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the steward and the king 1259
ungentle. But I thank you for this at least, that I need not
keep to my chamber. I will walk abroad by the grace of the
Steward of the City.’ And she did him a courtesy and walked
back to the house. But Faramir for a long while walked alone
in the garden, and his glance now strayed rather to the house
than to the eastward walls.
When he returned to his chamber he called for the Warden,
and heard all that he could tell of the Lady of Rohan.
‘But I doubt not, lord,’ said the Warden, ‘that you would
learn more from the Halfling that is with us; for he was in
the riding of the king, and with the Lady at the end, they
say.’
And so Merry was sent to Faramir, and while that day
lasted they talked long together, and Faramir learned much,
more even than Merry put into words; and he thought that
he understood now something of the grief and unrest of
Éowyn of Rohan. And in the fair evening Faramir and Merry
walked in the garden, but she did not come.
But in the morning, as Faramir came from the Houses, he
saw her, as she stood upon the walls; and she was clad all in
white, and gleamed in the sun. And he called to her, and she
came down, and they walked on the grass or sat under a
green tree together, now in silence, now in speech. And each
day after they did likewise. And the Warden looking from his
window was glad in heart, for he was a healer, and his care
was lightened; and certain it was that, heavy as was the dread
and foreboding of those days upon the hearts of men, still
these two of his charges prospered and grew daily in strength.
And so the fifth day came since the Lady Éowyn went first
to Faramir; and they stood now together once more upon the
walls of the City and looked out. No tidings had yet come,
and all hearts were darkened. The weather, too, was bright
no longer. It was cold. A wind that had sprung up in the
night was blowing now keenly from the North, and it was
rising; but the lands about looked grey and drear.
They were clad in warm raiment and heavy cloaks, and