"Not tonight, but eventually we will need to pass them - Gondor lies on the other side." Of course, he has absolutely no intention of camping anywhere near the mountain passes - alone, he knows he can defend himself, and without an armed guard, he cannot be sure he can defend her. The Gap of Rohan is an acceptable choice, and then there will be Ents.

It'd be a lie to say he wasn't secretly looking forward to that.

The ground suddenly opens up in front of them, the rolling grasslands having effectively hid the steep-walled valley until they had started down the steep track leading to the very well-lit buildings of the Last Homely House.