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its streets were paved with white marble； and the Folk of the Mountain laboured in it； and the Folk
of the Wood rejoiced to e there； and all was healed and made good； and the houses were filled
with men and women and the laughter of children； and no window was blind nor any courtyard
empty； and after the ending of the Third Age of the world into the new age it preserved the memory
and the glory of the years that were gone。
In the days that followed his crowning the King sat on his throne in the Hall of the Kings and
pronounced his judgements。 And embassies came from many lands and peoples； from the East and
the South； and from the borders of Mirkwood； and from Dunland in the west。 And the King
pardoned the Easterlings that had given themselves up； and sent them away free； and he made
peace with the peoples of Harad； and the slaves of Mordor he released and gave to them all the
lands about Lake Núrnen to be their own。 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。
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。 But
the King said。：
'So it must be； for you are appointed to the White pany； 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； to save him from death。'
And then Beregond； perceiving the mercy and justice of the King； was glad； and kneeling kissed
his hand； and departed in joy and content。 And Aragorn gave to Faramir Ithilien to be his
princedom； and bade him dwell in the hills of Emyn Arnen within sight of the City。
'For；' said he； 'Minas Ithil in Morgul Vale shall be utterly destroyed； and though it may in time to
e be made clean； no man may dwell there for many long years。'
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 for ever among the Kings of Gondor； if
you will。 Or if you desire it； we will e 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。'
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 precip