the walls eastward。 And ing； the Warden spoke his name； and he turned and saw the Lady
éowyn of Rohan； and he was moved with pity； for he saw that she was hurt； and his clear sight
perceived her sorrow and unrest。
'My lord；' said the Warden； 'here is the Lady éowyn of Rohan。 She rode with the king and was
sorely hurt； and dwells now in my keeping。 But she is not content； and she wishes to speak to the
Steward of the City。'
'Do not misunderstand him； lord；' said éowyn。 'It is not lack of care that grieves me。 No houses
could be fairer； for those who desire to be healed。 But I cannot lie in sloth； idle； caged。 I looked for
death in battle。 But I have not died； and battle still goes on。'
At a sign from Faramir； the Warden bowed and departed。 'What would you have me do； lady？'
said Faramir。 'I also am a prisoner of the healers。' He looked at her； and being a man whom pity
deeply stirred； it seemed to him that her loveliness amid her grief would pierce his heart。 And she
looked at him and saw the grave tenderness in his eyes； and yet knew； for she was bred among men
of war； that here was one whom no Rider of the Mark would outmatch in battle。
'What do you wish？' he said again。 'If it lies in my power； I will do it。'
'I would have you mand this Warden； and bid him let me go；' she said； but though her words
were still proud； her heart faltered； and for the first time she doubted herself。 She guessed that this
tall man； both stern and gentle； might think her merely wayward； like a child that has not the
firmness of mind to go on with a dull task to the end。
'I myself am in the Warden's keeping；' answered Faramir。 'Nor have I yet taken up my authority
in the City。 But had I done so； I should still listen to his counsel； and should not cross his will in
matters of his craft； unless in some great need。'
'But I do not desire healing；' she said。 'I wish to ride to war like my brother éomer； or better like
Théoden the king； for he died and has both honour and peace。'
'It is too late； lady； to follow the Captains； even if you had the strength；' said Faramir。 'But death
in battle may e to us all yet； willing or unwilling。 You will be better prepared to face it in your
own manner； if while there is still time you do as the Healer manded。 You and I； we must
endure with patience the hours of waiting。'
She did not answer； but as he looked at her it seemed to him that something in her softened； as
though a bitter frost were yielding at the first faint presage of Spring。 A tear sprang in her eye and
fell down her cheek； like a glistening rain…drop。 Her proud head drooped a little。 Then quietly； more
as if speaking to herself than to him： 'But the healers would have me lie abed seven days yet；' she
said。 'And my window does not look eastward。' Her voice was now that of a maiden young and sad。
Faramir smiled； though his heart was filled with pity。 'Your window does not look eastward？' he
said。 'That can be amended。 In this I will mand the Warden。 If you will stay in this house in our
care； lady； and take your rest； then you shall walk in this garden in the sun； as you will； and you
shall look east； whither all our hopes have gone。 And here you will find me； walking and waiting；
and also looking east。 It would ease my care； if you would speak to me； or walk at whiles with me。'
Then she raised her head and looked him in the eyes again； and a colour came in her pale face。
'How should I ease your care； my lord？' she said。 'And I do not desire the speech of living men。'
'Would you have my plain answer？' he said。
'I would。'
'Then； éowyn of Rohan； I say to 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 es 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。'
'Alas； not me； lord！' she said。 'Shadow lies on me still。 Look not to me for healing！ I am a
shieldmaiden and my hand is 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 e。
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 e； 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 over all the Lady éowyn wore a great
blue mantle of the colour of deep summer…night； and it was set with silver stars about hem and
throat。 Faramir had sent for this robe and had wrapped it about her； and he thought that she looked
fair and queenly indeed as she stood there at his side。 The mantle was wrought for his mother；
Finduilas of Amroth； who died untimely； and was to him but a memory of loveliness in far days
and of his first grief； and her robe seemed to him raiment fitting for the beauty and sadness of
éowyn。
But she now shivered beneath the starry mantle； and she looked northward； above the grey
hither lands； into the eye of the cold wind where far away the sky was hard and clear。
'What do you look for； éowyn？' said Faramir。
'Does not the Black Gate lie yonder？' said she。 'And must he not now be e thither？ It is
seven days since he rode away。'
'Seven days；' said Faramir。 'But think not ill of me； if I say to you： they have brought me both a
joy and a pain that I never thought to know。 Joy to see you； but pain； because now the fear and
doubt of this evil time are grown dark indeed。 éowyn； I would not have this world end now； or lose
so soon what I have found。'
'Lose what you have found； lord？' she answered； but she looked at him gravely and her eyes
were kind。 'I know not what in these days you have found that you could lose。 But e； my friend；
let us not speak of it！ Let us not speak at all！ I stand upon some dreadful brink； and it is utterly dark
in the abyss before my feet； but whether there is any light behind me I cannot tell。 For I cannot turn
yet。 I wait for some stroke of doom。'
'Yes； we wait for the stroke of doom；' said Faramir。 And they said no more； and it seemed to
them as they stood upon the wall that the wind died； and the light failed； and the Sun was bleared；
and all sounds in the City or in the lands about were hushed： neither wind； nor voice； nor bird…call；
nor rustle of leaf； nor their own breath could be heard； the very beating of their hearts was stilled。
Time halted。
And as they stood so； their hands met and clasped； though they did not know it。 And still they
waited for they knew not what。 Then presently it seemed to them that above the ridges of the
distant mountains another vast mountain of darkness rose； towering up like a wave that should
engulf the world； and about it lightnings flickered； and then a tremor ran through the earth； and they
felt the walls of the City quiver。 A sound like a sigh went up from all the lands about them； and
their hearts beat suddenly again。
'It reminds me of Númenor；' said Faramir； and wondered to hear himself speak。
'Of Númenor？' said éowyn。
'Yes；' said Faramir； 'of the land of Westernesse that foundered and of the great dark wave
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