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shall I see a sign that it will ever be otherwise？'
'Turn your face from the green world； and look where all seems barren and cold！' said Gandalf。
Then Aragorn turned。 and there was a stony slope behind him running down from the skirts of
the snow； and as he looked he was aware that alone there in the waste a growing thing stood。 And
he climbed to it； and saw that out of the very edge of the snow there sprang a sapling tree no more
than three foot high。 Already it had put forth young leaves long and shapely； dark above and silver
beneath； and upon its slender crown it bore one small cluster of flowers whose white petals shone
like the sunlit snow。
Then Aragorn cried： '_Yé！ utúvienyes！_ I have found it！ Lo！ here is a scion of the Eldest of
Trees！ But how es it here？ For it is not itself yet seven years old。'
And Gandalf ing looked at it； and said： 'Verily this is a sapling of the line of Nimloth the
fair； and that was a seedling of Galathilion； and that a fruit of Telperion of many names； Eldest of
Trees。 Who shall say how it es here in the appointed hour？ But this is an ancient hallow； and
ere the kings failed or the Tree withered in the court； a fruit must have been set here。 For it is said
that； though the fruit of the Tree es seldom to ripeness； yet the life within may then lie sleeping
through many long years； and none can foretell the time in which it will awake。 Remember this。 For
if ever a fruit ripens； it should be planted； lest the line die out of the world。 Here it has lain。 hidden
on the mountain； even as the race of Elendil lay hidden in the wastes of the North。 Yet the line of
Nimloth is older far than your line； King Elessar。'
Then Aragorn laid his hand gently to the sapling； and lo！ it seemed to hold only lightly to the
earth； and it was removed without hurt； and Aragorn bore it back to the Citadel。 Then the withered
tree was uprooted； but with reverence； and they did not burn it； but laid it to rest in the silence of
Rath Dínen。 And Aragorn planted the new tree in the court by the fountain； and swiftly and gladly
it began to grow； and when the month of June entered in it was laden with blossom。
'The sign has been given；' said Aragorn； 'and the day is not far off。' And he set watchmen upon
the walls。
It was the day before Midsummer when messengers came from Amon Dn to the City； and they
said that there was a riding of fair folk out of the North； and they drew near now to the walls of the
Pelennor。 And the King said： 'At last they have e。 Let all the City be made ready！'
Upon the very Eve of Midsummer； when the sky was blue as sapphire and white stars opened in
the East； but the West was still golden and the air was cool and fragrant； the riders came down the
North…way to the gates of Minas Tirith。 First rode Elrohir and Elladan with a banner of silver； and
then came Glorfindel and Erestor and all the household of Rivendell； and after them came the Lady
Galadriel and Celeborn； Lord of Lothlórien； riding upon white steeds and with them many fair folk
of their land； grey…cloaked with white gems in their hair； and last came Master Elrond； mighty
among Elves and Men； bearing the sceptre of Annúminas； and beside him upon a grey palfrey rode
Arwen his daughter； Evenstar of her people。
And Frodo when he saw her e glimmering in the evening； with stars on her brow and a
sweet fragrance about her； was moved with great wonder； and he said to Gandalf： 'At last I
understand why we have waited！ This is the ending。 Now not day only shall be beloved； but night
too shall be beautiful and blessed and all its fear pass away！'
Then the King weled his guests； and they alighted； and Elrond surrendered the sceptre； and
laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King； and together they went up into the High City；
and all the stars flowered in the sky。 And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undómiel in the
City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer； and the tale of their long waiting and labours was
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