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 funeral feast of
Théoden the King； but I will speak ere we go of tidings of joy； for he would not grudge that I
should do so； since he was ever a father of éowyn my sister。 Hear then all my guests； fair folk of
many realms； such as have never before been gathered in this hall！ Faramir； Steward of Gondor；
and Prince of Ithilien； asks that éowyn Lady of Rohan should be his wife； and she grants it full
willing。 Therefore they shall be trothplighted before you all。'
And Faramir and éowyn stood forth and set hand in hand； and all there drank to them and were
glad。 'Thus；' said éomer； 'is the friendship of the Mark and of Gondor bound with a new bond； and
the more do I rejoice。'
'No niggard are you； éomer；' said Aragorn； 'to give thus to Gondor the fairest thing in your
realm！'
Then éowyn looked in the eyes of Aragorn； and she said： 'Wish me joy； my liege…lord and
healer！'
And he answered： 'I have wished thee joy ever since first I saw thee。 It heals my heart to see thee
now in bliss。'
When the feast was over； those who were to go took leave of King éomer。 Aragorn and his
knights； and the people of Lórien and of Rivendell； made ready to ride； but Faramir and Imrahil
remained at Edoras； and Arwen Evenstar remained also； and she said farewell to her brethren。 None
saw her last meeting with Elrond her father； for they went up into the hills and there spoke long
together； and bitter was their parting that should endure beyond the ends of the world。
At the last before the guests set oat éomer and éowyn came to Merry； and they said： 'Farewell
now； Meriadoc of the Shire and Holdwine of the Mark！ Ride to good fortune； and ride back soon to
our wele！'
And éomer said： 'Kings of old would have laden you with gifts that a wain could not bear for
your deeds upon the fields of Mundburg； and yet you will take naught； you say； but the arms that
were given to you。 This I suffer； for indeed I have no gift that is worthy； but my sister begs you to
receive this small thing； as a memorial of Dernhelm and of the horns of the Mark at the ing of
the morning。'
Then éowyn gave to Merry an ancient horn； small but cunningly wrought all of fair silver with a
baldric of green； and wrights had engraven upon it swift horsemen riding in a line that wound about
it from the tip to the mouth； and there were set runes of great virtue。
'This is an heirloom of our house；' said éowyn。 'It was made by the Dwarves； and came from the
hoard of Scatha the Worm。 Eorl the Young brought it from the North。 He that blows it at need shall
set fear in the hearts of his enemies and joy in the hearts of his friends； and they shall hear him and
e to him。'
Then Merry took the horn； for it could not be refused； and he kissed éowyn's hand； and they
embraced him； and so they parted for that time。
Now the guests were ready； and they drank the stirrup…cup； and with great praise and friendship
they departed； and came at length to Helm's Deep； and there they rested two days。 Then Legolas
repaid his promise to Gimli and went with him to the Glittering Caves； and when they returned he
was silent； and would say only that Gimli alone could find fit words to speak of them。 'And never
before has a Dwarf claimed a victory over an Elf in a contest of words；' said he。 'Now therefore let
us go to Fangorn and set the score right！'
From Deeping…coomb they rode to Isengard； and saw how the Ents had busied themselves。 All
the stone…circle had been thrown down and removed； and the land within was made into a garden
filled with orchards and trees； and a stream ran through it； but in the midst of all there was a lake of
clear water； and out of it the Tower of Orthanc rose still； tall and impregnable； and its black rock
was mirrored in the pool。
For a while the travellers sat where once the old gates of Isengard had stood； and there were now
two tall trees like sentinels at the beginning of a green…bordered path that ran towards Orthanc； and
they looked in wonder at the work that had been done； but no living thing could they see far or near。
But presently they heard a voice calling _hoom…hom_； _hoom…hom_； and there came Treebeard
striding down the path to greet them with Quickbeam at his side。
'Wele to the Treegarth of Orthanc！' he said。 'I knew that you were ing； but I was at work
up the valley； there is much still to be done。 But you have not been idle either away in the south and
the east； I hear； and all that I hear is good； very good。' Then Treebeard praised all their deeds； of
which he seemed to have full knowledge； and at last he stopped and looked long at Gandalf。
'Well； e now！' he said。 'You have proved mightiest； and all your labours have gone well。
Where now would you be going？ And why do you e here？'
'To see how your work goes； my friend；' said Gandalf； 'and to thank you for your aid in all that
has been achieved。'
_'Hoom_； well； that is fair enough