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from the Prince。 Now he looked to the River； and hope died in his heart； and the wind that he had
blessed he now called accursed。 But the hosts of Mordor were enheartened； and filled with a new
lust and fury they came yelling to the onset。
Stern now was éomer's mood； and his mind clear again。 He let blow the horns to rally all men to
his banner that could e thither； for he thought to make a great shield…wall at the last； and stand；
and fight there on foot till all fell； and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor； though no man
should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark。 So he rode to a green hillock and
there set his banner； and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind。
Out of doubt； out of dark to the day's rising
I came singing in the sun； sword unsheathing。
To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking：
Now for wrath； now for ruin and a red nightfall！
These staves he spoke； yet he laughed as he said them。 For once more lust of battle was on him；
and he was still unscathed； and he was young； and he was king： the lord of a fell people。 And lo！
even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships； and he lifted up his sword to
defy them。
And then wonder took him； and a great joy； and he cast his sword up in the sunlight and sang as
he caught it。 And all eyes followed his gaze； and behold！ upon the foremost ship a great standard
broke； and the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond。 There flowered a White Tree；
and that was for Gondor； but Seven Stars were about it； and a high crown above it； the signs of
Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count。 And the stars flamed in the sunlight； for they
were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond； and the crown was bright in the morning； for
it was wrought of mithril and gold。
Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn； Elessar； Isildur's heir； out of the Paths of the Dead； borne
upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor； and the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of
laughter and a flashing of swords； and the joy and wonder of the City was a music of trumpets and
a ringing of bells。 But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment； and a great wizardry it
seemed to them that their own ships should be filled with their foes； and a black dread fell on them；
knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was at hand。
East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them： troll…men and Variags and
orcs that hated the sunlight。 South strode éomer and men fled before his face； and they were caught
between the hammer and the anvil。 For now men leaped from the ships to the quays of the Harlond
and swept north like a storm。 There came Legolas； and Gimli wielding his axe； and Halbarad with
the standard； and Elladan and Elrohir with stars on their brow； and the dour…handed Dúnedain；
Rangers of the North； leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of
the South。 But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West； Andúril like a new fire kindled；
Narsil re…forged as deadly as of old： and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil。
And so at length éomer and Aragorn met in the midst of the battle； and they leaned on their
swords and looked on one another and were glad。
'Thus we meet again； though all the hosts of Mordor lay between us；' said Aragorn。 'Did I not
say so at the Hornburg？'
'So you spoke；' said éomer； 'but hope oft deceives； and I knew not then that you were a man
foresighted。 Yet twice blessed is help unlooked for； and never was a meeting of friends more
joyful。' And they clasped hand in hand。 'Nor indeed more timely；' said éomer。 'You e none too
soon； my friend。 Much loss and sorrow has befallen us。'
'Then let us avenge it； ere we speak of it！' said Aragorn； and they rode back to battle together。
Hard fighting and long labour they had still； for the Southrons were bold men and grim； and
fierce in despair； and the Easterlings were strong and war…hardened and asked for no quarter。 And
so in this place and that； by burned homestead or barn； upon hillock or mound； under wall or on
field； still they gathered and rallied and fought until the day wore away。
Then the Sun went at last behind Mindolluin and filled all the sky with a great burning； so that
the hills and the mountains were dyed as with blood； fire glowed in the River； and the grass of the
Pelennor lay red in the nightfall。 And in that hour the great Battle of the field of Gondor was over；
and not one living foe was left within the circuit of the Rammas。 All were slain save those who fled
to die； or to drown in the red foam of the River。 Few ever came eastward to Morgul or Mordor； and
to the land of the Haradrim came only a tale from far off： a rumour of the wrath and terror of
Gondor。
Aragorn and éomer and Imrahil rode back towards the Gate of the City； and they were now
weary beyond joy or sorrow。 These three were unscathed； for such was their fortune and the skill
and might of their arms； and few indeed had dared to abide them or look on their faces in the hour
of their wrath。 But many others were hurt or maimed or dead upon the field。 The axes hewed
Forlong as he fought alone and unhorsed； and both Duilin of Morthond and his brother were
trampled to death when they assailed the _m？makil_； leading their bowmen close to shoot at the
eyes of the monsters。 Neither Hirluin the fair would return to Pinnath Gelin； nor Grimbold to
Grimslade； nor Halbarad to the Northlands； dour…handed Ranger。 No few had fallen； renowned or
nameless； captain or soldier； for it was a great battle and the full count of it no tale has told。 So long
afterward a maker in Rohan said in his song of the Mounds of Mundburg：
We heard of the horns in the hills ringing；
the swords shining in the South…kingdom。
Steeds went striding to the Stoningland
as wind in the morning。 War was kindled。
There Théoden fell； Thengling mighty；
to his golden halls and green pastures
in the Northern fields never returning；
high lord of the host。 Harding and Guthláf
Dúnhere and Déorwine； doughty Grimbold；
Herefara and Herubrand； Horn and Fastred；
fought and fell there in a far country：
in the Mounds of Mundburg under mould they lie
with their league…fellows； lords of Gondor。
Neither Hirluin the Fair to the hills by the sea；
nor Forlong the old to the flowering vales
ever； to Arnach； to his own country
returned in triumph； nor the tall bowmen；
Derufin and Duilin； to their dark waters；
meres of Morthond under mountain…shadows。
Death in the morning and at day's ending
lords took and lowly。 Long now they sleep
under grass in Gondor by the Great River。
Grey now as tears； gleaming silver；
red then it rolled； roaring water：
foam dy