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the steward and the king 1265
would remain. For this House has become to me of all dwellings
the most blessed.’ And she remained there until King
Éomer came.
All things were now made ready in the City; and there was
great concourse of people, for the tidings had gone out into
all parts of Gondor, from Min-Rimmon even to Pinnath
Gelin and the far coasts of the sea; and all that could come
to the City made haste to come. And the City was filled again
with women and fair children that returned to their homes
laden with flowers; and from Dol Amroth came the harpers
that harped most skilfully in all the land; and there were
players upon viols and upon flutes and upon horns of silver,
and clear-voiced singers from the vales of Lebennin.
At last an evening came when from the walls the pavilions
could be seen upon the field, and all night lights were burning
as men watched for the dawn. And when the sun rose in the
clear morning above the mountains in the East, upon which
shadows lay no more, then all the bells rang, and all the
banners broke and flowed in the wind; and upon the White
Tower of the citadel the standard of the Stewards, bright
argent like snow in the sun, bearing no charge nor device,
was raised over Gondor for the last time.
Now the Captains of the West led their host towards the
City, and folk saw them advance in line upon line, flashing
and glinting in the sunrise and rippling like silver. And so
they came before the Gateway and halted a furlong from the
walls. As yet no gates had been set up again, but a barrier
was laid across the entrance to the City, and there stood men
at arms in silver and black with long swords drawn. Before
the barrier stood Faramir the Steward, and Húrin Warden of
the Keys, and other captains of Gondor, and the Lady Éowyn
of Rohan with Elfhelm the Marshal and many knights of the
Mark; and upon either side of the Gate was a great press
of fair people in raiment of many colours and garlands of
flowers.
So now there was a wide space before the walls of Minas