the seed of that tree before camefrom Eress。a； and before that out of the Uttermost West in the Day before dayswhen the world was young。
‘But in the wearing of the swift years of Middle…earth the line ofMeneldil son of Anárion failed； and the Tree withered； and the blood of theNúmenoreans became mingled with that of lesser men。 Then the watch upon thewalls of Mordor slept； and dark things crept back to Gorgoroth。 And on a timeevil things came forth； and they took Minas Ithil and abode in it； and theymade it into a place of dread； and it is called Minas Morgul； the Tower ofSorcery。 Then Minas Anor was named anew Minas Tirith； the Tower of Guard； andthese two cities were ever at war； but Osgiliath which lay between wasdeserted and in its ruins shadows walked。
'So it has been for many lives of men。 But the Lords of Minas Tirithstill fight on； defying our enemies； keeping the passage of the River fromArgonath to the Sea。 And now that part of the tale that I shall tell is drawnto its close。 For in the days of Isildur the Ruling Ring passed out of allknowledge； and the Three were released from its dominion。 But now in thislatter day they are in peril once more； for to our sorrow the One has beenfound。 Others shall speak of its finding； for in that I played small part。'
He ceased； but at once Boromir stood up； tall and proud； before them。
Give me leave； Master Elrond； said he； first to say more of Gondor； for verilyfrom the land of Gondor I am e。 And it would be well for all to know what
passes there。 For few； I deem； know of our deeds； and therefore guess littleof their peril； if we should fail at last。
‘Believe not that in the land of Gondor the blood of Númenor is spent；
nor all its pride and dignity forgotten。 By our valour the wild folk of theEast are still restrained； and the terror of Morgul kept at bay； and thusalone are peace and freedom maintained in the lands behind us； bulwark of theWest。 But if the passages of the River should be won； what then？
‘Yet that hour； maybe； is not now far away。 The Nameless Enemy has arisen
again。 Smoke rises once more from Orodruin that we call Mount Doom。 The powerof the Black Land grows and we are hard beset。 When the Enemy returned ourfolk were driven from Ithilien； our fair domain east of the River； though wekept a foothold there and strength of arms。 But this very year； in the days ofJune； sudden war came upon us out of Mordor； and we were swept away。 We wereoutnumbered； for Mordor has allied itself with the Easterlings and the cruelHaradrim； but it was not by numbers that we were defeated。 A power was therethat we have not felt before。
‘Some said that it could be seen； like a great black horseman； a darkshadow under the moon。 Wherever he came a madness filled our foes； but fearfell on our boldest； so that horse and man gave way and fled。 Only a remnantof our eastern force came back； destroying the last bridge that still stoodamid the ruins of Osgiliath。
'I was in the pany that held the bridge； until it was cast down behindus。 Four only were saved by swimming： my brother and myself and two others。
But still we fight on； holding all the west shores of Anduin； and those whoshelter behind us give us praise； if ever they hear our name： much praise butlittle help。 Only from Rohan now will any men ride to us when we call。
‘In this evil hour I have e on an errand over many dangerous leaguesto Elrond： a hundred and ten days I have journeyed all alone。 But I do notseek allies in war。 The might of Elrond is in wisdom not in weapons； it issaid。 I e to ask for counsel and the unravelling of hard words。 For on theeve of the sudden assault a dream came to my brother in a troubled sleep； andafterwards a like dream came oft to him again； and once to me。
'In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was agrowing thunder； but in the West a pale light lingered； and out of it I hearda voice； remote but clear； crying：
Seek for the Sword that was broken：
In Imladris it dwells；
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul…spells。
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand；
For Isildur's Bane shall waken；
And the Halfling forth shall stand。
Of these words we could understand little； and we spoke to our father；
Denethor； Lord of Minas Tirith； wise in the lore of Gondor。 This only would hesay； that Imladris was of old the name among the Elves of a far northern dale；
where Elrond the Halfelven dwelt； greatest of lore…masters。 Therefore mybrother； seeing how desperate was our need； was eager to heed the dream andseek for Imladris； but since the way was full of doubt and danger； I took thejourney upon myself。 Loth was my father to give me leave； and long have Iwandered by roads forgotten； seeking the house of Elrond； of which many hadheard； but few knew where it lay。'
'And here in the house of Elrond more shall be made clear to you' saidAragorn； standing up。 He cast his sword upon the table that stood beforeElrond； and the blade was in two pieces。 ‘Here is the Sword that was Broken！'
he said。
‘And who are you； and what have you to do with Minas Tirith？' askedBoromir； looking in wonder at the lean face of the Ranger and his weather…
stained cloak。
‘He is Aragorn son of Arathorn；' said Elrond； ‘and he is descendedthrough many fathers from Isildur Elendil's son of Minas Ithil。 He is theChief of the Dúnedain in the North； and few are now left of that folk。'
‘Then it belongs to you； and not to me at all！' cried Frodo in amazement；
springing to his feet； as if he expected the Ring to be demanded at once。
'It does not belong to either of us；' said Aragorn； ‘but it has beenordained that you should hold it for a while。'
'Bring out the Ring； Frodo！' said Gandalf solemnly。 ‘The time has e。
Hold it up； and then Boromir will understand the remainder of his riddle。'
There was a hush； and all turned their eyes on Frodo。 He was shaken by asudden shame and fear； and he felt a great reluctance to reveal the Ring； anda loathing of its touch。 He wished he was far away。 The Ring gleamed andflickered as he held it up before them in his trembling hand。
'Behold Isildur's Bane！' said Elrond。
Boromir's eyes glinted as he gazed at the golden thing。 ‘The Halfling！'
he muttered。 ‘Is then the doom of Minas Tirith e at last？ But why thenshould we seek a broken sword？'
'The words were not _the doom of Minas Tirith_；' said Aragorn。 ‘But doomand great deeds are indeed at hand。 For the Sword that was Broken is the Swordof Elendil that broke beneath him when he fell。 It has been treasured by hisheirs when all other heirlooms were lost； for it was spoken of old among usthat it should be made again when the Ring； Isildur's Bane； was found。 Now youhave seen the sword that you have sought； what would you ask？ Do you wish forthe House of Elendil to return to the Land of Gondor？'
‘I was not sent to beg any boon； but to seek only the meaning of ariddle；' answered Boromir proudly。 ‘Yet we are hard pressed； and the Sword ofElendil would be a help beyond our hope…if such a thing could indeed returnout of the shadows of the past。' He looked again at Aragorn； and doubt was inhis eyes。
Frodo felt Bilbo stir impatiently at his side。 Evidently he was annoyedon his friend's behalf。 Standing suddenly up he burst out：
All that is gold does not glitter；
Not all those who wander are lost；
The old that is strong does not wither；
Deep roots are not reached by the frost。
From the ashes a fire shall be woken；
A light from the shadows shall spring；
Renewed shall be blade that was broken：
The crownless again shall be king。_
‘Not very good perhaps； but to the point – if you need more beyond theword of Elrond。 If that was worth a journey of a hundred and ten days to hear；
you had best listen to it。' He sat down with a snort。
‘I made that up myself；' he whispered to Frodo； ‘for the Dúnadan； a longtime ago when he first told me about himself。 I almost wish that my adventureswere not over； and that I could go with him when his day es。'
Aragorn smiled at him； then he turned to Boromir again。 ‘For my part Iforgive your doubt；' he said。 'Little do I resemble the figures of Elendil andIsildur as they stand carven in their majesty in the halls of Denethor。 I ambut the heir of Isildur； not Isildur himself。 I have had a hard life and along； and the leagues that lie between here and Gondor are a small part in thecount of my journeys。 I have crossed many mountains and many rivers； andtrodden many plains； even into the far countries of Rh。n and Harad where thestars are strange。
'But my home； such as I have； is in the North。 For here the heirs ofValandil have ever dwelt in long line unbroken from father unto son for manygenerations。 Our days have darkened； and we have dwindled； but ever the Swordhas passed to a new keeper。 And this I will say to you； Boromir； ere I end。
Lonely men are we； Rangers of the wild； hunters – but hunters ever of theservants of the Enemy； for they are found in many places； not in Mordor only。
‘If Gondor； Boromir； has been a stalwart tower； we have played anotherpart。 Many evil things there are that your strong walls and bright swords donot stay。 You know little of the lands beyond your bounds。 Peace and freedom；
do you say？ The North would have known them little but for us。 Fear would havedestroyed them。 But when dark things e from the houseless hills； or creep
from sunless woods； they fly from us。 What roads would any dare to tread； whatsafety would there be in quiet lands； or in the homes of simple men at night；
if the Dúnedain were asleep； or were all gone into the grave？
‘And yet less thanks have we than you。 Travellers scowl at us； andcountrymen give us scornful names。 〃Strider〃 I am to one fat man who liveswithin a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart or lay his littletown in ruin； if he were not guarded ceaselessly。 Yet we would not have itotherwise。 If simple folk are free from care and fear； simple they will be；
and we must be secret to keep them so。 That has been the task of my kindred；
while the years have lengthened and the grass has grown。
‘But now the world is changing once again。 A new hour es。 Isildur'sBane is f