Picture by Alan Lee
To the Sea, to the Sea! The white gulls are crying,/The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying./West, west away, the round sun is falling./Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling,/The voices of my people that have gone before me?/I will leave, I will leave the woods that bore me;/For our days are ending and our years failing./I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing./Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling,/Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling,/In Eressëa, in Elvenhome that no man can discover,/Where the leaves fall not: land of my people for ever!
'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 my plain answer?' he said.
'I would.'
'Then, Éowyn of Rohan, I say unto 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.'
And before he went to his rest he sent for Gimli the Dwarf, and he said to him: 'Gimli Glóin’s son, have you your axe ready?’
‘Nay, lord,’ said Gimli, ‘but I can speedily fetch it, if there be need.’
‘You shall judge,’ said Éomer. ‘For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady in the Golden Wood that lie still between us. And now I have seen her with my eyes.’
‘Well, lord,’ said Gimli, ‘and what say you now?’
‘Alas!’ said Éomer. ‘I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives.’
‘Then I must go for my axe,’ said Gimli.
Then Éowyn looked in the eyes of Aragorn, and she said: 'Wish me joy, my liege-lord and healer!'
And he answered: 'I have wished thee joy ever since first I saw thee.'
'The Road goes ever on and on/Out from the door where it began./Now far ahead the Road has gone,/Let others follow it who can!/Let them a journey new begin,/But I at last with weary feet/Will turn towards the lighted inn,/My evening-rest and sleep to meet.'
'Very well, Mr. Baggins,' said the leader, pushing the barrier aside. 'But don't forget I've arrested you.'
'I won't,' said Frodo. 'Never. But I may forgive you.'
Ted gaped, for at that moment he first caught sight of the escort that at a sign from Merry now marched over the bridge. Dashing back into the mill he ran out with a horn and blew it loudly. ‘Save your breath!’ laughed Merry. ‘I’ve a better.’ Then lifting up his silver horn he winded it, and its clear call rang over the Hill; and out of the holes and sheds and shabby houses of Hobbiton the hobbits answered, and came pouring out, and with cheers and loud cries they followed the company up the road to Bag End.
Still round the corner there may wait/A new road or a secret gate,/And though I oft have passed them by,/A day will come at last when I/Shall take the hidden paths that run/West of the Moon, East of the Sun.
But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. ‘Well, I’m back,’ he said.
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