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； until we came to Pelargir； and there I heard them crying
in the air as we rode to the battle of the ships。 Then I stood still； forgetting war in Middle…earth； for
their wailing voices spoke to me of the Sea。 The Sea！ Alas！ I have not yet beheld it。 But deep in the
hearts of all my kindred lies the sea…longing； which it is perilous to stir。 Alas！ for the gulls。 No
peace shall I have again under beech or under elm。'
'Say not so！' said Gimli。 'There are countless things still to see in Middle…earth； and great works
to do。 But if all the fair folk take to the Havens； it will be a duller world for those who are doomed
to stay。'
'Dull and dreary indeed！' said Merry： 'You must not go to the Havens； Legolas。 There will
always be some folk； big or little； and even a few wise dwarves like Gimli； who need you。 At least I
hope so。 Though I feel somehow that the worst of this war is still to e。 How I wish it was all
over； and well over！'
'Don't be so gloomy！' cried Pippin。 'The Sun is shining； and here we are together for a day or two
at least。 I want to hear more about you all。 e； Gimli！ You and Legolas have mentioned your
strange journey with Strider about a dozen times already this morning。 But you haven't told me
anything about it。'
'The Sun may shine here；' said Gimli； 'but there are memories of that road that I do not wish to
recall out of the darkness。 Had I known what was before me； I think that not for any friendship
would I have taken the Paths of the Dead。'
'The Paths of the Dead？' said Pippin。 'I heard Aragorn say that and I wondered what he could
mean。 Won't you tell us some more？'
'Not willingly；' said Gimli。 'For upon that road I was put to shame： Gimli Glóin's son； who had
deemed himself more tough than Men； and hardier under earth than any Elf。 But neither did I prove；
and I was held to the road only by the will of Aragorn。'
'And by the love of him also；' said Legolas。 'For all those who e to know him e to love
him after his own fashion； even the cold maiden of the Rohirrim。 It was at early morn of the day ere
you came there； Merry； that we left Dunharrow； and such a fear was on all the folk that none would
look on our going； save the Lady éowyn； who lies now hurt in the House below。 There was grief at
that parting； and I was grieved to behold it。'
'Alas！ I had heart only for myself；' said Gimli。 'Nay！ I will not speak of that journey。'
He fell silent； but Pippin and Merry were so eager for news that at last Legolas said： 'I will tell
you enough for your peace； for I felt not the horror； and I feared not the shadows of Men； powerless
and frail as I deemed them。'
Swiftly then he told of the haunted road under the mountains； and the dark tryst at Erech； and
the great ride thence； ninety leagues and three； to Pelargir on Anduin。 'Four days and nights； and on
into a fifth； we rode from the Black Stone；' he said。 'And lo！ in the darkness of Mordor my hope
rose； for in that gloom the Shadow Host seemed to grow stronger and more terrible to look upon。
Some I saw riding； some striding； yet all moving with the same great speed。 Silent they were； but
there was a gleam in their eyes。 In the uplands of Lamedon they overtook our horses； and swept
round us； and would have passed us by； if Aragorn had not forbidden them。
'At his mand they fell back。 〃Even the shades of Men are obedient to his will；〃 I thought。
〃They may serve his needs yet！ 〃
'One day of light we rode； and then came the day without dawn； and still we rode on； and Ciril
and Ringló we crossed； and on the third day we came to Linhir above the mouth of Gilrain。 And
there men of Lamedon contested the fords with fell folk of Umbar and Harad who had sailed up the
river。 But defenders and foes alike gave up the battle and fled when we came； crying out that the
King of the Dead was upon them。 Only Angbor； Lord of Lamedon； had the heart to abide us； and
Aragorn bade him gather his folk and e behind； if they dared； when the Grey Host had passed。
' 〃At Pelargir the Heir of Isildur will have need of you；〃 he said。
'Thus we crossed over Gilrain； driving the allies of Mordor in rout before us； and then we rested
a while。 But soon Aragorn arose； saying： 〃Lo！ already Minas Tirith is assailed。 I fear that it will fall
ere we e to its aid。〃 So we mounted again before night had passed and went on with all the
speed that our horses could endure over the plains of Lebennin。'
Legolas paused and sighed； and turning his eyes southward softly he sang：
_Silver flow the streams from Celos to Erui
In the green fields of Lebennin！
Tall grows the grass there。 In the wind from the Sea
The white lilies sway；
And the golden bells are shaken of mallos and alfirin
In the green fields of Lebennin；
In the wind from the Sea！_
'Green are those fields in the songs of my people； but they were dark then； grey wastes in the
blackness before us。 And