Éomer
What business does an Elf, a Man, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!
Gimli
Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine.
Éomer
I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground.
Legolas
You would die before your stroke fell! [The riders raise their spears, until Aragorn pushes Legolas' bow aside]
Aragorn
I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and Legolas, of the woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan, and of Theoden, your king.
Éomer
Theoden no longer recognises friend from foe. Not even his own kin. [Removes his helmet]. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company and I are those loyal to Rohan, and for that, we are banished. The White wizard is cunning, they say. He walks here and there, like an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip passed our nets.
Aragorn
We are no spies. We track a party of Uruk-hai westwards across the plain. The've taken two of our friends captive.
Éomer
The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night.
Gimli
But there were two hobbits. Did you see two hobbits with them?
Aragorn
They would be small, only children to your eyes.
Éomer
We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them. [gestures to the smoke coming over the hill]
Gimli
They're dead?
Éomer
I am sorry. [Éomer pauses, then whistles] Hasufel! Arod! [two horses trot over] May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. [Mounts his horse and dons his helmet] Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands. [To his riders] We ride north!
