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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。'
And éowyn said to Faramir： '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。'
So the glad days passed； and on the eighth day of May the Riders of Rohan made ready； and
rode off by the North…way； and with them went the sons of Elrond。 All the road was lined with
people to do them honour and praise them； from the Gate of the City to the walls of the Pelennor。
Then all others that dwelt afar went back to their homes rejoicing； but in the City there was labour
of many willing hands to rebuild and renew and to remove all the scars of war and the memory of
the darkness。
The hobbits still remained in Minas Tirith； with Legolas and Gimli； for Aragorn was loth for the
fellowship to be dissolved。 'At last all such things must end；' he said； 'but I would have you wait a
little while longer： for the end of the deeds that you have shared in has not yet e。 A day draws
near that I have looked for in all the years of my manhood； and when it es I would have my
friends beside me。' But of that day he would say no more。
In those days the panions of the Ring dwelt together in a fair house with Gandalf； and they
went to and fro as they wished。 And Frodo said to Gandalf： 'Do you know what this day is that
Aragorn speaks of？ For we are happy here； and I don't wish to go； but the days are running away；
and Bilbo is waiting； and the Shire is my home。'
'As for Bilbo；' said Gandalf； 'he is waiting for the same day； and he knows what keeps you。 And
as for the passing of the days； it is now only May and high summer is not yet in； and though all
things may seem changed； as if an age of the world had gone by； yet to the trees and the grass it is
less than a year since you set out。'
'Pippin；' said Frodo； 'didn't you say that Gandalf was less close than of old？ He was weary of his
labours then； I think。 Now he is recovering。'
And Gandalf said： 'Many folk like to know beforehand what is to be set on the table； but those
who have laboured to prepare the feast like to keep their secret； for wonder makes the words of
praise louder。 And Aragorn himself waits for a sign。'
There came a day when Gandalf could not be found； and the panions wondered what was
going forward。 But Gandalf took Aragorn out from the City by night； and he brought him to the
southern feet of Mount Mindolluin； and there they found a path made in ages past that few now
dared to tread。 For it led up on to the mountain to a high hallow where only the kings had been
wont to go。 And they went up by steep ways； until they came to a high field below the snows that
clad the lofty peaks； and it looked down over the precipice that stood behind the City。 And standing
there they surveyed the lands； for the morning was e； and they saw the towers of the City far
below them like white pencils touched by the sunlight； and all the Vale of Anduin was like a garden；
and the Mountains of Shadow were veiled in a golden mist。 Upon the one side their sight reached to
the grey Emyn Muil； and the glint of Rauros was like a star twinkling far off； and upon the other
side they saw the River like a ribbon laid down to Pelargir； and beyond that was a light on the hem
of the sky that spoke of the Sea。
And Gandalf said： 'This is your realm； and the heart of the greater realm that shall be。 The Third
Age of the world is ended； and the new age is begun； and it is your task to order its beginning and
to preserve what may be preserved。 For though much has been saved； much must now pass away；
and the power of the Three Rings also is ended。 And all the lands that you see； and those that lie
round about them； shall be dwellings of Men。 For the time es of the Dominion of Men； and the
Elder Kindred shall fade or depart。'
'I know it well； dear friend；' said Aragorn； 'but I would still have your counsel。'
'Not for long now；' said Gandalf。 'The Third Age was my age。 I was the Enemy of Sauron； and
my work is finished。 I shall go soon。 The burden must lie now upon you and your kindred。'
'But I shall die；' said Aragorn。 'For I am a mortal man； and though being what I am and of the
race of the West unmingled； I shall have life far longer than other men； yet that is but a little while；
and when those who are now in the wombs of women are born and have grown old； I too shall
grow old。 And who then shall govern Gondor and those who look to this City as to their queen； if
my desire be not granted？ The Tree in the Court of the Fountain is still withered and barren。 When
shall I see a sign that it will ever be otherwise？'
'Turn your face from the green world； and look where all seems barren and cold！' said Gandalf。
Then Aragorn turned。 and there was a stony slope behind him running down from the skirts of
the snow； and as he looked he was aware that alone there in the waste a growing thing stood。 And
he climbed to it； and saw that out of the very edge of the snow there sprang a sapling tree no more
than three foot high。 Already it had put forth young leaves long and shapely； dark above and silver
beneath； and upon its slender crown it bore one small cluster of flowers whose white petals shone
like the sunlit snow。
Then Aragorn cried： '_Yé！ utúvienyes！_ I have found it！ Lo！ here is a scion of the Eldest of
Trees！ But how es it here？ For it is not itself yet seven years old。'
And Gandalf ing looked at it； and said： 'Verily this is a sapling of the line of Nimloth the
fair； and that was a seedling of Galathilion； and that a fruit of Telperion of many names； Eldest of
Trees。 Who shall say how it es here in the appointed hour？ But this is an ancient hallow； and
ere the kings failed or the Tree withered in the court； a fruit must have been set here。 For it is said
that； though the fruit of the Tree es seldom to ripeness； yet the life within may then lie sleeping
through many long years； and none can foretell the time in which it will awake。 Remember this。 For
if ever a fruit ripens； it should be planted； lest the line die out of the world。 Here it has lain。 hidden
on the mountain； even as the race of Elendil lay hidden in the wastes of the North。 Yet the line of
Nimloth is older far than your line； King Elessar。'
Then Aragorn laid his hand gently to the sapling； and lo！ it seemed to hold only lightly to the
earth； and it was removed without hurt； and Aragorn bore it back to the Citadel。 Then the withered
tree was uprooted； but with reverence； and they did not burn it； but laid it to rest in the silence of
Rath Dínen。 And Aragorn planted the new tree in the court by the fountain； and swiftly and gladly
it began to grow； and when the month of June en