----------------
Chapter Fifteen: Coronation
----------------
The Captains of the West led their men back to Minas Tirith, where the women and children were waiting. Tidings had gone out to all parts of Gondor, summoning them to the coronation of King Elessar.
Before the barrier that replaced the broken Gate stood Faramir, and Lord Húrin the Warden of the Keys, and Elfhelm the Marshal of the Mark and many knights of Rohan and Gondor.
Then a single trumpet blew, and Faramir stepped forward with Húrin; behind them four men carried a wooden casket bound with silver. Faramir knelt before Aragorn.
"The last Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office," said Faramir as he held out a white rod.
"That office is not ended," said Aragorn, retuning the rod, "and it shall be thine and thy heirs' as long as my line shall last. Do now thy office!" Faramir stood up.
"Men of Gondor," he said, "Hear now the Steward of the Realm! Behold! One has come to claim the kingship 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, Amandil's son of Númenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?" [Whew!]
The people cried 'Yea!' with one voice. Faramir opened the casket.
"I have brought hither from Rath Dínen the crown of Eärnur the last king, whose days passed into the time of our longfathers of old." Faramir then held up an ancient crown.
It was shaped like the helms of the Guards of the Citadel, but it was nobler and all white. The wings at the side were wrought of pearl and silver, in the shape of a sea bird's wings, which were the emblems of the kings that came over the sea from Númenor. Seven diamonds were set in the circlet and upon its summit was set a single jewel, the light of which went up like a flame.
Aragorn held up the crown and said:
IEt Eärello Endorenna etúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar- metta!"I
Those were the Elvish words Elendil spoke on arriving in Middle-Earth. It means: "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-Earth I am come. IN this place I will abide, and my heirs, until the end of the world."
Then Aragorn requested that Frodo bring the crown to him, and that Gandalf set it upon his head in token of the labours of many by which he had come into his inheritance. Aragorn knelt, and so it was done. Gandalf said: "Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!"
Aragorn arose, with the crown upon his head. Tall as the sea-kings he was; ancient of days he seemed, yet in the flower of manhood. Wisdom was on his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light shone about him.
Faramir broke the awed silence. "Behold the King!" All the trumpets were blown, and Aragorn passed through the barrier into the City, and he came to the Citadel and entered the tower, and Arwen's flag unfurled atop it. So began the reign of King Elessar.
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Chapter Eighteen: Funeral
----------------
Éowyn was living in bliss: she was with friends, promised to the man she loved, who was now the most powerful Man on Middle-Earth. Yet she was intensely grieved. Théoden was being buried next day. Éowyn walked tearfully beside her brother, for Aragorn could no longer comfort her. The funeral procession had walked from Minas Tirith over the course of the past week. Faramir allowed Aragorn leave to attend the funeral. Camp was made in west Anórien.
The next day, what seemed to be the entire populace of Rohan arrived to pay their last respects. The eighth mound on the right-hand side of the road was made. Simblemynë ever grew thickest on his grave, and to the imaginative eye it grew in the shape of the white horse on green: the flag of Rohan.
The grief of the house of Eorl was great. Éowyn's arm was not yet healed, and Éomer's title was not yet known to all the people. Éowyn returned to Minas Tirith with her betrothed, three days after the rest of the Captains of Gondor; a week after the funeral.
Chapter Fifteen: Coronation
----------------
The Captains of the West led their men back to Minas Tirith, where the women and children were waiting. Tidings had gone out to all parts of Gondor, summoning them to the coronation of King Elessar.
Before the barrier that replaced the broken Gate stood Faramir, and Lord Húrin the Warden of the Keys, and Elfhelm the Marshal of the Mark and many knights of Rohan and Gondor.
Then a single trumpet blew, and Faramir stepped forward with Húrin; behind them four men carried a wooden casket bound with silver. Faramir knelt before Aragorn.
"The last Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office," said Faramir as he held out a white rod.
"That office is not ended," said Aragorn, retuning the rod, "and it shall be thine and thy heirs' as long as my line shall last. Do now thy office!" Faramir stood up.
"Men of Gondor," he said, "Hear now the Steward of the Realm! Behold! One has come to claim the kingship 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, Amandil's son of Númenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?" [Whew!]
The people cried 'Yea!' with one voice. Faramir opened the casket.
"I have brought hither from Rath Dínen the crown of Eärnur the last king, whose days passed into the time of our longfathers of old." Faramir then held up an ancient crown.
It was shaped like the helms of the Guards of the Citadel, but it was nobler and all white. The wings at the side were wrought of pearl and silver, in the shape of a sea bird's wings, which were the emblems of the kings that came over the sea from Númenor. Seven diamonds were set in the circlet and upon its summit was set a single jewel, the light of which went up like a flame.
Aragorn held up the crown and said:
IEt Eärello Endorenna etúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar- metta!"I
Those were the Elvish words Elendil spoke on arriving in Middle-Earth. It means: "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-Earth I am come. IN this place I will abide, and my heirs, until the end of the world."
Then Aragorn requested that Frodo bring the crown to him, and that Gandalf set it upon his head in token of the labours of many by which he had come into his inheritance. Aragorn knelt, and so it was done. Gandalf said: "Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!"
Aragorn arose, with the crown upon his head. Tall as the sea-kings he was; ancient of days he seemed, yet in the flower of manhood. Wisdom was on his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light shone about him.
Faramir broke the awed silence. "Behold the King!" All the trumpets were blown, and Aragorn passed through the barrier into the City, and he came to the Citadel and entered the tower, and Arwen's flag unfurled atop it. So began the reign of King Elessar.
----------------
Chapter Eighteen: Funeral
----------------
Éowyn was living in bliss: she was with friends, promised to the man she loved, who was now the most powerful Man on Middle-Earth. Yet she was intensely grieved. Théoden was being buried next day. Éowyn walked tearfully beside her brother, for Aragorn could no longer comfort her. The funeral procession had walked from Minas Tirith over the course of the past week. Faramir allowed Aragorn leave to attend the funeral. Camp was made in west Anórien.
The next day, what seemed to be the entire populace of Rohan arrived to pay their last respects. The eighth mound on the right-hand side of the road was made. Simblemynë ever grew thickest on his grave, and to the imaginative eye it grew in the shape of the white horse on green: the flag of Rohan.
The grief of the house of Eorl was great. Éowyn's arm was not yet healed, and Éomer's title was not yet known to all the people. Éowyn returned to Minas Tirith with her betrothed, three days after the rest of the Captains of Gondor; a week after the funeral.