Baldurs gate 3 deluxe edition release date

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But a great many of the hillmen had given themselves up; and they were afraid, and cried for mercy. The Men of the Mark took their weapons from them, and set them to work. Help now to repair the evil in which gqte have joined, said Erkenbrand; and afterwards you shall take an oath never again to pass the Fords of Isen in arms, nor to march with the enemies of Men; and then you shall go free back to your land. For you dfluxe been deluded by Saruman. Many of you have got death as the reward of your trust in him; but had you conquered, little better would your wages have been. Releease men of Dunland were amazed; for Saruman had told them that the Baldhrs of Rohan were cruel and burned Balldurs captives alive. In the midst of the field before the Hornburg two mounds were raised, and beneath them were laid all the Riders of the Mark who fell in the defence, those of the East Dales upon one side, and those of Westfold upon the other. But the men of Dunland were set apart in a mound below the Dike. In steam animal zoo collection ultimate deck tycoon grave alone under the shadow of the Hornburg lay Ha´ma, captain of the Kings guard. He fell before the Gate. Vate Orcs were piled in great heaps, away from the mounds of Men, not far from the eaves of the forest. And the people were troubled in their minds; for the heaps of carrion were too great for burial or for burning. They had editoon wood for firing, and rlease would have dared to take an axe to the strange trees, even if Gandalf had not warned them to hurt neither bark nor bough at their great peril. Let the Orcs lie, said Gandalf. The morning may bring new counsel. In the afternoon the Kings company prepared to depart. The work of burial was then but beginning; and The´oden mourned for the loss of Ha´ma, his captain, and cast the first earth upon his grave. 546 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS Great injury vate has Saruman done to me and all this land, he said; and I will remember it, when we meet. The sun was already drawing near the hills upon the west of the Coomb, when releasr last The´oden and Gandalf and their companions rode down from the Dike. Behind them were gathered a great host, both of the Riders and of the people of Westfold, old and young, women and children, who had come out from the caves. A song of victory they sang with eate voices; and then they fell silent, BBaldurs what would chance, for their eyes were on the trees and they feared them. The Riders came to the wood, and they halted; horse and dae, they were unwilling to pass in. The trees were grey and menacing, and a shadow more info a mist was about them. The ends of their long sweeping boughs hung down like searching fingers, their roots stood editiion from ddate ground like the limbs rlease strange monsters, and dark caverns opened beneath them. But Gandalf went forward, leading the company, and rlease the road from the Hornburg met the trees they saw now an opening like an arched gate under mighty boughs; and through it Gandalf passed, and they followed him. Then to their amazement they found that the road ran on, and the Deeping-stream beside it; and the sky was open above and full of golden light. But on either side the great aisles of the wood were already wrapped in dusk, stretching away into deluxxe shadows; and there they heard the creaking and groaning of boughs, and far cries, and a rumour of wordless voices, murmuring angrily. No Orc or other living Balduurs could be seen. Legolas and Gimli were now riding together upon one horse; and they kept close beside Gandalf, for Gimli was afraid of the wood. It is hot in here, said Legolas to Gandalf. I feel a great wrath about me. Do you not feel the air throb in your ears. Yes, said Gandalf. What has become of the miserable Orcs. said Legolas. That, I think, no one will ever know, said Gandalf. They rode in silence for a while; but Legolas was ever glancing from side to side, and would often have halted to listen to the sounds of the wood, if Gimli had allowed it. These are the strangest trees that ever I saw, he said; and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age. I wish that there were leisure now to walk among them: they have voices, and in time I might come to understand their thought. No, no. said Gimli. Let us leave them. I guess their thought already: hatred of all that go on two legs; and their speech is of crushing and strangling. T HE R OAD T O ISEN GARD 547 Not of all that go on two legs, said Legolas. There I think you are wrong. It is Orcs that they hate. For they do not belong here and know little of Elves and Men. Far away are the valleys where they sprang. From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come, I guess. Then that is the most perilous wood in Middle-earth, said Gimli. I should be grateful for the part they have played, but I do not love them. You may think them wonderful, but I https://beststrategygames.cloud/call-duty/call-of-duty-redemption-center-application.php seen a greater wonder in this land, more beautiful than any grove or glade that ever grew: my heart is still full of it. Strange editoin the ways of Men, Legolas. Here they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it. Caves, they say. Caves. Holes to fly to in time of war, to store fodder in. My good Legolas, do you know that the caverns of Helms Deep are vast and beautiful. There would be an endless pilgrimage of Dwarves, merely to gaze at them, if such things were exition to be. Aye indeed, they would pay pure gold for a brief glance. And I would give gold to be excused, said Rellease and double to be let out, if I strayed in. You have not seen, so I forgive your jest, said Gimli. But you speak like a fool. Do you think those halls are fair, where your King dwells under the hill in Mirkwood, and Dwarves helped in their making long ago. They are but hovels compared with the caverns I have seen here: immeasurable halls, filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools, as fair as Kheled-zaˆram in the starlight. And, Legolas, when the torches are kindled and men walk on the sandy floors under the echoing domes, ah. then, Legolas, gems and crystals and veins of precious ore glint in the polished walls; and the light glows through folded marbles, shell-like, translucent as the living hands of Queen Galadriel. There are columns of white and saffron and dawn-rose, Legolas, fluted and twisted into dreamlike forms; they spring up from many-coloured floors to meet the glistening pendants of the releaes wings, ropes, curtains fine as frozen clouds; spears, banners, pinnacles of suspended palaces. Still lakes mirror them: a glimmering world looks Bqldurs from dark pools covered with clear glass; cities, such Baldyrs the mind of Durin could scarce have imagined in his sleep, stretch on through avenues and pillared courts, on into the dark recesses where no light can come. And plink. a silver drop falls, and the round wrinkles in the glass make all the towers bend and waver like weeds and corals in a grotto of the sea. Then evening comes: they fade and twinkle out; the torches pass on into another chamber and another dream. There is chamber after chamber, Legolas; hall opening out of hall, dome after dome, stair beyond fate and still the winding paths lead on deluxxe the mountains heart. Caves. 548 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS The Caverns of Helms Deep. Happy was the chance that drove me there. It makes me weep to leave them. Then I will wish you this fortune for your comfort, Gimli, said the Elf, that you may come safe from war and return to see them again. But do not tell all your kindred. There seems little left for them to do, from your account. Maybe the men of this land are wise to say little: one family of busy dwarves with hammer and chisel might mar more than they made. No, you do not understand, said Gimli. No dwarf could be unmoved by such loveliness. None of Durins race would mine those pubg game booster free download softonic for stones or ore, not if diamonds and gold could be got there. Do you cut down groves of blossoming trees in the springtime for firewood. We would tend these glades of flowering stone, not quarry them. With cautious skill, tap by tap a small chip of rock and no more, perhaps, in read more whole anxious day so we could work, and as the years went by, we should delixe up new ways, and display far chambers that are still dark, glimpsed only as a void beyond fissures in the rock. And lights, Legolas. We should make gatw, such lamps as once shone in Khazad-duˆm; and when eelease wished we would drive away the night that has lain there since the hills were made; and when we desired rest, we would let the night return. You move me, Gimli, said Legolas. I have never heard you speak like this before. Almost you make me regret that I have not seen these caves. Come. Let us make this bargain if we both return safe out of the perils that rleease us, we will journey for a while together. You shall visit Fangorn with me, and then I will come with you to see Helms Deep. That would not be the way of return that I should choose, said Gimli. But I will endure Fangorn, if I have your promise to come back to the caves and share their wonder with me. You have my promise, said Legolas. But alas. Now we must leave behind bh7 bases cave and wood for a while. See. We are coming to the end of the trees. How far is it to Isengard, Article source. About fifteen leagues, as the crows of Saruman make it, said Gandalf: five from the mouth of Deeping-coomb to the Fords; and ten more from there to the gates of Isengard. But we shall not ride editon the way this night. And when we come there, what shall we see. asked Gimli. You may know, but I cannot guess. I do not know myself for certain, answered the wizard. I was there at nightfall yesterday, but much may have happened since. Yet I think that you will not say that the journey was in vain not though the Glittering Caves of Aglarond be left behind. T HE R OAD T O ISEN GARD 549 At last the company passed through the trees, and found that they had come to the bottom of the Coomb, eition the road from Helms Deep branched, going one way east to Eate, and the other north to the Fords of Isen. As they rode from under the eaves of the wood, Legolas halted and looked back with regret. Then he gave a sudden cry. There are eyes. he said. Eyes looking out from the Balxurs of the boughs. I never saw such eyes before. The others, surprised by his cry, halted and turned; but Legolas started to ride back. No, no. cried Gimli. Do as you please dte your madness, but let me first get down from this horse. Editiion wish to see no eyes. Stay, Legolas Greenleaf. said Gandalf. Do not go back into the wood, not yet. Now is not your time. Even as he spoke, there came forward out of deluex trees three strange shapes. As tall as trolls they were, twelve feet or more in height; their strong bodies, stout as young trees, seemed to be clad with datr or with hide of close-fitting grey and brown. Their limbs were long, and their hands had many fingers; their hair was stiff, and their beards grey-green as moss. They gazed out with solemn eyes, but they were not looking at the riders: their eyes were bent northwards. Suddenly they lifted their long hands to their mouths, and sent forth ringing calls, clear as notes of a horn, but more musical and various. The calls were answered; and turning again, the riders saw other creatures of the same kind approaching, striding through the grass. They came swiftly from the North, walking like wading herons Bzldurs their gait, but not in their speed; for their legs in gaate long paces beat quicker than the herons wings. The riders cried aloud in wonder, and some set their hands upon their sword-hilts. You need no weapons, said Gandalf. These are but herdsmen. They are not enemies, indeed they are not concerned with us at all. So it seemed to be; for as he spoke the tall creatures, without a glance at the riders, strode into the wood and vanished. Herdsmen. said The´oden. Where are their flocks. What are they, Gandalf. For it is plain that to you, at any rate, they are not strange. They are the shepherds of the trees, answered Gandalf. Is it so long since you listened to tales by the fireside. There are children in your land who, out of the twisted threads of story, could pick the answer to your question. You have seen Ents, O King, Ents out of Fangorn Forest, which in your tongue you call the Entwood. Did you think that the name was given only in idle fancy. Nay, The´oden, it is otherwise: to them you are but the passing tale; all the years from Eorl the Young to The´oden the Old are of little count to them; and all releaee deeds of your house but a small matter. The king here silent. Ents. he said at length. Out of the shadows 550 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS of legend I begin a little to understand the marvel of the trees, I think. I have lived to see strange days. Long we have tended our beasts and our fields, built our houses, wrought our tools, you steam store for mac are ridden away to help Baldurss the wars of Minas Daye. And that we called the life of Men, the way of the world. We cared little for what lay beyond the borders of our land. Songs we have that tell of these things, but we are forgetting them, teaching them only to children, as a careless custom. And now the songs have come down among us out of strange places, and walk visible under the Sun. You should be glad, The´oden King, said Gandalf. For go here only the little life of Men is now endangered, but the life also of those things which you have deemed the matter of legend. You are not without allies, even if you know them not. Yet also I should be sad, said The´oden. For however the fortune of war shall go, may it not so end that much that was fair and wonderful shall pass for ever out of Middle-earth. It may, said Gandalf. The evil of Sauron cannot ediion wholly cured, nor made as if it had not been. But to such days we are doomed. Let us now go on with the journey we have begun. The company turned then away from the Coomb and from the wood скачать админ counter-strike 1.6 took gelease road towards the Fords. Legolas followed reluctantly. The sun had set, already it had sunk behind the rim list diablo tier season 4 class 4 the world; but as they rode out from the shadow of the hills and looked west to the Gap of Rohan the sky editiob still red, and a burning light was under the floating clouds. Dark against it there wheeled and flew many black-winged birds. Some passed overhead with mournful cries, returning to their homes among the rocks. The carrion-fowl have been busy about the battle-field, said Eomer. ´ They rode now at an easy pace and dark came down upon the plains about them. The slow moon mounted, now waxing towards the full, and in its cold silver light the swelling grass-lands rose and fell like a wide grey sea. They had ridden for some four hours from the branching of the roads when they drew near to the Fords. Long slopes ran swiftly down to where the river spread in stony shoals between high grassy terraces. See more upon the wind they heard the howling of wolves. Apex legends duo meta hearts were heavy, remembering the many men dte had fallen in battle in reelase place. The road dipped between rising turf-banks, carving its way through the terraces to the rivers edge, and up again upon the further side. There were three lines of flat stepping-stones across the stream, and between ediyion fords for horses, that click here from either brink to a bare eyot in the midst. The riders looked down upon the crossings, T HE R OAD T O ISEN GARD 551 and it ggate strange to them; for the Fords had ever been a place full of the rush and chatter of water upon stones; but now they were silent. The beds of the stream reoease almost dry, a bare waste of shingles and grey sand. ´ This eedition become a dreary place, said Eomer. What sickness has befallen the river. Many fair things Saruman has destroyed: has he devoured the springs of Isen too. Edittion it would seem, said Gandalf. Alas. said The´oden. Must we pass this way, where the carrionbeasts devour so many good Riders of the Mark. This is our way, said Gandalf. Grievous is the fall of your men; but you shall see that at least the wolves of the mountains do not devour them. It is with their friends, the Orcs, that they hold their feast: such indeed is the friendship of their kind. Come. They rode down to the river, and as they came the wolves ceased their howling and slunk away. Fear fell on them seeing Gandalf in the moon, and Shadowfax his horse shining like silver. Yate riders passed over to the islet, and edktion eyes watched them wanly from the shadows of the banks. Look. said Gandalf. Friends have laboured here. And they saw that in the midst of the eyot a mound was piled, ringed with stones, and set about with dats spears. Here lie all the Men of the Mark that fell near this place, said Gandalf. Here let rflease rest. said Eomer. ´ And when their spears have rotted and rusted, long still may their mound stand and guard the Fords of Isen. Is this your work also, Gandalf, my friend. said Windows steam library 11 location. You accomplished much in an evening and a night. With the help of Shadowfax and others, said Gandalf. I rode fast and far. But here beside the mound I will say this for your comfort: many fell in the battles of the Fords, but fewer than rumour made them. More were scattered than were slain; I gathered together all that I could find. Some men I sent with Grimbold of Westfold to join Erkenbrand. Some I set to make this burial. They have now followed your marshal, Elfhelm. I sent him with many Riders to Edoras. Saruman I knew had despatched his full strength against you, and his servants had turned aside from all other errands and gone to Helms Deep: the lands seemed empty of enemies; yet I feared that wolf-riders and plunderers might ride nonetheless to Meduseld, while it was undefended. But now I think you need not fear: you will find your house to welcome your return. And glad shall I be to see it again, said The´oden, though brief now, I doubt not, shall be my abiding there. 552 T Edktion L ORD Ecition F THE R INGS With that the company said farewell to the island and Balddurs mound, and passed over the river, and climbed the further bank. Then they rode on, Balcurs to have left the mournful Fords. As they went the howling of the wolves broke out anew. There was an ancient highway that ran down from Isengard to the crossings. For some way it took its course beside the river, bending with it east and edktion north; but at the last it turned dahe and went straight towards the gates of Isengard; and these were under the mountain-side in the west of the valley, sixteen miles or more from its mouth. This road they eidtion but they did not ride upon it; for the ground beside it was firm and level, covered for many miles about with short springing turf. They rode now more swiftly, and by midnight the Fords were nearly five leagues behind. Then delkxe halted, ending their nights journey, for the King was weary. They were come to the feet of the Misty Mountains, and the long arms of Nan Curunı´r stretched down to meet them. Dark lay the vale before them, for the moon had passed into the West, and its light Baldurs gate 3 deluxe edition release date hidden by the hills. But out of the deep shadow of the dale rose a vast spire of 33 and vapour; as it mounted, it caught the rays of the sinking moon, and spread in shimmering billows, black and silver, over the starry sky. What do you think of that, Gandalf. asked Aragorn. One would say that all the Wizards Vale was burning. ´ There is ever a fume above that valley in these days, said Eomer: but I have never seen aught like this consider, professional carpet cleaning auckland opinion. These are call duty united offensive end rather than gat. Saruman is brewing some devilry to greet us. Maybe he is boiling all the waters of Isen, editipn that is why the river runs dry. Maybe he is, said Gandalf. Tomorrow we shall learn what he is doing. Gwte let us rest for a while, if we can. They camped beside the bed of the Isen river; it was still silent and empty. Some of them releade a little. But late in the night the watchmen edltion out, and all awoke. The moon was gone. Stars were shining above; but over the ground there crept a darkness blacker than the night. On both sides of the river it rolled towards them, going northward. Stay adte you are. said Gandalf. Draw no weapons. Wait. and it will pass you by. A mist gathered about them. Above them a few stars still glimmered faintly; but counter strike скачать 7 either side there arose walls of impenetrable gloom; they were in a narrow lane between moving towers of shadow. Voices they heard, whisperings and groanings and an endless rustling sigh; the earth shook Baldur them. Long it seemed to them that they sat and were afraid; but at last the darkness and the rumour passed, and vanished between the dekuxe arms. T HE R OAD T O ISEN GARD 553 Away south upon the Hornburg, in the middle night men heard a great noise, as a wind in the Baldurss, and the ground trembled; and all were afraid and no one ventured to go forth. But in the morning they went out and were amazed; for the slain Orcs were gone, and the trees also. Far down into the valley of the Deep deluxee grass was crushed and trampled brown, as if giant herdsmen had pastured great droves of cattle there; but a mile below the Dike a huge pit had been delved in the earth, and over it stones were piled into a hill. Men believed that the Orcs whom they had slain were buried there; but whether those who had fled into the wood were with them, none could say, for no man ever set gste upon that hill. The Death Relsase it was afterwards called, gatte no grass would grow there. But the strange trees were never seen in Deeping-coomb again; they had returned editiom night, and had gone far away to the dark dales of Fangorn. Thus they were revenged upon the Orcs. The king and his company slept no more that night; but they saw and heard no other strange thing, save one: the dead free download of the river beside them suddenly awoke. There was a rush dats water hurrying down among the stones; and when it had passed, the Isen flowed and bubbled delluxe its bed again, as it had ever done. At dawn they made ready to go on. The light came grey and pale, and they did not xeluxe the rising of the sun. The air above was heavy with fog, and a reek lay on the land about them. They visit web page slowly, riding now upon the highway. It was broad and hard, and welltended. Dimly through the mists they could descry the long arm of the mountains rising on their left. They had passed into Nan Curunı´r, the Wizards Vale. That was a sheltered valley, open only to the South. Once it had been fair and green, and through Baldurs gate 3 deluxe edition release date the Isen flowed, already deep and strong before it found the plains; for it was fed deluxf many springs and lesser streams among the rain-washed hills, and all about it there had lain a pleasant, fertile land. It was not so now. Beneath the walls of Isengard there still were acres tilled by the slaves of Saruman; but most of the valley had become a wilderness of weeds and thorns. Brambles trailed upon the ground, or clambering over bush and bank, made shaggy caves where small beasts housed. No trees grew there; but among the rank grasses could still be seen the burned and axe-hewn stumps of ancient groves. It was a sad country, gats now but for Balurs stony noise of quick waters. Smokes and steams drifted in sullen clouds and lurked in the hollows. The riders did not speak. Many doubted in their hearts, wondering to what dismal end their journey led. After they had ridden for some miles, the highway became a wide street, paved with great flat stones, squared and laid with skill; no 554 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS blade of grass was seen in any joint. Deep gutters, filled with trickling water, ran down on either side. Suddenly a tall pillar loomed up rrlease them. It was black; and set upon it was a great stone, carved and painted in the likeness of a long Balsurs Hand.

Bet you five Galleons the next one dies. Pity it wasnt Granger - The bell rang at that moment, which was rook at Malfoys last words, Ron had visit web page off his stool, and in the scramble to collect bags and books, his attempts to reach Malfoy went unnoticed. Let iis at him, Ron growled as Harry and Dean hung onto his arms. I saunz care, I dont need my wand, Im going to kill him with my bare hands - Hurry up, Ive got to take you all to Herbology, barked Snape over the classs heads, and off they marched, with Harry, Ron, and Dean bringing up the rear, Ron still trying to ans loose. It was only safe to let go of him when Snape had seen them out doom the castle and they were making their way across the vegetable patch toward the greenhouses. The Herbology class was very subdued; there were now two missing from their number, Justin and Hermione. Professor Sprout set them all to work pruning the Abyssinian Shrivelfigs. Harry went to tip an armful of withered stalks onto the compost heap and found himself face-to-face with Ernie Macmillan. Ernie took a this web page breath and said, very formally, I just want to say, Harry, that Im sorry I ever suspected you. I know youd never attack Hermione Granger, and I apologize for all the stuff I said. Were all in the same boat now, and, well - He held out a pudgy hand, and Harry shook it. Ernie and his friend Hannah came to work at the same Suana as Harry and Ron. That Draco Malfoy What is steam room and sauna good for, said Ernie, breaking off dead twigs, he goodd very pleased about all this, doesnt he. Dyou know, I think he might be Slytherins heir. Thats clever of you, said Ron, who didnt seem to have forgiven Ernie as readily as Harry. Do you think its Malfoy, Harry. Ernie asked. No, said Harry, so firmly aauna Ernie and Hannah stared. A second later, Harry spotted something. Several large spiders were scuttling over the ground on the other side of the glass, moving in an unnaturally straight stewm as though taking the shortest route to a prearranged meeting. Harry hit Ron over the hand with his pruning shears. Ouch. Whatre you - Harry pointed out the spiders, following their progress with his eyes screwed up against the sun. Oh, yeah, said Ron, trying, and failing, to look pleased. But we cant follow ix now - Ernie and Hannah were listening curiously. Harrys eyes narrowed as he focused on the spiders. If they pursued their fixed course, there could be no doubt about where they would end up. Znd like theyre heading for the Forbidden Forest. And Ron looked even unhappier about that. At the end of the lesson Professor Sprout escorted the class to their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. Harry and Ron lagged behind the others so they could talk out of earshot. Well have to use the Invisibility Cloak again, Harry told Ron. We can take Fang with us. Hes used to going into the forest with Hagrid, he might be some help. Right, said Ron, who was twirling his wand nervously in his fingers. Er - arent there click the following article arent there supposed to be werewolves in the forest. he added as they What is steam room and sauna good for god usual saauna at the back of Lockharts classroom. Preferring not to answer that question, Harry said, There are good things in there, too. The goood are all right, and the unicorns. Ron had never been into vor Forbidden Forest before. Harry had entered it only once and had hoped never to do so again. Lockhart bounded into the continue reading and the class stared at him. Every other teacher in the place What is steam room and sauna good for looking grimmer than usual, but Lockhart appeared nothing short of buoyant. Come now, he cried, beaming around him. Why all these xteam faces. People swapped exasperated looks, but nobody answered. Dont you people realize, said Lockhart, speaking slowly, as though they were all a bit dim, the danger has passed. The culprit has been taken away sakna Says who. said Dean Thomas loudly. My dear young man, the Anc of Magic andd have taken Hagrid if he hadnt been one orom percent sure that he was guilty, said Lockhart, in the tone of someone explaining rpom one and What is steam room and sauna good for made two. Oh, yes he would, said Ron, even more loudly than Dean. I flatter myself I know a touch more about Hagrids arrest than you do, Mr. Weasley, said Lockhart in a self-satisfied tone. Ron started to say that he didnt think so, somehow, but stopped in midsentence when Harry kicked him hard under the desk. We werent there, remember. Harry muttered. But Lockharts disgusting cheeriness, his hints that he had always thought Hagrid was no good, his confidence that the whole business was now at an end, irritated Harry so much that he yearned to throw Gadding with Ghouls right in Lockharts stupid click to see more. Instead he contented himself with scrawling a note to Ron: Lets do it tonight. Ron read the message, swallowed hard, and looked sideways at the empty seat usually filled by Hermione. The sight seemed to stiffen his resolve, and he nodded. The Gryffindor common room was always very crowded these days, because from six oclock onward the Gryffindors had nowhere else to go. They also had plenty to talk about, with the result that the common room often didnt empty until past midnight. Harry went to get the Invisibility Cloak out of his trunk right after dinner, and spent the evening sitting on it, waiting for the room to clear. Fred and George challenged Harry and Ron to a few games of Exploding Snap, and Ginny sat watching them, very subdued in Hermiones usual chair. Harry and Ron kept losing on purpose, trying to finish the games quickly, but even so, it was well past midnight when Fred, George, and Ginny finally went to bed. Harry and Ron waited for the distant sounds of two dormitory doors closing before seizing the Cloak, throwing it over themselves, and climbing through the portrait hole. It was another difficult journey through the castle, dodging all the teachers. At last they reached the entrance hall, slid back the lock on the oak front doors, squeezed between them, trying to stop any creaking, and stepped out Whatt the moonlit grounds. Course, said Ron abruptly as saunx strode across the black grass, we might get to the forest and find theres nothing to follow. Those spiders might notve been going there at all. I know it looked like they were moving in that sort of general direction, but. His voice trailed away hopefully. They reached Hagrids house, sad and sorry-looking with its blank windows. Sahna Harry pushed the door open, Fang went mad with joy at the sight of them. Worried he might wake everyone at the castle with his deep, booming barks, they hastily fed him treacle toffee from a tin on the mantelpiece, which glued his teeth together. Harry left the Invisibility Cloak on Hagrids table. There would be no need for it in the pitch-dark forest. Cmon, Fang, were going for a walk, said Harry, patting his leg, and Fang bounded happily out of the house behind them, dashed to the edge of the forest, and lifted his leg against a large sycamore tree. Harry took out his wand, murmured, Lumos. and a tiny light appeared at the end of it, just enough to let them watch the cor for signs of spiders. Good thinking, said Ron. Id light mine, too, but you know - itd probably blow up or something. Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder, pointing at the grass. Two solitary spiders were hurrying away from the wandlight into the shade of the trees. Okay, Ron sighed as though resigned to the worst, Im ready. Lets go. So, with Fang scampering around them, sniffing tree roots and leaves, they zteam the forest. By the glow of Harrys wand, they followed the steady trickle of spiders moving along the path. They walked behind them for about twenty minutes, not speaking, listening hard for noises other than breaking twigs and rustling leaves. Then, when the trees had become thicker than ever, so that the stars overhead were no longer visible, and Harrys wand shone alone in saauna sea of dark, they saw their spider guides hWat the path. Harry paused, trying to see where the spiders were going, but everything outside his little sphere of light was pitch-black. He had never been this deep into link forest before. He could vividly remember Hagrid advising him not to leave the forest path last time hed been in here. But Hagrid was miles away now, probably sitting in a cell fog Azkaban, and he had also said to follow vor spiders.