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e to fulfilment。
_Chapter 6_
Many Partings
When the days of rejoicing were over at last the panions thought of returning to their own
homes。 And Frodo went to the King as he was sitting with the Queen Arwen by the fountain； and
she sang a song of Valinor； while the Tree grew and blossomed。 They weled Frodo and rose to
greet him； and Aragorn said：
'I know what you have e to say； Frodo： you wish to return to your own home。 Well； dearest
friend； the tree grows best in the land of its sires； but for you in all the lands of the West there will
ever be a wele。 And though your people have had little fame in the legends of the great； they
will now have more renown than any wide realms that are no more。'
'It is true that I wish to go back to the Shire；' said Frodo。 'But first I must go to Rivendell。 For if
there could be anything wanting in a time so blessed； I missed Bilbo； and I was grieved when
among all the household of Elrond I saw that he was not e。'
'Do you wonder at that； Ring…bearer？' said Arwen。 'For you know the power of that thing which
is now destroyed； and all that was done by that power is now passing away。 But your kinsman
possessed this thing longer than you。 He is ancient in years now； according to his kind； and he
awaits you； for he will not again make any long journey save one。'
'Then I beg leave to depart soon；' said Frodo。
'In seven days we will go；' said Aragorn。 'For we shall ride with you far on the road； even as far
as the country of Rohan。 In three days now éomer will return hither to bear Théoden back to rest in
the Mark； and we shall ride with him to honour the fallen。 But now before you go I will confirm the
words that Faramir spoke to you； and you are made free for ever of the realm of Gondor； and all
your panions likewise。 And if there were any gifts that I could give to match with your deeds
you should have them； but whatever you desire you shall take with you； and you shall ride in
honour and arrayed as princes of the land。'
But the Queen Arwen said： 'A gift I will give you。 For I am the daughter of Elrond。 I shall not
go with him now when he departs to the Havens； for mine is the choice of Lúthien； and as she so
have I chosen； both the sweet and the bitter。 But in my stead you shall go； Ring…bearer； when the
time es； and if you then desire it。 If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burden
is heavy； then you may pass into the West； until all your wounds and weariness are healed。 But
wear this now in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar with whom your life has been woven！'
And she took a white gem like a star that lay upon her breast hanging upon a silver chain； and
she set the chain about Frodo's neck。 'When the memory of the fear and the darkness troubles you；'
she said； 'this will bring you aid。'
In three days； as the King had said； éomer of Rohan came riding to the City； and with him came
an _éored_ of the fairest knights of the Mark。 He was weled； and when they sat all at table in
Merethrond； the Great Hall of Feasts； he beheld the beauty of the ladies that he saw and was filled
with great wonder。 And before he went to his rest he sent for Gimli the Dwarf； and he said to him：
'Gimli Glóin's son； have you your axe ready？'
'Nay； lord；' said Gimli； 'but I can speedily fetch it； if there be need。'
'You shall judge；' said éomer。 'For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady in the
Golden Wood that lie still between us。 And now I have seen her with my eyes。'
'Well； lord；' said Gimli； 'and what say you now？'
'Alas！' said éomer。 'I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives。'
'Then I must go for my axe；' said Gimli。
'But first I will plead this excuse；' said éomer。 'Had I seen her in other pany； I would have
said all that you could wish。 But now I will put Queen Arwen Evenstar first； and I am ready to do
battle on my own part with any who deny me。 Shall I call for my sword？'
Then Gimli bowed low。 'Nay； you are excused for my part； lord；' he said。 'You have chosen the
Evening； but my love is given to the Morning。 And my heart forebodes that soon it will past away
for ever。'
At last the day of departure came； and a great and fair pany made ready to ride north from
the City。 Then the kings of Gondor and Rohan went to the Hallows and they came to the tombs in
Rath Dínen； and they bore away King Théoden upon a golden bier； and passed through the City in
silence。 Then they laid the bier upon a great wain with Riders of Rohan all about it and his banner
borne before； and Merry being Théoden's esquire rode upon the wain and kept the arms of the king。
For the other panions steeds were furnished according to their stature； and Frodo and
Samwise rode at Aragorn's side； and Gandalf rode upon Shadowfax； and Pippin rode with the
knights of Gondor； and Legolas and Gimli as ever rode together upon Arod。
In that riding went also Queen Arwen； and Celeborn and Galadriel with their folk； and Elrond
and his sons； and the princes of Dol Amroth and of Ithilien； and many captains and knights。 Never
had any king of the Mark such pany upon the road as went with Théoden Thengel's son to the
land of his home。
Without haste and at peace they passed into Anórien； and they came to the Grey Wood under
Amon Dn； and there they heard a sound as of drums beating in the hills； though no living thing
could be seen。 Then Aragorn let the trumpets be blown； and heralds cried：
'Behold the King Elessar is e！ The Forest of Drúadan he gives to Ghan…buri…ghan and to his
folk； to be their own for ever； and hereafter let no man enter it without their leave！'
Then the drums rolled loudly； and were silent。
At length after fifteen days of journey the wain of King Théoden passed through the green fields
of Rohan and came to Edoras； and there they all rested。 The Golden Hall was arrayed with fair
hangings and it was filled with light； and there was held the highest feast that it had known since
the days of its building。 For after three days the Men of the Mark prepared the funeral of Théoden；
and he was laid in a house of stone with his arms and many other fair things that he had possessed；
and over him was raised a great mound； covered with green turves of grass and of white evermind。
And now there were eight mounds on the east…side of the Barrowfield。
Then the Riders of the King's House upon white horses rode round about the barrow and sang
together a song of Théoden Thengel's son that Gléowine his minstrel made； and he made no other
song after。 The slow voices of the Riders stirred the hearts even of those who did not know the
speech of that people； but the words of the song brought a light to the eyes of the folk of the Mark
as they heard again afar the thunder of the hooves of the North and the voice of Eorl crying above
the battle upon the Field of Celebrant； and the tale of the kings rolled on； and the horn of Helm was
loud in the mountains； until the Darkness came and King Théoden arose and rode through the
Shadow to the fire； and died in splendour； even as the Sun； returning beyond hope； gleamed upon
Mindolluin in the morning。
_Out of doubt； out of dark； to the day's rising
he rode singing in the sun； sword unsheathing。
Hope he rekindled； and in hope ended；
over death； over dread； over doom lifted
out of loss； out of life； unto long glory。_
But Merry stood at the foot of the green mound； and he wept； and when the song was ended he
arose and cried：
'Théoden King； Théoden King！ Farewell！ As a father you were to me。 for a little while。
Farewell！'
When the burial was over and the weeping of women was stilled； and Théoden was left at last
alone in his barrow； then folk gathered to the Golden Hall for the great feast and put away sorrow；
for Théoden had lived to full years and ended in honour no less than the greatest of his sires。 And
when the time came that in the custom of the Mark they should drink to the memory of the kings；
éowyn Lady of Rohan came forth； golden as the sun and white as snow； and she bore a filled cup to
éomer。
Then a minstrel and loremaster stood up and named all the names of the Lords of the Mark in
their order： Eorl the Young； and Brego builder of the Hall； and Aldor brother of Baldor the hapless；
and Fréa； and Fréawine； and Goldwine； and Déor； and Gram； and Helm who lay hid in Helm's
Deep when the Mark was overrun； and so ended the nine mounds of the west…side； for in that time
the line was broken； and after came the mounds of the east…side： Fréalaf； Helm s sister…son； and
Léofa； and Walda； and Folca； and Folcwine； and Fengel； and Thengel； and Théoden the latest。 And
when Théoden was named éomer drained the cup。 Then éowyn bade those that served to fill the
cups； and all there assembled rose and drank to the new king； crying： 'Hail； éomer； King of the
Mark！'
At the last when the feast drew to an end éomer arose and said： 'Now this is the funeral feast of
Théoden the King； but I will speak ere we go of tidings of joy； for he would not grudge that I
should do so； since he was ever a father of éowyn my sister。 Hear then all my guests； fair folk of
many realms； such as have never before been gathered in this hall！ Faramir； Steward of Gondor；
and Prince of Ithilien； asks that éowyn Lady of Rohan should be his wife； and she grants it full
willing。 Therefore they shall be trothplighted before you all。'
And Faramir and éowyn stood forth and set hand in hand； and all there drank to them and were
glad。 'Thus；' said éomer； 'is the friendship of the Mark and of Gondor bound with a new bond； and
the more do I rejoice。'
'No niggard are you； éomer；' said Aragorn； 'to give thus to Gondor the fairest thing in your
realm！'
Then éowyn looked in the eyes of Aragorn； and she said： 'Wish me joy； my liege…lord and
healer！'
And he answered： 'I have wished thee joy ever since first I saw thee。 It heals my heart to see thee
now in bliss。'
When the feast was over； those who were to go took leave of King éomer。 Aragorn and his
knights； and the people of Lórien and of Rivendell； made ready to ride； but Faramir and Imrahil
remained at Edoras； and Arwen Evenstar remained also； and she said farewell to her brethren。 None
saw her last meeting with Elrond her father； for they went up into the hills and there spoke long
together； and bitter was their parting that should endure beyond the ends of the world。
At the last before the guests set oat éomer and éowyn came to Merry； and they said： 'Farewell
now； Meriadoc of the Shire and Holdwine of the Mark！ Ride to good fortune； and ride back soon to
our wele！'
And éomer said： 'Kings of old would have laden you with gifts that a wain could not bear for
your deeds upon the fields of Mundburg； and yet you will take naught； you say； but the arms that
were given to you。 This I suffer； for indeed I have no gift that is worthy； but my sister begs you to
receive this small thing； as a memorial of Dernhelm and of the horns of the Mark at the ing of
the morning。'
Then éowyn gave to Merry an ancient horn； small but cunningly wrought all of fair silver with a
baldric of green； and wrights had engraven upon it swift horsemen riding in a line that wound about
it from the tip to the mouth； and there were set runes of great virtue。
'This is an heirloom of our house；' said éowyn。 'It was made by the Dwarves； and came from the
hoard of Scatha the Worm。 Eorl the Young brought it from the North。 He that blows it at need shall
set fear in the hearts of his enemies and joy in the hearts of his friends； and they shall hear him and
e to him。'
Then Merry took the horn； for it could not be refused； and he kissed éowyn's hand； and they
embraced him； and so they parted for that time。
Now the guests were ready； and they drank the stirrup…cup； and with great praise and friendship
they departed； and came at length to Helm's Deep； and there they rested