grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 8, 2:01pm
Post #28 of 28
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Today in Middle-earth.
April 8, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The Ring-bearers are honoured on the Field of Cormallen.
(from the appendices)
..."When Sam awoke, he found that he was lying on some soft bed, but over him gently swayed wide beechen boughs... ...All the air was full of a sweet mingled scent.
...He remembered that smell: the fragrance of Ithilien. 'Bless me!' he mused. 'How long have I been asleep?' For the scent had borne him back to the day when he had lit his little fire under the sunny bank; and for the moment all else between was out of waking memory. He stretched and drew a deep breath. 'Why, what a dream I've had!' he muttered... ...then he saw that Frodo was lying beside him, and slept peacefully, one hand behind his head, and the other resting upon the coverlet. It was the right hand, and the third finger was missing.
...Full memory flooded back, and Sam cried aloud: 'It wasn't a dream! Then where are we?'
...And a voice spoke softly behind him: 'In the land of Ithilien, and in the keeping of the King; and he awaits you.' With that Gandalf stood before him, robed in white, his beard now gleaming like pure snow... '...Well, Master Samwise, how do you feel?'
...But Sam lay back, and stared with open mouth... ...between bewilderment and great joy, he could not answer. At last he gasped: 'Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What's happened to the world?'
...'A great Shadow has departed,' said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music... ...and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count. It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known. But he himself burst into tears. Then... ...his tears ceased, and his laughter welled up, and laughing he sprang from his bed.
...'How do I feel? ...Well, I don't know how to say it. I feel, I feel'—he waved his arms in the air—'I feel like spring after winter, and sun on the leaves; and like trumpets and harps and all the songs I have ever heard!' He stopped and he turned towards his master. 'But how's Mr. Frodo ? ...Isn't it a shame about his poor hand? But I hope he's all right otherwise. He's had a cruel time.'
...'Yes, I am all right otherwise,' said Frodo, sitting up and laughing in his turn. 'I fell asleep again waiting for you, Sam... ...I was awake early this morning, and now it must be nearly noon.'
...'Noon!' said Sam, trying to calculate. 'Noon of what day?'
...'The fourteenth of the New Year,' said Gandalf; 'or... ...the eighth day of April in the Shire reckoning. But in Gondor the New Year will always now begin upon the twenty-fifth of March when Sauron fell, and when you were brought out of the fire to the King. He has tended you, and now he awaits you. You shall eat and drink with him. When you are ready I will lead you to him.'
...'The King?' said Sam. 'What king, and who is he?'
...'The King of Gondor and the Lord of the Western Lands... ...and he has taken back all his ancient realm. He will ride soon to his crowning, but he waits for you.'
...'What shall we wear?' said Sam; for all he could see was the old and tattered clothes that they had journeyed in....
...'The clothes that you wore on your way to Mordor,' said Gandalf. 'Even the orc-rags that you bore in the black land, Frodo, shall be preserved. No silks or linens, nor any armour or heraldry could be more honourable....'
......Then he held out his hands to them, and they saw that one shone with Light. 'What have you got there?' Frodo cried. 'Can it be-----?'
...'Yes, I have brought your two treasures. They were found on Sam when you were rescued. The Lady Galadriel's gifts; your glass, Frodo and your box, Sam. You will be glad to have them safe again.'
...When they were washed and clad, and had eaten a light meal, the Hobbits followed Gandalf...
......As they came to the opening in the wood, they were surprised to see knights in bright mail and tall guards in silver and black standing there, who greeted them with honour and bowed before them...
......Frodo and Sam went forward and saw that amidst the clamourous host were set three high-seats built of green turves... ...but behind the highest throne in the midst of all a great standard was spread in the breeze, and there a white tree flowered upon a sable field beneath a shining crown and seven glittering stars. On the throne sat a mail-clad man, a great sword was laid across his knees, but he wore no helm. As they drew near he rose. And then they knew him, changed as he was, so high and glad of face, kingly, lord of Men, dark-haired with eyes of grey.
...Frodo ran to meet him, and Sam followed close... '...Well, if it this isn't the crown of all!' he said. 'Strider, or I'm still asleep!'
...'Yes, Sam, Strider,' said Aragorn. 'It is a long way, is it not, from Bree, where you did not like the look of me?'
......And then to Sam's surprise and utter confusion he bowed his knee before them; and taking them by the hand... ...he led them to the throne, and setting them upon it, he turned to the men and captains who stood by and spoke, so that his voice rang over all the host, crying: 'Praise them with great praise!'
...And when the glad shout had swelled up and died away again, to Sam's final and complete satisfaction and pure joy, a minstrel of Gondor stood forth, and knelt, and begged leave to sing... ...of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom.'
...And when Sam heard that he laughed aloud for shear delight, and he stood up and cried: 'O great glory and splendour! And all my wishes have come true!' And then he wept.
...And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold.... ...he sang to them, now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness....
......there came two esquires to serve the kings... ...one was clad in the silver and sable of the Guards of Minas Tirith, and the other in white and green. But Sam wondered what such young boys were doing in an army of mighty men. Then suddenly as they drew near and he could see them plainly, he exclaimed:
...'Why, look Mr. Frodo! Look here! Well, if it isn't Pippin. Mr. Peregrin Took I should say, and Mr. Merry! How they have grown... ...I can see there's more tales to tell than ours.'
...'There are indeed,' said Pippin turning towards him. 'And we'll begin telling them, as soon as this feast is ended. In the meantime you can try Gandalf. He's not so close as he used to be, though he laughs now more than he talks.'"
2. The Ring-bearers in Ithilien.
(not from the appendices)
..."Orcs, and talking trees, and leagues of grass, and galloping riders, and glittering caves, and white towers and golden halls, and battles, and tall ships sailing, all these passed before Sam's mind until he felt bewildered... ...amidst all these wonders he returned always to his astonishment at the size of Merry and Pippin; and he made them stand back to back with Frodo and himself.... '...Can't understand it at your age!' he said. 'But there it is: you're three inches taller than you ought to be, or I'm a dwarf.'
...'That you certainly are not,' said Gimli. 'But what did I say? Mortals cannot go drinking ent-draughts and expect no more to come of them than a pot of beer.'
...'Ent-draughts?' said Sam. 'There you go about Ents again; but what they are beats me. Why, it will take weeks before we get all these things sized up...!'
... At length Gandalf rose. 'The hands of the King are hands of healing, dear friends... ...But you were to the very brink of death ere he recalled you, putting forth all his power, and sent you into the sweet forgetfulness of sleep. And though you have indeed slept long and blessedly, still it is now time to sleep again.'"
.
We have been there and back again.
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(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Apr 8, 2:03pm)
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