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laughter welled up； and laughing he sprang from his bed。
'How do I feel？' he cried。 '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？'
he said。 '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； you sleepyhead。 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 if you like； 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 Lord of the Western Lands；' said Gandalf '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； lying folded on the ground beside their beds。
'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 and linens； nor any armour or heraldry
could be more honourable。 But later I will find some other clothes； perhaps。'
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 these safe
again。'
When they were washed and clad； and had eaten a light meal； the Hobbits followed Gandalf。
They stepped out of the beech…grove in which they had lain； and passed on to a long green lawn；
glowing in sunshine； bordered by stately dark…leaved trees laden with scarlet blossom。 Behind them
they could hear the sound of falling water； and a stream ran down before them between flowering
banks； until it came to a greenwood at the lawn's foot and passed then on under an archway of trees；
through which they saw the shimmer of water far away。
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。 And then one blew a long trumpet； and they went on through the aisle of trees beside the
singing stream。 So they came to a wide green land； and beyond it was a broad river in a silver haze；
out of which rose a long wooded isle； and many ships lay by its shores。 But on the field where they
now stood a great host was drawn up； in ranks and panies glittering in the sun。 And as the
Hobbits approached swords were unsheathed； and spears were shaken； and horns and trumpets sang；
and men cried with many voices and in many tongues：
_'Long live the Halflings！ Praise them with great praise！
Cuio i Pheriain anann！ Aglar'ni Pheriannath！
Praise them with great praise； Frodo and Samwise！
Daur a Berhael； Conin en Ann？n！ Eglerio！
Praise them！
Eglerio！
A laita te； laita te！ Andave laituvalmet！
Praise them！
Cormacolindor； a laita tárienna！
Praise them！ The Ring…bearers； praise them with great praise！'_
And so the red blood blushing in their faces and their eyes shining with wonder； Frodo and Sam
went forward and saw that amidst the clamorous host were set three high…seats built of green turves。
Behind the seat upon the right floated； white on green； a great horse running free； upon the left was
a banner； silver upon blue； a ship swan…prowed faring on the sea； 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 behind。 'Well； if that 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？ A long way for us all but yours has been the darkest road。'
And then to Sam's surprise and utter confusion he bowed his knee before them； and taking them
by the hand； Frodo upon his right and Sam upon his left； 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 plete
satisfaction and pure joy； a minstrel of Gondor stood forth； and knelt； and begged leave to sing。
And behold！ he said：
'Lo！ lords and knights and men of valour unashamed； kings and princes； and fair people of
Gondor； and Riders of Rohan； and ye sons of Elrond； and Dúnedain of the North； and Elf and
Dwarf； and greathearts of the Shire； and all free folk of the West； now listen to my lay。 For I will
sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom。'
And when Sam heard that he laughed aloud for sheer delight； and he stood up and cried： 'O great
glory and splendour！ And all my wishes have e 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； and all men were hushed。 And 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。
And at the last； as the Sun fell from the noon and the shadows of the trees lengthened； he ended。
'Praise them with great praise！' he said and knelt。 And then Aragorn stood up； and all the host arose；
and they passed to pavilions made ready； to eat and drink and make merry while the day lasted。
Frodo and Sam were led apart and brought to a tent； and there their old raiment was taken off；
but folded and set aside with honour； and clean linen was given to them。 Then Gandalf came and in
his arms； to the wonder of Frodo； he bore the sword and the elven…cloak and the mithril…coat that
had been taken from him in Mordor。 For Sam he brought a coat of gilded mail； and his elven…cloak
all healed of the soils and hurts that it had suffered； and then he laid before them two swords。
'I do not wish for any sword；' said Frodo。
'Tonight at least you should wear one；' said Gandalf。
Then Frodo took the small sword that had belonged to Sam； and had been laid at his side in
Cirith Ungol。 'Sting I gave to you Sam；' he said。
'No； master！ Mr。 Bilbo gave it to you； and it goes with his silver coat； he would not wish anyone
else to wear it now。'
Frodo gave way； and Gandalf； as if he were their esquire； knelt and girt the sword…belts about
them； and then rising he set circlets of silver upon their heads。 And when they were arrayed they
went to the great feast； and they sat at the King's table with Gandalf； and King éomer of Rohan；
and the Prince Imrahil and all the chief captains； and there also were Gimli and Legolas。
But when； after the Standing Silence； wine was brought there came in two esquires to serve the
kings； or so they seemed to be： 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！ Bless me！ But 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。 For the present Merry and I are busy。 We are knights of the City
and of the Mark； as I hope you observe。'
At last the glad day ended； and when the Sun was gone and the round Moon