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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。 With him were éomer of Rohan； and the Prince Imrahil； and Gandalf robed all in white； and
four small figures that many men marvelled to see。
'Nay； cousin！ they are not boys；' said Ioreth to her kinswoman from Imloth Melui； who stood
beside her。 'Those are _Periain_； out of the far country of the Halflings； where they are princes of
great fame； it is said。 I should know； for I had one to tend in the Houses。 They are small； but they
are valiant。 Why； cousin； one of them went with only his esquire into the Black Country and fought
with the Dark Lord all by himself； and set fire to his Tower； if you can believe it。 At least that is the
tale in the City。 That will be the one that walks with our Elfstone。 They are dear friends； I hear。
Now he is a marvel； the Lord Elfstone： not too soft in his speech； mind you； but he has a golden
heart； as the saying is； and he has the healing hands。 The hands of the king are the hands of a healer；
I said； and that was how it was all discovered。 And Mithrandir； he said to me： Ioreth； men will long
remember your words； and…'
But Ioreth was not permitted to continue the instruction of her kinswoman from the country； for
a single trumpet rang； 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 knelt； and said： 'The last
Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office。' And he held out a 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。 Do now thy office！'
Then Faramir stood up and spoke in a clear voice： 'Men of Gondor hear now the Steward of this
Realm！ Behold！ one has e 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。
And Ioreth said to her kinswoman： 'This is just a ceremony such as we have in the City； cousin；
for he has already entered； as I was telling you； and he said to me…' And then again she was obliged
to silence； for 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 that 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 E？rnur 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 held up an ancient
crown。 It was shaped like the helms of the Guards of the Citadel； save that 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 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 E？rello 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 e。 In this place will I abide； and my heirs；
unto 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 e into my inheritance。 In token of
this I would have the Ring…bearer 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 acplished； and this is his victory。'
Then Frodo came forward and took the crown from Faramir and bore it to Gandalf； and Aragorn
knelt； and Gandalf set the White Crown upon his head； and said：
'Now e the days of the King； and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar
endure！'
But when Aragorn 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 Faramir cried：
'Behold the King！'
And in that moment all the trumpets were blown； and the King Elessar went forth and came to
the barrier； and Húrin of the Keys thrust it back； and amid the music of harp and of viol and of flute
and the singing of clear voices the King passed through the flower…laden streets； and came to the
Citadel； and entered in； and the banner of the Tree and the Stars was unfurled upon the topmost
tower； and the reign of King Elessar began； of which many songs have told。
In his time the City was made more fair than it had ever been； even in the days of its first glory；
and it was filled with trees and with fountains； and its gates were wrought of mithril and steel； and
its streets were paved with white marble； and the Folk of the Mountain laboured in it； and