The Steward and the King

Chapter 14

In the days that followed, Éowyn and Faramir were ever together, though Faramir was kept very busy at his duties, and everything Éowyn saw taught her, and it seemed to Faramir that she changed before his eyes, becoming thoughtful and merry and growing in wisdom. She begged of him again the story of his brother and father and himself, and his virtue and steadiness shamed her. For she remembered the grave charge Théoden had laid on her to lead his people while he and Éomer rode to war, and it occurred to her for the first time to wonder what had happened to them when she abandoned them. Even as the host of Rohan had ridden away, more bands of orcs had crossed the borders and attacked the outlying Rohirrim towns. Eventually she received word that help had come to Rohan from another source, but still she wondered. She and Meriadoc had saved many people by killing the Lord of the Nazgûl, but at what price to her people? She had found healing and love and peace, but she had forsaken her duty and her people. What would have happened to her if she had stayed? Would she ever have met Faramir? She never learned the answers to her questions, but from Faramir she learned steadfastness and devotion to something beyond herself. For he told her the full tale of the line of the Kings, of Elendil and his sons Anárion and Isildur, of the Ring of Power, the defeat of Sauron, the ending of the line of Anárion and the beginning of the Stewardship, the long hope that the Kings would return, and finally the end of the tale of the Ring and of the hobbits' great part in it.

"And soon," he said, his eyes shining, "the King will come into this City to take his throne at long last."

"And Aragorn is Isildur's heir." She had known that Aragorn was heir to the throne of Gondor, but she had not fully understood the long centuries of longing that he would come to fulfill.

"He is." Faramir looked gravely upon her. "Will you regret anything when you see him ride into the City?"

Éowyn understood what he was asking. When she saw the King riding glorious and mighty after victory, would she regret promises made to a Steward? "I will regret many things," she said quietly. "I will regret that I allowed Wormtongue's poison to enter my heart, that I viewed death as better than life, that I gave good and noble men such grief in heart. But will I regret that at the last I chose the Steward over the King?" Grey eyes met grey eyes, and she smiled and intertwined her fingers with his. "No; rather I rejoice that I have turned my eyes from his distant majesty to your gentleness and wisdom that are so near and reachable."

Faramir's faint anxiety was eased, and he pressed a kiss to her temple.

At last an evening came when from the walls the pavilions could be seen upon the field, and all night lights were burning as men watched for the dawn. Faramir did not sleep that night but sat upon the walls and gazed down into the fields, and long before dawn Éowyn joined him and sat silently beside him with her hand in his. The world was dark all around and the silver stars seemed to shine with greater brilliance in a kind of celestial joy. Then, behind the mountains to the East which would no longer hold terror for the people of Middle-earth, the palest of lights glimmered, and slowly it grew while the sky behind to the West grew bluer and bluer until it seemed that none could ever have seen such a blue before. And the Sun leaped into the sky with a visible eagerness, pouring out her violet and pink and red and golden light upon the land. Éowyn's hair glowed like living gold, and Faramir's grey eyes became blue like water flowing. Then all the bells rang, and all the banners broke and flowed in the wind that blew over them with a life of its own; and upon the White Tower of the citadel the standard of the Stewards, bright argent like snow in the sun, bearing no charge nor device, was raised over Gondor for the last time.

Then Faramir and Éowyn went down to the destroyed Gateway of the City in which no gates had been set up again but had a barrier set across the entrance, and Faramir wore the black and silver of Gondor and bore with him an ancient rod from the treasuries, and Éowyn was clad in white and green flowing garments and her hair was unbound and glistened in the Sun. There they met Húrin Warden of the Keys and other captains of Gondor, and Elfhelm the Marshal and many knights of the Mark, and Elfhelm saw the joy on Éowyn's face and was rejoiced in his pure love for her. But it was the face of Faramir that all noted and marked, for it was pale and serious but the grey eyes shone like stars, and there was a greater nobility and beauty about him than any had yet seen in him.

Now the Captains of the West led their host towards the City, and folk saw them advance in line upon line, flashing and glinting in the sunrise and rippling like silver. And so they came before the Gateway and halted a furlong from the walls, and a great press of fair people of Gondor in raiment of many colours and garlands of flowers had gathered on either side of the Gate, and before the barrier stood men at arms in silver and black with long swords drawn. So now there was a wide space before the walls of Minas Tirith, and it was hemmed in upon all sides by the knights and soldiers of Gondor and of Rohan, and by the people of the City and of all parts of the land. And from where she stood, Éowyn could see young Bergil elbowing his way forward and searching out with a bright grin his father and his friend.

A hush fell upon all as out from the host stepped the Dúnedain in silver and grey; and before them came walking slow the Lord Aragorn. He was clad in black mail girt with silver, and he wore a long mantle of pure white clasped at the throat with a great jewel of green that shone from afar; but his head was bare save for a star upon his forehead bound by a slender fillet of silver, and Faramir looked upon it with awe and wonder. With him were four small figures that gladdened the hearts of Faramir and Éowyn, and Prince Imrahil, and Gandalf robed all in white, and Éomer of Rohan. And Éomer searched out his sister, and his eyes met hers with anxiety, and he saw that she was changed from stone to living flesh and her eyes were clear and shining, and she glanced up at the tall man in black and silver beside her with a light in her eyes. And though he did not know the full tale, he read much in that glance, and his heart was eased and filled with joy.

Then a single trumpet rang, golden and silver in the wind, and a dead silence followed. Then forth from the Gate went Faramir with Húrin of the Keys, and no others, save that behind them walked four men in the high helms and armour of the Citadel, and they bore a great casket of black lebethron bound with silver.

Faramir met Aragorn in the midst of those there assembled, and he looked for a moment on his face with great gladness of heart, and he knelt and said: "The last Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office." And he held out the white rod; but Aragorn took the rod and gave it back, saying: "That office is not ended, and it shall be thine and thy heirs' as long as my line shall last." And he too had seen Éowyn's look and was glad. "Do now thy office!"

Then Faramir stood up, and though his voice was clear and strong, tears ran unashamed down his cheeks. "Men of Gondor, hear now the Steward of this Realm! Behold! one has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Númenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?"

And all the host and all the people cried yea with one voice.

Then Faramir spoke again. "Men of Gondor, the loremasters tell that it was the custom of old that the king should receive the crown from his father ere he died; or if it might not be, that he should go alone and take it from the hands of his father in the tomb where he was laid. But since things must now be done otherwise, using the authority of the Steward, I have today brought hither from Rath Dínen the crown of Eärnur the last king, whose days passed in the time of our longfathers of old."

Then the guards stepped forward, and Faramir opened the casket, and he took from it and held up an ancient crown with hands that trembled. It was shaped like the helms of the Guards of the Citadel, high-crowned, with long cheek-guards close fitting to the face, but it was loftier, and it was all white, and the wings at either side were wrought of pearl and silver in the likeness of the wings of a sea-bird, for it was the emblem of the kings who came over the Sea; and seven gems of adamant were set in the circlet, and upon its summit was set a single jewel the light of which went up like a flame.

Then Aragorn took the crown and held it up and said:

Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!

And those were the words that Elendil spoke when he came up out of the Sea on the wings of the wind: "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs until the ending of the world."

Then to the wonder of many Aragorn did not put the crown upon his head, but gave it back to Faramir, and said: "By the labour and valour of many I have come into my inheritance. In token of this I would have the Ringbearer bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir set it upon my head, if he will, for he has been the mover of all that has been accomplished, and this is his victory."

Then Frodo came forward, and as Faramir put the crown into his small hands, he saw that his face was free of burden and his eyes held only gladness and awe, and his heart was rejoiced, but he saw also that a finger was gone from his right hand, and he wondered. But Frodo bore the crown to Mithrandir; and Aragorn knelt, and Mithrandir set the White Crown upon his head, and said:

"Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!"

But when Aragon arose all that beheld him gazed in silence, for it seemed to them that he was revealed to them now for the first time. Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him. And then, with a heart breaking with joy, Faramir cried:

"Behold the King!"

Joyous was the greeting of Éowyn and Éomer, and all their stories were told, and she led him by the hand to Faramir, and the two men examined each other, and each loved and honoured the other. But Faramir bowed and said, "Hail, King of the Mark! I am humbled in your presence, for I would ask of you the noblest and loveliest thing Rohan may offer."

But Éomer clasped his hand and said, "Steward of Gondor, your love has returned my sister to fullness of health as even the healing hands of the King could not, and for that alone she would be yours if you were the lowest footsoldier in this City." And he withdrew his hand from Faramir's and placed his sister's hand in the hand of the Steward, and her hand was no longer cold but warm with life.

And Éowyn and Faramir met the hobbits again, and Merry said to Éowyn, "You're different, my lady."

She laughed, and the sound was like the golden wind. "No longer do I desire death, Master Meriadoc, for you see my healing was only waiting for me to see it." She knelt and took his hand and said, "At last I can thank you with gratitude for my life." And he blushed.

Éomer's hand fell on his shoulder, and he jumped. "Master Holbytla," said the King of the Mark, "for the preserving of my sister and the love and service you bore Théoden King, I give you thanks and honour." And with sword to helm he saluted him.

Faramir said to Pippin, "And I also owe you my life, Peregrin Took. Your name will be held in high honour in my home as long as my line lasts." Then he came to Frodo and Samwise, and he knelt before them with bowed head. "Long has it seemed since we met, and dark the days for all of us, but to you belong the thanks for the free wind and golden Sun we now feel."

"Oh, please, my lord!" cried Frodo, "thanks we have had and plenty for simple hobbits from the Great of the land."

"My dear hobbits, you are the Great of the land. But if you would, I would now claim you my friends, and be greatly honoured by it."

"With a right good will, sir!" said Samwise stoutly, and they all laughed.

In the days that followed, Faramir sat in gladness on the black seat below the great white throne on which the King now sat and pronounced his judgments. And embassies came from many lands and peoples, from the East and from the South, and from the borders of Mirkwood, and from Dunland in the West. And there were brought before him many to receive his praise and reward for their valour; and last the Captain of the Guard brought to him Beregond to be judged, for he had spilled blood in Rath Dínen, and Faramir wondered very much what the King would do to the man who had saved the Steward's life.

And the King said to Beregond: "Beregond, by your sword blood was spilled in the Hallows, where that is forbidden. Also you left your post without leave of Lord or of Captain. For these things of old, death was the penalty. Now therefore I must pronounce your doom.

"All penalty is remitted for your valour in battle, and still more because all that you did was for the love of the Lord Faramir. Nonetheless, you must leave the Guard of the Citadel, and you must go forth from the City of Minas Tirith."

Then the blood left Beregond's face, and he was stricken to the heart and bowed his head, and Faramir was filled with pity and sadness. But he glanced up at the King and saw that mirth was in his eyes. The King said:

"So it must be, for you are appointed to the White Company, the Guard of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, and you shall be its captain and dwell in Emyn Arnen in honour and peace, and in the service of him for whom you risked all."

And Faramir stared up at the King, wondering if he had been hearing him properly. And the King said, smiling down at him, "Faramir, Steward of Gondor, stand before me." So he went up the steps and stood before the King, and Elessar said, "I give you the land of Ithilien to be your princedom and that of your heirs as long as Gondor stands. And so that you may be near and so that our friendship may continue, I bid you to dwell in the hills of Emyn Arnen within sight of the City, for Minas Ithil in Morgul-vale shall be utterly destroyed, and though it may in time come to be made clean, no man may dwell there for many long years." And he put his hands on Faramir's shoulders and kissed his forehead after the manner of their people, and Faramir thought on the fair hills and trees of Ithilien where his heart had ever had its home and knew that it would be restored to the beauty it had once had and more, and in joy he knelt and kissed the King's hand. As he stood and went down to resume his seat, he caught Éowyn's eye, who stood near his seat in the hall in a place of honour, and she saw that if it were possible, his joy had been made greater, and she longed to see this land of Ithilien.

And last of all Aragorn greeted Éomer of Rohan, and they embraced, and Aragorn said: "Between us there can be no word of giving or taking, nor of reward; for we are brethren. In happy hour did Eorl ride from the North, and never has any league of peoples been more blessed, so that neither has ever failed the other, nor shall fail. Now, as you know, we have laid Théoden the Renowned in a tomb in the Hallows, and there he shall lie forever among the Kings of Gondor, if you will. Or if you desire it, we will come to Rohan and bring him back to rest with his own people."

And Éomer answered: "Since the day when you rose before me out of the green grass of the downs I have loved you, and that love shall not fail. But now I must depart for a while to my own realm, where there is much to heal and set in order. But as for the Fallen, when all is made ready we will return for him; but here let him sleep a while."

Éowyn lowered her eyes and pondered what she must do. Could she ride back to the home and people she had abandoned? Could her hands be part of the healing of Rohan? She stepped to Faramir's side and said, "Now I must go back to my own land and look on it once again, and help my brother in his labour; but when one whom I long loved as father is laid at last to rest, I will return."

And he took her in his arms there before them all and kissed her, and though loath he was to let her go from him, he stood at the Gate when the Riders of Rohan had made ready and lifted his hand to her as she rode away amid the crowds of people who gathered to do them honour and praise them. They were parted three months.