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the chamber it seemed to those who stood by that a keen wind blew through the window； and it
bore no scent； but was an air wholly fresh and clean and young； as if it had not before been
breathed by any living thing and came new…made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of
stars； or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam。
'Awake； éowyn； Lady of Rohan！' said Aragorn again； and he took her right hand in his and felt
it warm with life returning。 'Awake！ The shadow is gone and all darkness is washed clean！' Then he
laid her hand in éomer's and stepped away。 'Call her！' he said； and he passed silently from the
chamber。
'éowyn； éowyn！' cried éomer amid his tears。 But she opened her eyes and said： 'éomer！ What
joy is this？ For they said that you were slain。 Nay； but that was only the dark voices in my dream。
How long have I been dreaming？'
'Not long； my sister；' said éomer。 'But think no more on it！'
' I am strangely weary；' she said。 'I must rest a little。 But tell me； what of the Lord of the Mark？
Alas！ Do not tell me that that was a dream for I know that it was not。 He is dead as he foresaw。'
'He is dead；' said éomer； 'but he bade me say farewell to éowyn dearer than daughter。 He lies
now in great honour in the Citadel of Gondor。'
'That is grievous；' she said。 'And yet it is good beyond all that I dared hope in the dark days；
when it seemed that the House of Eorl was sunk in honour less than any shepherd's cot。 And what
of the king's esquire； the Halfling？ éomer； you shall make him a knight of the Riddermark； for he is
valiant！'
'He lies nearby in this House； and I will go to him；' said Gandalf。 'éomer shall stay here for a
while。 But do not speak yet of war or woe； until you are made whole again。 Great gladness it is to
see you wake again to health and hope； so valiant a lady！'
'To health？' said éowyn。 'It may be so。 At least while there is an empty saddle of some fallen
Rider that I can fill； and there are deeds to do。 But to hope？ I do not know。'
Gandalf and Pippin came to Merry's room； and there they found Aragorn standing by the bed。
'Poor old Merry！' cried Pippin； and he ran to the bedside； for it seemed to him that his friend looked
worse； and a greyness was in his face； as if a weight of years of sorrow lay on him； and suddenly a
fear seized Pippin that Merry would die。
'Do not be afraid；' said Aragorn。 'I came in time； and I have called him back。 He is weary now；
and grieved； and he has taken a hurt like the Lady éowyn； daring to smite that deadly thing。 But
these evils can be amended； so strong and gay a spirit is in him。 His grief he will not forget； but it
will not darken his heart； it will teach him wisdom。'
Then Aragorn laid his hand on Merry's head； and passing his hand gently through the brown
curls； he touched the eyelids； and called him by name。 And when the fragrance of _athelas_ stole
through the room； like the scent of orchards； and of heather in the sunshine full of bees； suddenly
Merry awoke； and he said：
'I am hungry。 What is the time？'
'Past supper…time now；' said Pippin； 'though I daresay I could bring you something； if they will
let me。'
'They will indeed；' said Gandalf。 'And anything else that this Rider of Rohan may desire； if it can
be found in Minas Tirith； where his name is in honour。'
'Good！' said Merry。 'Then I would like supper first； and after that a pipe。' At that his face clouded。
'No； not a pipe。 I don't think I'll smoke again。'
'Why not？' said Pippin。
'Well；' answered Merry slowly。 'He is dead。 It has brought it all back to me。 He said he was sorry
he had never had a chance of talking herb…lore with me。 Almost the last thing he ever said。 I shan't
ever be able to smoke again without thinking of him； and that day； Pippin； when he rode up to
Isengard and was so polite。'
'Smoke then； and think of him！' said Aragorn。 'For he was a gentle heart and a great king and
kept his oaths； and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning。 Though your service to him
was brief； it should be a memory glad and honourable to the end of your days。'
Merry smiled。 'Well then；' he said； 'if Strider will provide what is needed； I will smoke and think。
I had some of Saruman's best in my pack； but what became of it in the battle； I am sure I don't
know。'
'Master Meriadoc；' said Aragorn； 'if you think that I have passed through the mountains and the
realm of Gondor with fire and sword to bring herbs to a careless soldier who throws away his gear；
you are mistaken。 If your pack has not been found； then you must send for the herb…master of this
House。 And he will tell you that he did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues； but that it
is called _westmansweed_ by the vulgar； and _galenas_ by the noble； and other names in other
tongues more learned； and after adding a few half…forgotten rhymes that he does not understand； he
will regretfully inform you that there is none in the House； and he will leave you to reflect on the
history of tongues。 And so now must I。 For I have not slept in such a bed as this； since I rode from
Dunharrow； nor eaten since the dark before dawn。'
Merry seized his hand and kissed it。 'I am frightfully sorry；' he said。 'Go at once！ Ever since that
night at Bree we have been a nuisance to you。 But it is the way of my people to use light words at
such times and say less than they mean。 We fear to say too much。 It robs us of the right words when
a jest is out of place。'
'I know that well； or I would not deal with you in the same way ' said Aragorn。 'May the Shire
live for ever unwithered！' And kissing Merry he went out； and Gandalf went with him。
Pippin remained behind。 'Was there ever any one like him？' he said。 'Except Gandalf； of course。
I think they must be related。 My dear ass； your pack is lying by your bed； and you had it on your
back when I met you。 He saw it all the time； of course。 And anyway I have some stuff of my own。
e on now！ Longbottom Leaf it is。 Fill up while I run and see about some food。 And then let's
be easy for a bit。 Dear me！ We Tooks and Brandybucks； we can't live long on the heights。'
'No；' said Merry。 'I can't。 Not yet； at any rate。 But at least； Pippin； we can now see them； and
honour them。 It is best to love first what you are fitted to love； I suppose： you must start somewhere
and have some roots； and the soil of the Shire is deep。 Still there are things deeper and higher； and
not a gaffer could tend his garden in what he calls peace but for them； whether he knows about
them or not。 I am glad that I know about them； a little。 But I don't know why I am talking like this。
Where is that leaf？ And get my pipe out of my pack； if it isn't broken。'
Aragorn and Gandalf went now to the Warden of the Houses of Healing； and they counselled
him that Faramir and éowyn should remain there and still be tended with care for many days。
'The Lady éowyn；' said Aragorn； 'will wish soon to rise and depart； but she should not be
permitted to do so； if you can in any way restrain her； until at least ten days be passed。'
'As for Faramir；' said Gandalf； 'he must soon learn that his father is dead。 But the full tale of the
madness of Denethor should not be told to him； until he is quite healed and has duties to do。 See
that Beregond and the _perian_ who were present do not speak to him of these things yet！'
And the other _perian_ Meriadoc who is under my care； what of him？' said the Warden。
'It is likely that he will be fit to arise tomorrow； for a short while；' said Aragorn。 'Let him do so；
if he wishes。 He may walk a little in the care of his friends。'
'They are a remarkable race；' said the Warden； nodding his head。 'Very tough in the fibre； I
deem。'
At the doors of the Houses many were already gathered to see Aragorn； and they followed after
him； and when at last he had supped； men came and prayed that he would heal their kinsmen or
their friends whose lives were in peril through hurt or wound； or who lay under the Black Shadow。
And Aragorn arose and went out； and he sent for the sons of Elrond； and together they laboured far
into the night。 And word went through the City： 'The King is e again indeed。' And they named
him Elfstone； because of the green stone that he wore； and so the name which it was foretold at his
birth that he should bear was chosen for him by his own people。
And when he could labour no more； he cast his cloak about him； and slipped out of the City； and
went to his tent just ere dawn and slept for a little。 And in the morning the banner of Dol Amroth； a
white ship like a swan upon blue water； floated from the Tower； and men looked up and wondered
if the ing of the King had been but a dream。
_Chapter 9_
The Last Debate
The morning came after the day of battle； and it was fair with light clouds and the wind turning
westward。 Legolas and Gimli were early abroad； and they begged leave to go up into the City； for
they were eager to see Merry and Pippin。
'It is good to learn that they are still alive；' said Gimli； 'for they cost us great pains in our march
over Rohan； and I would not have such pains all wasted。'
Together the Elf and the Dwarf entered Minas Tirith； and folk that saw them pass marvelled to
see such panions； for Legolas was fair of face beyond the measure of Men； and he sang an
elven…song in a clear voice as he walked in the morning； but Gimli stalked beside him； stroking his
beard and staring about him。
'There is some good stone…work here；' he said as he looked at the walls； 'but also some that is
less good； and the streets could be better contrived。 When Aragorn es into his own； I shall offer
him the service of stonewrights of the Mountain； and we will make this a town to be proud of。'
'They need more gardens；' said Legolas。 'The houses are dead； and there is too little here that
grows and is glad。 If Aragorn es into his own； the people of the Wood shall bring him birds that
sing and trees that do not die。'
At length they came to the Prince Imrahil； and Legolas looked at him and bowed low； for he saw
that here indeed was one who had elven…blood in his veins。 'Hail； lord！' he said。 'It is long since the
people of Nimrodel left the woodlands of Lórien； and yet still one may see that not all sailed from
Amroth's haven west over water。'
'So it is said in the lore of my land；' said the Prince； 'yet never has one of the fair folk been seen
there for years beyond count。 And I marvel to see one here now in the midst of sorrow and war。
What do you seek？'
'I am one of the Nine panions who set out with Mithrandir from Imladris； said Legolas and
with this Dwarf； my friend； I came with the Lord Aragorn。 But now we wish to see our friends。
Meriadoc and Peregrin； who are in your keeping； we are told。'
'You will find them in the Houses of Healing； and I will lead you thither；' said Imrahil。
'It will be enough if you send one to guide us； lord；' said Legolas。 'For Aragorn sends this
message to you。 He does not wish to enter the City again at this time。 Yet there is need for the
captains to hold council at once； and he prays that you and éomer of Rohan will e down to his
tents； as soon as may be。 Mithrandir is already there。'
'We will e；' said Imrahil； and they parted with courteous words。
'That is a fair lord and a great captain of men；' said Legolas。 'If Gondor has such men still in
these days of fading； great must have been its glory in the days of its rising。'
'And doubtless the good stone…work is the older and was wrought in the first building；' said
Gimli。 'It is ever so with the things that Men begin： there is a frost in Spring； or a blight in Summer；
and they fail of their promise。'
'Yet seldom do they fail of their seed；' said Legolas。 'And that will lie in the dust and rot to
spring up again in times and places unlooked…for。 The deeds of Men will outlast us； Gimli。'
'And yet e to naught in the end but might…have…beens； I guess；' said the Dwarf。
'To that the Elves know not the answer；' said Legolas。
With that the servant of the Prince came and led them to the Houses of Healing； and there they
found their friends in the garden； and their meeting was a merry one。 For a while they walked and
talked； rejoicing for a brief space in peace and rest under the morning high up in the windy circles
of the City。 Then when Merry became weary； they went and sat upon the wall with the greensward
of the Houses of Healing behind them； and away southward before them was the Anduin glittering
in the sun； as it flowed away； out of the sight even of Legolas； into the wide flats and green haze of
Lebennin and South Ithilien。
And now Legolas fell silent； while the others talked； and he looked out against the sun； and as he
gazed he saw white sea…birds beating up the River。
'Look！' he cried。 'Gulls！ They are flying far inland。 A wonder they are to me and a trouble to my
heart。 Never in all my life had I met them； unti