'Speak Legolas!' said Gandalf.
'Tell us what you see there before us!'
Legolas gazed ahead, shading his eyes from the level shafts of the new-risen sun. 'I see a
white stream that comes down from the snows,' he said. 'Where it issues from the shadow of
the vale a green hill rises upon the east. A dike and a mighty wall and thorny fence
encircle it. Within there rise the roofs of houses; and in the midst, set upon a green
terrace, there stands aloft a great hall of Men. And it seems to my eyes that it is
thatched with gold. The light of it shines far over the land. Golden, too, are the posts
of its doors. There men in bright mail stand; but all else within the courts are yet
asleep.'
'Edoras those courts are called,' said Gandalf, 'and Meduseld is that golden hall. There
dwells Theoden, son of Thengal, King of the Mark of Rohan. We are come with the rising of
the day. Now the road lies plain to see before us. But we must ride more warily; for war
is abroad, and the Rohirrim, the Horse-lords, do not sleep, even if it seems so from afar.
Draw no weapon, speak no haughty word, I counsel you all, until we are come before
Theoden's seat.'
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