and the Prince Imrahil and all the chief captains； and there also were Gimli and Legolas。
But when； after the Standing Silence； wine was brought there came in two esquires to serve the
kings； or so they seemed to be： one was clad in the silver and sable of the Guards of Minas Tirith；
and the other in white and green。 But Sam wondered what such young boys were doing in an army
of mighty men。 Then suddenly as they drew near and he could see them plainly； he exclaimed：
'Why； look Mr。 Frodo！ Look here！ Well； if it isn't Pippin。 Mr。 Peregrin Took I should say； and
Mr。 Merry！ How they have grown！ Bless me！ But I can see there's more tales to tell than ours。'
'There are indeed；' said Pippin turning towards him。 'And we'll begin telling them； as soon as this
feast is ended。 In the meantime you can try Gandalf。 He's not so close as he used to be； though he
laughs now more than he talks。 For the present Merry and I are busy。 We are knights of the City
and of the Mark； as I hope you observe。'
At last the glad day ended； and when the Sun was gone and the round Moon rode slowly above
the mists of Anduin and flickered through the fluttering leaves； Frodo and Sam sat under the
whispering trees amid the fragrance of fair Ithilien； and they talked deep into the night with Merry
and Pippin and Gandalf； and after a while Legolas and Gimli joined them。 There Frodo and Sam
learned much of all that had happened to the pany after their fellowship was broken on the evil
day at Parth Galen by Rauros Falls； and still there was always more to ask and more to tell。
Orcs； and talking trees； and leagues of grass； and galloping riders。 and glittering caves； and
white towers and golden halls； and battles； and tall ships sailing； all these passed before Sam's mind
until he felt bewildered。 But amidst all these wonders he returned always to his astonishment at the
size of Merry and Pippin； and he made them stand back to back with Frodo and himself。 He
scratched his head。 'Can't understand it at your age！' he said。 'But there it is： you're three inches
taller than you ought to he； or I'm a dwarf。'
'That you certainly are not；' said Gimli。 'But what did I say？ Mortals cannot go drinking ent…
draughts and expect no more to e of them than of a pot of beer。'
'Ent…draughts？' said Sam。 'There you go about Ents again； but what they are beats me。 Why； it
will take weeks before we get all these things sized up！'
'Weeks indeed；' said Pippin。 'And then Frodo will have to be locked up in a tower in Minas
Tirith and write it all down。 Otherwise he will forget half of it； and poor old Bilbo will be
dreadfully disappointed。'
At length Gandalf rose。 'The hands of the King are hands of healing； dear friends；' he said。 'But
you went to the very brink of death ere he recalled you； putting forth all his power； and sent you
into the sweet forgetfulness of sleep。 And though you have indeed slept long and blessedly； still it
is now time to sleep again。'
And not only Sam and Frodo here； said Gimli； but you too； Pippin。 I love you； if only because of
the pains you have cost me； which I shall never forget。 Nor shall I forget finding you on the hill of
the last battle。 But for Gimli the Dwarf you would have been lost then。 But at least I know now the
look of a hobbit's foot； though it be all that can be seen under a heap of bodies。 And when I heaved
that great carcase off you； I made sure you were dead。 I could have。 torn out my beard。 And it is
only a day yet since you were first up and abroad again。 To bed now you go。 And so shall I。'
'And I；' said Legolas； 'shall walk in the woods of this fair land； which is rest enough。 In days to
e； if my Elven…lord allows； some of our folk shall remove hither； and when we e it shall be
blessed； for a while。 For a while： a month； a life； a hundred years of Men。 But Anduin is near； and
Anduin leads down to the Sea。 To the Sea！
_To the Sea； to the Sea！ The white gulls are crying；
The wind is blowing； and the white foam is flying。
West； west away； the round sun is falling。
Grey ship； grey ship； do you hear them calling。
The voices of my people that have gone before me？
I will leave； I will leave the woods that bore me；
For our days are ending and our years failing。
I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing。
Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling；
Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling；
In Eress？a； in Elvenhome that no man can discover；
Where the leaves fall not： land of my people for ever！'_
And so singing Legolas went away down the hill。
Then the others also departed； and Frodo and Sam went to their beds and slept。 And in the
morning they rose again in hope and peace； and they spent many days in Ithilien。 For the Field of
Cormallen； where the host was now encamped was near to Henneth Ann？n； and the stream that
flowed from its falls could be heard in the night as it rushed down through its rocky gate； and
passed through the flowery meads into the tides of Anduin by the Isle of Cair Andros。 The hobbits
wandered here and there visiting again the places that they had passed before； and Sam hoped
always in some shadow of the woods or secret glade to catch； maybe； a glimpse of the great
Oliphaunt。 And when he learned that at the siege of Gondor there had been a great number of these
beasts but that they were all destroyed； he thought it a sad loss。
'Well； one can't be everywhere at once； I suppose；' he said。 'But I missed a lot； seemingly。'
In the meanwhile the host made ready for the return to Minas Tirith。 The weary rested and the
hurt were healed。 For some had laboured and fought much with the remnants of the Easterlings and
Southrons； until all were subdued。 And； latest of all； those returned who had passed into Mordor
and destroyed the fortresses in the north of the land。
But at the last when the month of May was drawing near the Captains of the West set out again；
and they went aboard ship with all their men； and they sailed from Cair Andros down Anduin to
Osgiliath； and there they remained for one day； and the day after they came to the green fields of
the Pelennor and saw again the white towers under tall Mindolluin； the City of the Men of Gondor；
last memory of Westernesse； that had passed through the darkness and fire to a new day。
And there in the midst of the fields they set up their pavilions and awaited the morning； for it
was the Eve of May； and the King would enter his gates with the rising of the Sun。
_Chapter 5_
The Steward and the King
Over the city of Gondor doubt and great dread had hung。 Fair weather and clear sun had seemed
but a mockery to men whose days held little hope； and who looked each morning for news of doom。
Their lord was dead and burned； dead lay the King of Rohan in their citadel； and the new king that
had e to them in the night was gone again to a war with powers too dark and terrible for any
might or valour to conquer。 And no news came。 After the host left Morgul Vale and took the
northward road beneath the shadow of the mountains no messenger had returned nor any rumour of
what was passing in the brooding East。
When the Captains were but two days gone； the Lady éowyn bade the women who tended her to
bring her raiment； and she would not be gainsaid； but rose； and when they had clothed her and set
her arm in a sling of linen； she went to the Warden of the Houses of Healing。
'Sir；' she said； 'I am in great unrest； and I cannot lie longer in sloth。'
'Lady；' he answered； 'you are not yet healed； and I was manded to tend you with especial
care。 You should not have risen from your bed for seven days yet； or so I was bidden。 I beg you to
go back。'
'I am healed；' she said； 'healed at least in body； save my left arm only； and that is at ease。 But I
shall sicken anew； if there is naught that I can do。 Are there no tidings of war？ The women can tell
me nothing。'
'There are no tidings；' said the Warden； 'save that the Lords have ridden to Morgul Vale； and
men say that the new captain out of the North is their chief。 A great lord is that； and a healer； and it
is a thing passing strange to me that the healing hand should also wield the sword。 It is not thus in
Gondor now； though once it was so； if old tales be true。 But for long years we healers have only
sought to patch the rents made by the men of swords。 Though we should still have enough to do
without them： the world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them。'
It needs but one foe to breed a war； not two； Master Warden； answered éowyn。 'And those who
have not swords can still die upon them。 Would you have the folk of Gondor gather you herbs only；
when the Dark Lord gathers armies？ And it is not always good to be healed in body。 Nor is it
always evil to die in battle； even in bitter pain。 Were I permitted； in this dark hour I would choose
the latter。'
The Warden looked at her。 Tall she stood there； her eyes bright in her white face； her hand
clenched as she turned and gazed out of his window that opened to the East。 He sighed and shook
his head。 After a pause she turned to him again。
'Is there no deed to do？' she said。 'Who mands in this City？'
'I do not rightly know；' he answered。 'Such things are not my care。 There is a marshal over the
Riders of Rohan； and the Lord Húrin； I am told； mands the men of Gondor。 But the Lord
Faramir is by right the Steward of the City。'
'Where can I find him？'
'In this house； lady。 He was sorely hurt； but is now set again on the way to health。 But I do not
know…'
'Will you not bring me to him？ Then you will know。'
The Lord Faramir was walking alone in the garden of the Houses of Healing； and the sunlight
warmed him； and he felt life run new in his veins； but his heart was heavy； and he looked out over
the walls eastward。 And ing； the Warden spoke his name； and he turned and saw the Lady
éowyn of Ro