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hearts were darkened。 The weather； too； was bright no longer。 It was cold。 A wind that had sprung
up in the night was blowing now keenly from the North； and it was rising； but the lands about
looked grey and drear。
They were clad in warm raiment and heavy cloaks； and over all the Lady éowyn wore a great
blue mantle of the colour of deep summer…night； and it was set with silver stars about hem and
throat。 Faramir had sent for this robe and had wrapped it about her； and he thought that she looked
fair and queenly indeed as she stood there at his side。 The mantle was wrought for his mother；
Finduilas of Amroth； who died untimely； and was to him but a memory of loveliness in far days
and of his first grief； and her robe seemed to him raiment fitting for the beauty and sadness of
éowyn。
But she now shivered beneath the starry mantle； and she looked northward； above the grey
hither lands； into the eye of the cold wind where far away the sky was hard and clear。
'What do you look for； éowyn？' said Faramir。
'Does not the Black Gate lie yonder？' said she。 'And must he not now be e thither？ It is
seven days since he rode away。'
'Seven days；' said Faramir。 'But think not ill of me； if I say to you： they have brought me both a
joy and a pain that I never thought to know。 Joy to see you； but pain； because now the fear and
doubt of this evil time are grown dark indeed。 éowyn； I would not have this world end now； or lose
so soon what I have found。'
'Lose what you have found； lord？' she answered； but she looked at him gravely and her eyes
were kind。 'I know not what in these days you have found that you could lose。 But e； my friend；
let us not speak of it！ Let us not speak at all！ I stand upon some dreadful brink； and it is utterly dark
in the abyss before my feet； but whether there is any light behind me I cannot tell。 For I cannot turn
yet。 I wait for some stroke of doom。'
'Yes； we wait for the stroke of doom；' said Faramir。 And they said no more； and it seemed to
them as they stood upon the wall that the wind died； and the light failed； and the Sun was bleared；
and all sounds in the City or in the lands about were hushed： neither wind； nor voice； nor bird…call；
nor rustle of leaf； nor their own breath could be heard； the very beating of their hearts was stilled。
Time halted。
And as they stood so； their hands met and clasped； though they did not know it。 And still they
waited for they knew not what。 Then presently it seemed to them that above the ridges of the
distant mountains another vast mountain of darkness rose； towering up like a wave that should
engulf the world； and about it lightnings flickered； and then a tremor ran through the earth； and they
felt the walls of the City quiver。 A sound like a sigh went up from all the lands about them； and
their hearts beat suddenly again。
'It reminds me of Númenor；' said Faramir； and wondered to hear himself speak。
'Of Númenor？' said éowyn。
'Yes；' said Faramir； 'of the land of Westernesse that foundered and of the great dark wave
climbing over the green lands and above the hills； and ing on； darkness unescapable。 I often
dream of it。'
'Then you think that the Darkness is ing？' said éowyn。 'Darkness Unescapable？' And
suddenly she drew close to him。
'No；' said Faramir； looking into her face。 'It was but a picture in the mind。 I do not know what is
happening。 The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen and we stand at the
end of days。 But my heart says nay； and all my limbs are light； and a hope and joy are e to me
that no reason can deny。 éowyn； éowyn； White Lady of Rohan； in this hour I do not believe that
any darkness will endure！' And he stooped and kissed her brow。
And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor； and a great wind rose and blew； and their
hair； raven and golden； streamed out mingling in the air。 And the Shadow departed； and the Sun
was unveiled； and light leaped forth； and the waters of Anduin shone like silver； and in all the
houses of the City men sang for the joy that welled up in their hearts from what source they could
not tell。
And before the Sun had fallen far from the noon out of the East there came a great Eagle flying；
and he bore tidings beyond hope from the Lords of the West； crying：
_Sing now； ye people of the Tower of Anor；
for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever；
and the Dark Tower is thrown down。
Sing and rejoice； ye people of the Tower of Guard；
for your watch hath not been in vain；
and the Black Gate is broken；
and your King hath passed through；
and he is victorious。
Sing and be glad； all ye children of the West；
for your King shall e again；
and he shall dwell among you
all the days of your life。
And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed；
and he shall plant it in the high places；
and the City shall be blessed。
Sing all ye people！_
And the people sang in all the ways of the City。
The days that followed were golden； and Spring and Summer joined and made revel together in
the fields of Gondor。 And tidings now came by swift riders from Cair Andros of all that was done；
and the City made ready for the ing of the King。 Merry was summoned and rode away with the
wains that took store of goods to Osgiliath and thence by ship to Cair Andros； but Faramir did not
go； for now being healed he took upon him his authority and the Stewardship； although it was only
for a little while； and his duty was to prepare for one who should replace him。
And éowyn did not go； though her brother sent word begging her to e to the field of
Cormallen。 And Faramir wondered at this； but he saw her seldom； being busy with many matters；
and she dwelt still in the Houses of Healing and walked alone in the garden； and her face grew pale
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； t