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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 tofor news of doo of Rohan in their citadel, and the new king that had coain to a ith powers too dark and terrible for any ht or valour to conquer And no news caul Vale and took the northward road beneath the shadow of the er had returned nor any ru East

When the Captains were but two days gone, the Lady eowyn bade the wo her raiainsaid, but rose; and when they had clothed her and set her ar of linen, she went to the Warden of the Houses of Healing

&039;Sir,&039; she said, &039;I aer in sloth&039;

&039;Lady,&039; he answered, &039;you are not yet healed, and I was commanded to tend you with especial care You should not have risen fro you to go back&039;

&039;I am healed,&039; she said, &039;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 wo&039;

&039;There are no tidings,&039; said the Warden, &039;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 tohand 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 h to do without theh of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them&039;

&039;It needs but one foe to breed a war, not two, Master Warden,&039; answered eowyn &039;And those who have not swords can still die upon theather you herbs only, when the Dark Lord gathers arood 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&039;

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 histhat opened to the East He sighed and shook his head After a pause she turned to hiain

&039;Is there no deed to do?&039; she said &039;Who cohtly know,&039; he answered &039;Such things are not my care There is a marshal over the Riders of Rohan; and the Lord Hurin, I am told, coht the Steward of the City&039;

&039;Where can I find him?&039;

&039;In this house, lady He was sorely hurt, but is now set again on the way to health But I do not know-&039;

&039;Will you not bring me to him? Then you will know&039;

The Lord Fara, 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 co, the Warden spoke his name, and he turned and saw the Lady eowyn of Rohan; and he was moved with pity, for he saw that she was hurt, and his clear sight perceived her sorrow and unrest

&039;My lord,&039; said the Warden, &039;here is the Lady eowyn of Rohan She rode with the king and was sorely hurt, and dwells now inBut she is not content, and she wishes to speak to the Steward of the City&039;

&039;Do not misunderstand hirieves me No houses could be fairer, for those who desire to be healed But I cannot lie in sloth, idle, caged I looked for death in battle But I have not died, and battle still goes on&039;

At a sign from Faramir, the Warden bowed and departed &039;What would you have me do, lady?&039; said Faramir &039;I also a a man whom pity deeply stirred, it seerief would pierce his heart And she looked at hirave tenderness in his eyes, and yet knew, for she was bred a men of war, that here was one whom no Rider of the Mark would outmatch in battle

&039;What do you wish?&039; he said again &039;If it lies in my power, I will do it&039;

&039;I would have you coo,&039; she said; but though her words were still proud, her heart faltered, and for the first tiuessed that this tall ht think her merely ard, like a child that has not the firo on with a dull task to the end

&039;I ,&039; answered Faramir &039;Nor have I yet taken up my authority in the City But had I done so, I should still listen to his counsel, and should not cross his will in reat need&039;

&039;But I do not desire healing,&039; she said &039;I wish to ride to war like , for he died and has both honour and peace&039;

&039;It is too late, lady, to follow the Captains, even if you had the strength,&039; said Fara or unwilling You will be better prepared to face it in your own manner, if while there is still time you do as the Healer commanded You and I, we &039;

She did not answer, but as he looked at her it seeh a bitter frost were yielding at the first faint presage of Spring A tear sprang in her eye and fell down her cheek, like a glistening rain-drop Her proud head drooped a little Then quietly,to herself than to him: &039;But the healers would have me lie abed seven days yet,&039; she said &039;And mydoes not look eastward&039; Her voice was now that of a h his heart was filled with pity &039;Yourdoes not look eastward?&039; he said &039;That can be amended In this I will command the Warden If you will stay in this house in our care, lady, and take your rest, then you shall walk in this garden in the sun, as you will; and you shall look east, whither all our hopes have gone And here you will findeast It would ease my care, if you would speak to me, or walk at whiles with me&039;

Then she raised her head and looked hiain; and a colour came in her pale face &039;How should I ease your care, my lord?&039; she said &039;And I do not desire the speech of living men&039;

&039;Would you have my plain answer?&039; he said

&039;I would&039;

&039;Then, eowyn of Rohan, I say to you that you are beautiful In the valleys of our hills there are flowers fair and bright, and maidens fairer still; but neither flower nor lady have I seen till now in Gondor so lovely, and so sorrowful It may be that only a few days are left ere darkness falls upon our world, and when it comes I hope to face it steadily; but it would ease my heart, if while the Sun yet shines, I could see you still For you and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow, and the same hand drew us back&039;

&039;Alas, not me, lord!&039; she said &039;Shadow lies on ! I aentle But I thank you for this at least, that I need not keep to race of the Steward of the City&039; And she did him a courtesy and walked back to the house But Faralance now strayed rather to the house than to the eastalls

When he returned to his chamber he called for the Warden, and heard all that he could tell of the Lady of Rohan

&039;But I doubt not, lord,&039; said the Warden, &039;that you would learnthat is with us; for he was in the riding of the king, and with the Lady at the end, they say&039;

And so Merry was sent to Faraether, and Faramir learned ht that he understood now sorief and unrest of eowyn of Rohan And in the fair evening Faraarden, but she did not co, as Faramir came from the Houses, he saw her, as she stood upon the walls; and she was clad all in white, and gleamed in the sun And he called to her, and she careen tree together, now in silence, now in speech And each day after they did likewise And the Warden looking frolad in heart, for he was a healer, and his care was lightened; and certain it was that, heavy as was the dread and foreboding of those days upon the hearts of rew daily in strength

And so the fifth day came since the Lady eoent first to Faraether once s had yet coht no longer It was cold A wind that had sprung up in the night was blowing now keenly frorey and drear

They were clad in warm raireat blue ht, and it was set with silver stars about hem and throat Faramir had sent for this robe and had wrapped it about her; and he thought that she looked fair and queenly indeed as she stood there at his side The ht for his mother, Finduilas of Amroth, who died untimely, and was to hirief; and her robe see for the beauty and sadness of eowyn

But she now shivered beneath the starry rey hither lands, into the eye of the cold here far away the sky was hard and clear

&039;What do you look for, eowyn?&039; said Faramir

&039;Does not the Black Gate lie yonder?&039; said she &039;And must he not now be come thither? It is seven days since he rode away&039;

&039;Seven days,&039; said Faramir &039;But think not ill of ht ht to know Joy to see you; but pain, because now the fear and doubt of this evil tirown dark indeed eowyn, I would not have this world end now, or lose so soon what I have found&039;

&039;Lose what you have found, lord?&039; she answered; but she looked at hiravely and her eyes were kind &039;I know not what in these days you have found that you could lose But come, my friend, let us not speak of it! Let us not speak at all! I stand upon some dreadful brink, and it is utterly dark in the abyss before ht behind me I cannot tell, for I cannot turn yet I wait for some stroke of doom&039;

&039;Yes, ait for the stroke of doom,&039; said Faramir And they said no more; and it seemed to theht failed, and the Sun was bleared, and all sounds in the City or in the lands about were hushed: neither wind, nor voice, nor bird-call, nor rustle of leaf, nor their own breath could be heard; the very beating of their hearts was stilled Time halted

And as they stood so, their hands h they did not know it And still they waited for they knew not what Then presently it seees of the distantup like a wave that should engulf the world, and about it lightnings flickered; and then a treh the earth, and they felt the walls of the City quiver A sound like a sigh went up froain

&039;It reminds me of NUmenor,&039; said Faramir, and wondered to hear himself speak

&039;Of NUmenor?&039; said eowyn

&039;Yes,&039; said Faramir, &039;of the land of Westernesse that foundered and of the great dark wave cli on, darkness unescapable I often dream of it&039;

&039;Then you think that the Darkness is co?&039; said eowyn &039;Darkness Unescapable?&039; And suddenly she drew close to hi into her face &039;It was but a picture in thereat evil has befallen and we stand at the end of days But ht, and a hope and joy are come to me that no reason can deny eowyn, eowyn, White Lady of Rohan, in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!&039; And he stooped and kissed her brow

And so they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden, strea in the air And the Shadow departed, and the Sun was unveiled, and light leaped forth; and the waters of Anduin shone like silver, and in all the houses of the Cityfor the joy that welled up in their hearts from what source they could not tell

And before the Sun had fallen far fro, and he bore tidings beyond hope fro now, ye people of the Tower of Anor,

for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever,

and the Dark Tower is thron

Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard,

for your watch hath not been in vain,

and the Black Gate is broken,

and your King hath passed through,

and he is victorious

Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,

for your King shall co you

all the days of your life

And the Tree that ithered shall be renewed,

and he shall plant it in the high places,

and the City shall be blessed