return

1268 the return of the king
Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar
tenn’ Ambar-metta!
And those were the words that Elendil spoke when he came
up out of the Sea on the wings of the wind: ‘Out of the Great
Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and
my heirs, unto the ending of the world.’
Then to the wonder of many Aragorn did not put the
crown upon his head, but gave it back to Faramir, and said:
‘By the labour and valour of many I have come into my
inheritance. In token of this I would have the Ring-bearer
bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir set it upon my
head, if he will; for he has been the mover of all that has been
accomplished, and this is his victory.’
Then Frodo came forward and took the crown from
Faramir and bore it to Gandalf; and Aragorn knelt, and
Gandalf set the White Crown upon his head, and said:
‘Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed
while the thrones of the Valar endure!’
But when Aragorn arose all that beheld him gazed in
silence, for it seemed to them that he was revealed to them
now for the first time. Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood
above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet
in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow,
and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was
about him. And then Faramir cried:
‘Behold the King!’
And in that moment all the trumpets were blown, and
the King Elessar went forth and came to the barrier, and
Húrin of the Keys thrust it back; and amid the music of
harp and of viol and of flute and the singing of clear voices
the King passed through the flower-laden streets, and came
to the Citadel, and entered in; and the banner of the Tree
and the Stars was unfurled upon the topmost tower, and
the reign of King Elessar began, of which many songs have
told.
In his time the City was made more fair than it had ever
been, even in the days of its first glory; and it was filled with