return

1258 the return of the king
as the Healer commanded. 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 command 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 comes 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.’
‘Alas, not me, lord!’ she said. ‘Shadow lies on me still. Look
not to me for healing! I am a shieldmaiden and my hand is