“I’m going on a quest,” Aragorn was saying, “and—”
        “A quest?” interrupted Theoden. “Well what ever do you want to go on a quest for? I mean really, where’s the logic in that? You don’t even have anything to go questing for; you’re already engaged to an Elf maiden, you’re the long-lost decsendant of the King of Gondor, and the only dragon ‘round these parts was slain. So why go questing?”
        Aragorn was at a loss. “Ummmm, well, uhhh.....”
        “You see?”
        “Yes—but still I shall go on a quest!”
       “Ermph. Well, now that that’s settled, why have you come here?”
        “Ahem. Yes. As I have said, I am going on a quest—”
        “Can’t see why,” Theoden muttered. Aragorn glared at him but continued.
       “—and so I should like to borrow a horse.”
       “Borrow a horse? Borrow a horse? Just so you can go traipsing off on some nitwitted quest?” Theoden was getting quite angry, but all of a sudden he abruptly calmed down and slumped listlessly back in his throne. “Sure, why not?”
       A few minutes later Aragorn and Theoden were walking through a field of horses, Theoden pointing out various ones and explaining their good qualities. He was busy telling exactly how fast Black Star could go when Aragorn stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the animal in front of him. It was tall, gnagly, swaybacked, and of a nondescript brownish-orange color, with a Roman nose and over-long ears that flopped to either side.
       Aragorn immediately interrupted Theoden, who was standing by a glossy black horse. “I want that one,” he said as he pointed to it.
       Theoden’s eyes bulged. “I really think Black Star is more suited to your needs.”
        “No,” Aragorn said stubbornly. “I want that one.”
        “But—”
       “I’ll call her Sugar!”
        “She’s a he.”
        “Oh. Ummm....then I’ll call her—him, I mean—Sweetie!”
        “Sweetie?
        “Yes.”
       As Aragorn went to pet “Sweetie” and promptly got his hand bit, Theoden shook his head. “Why do I bother?”

After an hour of trying to saddle Sweetie and collecting innumerable teeth and hoof marks, Aragorn left, just in time to ride off into the sunset, though he ruined the whole effect by falling off. As the figure on the mule faded out of view, Theoden heard a chomp and a yelp. He winced and walked away.