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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 the Folk of the Mountain laboured in it； and the Folk
of the Wood rejoiced to e there； and all was healed and made good； and the houses were filled
with men and women and the laughter of children； and no window was blind nor any courtyard
empty； and after the ending of the Third Age of the world into the new age it preserved the memory
and the glory of the years that were gone。
In the days that followed his crowning the King sat on his throne in the Hall of the Kings and
pronounced his judgements。 And embassies came from many lands and peoples； from the East and
the South； and from the borders of Mirkwood； and from Dunland in the west。 And the King
pardoned the Easterlings that had given themselves up； and sent them away free； and he made
peace with the peoples of Harad； and the slaves of Mordor he released and gave to them all the
lands about Lake Núrnen to be their own。 And there were brought before him many to receive his
praise and reward for their valour； and last the captain of the Guard brought to him Beregond to be
judged。
And the King said to Beregond： 'Beregond； by your sword blood was spilled in the Hallows；
where that is forbidden。 Also you left your post without leave of Lord or of Captain。 For these
things； of old； death was the penalty。 Now therefore I must pronounce your doom。
'All penalty is remitted for your valour in battle； and still more because all that you did was for
the love of the Lord Faramir。 Nonetheless you must leave the Guard of the Citadel； and you must
go forth from the City of Minas Tirith。'
Then the blood left Beregond's face； and he was stricken to the heart and bowed his head。 But
the King said。：
'So it must be； for you are appointed to the White pany； the Guard of Faramir； Prince of
Ithilien； and you shall be its captain and dwell in Emyn Arnen in honour and peace； and in the
service of him for whom you risked all； to save him from death。'
And then Beregond； perceiving the mercy and justice of the King； was glad； and kneeling kissed
his hand； and departed in joy and content。 And Aragorn gave to Faramir Ithilien to be his
princedom； and bade him dwell in the hills of Emyn Arnen within sight of the City。
'For；' said he； 'Minas Ithil in Morgul Vale shall be utterly destroyed； and though it may in time to
e be made clean； no man may dwell there for many long years。'
And last of all Aragorn greeted éomer of Rohan； and they embraced； and Aragorn said：
'Between us there can be no word of giving or taking； nor of reward； for we are brethren。 In happy
hour did Eorl ride from the North； and never has any league of peoples been more blessed； so that
neither has ever failed the other； nor shall fail。 Now； as you know； we have laid Théoden the
Renowned in a tomb in the Hallows； and there he shall lie for ever among the Kings of Gondor； if
you will。 Or if you desire it； we will e to Rohan and bring him back to rest with his own
people。'
And éomer answered： 'Since the day when you rose before me out of the green grass of the
downs I have loved you； and that love shall not fail。 But now I must depart for a while to my own
realm； where there is much to heal and set in order。 But as for the Fallen； when all is made ready
we will return for him； but here let him sleep a while。'
And éowyn said to Faramir： 'Now I must go back to my own land and look on it once again； and
help my brother in his labour； but when one whom I long loved as father is laid at last to rest； I will
return。'
So the glad days passed； and on the eighth day of May the Riders of Rohan made ready； and
rode off by the North…way； and with them went the sons of Elrond。 All the road was lined with
people to do them honour and praise them； from the Gate of the City to the walls of the Pelennor。
Then all others that dwelt afar went back to their homes rejoicing； but in the City there was labour
of many willing hands to rebuild and renew and to remove all the scars of war and the memory of
the darkness。
The hobbits still remained in Minas Tirith； with Legolas and Gimli； for Aragorn was loth for the
fellowship to be dissolved。 'At last all such things must end；' he said； 'but I would have you wait a
little while longer： for the end of the deeds that you have shared in has not yet e。 A day draws
near that I have looked for in all the years of my manhood； and when it es I would have my
friends beside me。' But of that day he would say no more。
In those days the panions of the Ring dwelt together in a fair house with Gandalf； and they
went to and fro as they wished。 And Frodo said to Gandalf： 'Do you know what this day is that
Aragorn speaks of？ For we are happy here； and I don't wish to go； but the days are running away；
and Bilbo is waiting； and the Shire is my home。'
'As for Bilbo；' said Gandalf； 'he is waiting for the same day； and he knows what keeps you。 And
as for the passing of the days； it is now only May and high summer is not yet in； and though all
things may seem changed； as if an age of the world had gone by； yet to the trees and the grass it is
less than a year since you set out。'
'Pippin；' said Frodo； 'didn't you say that Gandalf was less close than of old？ He was weary of his
labours then； I think。 Now he is recovering。'
And Gandalf said： 'Many folk like to know beforehand what is to be set on the table； but those
who have laboured to prepare the feast like to keep their secret； for wonder makes the words of
praise louder。 And Aragorn himself waits for a sign。'
There came a day when Gandalf could not be found； and the panions wondered what was
going forward。 But Gandalf took Aragorn out from the City by night； and he brought him to the
southern feet of Mount Mindolluin； and there they found a path made in ages past that few now
dared to tread。 For it led up on to the mountain to a high hallow where only the kings had been
wont to go。 And they went up by steep ways； until they came to a high field below the snows that
clad the lofty peaks； and it looked down over the precipice that stood behind the City。 And standing
there they surveyed the lands； for the morning was e； and they saw the towers of the City far
below them like white pencils touched by the sunlight； and all the Vale of Anduin was like a garden；
and the Mountains of Shadow were veiled in a golden mist。 Upon the one side their sight reached to
the grey Emyn Muil； and the glint of Rauros was like a star twinkling far off； and upon the other
side they saw the River like a ribbon laid down to Pelargir； and beyond that was a light on the hem
of the sky that spoke of the Sea。
And Gandalf said： 'This is your realm； and the heart of the greater realm that shall be。 The Third
Age of the world is ended； and the new age is begun； and it is your task to order its beginning and
to preserve what may be preserved。 For though much has been saved； much must now pass away；
and the power of the Three Rings also is ended。 And all the lands that you see； and those that lie
round about them； shall be dwellings of Men。 For the time es of the Dominion of Men； and the
Elder Kindred shall fade or depart。'
'I know it well； dear friend；' said Aragorn； 'but I would still have your counsel。'
'Not for long now；' said Gandalf。 'The Third Age was my age。 I was the Enemy of Sauron； and
my work is finished。 I shall go soon。 The burden must lie now upon you and your kindred。'
'But I shall die；' said Aragorn。 'For I am a mortal man； and though being what I am and of the
race of the West unmingled； I shall have life far longer than other men； yet that is but a little while；
and when those who are now in the wombs of women are born and have grown old； I too shall
grow old。 And who then shall govern Gondor and those who look to this City as to their queen； if
my desire be not granted？ The Tree in the Court of the Fountain is still withered and barren。 When
shall I see a sign that it will ever be otherwise？'
'Turn your face from the gre