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.Still at whiles as the morning wore away they would speak,murmuring in their dreams; and the watchers listened to all that they said,hoping perhaps to learn something that would help them to understand theirhurts.But soon they began to fall down into the darkness, and as the sunturned west a grey shadow crept over their faces.But Faramir burned with afever that would not abate.Gandalf went from one to the other full of care, and he was told all that thewatchers could hear.And so the day passed, while the great battle outside wenton with shifting hopes and strange tidings; and still Gandalf waited andwatched and did not go forth; till at last the red sunset filled all the sky,and the light through the windows fell on the grey faces of the sick.Then itseemed to those who stood by that in the glow the faces flushed softly as withhealth returning, but it was only a mockery of hope.Then an old wife, Ioreth, the eldest of the women who served in that house,looking on the fair face of Faramir, wept, for all the people loved him.Andshe said: 'Alas! if he should die.Would that there were kings in Gondor, asthere were once upon a time, they say! For it is said in old lore: _The handsof the king are the hands of a healer_.And so the rightful king could ever beknown.'And Gandalf, who stood by, said: 'Men may long remember your words, Ioreth! Forthere is hope in them.Maybe a king has indeed returned to Gondor; or have younot heard the strange tidings that have come to the City?''I have been too busy with this and that to heed all the crying and shouting,'she answered.'All I hope is that those murdering devils do not come to thisHouse and trouble the sick.'Then Gandalf went out in haste, and already the fire in the sky was burningout, and the smouldering hills were fading, while ash-grey evening crept overthe fields.Now as the sun went down Aragorn and Éomer and Imrahil drew near the City withtheir captains and knights; and when they came before the Gate Aragorn said:'Behold the Sun setting in a great fire! It is a sign of the end and fall ofmany things, and a change in the tides of the world.But this City and realmhas rested in the charge of the Stewards for many long years, and I fear thatif I enter it unbidden, then doubt and debate may arise, which should not bewhile this war is fought.I will not enter in, nor make any claim, until it beseen whether we or Mordor shall prevail.Men shall pitch my tents upon thefield, and here I will await the welcome of the Lord of the City.'But Éomer said: 'Already you have raised the banner of the Kings and displayedthe tokens of Elendil's House.Will you suffer these to be challenged?''No,' said Aragorn.'But I deem the time unripe; and I have no mind for strifeexcept with our Enemy and his servants.'And the Prince Imrahil said.Your words, lord, are wise, if one who is akinsman of the Lord Denethor may counsel you in this matter.He isstrong-willed and proud, but old; and his mood has been strange since his sonwas stricken down.Yet I would not have you remain like a beggar at the door.''Not a beggar,' said Aragorn.'Say a captain of the Rangers, who are unused tocities and houses of stone.' And he commanded that his banner should be furled;and he did off the Star of the North Kingdom and gave it to the keeping of thesons of Elrond.Then the Prince Imrahil and Éomer of Rohan left him and passed through the Cityand the tumult of the people, and mounted to the Citadel; and they came to theHall of the Tower, seeking the Steward.But they found his chair empty, andbefore the dais lay Théoden King of the Mark upon a bed of state; and twelvetorches stood about it, and twelve guards, knights both of Rohan and Gondor.And the hangings of the bed were of green and white, but upon the king was laidthe great cloth of gold up to his breast, and upon that his unsheathed sword,and at his feet his shield, The light of the torches shimmered in his whitehair like sun in the spray of a fountain, but his face was fair and young, savethat a peace lay on it beyond the reach of youth; and it seemed that he slept.When they had stood silent for a time beside the king, Imrahil said: 'Where isthe Steward? And where also is Mithrandir?'And one of the guards answered: 'The Steward of Gondor is in the Houses ofHealing.'But Éomer said: 'Where is the Lady Éowyn, my sister; for surely she should belying beside the king, and in no less honour? Where have they bestowed her?'And Imrahil said: 'But the Lady Éowyn was yet living when they bore her hither.Did you not know?'Then hope unlooked-for came so suddenly to Éomer's heart, and with it the biteof care and fear renewed, that he said no more, but turned and went swiftlyfrom the hall; and the Prince followed him.And when they came forth eveninghad fallen and many stars were in the sky.And there came Gandalf on foot andwith him one cloaked in grey; and they met before the doors of the Houses ofHealing.And they greeted Gandalf and said: 'We seek the Steward, and men saythat he is in this House.Has any hurt befallen him? And the Lady Éowyn, whereis she?'And Gandalf answered: 'She lies within and is not dead, but is near death.Butthe Lord Faramir was wounded by an evil dart, as you have heard, and he is nowthe Steward; for Denethor has departed, and his house is in ashes.' And theywere filled with grief and wonder at the tale that he told.But Imrahil said: 'So victory is shorn of gladness, and it is bitter bought, ifboth Gondor and Rohan are in one day bereft of their lords.Éomer rules theRohirrim.Who shall rule the City meanwhile? Shall we not send now for the LordAragorn?'And the cloaked man spoke and said: 'He is come.' And they saw as he steppedinto the light of the lantern by the door that it was Aragorn, wrapped in thegrey cloak of Lórien above his mail, and bearing no other token than the greenstone of Galadriel.'I have come because Gandalf begs me to do so,' he said
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