— You have some skill with a blade.
— Women of this country learned long ago: those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.
— What do you fear, my lady?
— A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.
— You are a daughter of kings... A shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.
The day may come when the courage of Man fails, when we forsake our friends and brake all bounds of fellowship. But it is not this day! An hour of wolves, and shattered shields, when the age of Men comes crashing down. But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear, on this good earth. I bid you stand! Man of the West!
'In one thing you have not changed, dear friend,' said Aragorn: 'you still speak in riddles.'
'What? In riddles?' said Gandalf. 'No! For I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.'
I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to dissapear entirely. That is a rare gift.
And Arwen said:
— Dark is the Shadow, and yet my heart rejoices; for you, Estel, shall be among the great whose valour will destroy it.
But Aragorn answered:
— Alas! I cannot foresee it, and how it may come to pass is hidden from me. Yet with your hope I will hope. And the Shadow I utterly reject. But neither, lady, is the Twilight for me; for I am mortal, and if you will cleave to me, Evenstar, then the Twilight you must also renounce.
And she stood then as still as a white tree, looking into the West, and at last she said:
— I will cleave to you, Dúnadan, and turn from the Twilight. Yet there lies the land of my people and the long home of all my kin.
One who cannot cast away a treasure at need is in fetters.
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