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<center>{{quote|With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies. And woe to them, if we prove the swifter! We will make such a chase as shall be accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Forth the Three Hunters!|Aragorn<ref>{{TT|III1}}</ref>}}</center>
<center>{{quote|With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies. And woe to them, if we prove the swifter! We will make such a chase as shall be accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Forth the Three Hunters!|Aragorn<ref>{{TT|III1}}</ref>}}</center>


The "'''Three Hunters'''" was the name [[Aragorn]] called the remnant of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] consisting of himself, [[Legolas]], and [[Gimli]] on [[26 February]] {{TA|3019}}<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref> as they began pursuing the [[Uruk-hai]] that had captured [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and [[Peregrin Took]] at [[Amon Hen]].  
The "'''Three Hunters'''" was the name [[Aragorn]] called the remnant of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]—consisting of himself, [[Legolas]], and [[Gimli]]—as they began pursuing the [[Uruk-hai]] who had captured [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and [[Peregrin Took]] by [[Nen Hithoel]] at the [[Breaking of the Fellowship]].
   
   
The Three Hunters descended [[Emyn Muil]] and entered [[Rohan]]; with Aragorn's tracking skill, they followed the Uruks' trail and found Pippin's [[Elven brooches|Elven brooch]], which the hobbit had dropped with the hope it would lead their friends to them. The hunt continued for three days.<ref name="Riders">{{TT|III2}}</ref>
The Three Hunters set out from Nen Hithoel on the evening of [[26 February]] {{TA|3019}}<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref>. With Aragorn's tracking skill, they followed the Uruks' trail through the night across the [[Emyn Muil]], where they found five dead Orcs whom Aragorn guessed had been killed by their own company. At dawn, they reached the [[East Wall of Rohan]] and descended into the [[Eastemnet]]. There, Aragorn found Pippin's [[Elven brooches|Elven brooch]], which the hobbit had dropped as a sign to whomever of the fellowship might follow them.  
 
The companions continued swiftly across the plains of Rohan till nightfall, when they faced the dillema of losing the trail in the dark or losing time by waiting for morning. Troubled by doubt, Aragorn chose to rest for the night. When they rose, they found the Uruks had gained much distance on them. They tirelessly pursued their quarry north-westward the rest of that day, but felt the will of [[Saruman]] slowing them down and giving speed to the Uruks. They slept another night and marched another day, growing weary and losing hope.
   
   
On [[30 February]]<ref name="Great"/> they encountered [[Éomer]] and his [[éored]], who had slaughtered the Orc-band the previous night and were on the way back to [[Edoras]]. Éomer demanded their names and business, and fighting almost broke out between Gimli and Éomer. Aragorn intervened, and told Éomer an account of their jounrey, including the losses of [[Gandalf]], [[Boromir]], and the two young hobbits. Although Éomer believed the hobbits must have been slain in the attack, he lent them two horses—[[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]]—and asked them to prove his trust by bringing them back to Edoras.
The next day, on [[30 February]]<ref name="Great"/>, they encountered [[Éomer]] and his [[éored]], who were returning to [[Edoras]] after slaughtering the Orc-band outside [[Fangorn Forest]] the day before. Suspicious of the travellers, Éomer questioned them sternly and almost came to blows with Gimli and Legolas. Aragorn intervened, and gave Éomer an account of their jounrey, including the capture of the two hobbits and the passing of [[Gandalf]] and [[Boromir]]. When Aragorn recounted their pursuit, Éomer remarked with awe that they had travelled forty-five leagues<ref group="note">That is, 135 miles or 217 kilometres.</ref> in fewer than four days, and gave Aragorn the title [[Wingfoot]]. Éomer told them about Rohan's troubles and requested their help, but Aragorn refused to desert Merry and Pippin while hope of finding them remained. Acting against Rohan's law by letting strangers wander the land without the king's consent, Éomer lent them two horses—[[Hasufel]] and [[Arod]]—and asked them to prove his trust by bringing them back to Edoras.
   
   
With their horses, the Three Hunters followed Éomer's instructions and reached the outskirts of [[Fangorn Forest]]. As night fell they encountered an old man who vanished, as did their horses.<ref name="Riders"/>  On [[1 March]] Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli met [[Gandalf]] the White and their hunt was over, although it was not until [[5 March]] that they again saw Merry and Pippin at [[Isengard]].<ref name="Great"/> Later the two hobbits would follow other paths during the [[War of the Ring]] but Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli stayed together to the end.
With their horses, the Three Hunters followed Éomer's directions and reached the eaves of Fangorn at evening. Finding no trace of the hobbits before dark, they camped there to wait for daylight. During the night they encountered an old man who vanished as soon as Aragorn approached him, and they discovered their horses missing also.<ref name="Riders"/>  The next morning, on [[1 March]], they found signs of the hobbits that led them into Fangorn, where they met Gandalf the White. Gandalf shared news and insight with them, among which was that the hobbits were safe with [[Treebeard]]. The three companions discovered that Hasufel and Arod met Gandalf's horse [[Shadowfax]] in the night, and they rode with Gandalf to the aid of Rohan at Edoras.
 
Later, after the [[Battle of the Hornburg]] and the Ents' destruction of Isengard, the Three Hunters, in the company of Gandalf and the Rohirrim, reunited with Merry and Pippin at Isengard on [[5 March]].<ref name="Great"/> The Fellowship's paths diverged afterwards, but Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli remained constant companions to the end of the [[War of the Ring]].
   
   
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[[Category:Epithets]]
[[Category:Epithets]]
[[fi:Kolme ajomiestä]]
[[fi:Kolme ajomiestä]]

Revision as of 20:27, 27 March 2019

"The Plains of Rohan" by Alan Lee
"With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies. And woe to them, if we prove the swifter! We will make such a chase as shall be accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Forth the Three Hunters!"
― Aragorn[1]

The "Three Hunters" was the name Aragorn called the remnant of the Fellowship of the Ring—consisting of himself, Legolas, and Gimli—as they began pursuing the Uruk-hai who had captured Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took by Nen Hithoel at the Breaking of the Fellowship.

The Three Hunters set out from Nen Hithoel on the evening of 26 February T.A. 3019[2]. With Aragorn's tracking skill, they followed the Uruks' trail through the night across the Emyn Muil, where they found five dead Orcs whom Aragorn guessed had been killed by their own company. At dawn, they reached the East Wall of Rohan and descended into the Eastemnet. There, Aragorn found Pippin's Elven brooch, which the hobbit had dropped as a sign to whomever of the fellowship might follow them.

The companions continued swiftly across the plains of Rohan till nightfall, when they faced the dillema of losing the trail in the dark or losing time by waiting for morning. Troubled by doubt, Aragorn chose to rest for the night. When they rose, they found the Uruks had gained much distance on them. They tirelessly pursued their quarry north-westward the rest of that day, but felt the will of Saruman slowing them down and giving speed to the Uruks. They slept another night and marched another day, growing weary and losing hope.

The next day, on 30 February[2], they encountered Éomer and his éored, who were returning to Edoras after slaughtering the Orc-band outside Fangorn Forest the day before. Suspicious of the travellers, Éomer questioned them sternly and almost came to blows with Gimli and Legolas. Aragorn intervened, and gave Éomer an account of their jounrey, including the capture of the two hobbits and the passing of Gandalf and Boromir. When Aragorn recounted their pursuit, Éomer remarked with awe that they had travelled forty-five leagues[note 1] in fewer than four days, and gave Aragorn the title Wingfoot. Éomer told them about Rohan's troubles and requested their help, but Aragorn refused to desert Merry and Pippin while hope of finding them remained. Acting against Rohan's law by letting strangers wander the land without the king's consent, Éomer lent them two horses—Hasufel and Arod—and asked them to prove his trust by bringing them back to Edoras.

With their horses, the Three Hunters followed Éomer's directions and reached the eaves of Fangorn at evening. Finding no trace of the hobbits before dark, they camped there to wait for daylight. During the night they encountered an old man who vanished as soon as Aragorn approached him, and they discovered their horses missing also.[3] The next morning, on 1 March, they found signs of the hobbits that led them into Fangorn, where they met Gandalf the White. Gandalf shared news and insight with them, among which was that the hobbits were safe with Treebeard. The three companions discovered that Hasufel and Arod met Gandalf's horse Shadowfax in the night, and they rode with Gandalf to the aid of Rohan at Edoras.

Later, after the Battle of the Hornburg and the Ents' destruction of Isengard, the Three Hunters, in the company of Gandalf and the Rohirrim, reunited with Merry and Pippin at Isengard on 5 March.[2] The Fellowship's paths diverged afterwards, but Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli remained constant companions to the end of the War of the Ring.

  1. That is, 135 miles or 217 kilometres.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Departure of Boromir"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
  3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Riders