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change in the tides of the world。 But this City and realm has rested in the charge of the Stewards for
many long years； and I fear that if I enter it unbidden； then doubt and debate may arise； which
should not be while this war is fought。 I will not enter in； nor make any claim； until it be seen
whether we or Mordor shall prevail。 Men shall pitch my tents upon the field； and here I will await
the wele of the Lord of the City。'
But éomer said： 'Already you have raised the banner of the Kings and displayed the tokens of
Elendil's House。 Will you suffer these to be challenged？'
'No；' said Aragorn。 'But I deem the time unripe； and I have no mind for strife except with our
Enemy and his servants。'
And the Prince Imrahil said。 Your words； lord； are wise； if one who is a kinsman of the Lord
Denethor may counsel you in this matter。 He is strong…willed and proud； but old； and his mood has
been strange since his son was stricken down。 Yet I would not have you remain like a beggar at the
door。'
'Not a beggar；' said Aragorn。 'Say a captain of the Rangers； who are unused to cities and houses
of stone。' And he manded that his banner should be furled； and he did off the Star of the North
Kingdom and gave it to the keeping of the sons of Elrond。
Then the Prince Imrahil and éomer of Rohan left him and passed through the City and the
tumult of the people； and mounted to the Citadel； and they came to the Hall of the Tower； seeking
the Steward。 But they found his chair empty； and before the dais lay Théoden King of the Mark
upon a bed of state； and twelve torches stood about it； and twelve guards； knights both of Rohan
and Gondor。 And the hangings of the bed were of green and white； but upon the king was laid the
great cloth of gold up to his breast； and upon that his unsheathed sword； and at his feet his shield；
The light of the torches shimmered in his white hair like sun in the spray of a fountain； but his face
was fair and young； save that a peace lay on it beyond the reach of youth； and it seemed that he
slept。
When they had stood silent for a time beside the king； Imrahil said： 'Where is the Steward？ And
where also is Mithrandir？'
And one of the guards answered： 'The Steward of Gondor is in the Houses of Healing。'
But éomer said： 'Where is the Lady éowyn； my sister； for surely she should be lying beside the
king； and in no less honour？ Where have they bestowed her？'
And Imrahil said： 'But the Lady éowyn was yet living when they bore her hither。 Did you not
know？'
Then hope unlooked…for came so suddenly to éomer's heart； and with it the bite of care and fear
renewed； that he said no more； but turned and went swiftly from the hall； and the Prince followed
him。 And when they came forth evening had fallen and many stars were in the sky。 And there came
Gandalf on foot and with him one cloaked in grey； and they met before the doors of the Houses of
Healing。 And they greeted Gandalf and said： 'We seek the Steward； and men say that he is in this
House。 Has any hurt befallen him？ And the Lady éowyn； where is she？'
And Gandalf answered： 'She lies within and is not dead； but is near death。 But the Lord Faramir
was wounded by an evil dart； as you have heard； and he is now the Steward； for Denethor has
departed； and his house is in ashes。' And they were filled with grief and wonder at the tale that he
told。
But Imrahil said： 'So victory is shorn of gladness； and it is bitter bought； if both Gondor and
Rohan are in one day bereft of their lords。 éomer rules the Rohirrim。 Who shall rule the City
meanwhile？ Shall we not send now for the Lord Aragorn？'
And the cloaked man spoke and said： 'He is e。' And they saw as he stepped into the light of
the lantern by the door that it was Aragorn； wrapped in the grey cloak of Lórien above his mail； and
bearing no other token than the green stone of Galadriel。 'I have e because Gandalf begs me to
do so；' he said。 'But for the present I am but the Captain of the Dúnedain of Arnor； and the Lord of
Dol Amroth shall rule the City until Faramir awakes。 But it is my counsel that Gandalf should rule
us all in the days that follow and in our dealings with the Enemy。' And they agreed upon that。
Then Gandalf said： 'Let us not stay at the door； for the time is urgent。 Let us enter！ For it is only
in the ing of Aragorn that any hope remains for the sick that lie in the House。 Thus spake Ioreth；
wise…woman of Gondor： _The hands of the king are the hands of a healer； and so shall the rightful
king be known_。'
Then Aragorn entered first and the others followed。 And there at the door were two guards in the
livery of the Citadel： one tall； but the other scarce the height of a boy； and when he saw them he
cried aloud in surprise and joy。
'Strider！ How splendid！ Do you know； I guessed it was you in the black ships。 But they were all
shouting _corsairs_ and wouldn't listen to me。 How did you do it？'
Aragorn laughed； and took the hobbit by the hand。 'Well met indeed！' he said。 'But there is not
time yet for travellers' tales。'
But Imrahil said to éomer： 'Is it thus that we speak to our kings？ Yet maybe he will wear his
crown in some other name！'
And Aragorn hearing him； turned and said： 'Verily； for in the high tongue of old I am _Elessar_；
the _Elfstone_； and _Envinyatar_； the Renewer'： and he lifted from his breast the green stone that
lay there。 'But Strider shall be the name of my house； if that be ever established。 In the high tongue
it will not sound so ill； and _Telcontar_ I will be and all the heirs of my body。'
And with that they passed into the House； and as they went towards the rooms where the sick
were tended Gandalf told of the deeds of éowyn and Meriadoc。 'For；' he said； 'long have I stood by
them and at first they spoke much in their dreaming； before they sank into the deadly darkness。
Also it is given to me to see many things far off。'
Aragorn went first to Faramir； and then to the Lady éowyn； and last to Merry。 When he had
looked on the faces of the sick and seen their hurts he sighed。 'Here I must put forth all such power
and skill as is given to me；' he said。 'Would that Elrond were here； for he is the eldest of all our race；
and has the greater power。'
And éomer seeing that he was sorrowful and weary said： 'First you must rest； surely； and at the
least eat a little？'
But Aragorn answered： 'Nay； for these three； and most soon for Faramir； time is running out。 All
speed is needed。'
Then he called to Ioreth and he said： 'You have store in this House of the herbs of healing？'
'Yes； lord；' she answered； 'but not enough； I reckon； for all that will need them。 But I am sure I
do not know where we shall find more； for all things are amiss in these dreadful days； what with
fires and burnings； and the lads that run errands so few； and all the roads blocked。 Why； it is days
out of count since ever a carrier came in from Lossarnach to the market！ But we do our best in this
House with what we have； as I am sure your lordship will know。'
'I wi