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and they went aboard ship with all their men； and they sailed from Cair Andros down Anduin to
Osgiliath； and there they remained for one day； and the day after they came to the green fields of
the Pelennor and saw again the white towers under tall Mindolluin； the City of the Men of Gondor；
last memory of Westernesse； that had passed through the darkness and fire to a new day。
And there in the midst of the fields they set up their pavilions and awaited the morning； for it
was the Eve of May； and the King would enter his gates with the rising of the Sun。
_Chapter 5_
The Steward and the King
Over the city of Gondor doubt and great dread had hung。 Fair weather and clear sun had seemed
but a mockery to men whose days held little hope； and who looked each morning for news of doom。
Their lord was dead and burned； dead lay the King of Rohan in their citadel； and the new king that
had e to them in the night was gone again to a war with powers too dark and terrible for any
might or valour to conquer。 And no news came。 After the host left Morgul Vale and took the
northward road beneath the shadow of the mountains no messenger had returned nor any rumour of
what was passing in the brooding East。
When the Captains were but two days gone； the Lady éowyn bade the women who tended her to
bring her raiment； and she would not be gainsaid； but rose； and when they had clothed her and set
her arm in a sling of linen； she went to the Warden of the Houses of Healing。
'Sir；' she said； 'I am in great unrest； and I cannot lie longer in sloth。'
'Lady；' he answered； 'you are not yet healed； and I was manded to tend you with especial
care。 You should not have risen from your bed for seven days yet； or so I was bidden。 I beg you to
go back。'
'I am healed；' she said； 'healed at least in body； save my left arm only； and that is at ease。 But I
shall sicken anew； if there is naught that I can do。 Are there no tidings of war？ The women can tell
me nothing。'
'There are no tidings；' said the Warden； 'save that the Lords have ridden to Morgul Vale； and
men say that the new captain out of the North is their chief。 A great lord is that； and a healer； and it
is a thing passing strange to me that the healing hand should also wield the sword。 It is not thus in
Gondor now； though once it was so； if old tales be true。 But for long years we healers have only
sought to patch the rents made by the men of swords。 Though we should still have enough to do
without them： the world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them。'
It needs but one foe to breed a war； not two； Master Warden； answered éowyn。 'And those who
have not swords can still die upon them。 Would you have the folk of Gondor gather you herbs only；
when the Dark Lord gathers armies？ And it is not always good to be healed in body。 Nor is it
always evil to die in battle； even in bitter pain。 Were I permitted； in this dark hour I would choose
the latter。'
The Warden looked at her。 Tall she stood there； her eyes bright in her white face； her hand
clenched as she turned and gazed out of his window that opened to the East。 He sighed and shook
his head。 After a pause she turned to him again。
'Is there no deed to do？' she said。 'Who mands in this City？'
'I do not rightly know；' he answered。 'Such things are not my care。 There is a marshal over the
Riders of Rohan； and the Lord Húrin； I am told； mands the men of Gondor。 But the Lord
Faramir is by right the Steward of the City。'
'Where can I find him？'
'In this house； lady。 He was sorely hurt； but is now set again on the way to health。 But I do not
know…'
'Will you not bring me to him？ Then you will know。'
The Lord Faramir was walking alone in the garden of the Houses of Healing； and the sunlight
warmed him； and he felt life run new in his veins； but his heart was heavy； and he looked out over
the walls eastward。 And ing； the Warden spoke his name； and he turned and saw the Lady
éowyn of Rohan； and he was moved with pity； for he saw that she was hurt； and his clear sight
perceived her sorrow and unrest。
'My lord；' said the Warden； 'here is the Lady éowyn of Rohan。 She rode with the king and was
sorely hurt； and dwells now in my keeping。 But she is not content； and she wishes to speak to the
Steward of the City。'
'Do not misunderstand him； lord；' said éowyn。 'It is not lack of care that grieves me。 No houses
could be fairer； for those who desire to be healed。 But I cannot lie in sloth； idle； caged。 I looked for
death in battle。 But I have not died； and battle still goes on。'
At a sign from Faramir； the Warden bowed and departed。 'What would you have me do； lady？'
said Faramir。 'I also am a prisoner of the healers。' He looked at her； and being a man whom pity
deeply stirred； it seemed to him that her loveliness amid her grief would pierce his heart。 And she
looked at him and saw the grave tenderness in his eyes； and yet knew； for she was bred among men
of war； that here was one whom no Rider of the Mark would outmatch in battle。
'What do you wish？' he said again。 'If it lies in my power； I will do it。'
'I would have you mand this Warden； and bid him let me go；' she said； but though her words
were still proud； her heart faltered； and for the first time she doubted herself。 She guessed that this
tall man； both stern and gentle； might think her merely wayward； like a child that has not the
firmness of mind to go on with a dull task to the end。
'I myself am in the Warden's keeping；' answered Faramir。 'Nor have I yet taken up my authority
in the City。 But had I done so； I should still listen to his counsel； and should not cross his will in
matters of his craft； unless in some great need。'
'But I do not desire healing；' she said。 'I wish to ride to war like my brother éomer； or better like
Théoden the king； for he died and has both honour and peace。'
'It is too late； lady； to follow the Captains； even if you had the strength；' said Faramir。 'But death
in battle may e to us all yet； willing or unwilling。 You will be better prepared to face it in your
own manner； if while there is still time you do as the Healer manded。 You and I； we must
endure with patience the hours of waiting。'
She did not answer； but as he looked at her it seemed to him that something in her softened； as
though a bitter frost were yielding at the first faint presage of Spring。 A tear sprang in her eye and
fell down her cheek； like a glistening rain…drop。 Her proud head drooped a little。 Then quietly； more
as if speaking to herself than to him： 'But the healers would have me lie abed seven days yet；' she
said。 'And my window does not look eastward。' Her voice was now that of a maiden young and sad。
Faramir smiled； though his heart was filled with pity。 'Your window does not look eastward？' he
said。 'That can be amended。 In this I will mand the Warden。 If you will stay in this house in our
care； lady； and take your rest； then you shall walk in this garden in the sun； as you will； and you
shall look east； whither all our hopes have gone。 And here you will find me； walking and waiting；
and also looking east。 It would ease my care； if you would speak to me； or walk at whiles with me。'
Then she raised her head and looked him in the eyes again； and a colour came in her pale face。
'How should I ease your care； my lord？' she said。 'And I do not desire the speech of living men。'
'Would you have my plain answer？' he said。
'I would。'
'Then； éowyn of Rohan； I say to you that you are beautiful。 In the valleys of our hills there are
flowers fair and bright； and maidens fairer still； but neither flower nor lady have I seen till now in
Gondor so lovely； and so sorrowful。 It may be that only a few days are left ere darkness falls upon
our world； and when it es I hope to face it steadily； but it would ease my heart； if while the Sun
yet shines； I could see you still。 For you and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow； and
the same hand drew us back。'