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again； and it seemed that in all the City she only was ailing and sorrowful。 And the Warden of the
Houses was troubled； and he spoke to Faramir。
Then Faramir came and sought her； and once more they stood on the walls together； and he said
to her： 'éowyn； why do you tarry here； and do not go to the rejoicing in Cormallen beyond Cair
Andros； where your brother awaits you？'
And she said： 'Do you not know？'
But he answered： 'Two reasons there may be； but which is true； l do not know。'
And she said： 'I do not wish to play at riddles。 Speak plainer！'
'Then if you will have it so； lady；' he said： 'you do not go； because only your brother called for
you； and to look on the Lord Aragorn； Elendil's heir； in his triumph would now bring you no joy。
Or because I do not go； and you desire still to be near me。 And maybe for both these reasons； and
you yourself cannot choose between them。 éowyn； do you not love me； or will you not？'
'I wished to be loved by another；' she answered。 'But I desire no man's pity。'
'That I know；' he said。 'You desired to have the love of the Lord Aragorn。 Because he was high
and puissant； and you wished to have renown and glory and to be lifted far above the mean things
that crawl on the earth。 And as a great captain may to a young soldier he seemed to you admirable。
For so he is； a lord among men； the greatest that now is。 But when he gave you only understanding
and pity； then you desired to have nothing； unless a brave death in battle。 Look at me； éowyn！'
And éowyn looked at Faramir long and steadily； and Faramir said： 'Do not scorn pity that is the
gift of a gentle heart； éowyn！ But I do not offer you my pity。 For you are a lady high and valiant
and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten； and you are a lady beautiful； I deem；
beyond even the words of the Elven…tongue to tell。 And I love you。 Once I pitied your sorrow。 But
now； were you sorrowless； without fear or any lack； were you the blissful Queen of Gondor； still I
would love you。 éowyn； do you not love me？'
Then the heart of éowyn changed； or else at last she understood it。 And suddenly her winter
passed； and the sun shone on her。
I stand in Minas Anor； the Tower of the Sun； she said； and behold the Shadow has departed！ I
will be a shieldmaiden no longer； nor vie with the great Riders； nor take joy only in the songs of
slaying。 I will be a healer； and love all things that grow and are not barren。' And again she looked at
Faramir。 'No longer do I desire to be a queen；' she said。
Then Faramir laughed merrily。 'That is well；' he said； 'for I am not a king。 Yet I will wed with
the White Lady of Rohan； if it be her will。 And if she will； then let us cross the River and in happier
days let us dwell in fair Ithilien and there make a garden。 All things will grow with joy there； if the
White Lady es。'
'Then must I leave my own people； man of Gondor？' she said。 'And would you have your proud
folk say of you： There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North！ Was there no
woman of the race of Númenor to choose？'
'I would；' said Faramir。 And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky； and he
cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many。 And many indeed saw them and
the light that shone about them as they came down from the walls and went hand in hand to the
Houses of Healing。
And to the Warden of the Houses Faramir said： 'Here is the Lady éowyn of Rohan； and now she
is healed。'
And the Warden said： 'Then I release her from my charge and bid her farewell； and may she
suffer never hurt nor sickness again。 I mend her to the care of the Steward of the City； until her
brother returns。'
But éowyn said： 'Yet now that I have leave to depart； I would remain。 For this House has
bee to me of all dwellings the most blessed。' And she remained there until King éomer came。
All things were now made ready in the City； and there was great concourse of people； for the
tidings had gone out into all parts of Gondor； from Min…Rimmon even to Pinnath Gelin and the far
coasts of the sea； and all that could e to the City made haste to e。 And the City was filled
again with women and fair children that returned to their homes laden with flowers； and from Dol
Amroth came the harpers that harped most skilfully in all the land； and there were players upon
viols and upon flutes and upon horns of silver； and clear…voiced singers from the vales of Lebennin。
At last an evening came when from the walls the pavilions could be seen upon the field； and all
night lights were burning as men watched for the dawn。 And when the sun rose in the clear
morning above the mountains in the East； upon which shadows lay no more； then all the bells rang；
and all the banners broke and flowed in the wind； and upon the White Tower of the citadel the
standard of the Stewards； bright argent like snow in the sun； bearing no charge nor device； was
raised over Gondor for the last time。
Now the Captains of the West led their host towards the City； and folk saw them advance in line
upon line； flashing and glinting in the sunrise and rippling like silver。 And so they came before the
Gateway and halted a furlong from the walls。 As yet no gates had been set up again； but a barrier
was laid across the entrance to the City； and there stood men at arms in silver and black with long
swords drawn。 Before the barrier stood Faramir the Steward； and Húrin Warden of the Keys； and
other captains of Gondor； and the Lady éowyn of Rohan with Elfhelm the Marshal and many
knights of the Mark； and upon either side of the Gate was a great press of fair people in raiment of
many colours and garlands of flowers。
So now there was a wide space before the walls of Minas Tirith； and it was hemmed in upon all
sides by the knights and the soldiers of Gondor and of Rohan； and by the people of the City and of
all parts of the land。 A hush fell upon all as out from the host stepped the Dúnedain in silver and
grey； and before them came walking slow the Lord Aragorn。 He was clad in black mail girt with
silver； and he wore a long mantle of pure white clasped at the throat with a great jewel of green that
shone from afar； but his head was bare save for a star upon his forehead bound by a slender fillet of
silver。 With him were éomer of Rohan； and the Prince Imrahil； and Gandalf robed all in white； and
four small figures that many men marvelled to see。
'Nay； cousin！ they are not boys；' said Ioreth to her kinswoman from Imloth Melui； who stood
beside her。 'Those are _Periain_； out of the far country of the Halflings； where they are princes of
great fame； it is said。 I should know； for I had one to tend in the Houses。 They are small； but they
are valiant。 Why； cousin； one of them went with only his esquire into the Black Country and fought
with the Dark Lord all by himself； and set fire to his Tower； if you can believe it。 At least that is the
tale in the City。 That will be the one that walks with our Elfstone。 They are dear friends； I hear。
Now he is a marvel； the Lord Elfstone： not too soft in his speech； mind you； but he has a golden
heart； as the saying is； and he has the healing hands。 The hands of the king are the hands of a healer；
I said； and that was how it was all discovered。 And Mithrandir； he said to me： Ioreth； men will long
remember your words； and…'
But Ioreth was not permitted to continue the instruction of her kinswoman from the country； for
a single trumpet rang； and a dead silence followed。 Then forth from the Gate went Faramir with
Húrin of the Keys； and no others； save that behind them walked four men in the high helms and
armour of the Citadel； and they bore a great casket of black _lebethron_ bound with silver。
Faramir met Aragorn in the midst of those there assembled； and he knelt； and said： 'The last
Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office。' And he held out a white rod； but Aragorn
took the rod and gave it back； saying： 'That office is not ended； and it shall be thine and thy heirs' as
long as my line shall last。 Do now thy office！'
Then Faramir stood up and spoke in a clear voice： 'Men of Gondor hear now the Steward of this
Realm！ Behold！ one has e to claim the kingship again at last。 Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn；
chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor； Captain of the Host of the West； bearer of the Star of the North；
wielder of the Sword Reforged； victorious in battle； whose hands bring healing； the Elfstone；
Elessar of the line of Valandil； Isildur's son； Elendil's son of Númenor。 Shall he be king and enter
into the City and dwell there？'
And all the host and all the people cried _yea_ with one voice。
And Ioreth said to her kinswoman： 'This is just a ceremony such as we have in the City； cousin；
for he has already entered； as I was telling you； and he said to me…' And then again she was obliged
to silence； for Faramir spoke again。
'Men of Gondor； the loremasters tell that it was the custom of old that the king should receive
the crown from his father ere he died； or if that might not be； that he should go alone and take it
from the hands of his father in the tomb where he was laid。 But since things must now be done
otherwise； using the authority of the Steward； I have today brought hither from Rath Dínen the
crown of E？rnur the last king； whose days passed in the time of our longfathers of old。'
Then the guards stepped forward； and Faramir opened the casket； and he held up an ancient
crown。 It was shaped like the helms of the Guards of the Citadel； save that it was loftier； and it was
all white； and the wings at either side were wrought of pearl and silver in the likeness of the wings
of a sea…bird； for it was the emblem of kings who came over the Sea； and seven gems of adamant
were set in the circlet； and upon its summit was set a single jewel the light of which went up like a
flame。
Then Aragorn took the crown and held it up and said：
_Et E？rello Endorenna utúlien。 Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar…metta！_
And those were the words that Elendil spoke when he came up out of the Sea on the wings of
the wind： 'Out of the Great Sea to Middle…earth I am e。 In this place will I abide； and my heirs；
unto the ending of the world。'
Then to the wonder of many Aragorn did not put the crown upon his head； but gave it back to
Faramir； and said： 'By the labour and valour of many I have e into my inheritance。 In token of
this I would have the Ring…bearer bring the crown to me； and let Mithrandir set it upon my head； if
he will； for he has been the mover of all that has been acplished； and this is his victory。'
Then Frodo came forward and took the crown from Faramir and bore it to Gandalf； and Aragorn
knelt； and Gandalf set the White Crown upon his head； and said：
'Now e the days of the King； and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar
endure！'
But when Aragorn arose all that beheld him gazed in silence； for it seemed to them that he was
revealed to them now for the first time。 Tall as the sea…kings of old； he stood above all that were
near； ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood； and wisdom sat upon his brow；
and strength and healing were in his hands； and a light was about him。 And then Faramir cried：
'Behold the King！'
And in that moment all the trumpets were blown； and the King Elessar went forth and came to
the barrier； and Húrin of the Keys thrust it back； and amid the music of harp and of viol and of flute
and the singing of clear voices the King passed through the flower…laden streets； and came to the
Citadel； and entered in； and the banner of the Tree and the Stars was unfurled upon the topmost
tower； and the reign of King Elessar began； of which many songs have told。
In his time the City was made more fair than it had ever been； even in the days of its first glory；
and it was filled with trees and with fountains； and its gates were wrought of mithril and steel； and
its streets were paved with white marble； and