"Almost it seemed that the words took shape..."

m o u n t   d o o m [Orcs march. A whip is cracked. Sam and Frodo moan] Orc Captain: Now! On! On! Frodo: All hope is gone. Orc Captain: On! Sam: Never say die, Mr. Frodo, sir. That's what my old Gaffer would say, if he were here. Orc Captain: Silence, slugs! [They are whipped again. They wince] Orc Captain: On! On! Sam: Come on, Mr. Frodo. Frodo: Sam... Sam: Take my arm! Frodo: Sam, I... Sam: I'll help you along. Frodo: I really can't take another step, Sam. Sam: There's no need to, Mr. Frodo. Look! We're almost there. Frodo: Where? Sam: Oh, I don't know. Where-ever it is, we won't be walking. Orc Captain: Halt! I said halt, you slugs! [The orcs argue and talk to each-other] Orc Captain: Now, then! This here is Udûn. And when we get inside the camp, you're to - hey! [The orcs fight] Orc Captain: Now, then! Now, then! What's all this? Orc: It's them other orcs, trying to push in front. Orc Captain: Wait your turn! Orc: Get on, and stop holding us up! Orc Captain: Don't you tell me what to do, you maggot-ridden bag of bile! Orc: Who do you think your talking to, you filthy flea-bitten dung-heap? [The orcs scream and fight] Sam: Get down, Mr. Frodo! Get down! [Frodo groans] Sam: Now, crawl! Come on, Mr. Frodo - we've got to crawl! Come on, Mr. Frodo, come on. Frodo: I... can't... Sam: Yes, you can! One more crawl and we can get off the road. [Sam drags Frodo] Frodo: No, Sam, please... just let me be. Sam: No! Just a bit further. And then you - you can lie still. There! [They fall to the ground and gasp for breath] -   -   -   -   - Narrator: When the grey light of morning came, Sam woke first and looked out upon the land. All was dreary, flat, and drab-hued. Far off, like a dark standing shadow, loomed the Mountain. Smoke was pouring from it and floating in great rolling clouds down its sides to spread over the land. [Frodo sleeps, uneasily] Sam: It looks every step of fifty miles, and that'll take a week, if it takes a day, with Mr. Frodo as he is. Well, it's got to be faced, Sam Gamgee. We'll never come back. At best our food will take us to our goal, and when we get there, w - we'll be alone, houseless, foodless, and in the middle of a terrible desert. That was the job I felt I had to do when I started: to help Mr. Frodo to the last step, and then die with him. Well, i - if that is the job, then I must do it. I wish Gandalf hadn't fallen in Moria! He would have done something. Frodo: Hello, Sam. [He laughs] Frodo: Talking to yourself, now? Sam: No, I'm just thinking out loud, as you might say, Mr. Frodo. I - I've been having a look round, and there's nothing on the roads, and we'd best be getting away while there's a chance. C - can you manage it? Frodo: I must. Narrator: An ever-approaching threat beat upon them as they went, the dreadful menace of the Power that waited, brooding in deep thought and sleepless malice behind the dark veil about its throne. -   -   -   -   - Narrator: Over the city of Gondor, there hung a great dread. There, alone in garden of the Houses of Healing, walked Faramir, with a heavy heart looking out over the walls, eastward. [A bird chirps] Éowyn: My lord? My lord Faramir? Faramir: Lady Éowyn! Why do you stir abroad? Should you not be resting? Is there something that you lack? Éowyn: It is not lack of care that brings me to you. No houses could be fairer, for those who desire to be healed. But I cannot lie in sloth, idle and caged. I looked for death in battle. But I have not died, and battle still goes on. Faramir: What would you have me do, lady? Éowyn: I would have you bid them let me go. Faramir: I am myself in the keeping of the healers. Nor have I yet taken up my authority in the City. But had I done so, I should still listen to their counsel, and not cross their will in matters of healing. Éowyn: But I do not desire healing. I wish to ride to war like my brother Éomer, or better like Théoden the King, for he has both honour and peace. Faramir: It is too late, lady, to follow the Captains, even if you had the strength. But death in battle may come 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 healers command. Éowyn: But the healers would have me still lie abed. And my window does not look eastward. Faramir: That can be amended. 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. It would ease my care, if you would speak to me, or walk at whiles with me. Éowyn: How should I ease your care, my lord? Faramir: Would you have my plain answer? Éowyn: I would. Faramir: 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 the 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 comes 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. Éowyn: Alas, not me, lord! 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. Narrator: Éowyn 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. -   -   -   -   - Narrator: Frodo and Sam struggled on towards the Mountain. Nearer and nearer it drew, looming blacker, like the oncoming wall of night at the last end of the world. In this way, four days passed, until dream and waking mingled, uneasily. The air was ever murky. While out from the Dark Tower, there crept the veils of shadow that Sauron wove about himself. Sam: Oh, wake up, master. Wake up, master. It's time for another start. Come on. Frodo: I... I can't... I can't manage it, Sam. It's such a weight to carry, such a weight. Sam: Well - well, then let me carry it a bit for you, master. You know I would, and gladly, as long as I have any strength. [Frodo growls] Frodo: Get away from me! Sam: Sir! Frodo: Don't touch me! It's mine! Sam: Mr. Frodo. Frodo: No! No. No, Sam. You must - you must understand. It is my burden, and no one else can bear it. It's too... it's too late now, Sam. Dear Sam. You can't help me in that way again. I am almost in its power now. I couldn't give it up, and if you tried to take it I should go mad. Sam: I understand. But I've been thinking, Mr. Frodo. Frodo: Hm? Sam: There's other things we might do without. Well, why not lighten the load a bit? We're going to the Mountain, now, as straight as we can make it. It's no good taking anything we're not sure to need. Frodo: No. No, we shan't need much on that road. And at its end, nothing. Ugh, I shall be glad to be rid of all this. [He pulls off his Orc-clothing] Frodo: There, I'll be an Orc no more. I won't wear their armour and I'll bear no weapon fair or foul. Let them take me, if they will! Sam: Oh, well, I - I don't know what I'm to part with, other than this orc-stuff, a - and my cooking gear. [He gathers his gear] Sam: But I've carried it so far and through so much! Do you remember that bit of rabbit I cooked for us, Mr. Frodo? Frodo: Hm? Sam: Just before we met Captain Faramir. Frodo: No. No, I'm afraid not, Sam. At least, I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them now. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam. And there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades. Sam: Oh... Well, then the sooner we're rid of it, the sooner to rest. [He grabs his gear] Sam: And talking won't mend nothing. Frodo: W - where are you going, Sam? Sam: Well, I'm not leaving a sword around for Stinker to find. And - and he isn't going to mess with my pans! And if it's all got to go, then it's going down one of these crevices. [He heaves his gear which clammers on the rock as it descends] Frodo: Bless you, Sam, hobbit of hobbits! -   -   -   -   - [Frodo moans in his sleep] Sam: Are you asleep, Mr. Frodo? Mr. Frodo? Oh, well, Sam, we've done better than you expected. We've begun well, anyway. I reckon we crossed half the distance before we stopped. One more day'll do it. Oh, don't be a fool, Sam Gamgee. He won't go another day like that, if he moves at all. And you can't go on much longer giving him all the water and most of the food. I - I can go on a good way though, and I will. Where to? The Mountain, of course. But what then, Sam Gamgee, what then? When you get there, what are you going to do? The... the Cracks of Doom. That is if the master knows how to find them, because I don't - there you are. It's all quite useless. He said so himself, and you were a fool going on hoping and toiling. You could both have lain down and gone to sleep days ago. You'll die just the same. Or worse. You might just as well lie down now and give it up. You'll never get to the top, anyway. I'll get there, and if I leave everything but my bones behind, I'll get there. And I'll carry Mr. Frodo up myself, if it breaks my back and heart. So stop arguing! [The Mountain rumbles] Sam: Oh, Mr. Frodo! What's going to become of us? -   -   -   -   - Narrator: The last stage of their journey to Mount Doom came and it was a torment greater than Sam had ever thought that he could bear. The air was full of fumes. Breathing was painful and difficult. And a dizziness came over them. [Frodo falls to the ground] Sam: It - it's all right, Mr. Frodo! I'll - I'll get you up again. Frodo: I... Sam: There. And see, Mr. Frodo! We're at the Mountain's foot, at last. [Frodo shivers] Sam: Oh, you're cold, sir. I - I didn't have ought to have left my blanket behind. Would you like some - some Elf-bread? There's still some left. Frodo: I'm... so parched... Sam. I couldn't even swallow it. Sam: Well, we'll rest now and go on up in the morning. Frodo: Yes. All the hazards and perils are drawing together to a point now: tomorrow will be a day of doom, a day of final effort or disaster, the last gasp. -   -   -   -   - Sam: Now for it! Now for the last gasp! [Frodo begins to move away] Sam: Oh! What... what - what are you doing, Mr. Frodo? Frodo: I - I... I must crawl there. Sam: No! No! I said I'd carry him, if it broke my back, and I will! Well. Come on, Mr. Frodo! I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Now then, Mr. Frodo, dear. Sam'll give you a ride. Put... put your arms around my neck. That's the way. [He pulls Frodo up] Sam: And now, up with you! There. It's all right, now. Why bless me, Mr. Frodo, if he weighs no more than a hobbit-child I might give a piggyback to back home in the Shire. Frodo: Thank you, Sam. How far is there to go? Sam: Oh, I... I... I don't know, Mr. Frodo, because I don't know where we're going, except up. And up we go! -   -   -   -   - [Sam struggles, his breath short] Sam: There! Well, Sam. That wasn't a bad effort. Oh, we've still got a good way to go. [Frodo's breath quickens] Frodo: Sam! Sam: It's all - all right, Mr. Frodo! I'm just getting a second wind. Hoo! Look! Frodo: What... what is it? Sam: A path! See? Winding round the Mountain. Why, it might have been put there a-purpose. If it wasn't there, I'd... I'd have to say I was beaten in the end. But as it is, I - as it is, I think we'll conquer this Mountain yet. Frodo: I... I'll crawl there, Sam. It's not far. Sam: Are you sure, Mr. Frodo? Frodo: Yes, Sam. I think - I think I can crawl that far. -   -   -   -   - Narrator: So, foot-by-foot, like small grey insects, they crawled up the slope until they came to the path, and found that it was broad and paved with broken rubble and beaten ash. Frodo clambered onto it, and then, as if by some compulsion, turned to face the East, where he saw, rising black, blacker and darker than the vast shades among which it stood, the cruel pinnacles and iron crown of the topmost tower of Barad-dûr. And from some great window immeasurably high, there stabbed forth a flame of red, the flicker of a piercing Eye. Frodo: The Eye. The Eye! Help me, Sam! Help me! Help me, Sam! Sam: Oh, of course, Mr. Frodo! Frodo: Hold... hold... hold my hand! It would make me take out the Ring! I can't stop it. Sam: Oh, now, there, there! It's all right! [Frodo moans] Sam: So he's spotted us. It's all up, or soon will be. Well, Sam, lad. This is the end of the ends. Narrator: But the Eye was not turned to them. -   -   -   -   - Narrator: It was gazing North, to where the Captains of the West stood at bay. Aragorn: Still the Enemy makes no sign, Gandalf. Gandalf: No, Aragorn. And we will wait no longer. We will go to the Black Gate and we will summon him. You and I will go together, Aragorn, and wih us shall come Éomer of Rohan, Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf, and Peregrin the Halfling. For all the enemies of Mordor should have a witness. Come. [Their horses walk swiftly] Pippin: If only I might do something brave enough to draw level with old Merry! Still, I would rather him been well enough to have come. It's very lonely being the only hobbit among so many fine and brave people. [The horses come to a stop] Gandalf: Come forth! Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Aragorn: The King of Gondor calls you forth! [A horseman walks towards them and comes to a stop] The Mouth of Sauron: I am the Mouth of Sauron. [He laughs] The Mouth of Sauron: Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me? Or indeed with wit to understand me? Not thou at least, self-styled King of Gondor! Aragorn: I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and wear the blade once born by Isildur against the Dark Lord you claim to speak for. The Mouth of Sauron: I am a herald and ambassador, and may not be assailed! Gandalf: Where such laws hold, it is also the custom for ambassadors to use less insolence. The Mouth of Sauron: So! [He approaches a few more steps] The Mouth of Sauron: Then thou art the spokesman, old greybeard? Have we not heard of thee at whiles, and of thy wanderings, ever hatching plots and mischief at a safe distance? Gandalf: I am Gandalf the White. The Mouth of Sauron: Well, Master Gandalf! This time thou hast stuck out thy nose too far; and thou shalt see what comes to him who sets his foolish webs before the feet of Sauron the Great. Gandalf: Come to your message. If message you have for us. The Mouth of Sauron: I have tokens that I was bidden to show to thee - to thee in especial, if thou shouldst dare to come. Gandalf: What tokens? The Mouth of Sauron: Allow me to show them to you. [He brings each of the items forth, in turn] The Mouth of Sauron: A sword, a grey cloak with an Elvish brooch, and a coat of silver-mail. Pippin: Look! That's...! [Gandalf hushes him] Gandalf: Silence! [The Mouth of Sauron laughs] The Mouth of Sauron: So you have yet another of these imps with you! What use you find in them I cannot guess; but to send them as spies into Mordor is beyond even your accustomed folly. Still, I thank him, for it is plain that this brat at least has seen these tokens before, and it would be vain for you to deny them now. Gandalf: I do not wish to deny them. Indeed, I know them all and all their history, and despite your scorn, foul Mouth of Sauron, you cannot say as much. The Mouth of Sauron: Dwarf-coat, elf-cloak, blade of the downfallen West, and spy from the little rat-land of the Shire - these are the marks of a conspiracy. Gandalf: Why do you bring them here? The Mouth of Sauron: Maybe he that bore these things was a creature that you would not grieve to lose, and maybe otherwise. [Pippin moans] The Mouth of Sauron: One dear to you, perhaps? Good, good! He was dear to you, I see. Or else his errand was one that you did not wish to fail? [He laughs] The Mouth of Sauron: It has. And now he shall endure the slow torment of years, as long and slow as our arts in the Great Tower can contrive, and never be released, unless maybe when he is changed and broken, so that he may come to you, and you shall see what you have done. This shall surely be - unless you accept my Lord's terms. [Gandalf sighs] Gandalf: Name the terms. The Mouth of Sauron: These are the terms. The rabble of Gondor and its deluded allies shall withdraw at once beyond the River Anduin, first taking oaths never again to assail Sauron the Great in arms, open or secret. All lands east of the River shall be Sauron's for ever, soley. West of the Anduin as far as the Misty Mountains and the Gap of Rohan shall be tributary to Mordor, and men there shall bear no weapons, but shall have leave to govern their own affairs. But they shall help to rebuild Isengard which they have wantonly destroyed, and that shall be Sauron's, and there his lieutenant shall dwell: not Saruman, but one more worthy of trust. Gandalf: Is it Sauron's new lieutenant that speaks with me now? The Mouth of Sauron: That is not a matter which concerns you, greybeard. Gandalf: If you are to be the new tyrant of Isengard and we your slaves, it concerns us greatly. The Mouth of Sauron: I have named the terms. Gandalf: If indeed we rated this prisoner so high, what surety have we that Sauron, the Base Master of Treachery, will keep his part? Where is the prisoner? Let him be brought forth and yielded to us, and then we will consider these demands. [The Mouth of Sauron laughs] The Mouth of Sauron: Do not bandy words in your insolence with the Mouth of Sauron! Surety you crave! Sauron gives none. If you sue for his clemency you must first do his bidding. These are his terms. Take them or leave them! Gandalf: These tokens we will take! [He snatches the items] Gandalf: These we will take in memory of our friend. But as for your terms, we reject them utterly. [The Mouth of Sauron hisses] Gandalf: Get you gone, for your embassy is over and death is near to you. We did not come here to waste words in treating with Sauron, faithless and accursed; still less with one of his slaves. Begone! Pippin: But Gandalf... Frodo! [The Mouth of Sauron rides away] Gandalf: The Mouth of Sauron may lie. The Mouth of Sauron: Uruk-hai! [Orcs scream as they pour from the Black Gate] Gandalf: The trap is sprung! We are surrounded by the whole Host of Mordor and we must fight! -   -   -   -   - Sam: Oh, come, master. We're here. Well, let us try and finish our task. Frodo: Yes. Yes, Sam, it's all right, now. The Eye has looked away. But for a moment I almost took out the Ring. Eh! Sam, look out! [Gollum attacks, hissing. Sam cries out] Gollum: Take that, sneaky! [He laughs] Gollum: Now, now! Wicked master! [He chokes Frodo, who groans and tries his best to breath] Gollum: Wicked Master cheatses, cheatses Sméagol! Gollum! Frodo: No! Gollum: He mustn't go that way! [Frodo coughs] Gollum: He mustn't, no, precious! Give it to Sméagol! Yes. [He hisses] Gollum: Give it to us! [Frodo's voice is stifled] Frodo: Never, Sméagol! Never! Gollum: Never, is it! Nasty! [He hisses] Gollum: Nasty hobbitses doesn't realize how long never isss! [Frodo's voice is clear as he breaks free] Frodo: No! [Gollum cries out] Frodo: Down, down! [Gollum whimpers] Frodo: Down, you creeping thing! And out of my path! Begone, and trouble me no more! If you touch me ever again, you will be cast into the Fire of Doom yourself. [Gollum cries] Gollum: Gollum. Gollum! [He hisses, ferociously] Sam: Look out, master! He'll spring! Gollum: Gollum! Sam: Q - quick, Mr. Frodo, go on! There's no time to lose! [Gollum hisses] Frodo: Yes. Sam: I'll deal with him! Frodo: I must go on. Sam: Go on! Frodo: Farewell, Sam! This is the end of ends! On Mount Doom doom shall fall. Farewell! [Gollum hisses and spits] Sam: Now! At last I can deal with you! Gollum: Don't - don't kill usss. [He whimpers] Gollum: Let us live! [Gollum cries. Sam remember's Frodo's voice: Frodo: Remember Gandalf's words. Gollum may yet have some part to play, for good or ill. ] Sam: Oh! Oh curse you, you stinking thing! Go away! Be off! I don't trust you, not as far as I could kick you, but be off! Or I shall hurt you, yes, with nasty cruel steel. Gollum: Good hobbit! Sam: Go on! Gollum: Nice hobbit! Sam: Go on! Gollum: Yes, yes, yes, we go. We go. [He laughs and slinks away] Sam: Frodo! Master! Mr. Frodo, wait for me! -   -   -   -   - [A deep rumbling fills the air. Sam's voice echoes] Sam: Frodo! M - master! Frodo! Master! Where are you? Mr. Frodo! Mr. Fro - [Frodo laughs] Frodo: I have come. But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine! Mine. [He places the Ring on his finger] Frodo: Oh, Mr. Frodo. Master! Where are you? Where are you? [Sam is struck by a hissing Gollum and falls to the floor] Gollum: Sneak. Where iss... Frodo: So. Gollum: ...the Precious? [He hisses] Frodo: So now the Eye can see me. Gollum: Give us the Precious, hobbit. The Precious. We wantss it. Frodo: No. Gollum: Yesss! Yes, we will have it. [Frodo laughs quietly] Gollum: Where's its handses? Got it! [He hisses] Gollum: Now, give us the Preciouss. Frodo: No, Sméagol. It is mine! [Gollum hisses and laughs] Gollum: Well, if it won't give it usss, then we'll bites it and takeses it. [Gollum bites down and Frodo screams] Gollum: Lost its finger, has it, hm? Silly hobbit! Now, we've got the Precious! Precious, precious! My Precious! [He laughs] Gollum: Oh, my Precious! Now, we haveses it! Yes! Sméagol's got the Precious! Sméagol's got the Precious! Tricksy hobbitses! Couldn't trick Sméagol, no! Sméagol's got the... [He trips and falls downward. His voice fades away into the depths] Gollum: Precious! [Mount Doom erupts] -   -   -   -   - [Lava flows around them] Frodo: Well, Samwise Gamgee, this is the end. Sam: Oh, master! Well, it's gone! The burden. You're free! Frodo: Yes, Sam. Free! Sam: Oh! But your poor hand! And I have nothing to bind it with, or comfort it. I would have spared him a whole hand of mine rather. But he's gone, for ever. Fallen into the Cracks of Doom. Frodo: No, Sam. But for him, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us - let us forgive him. For the Quest is achieved. Now all is over. Oh, Sam Gamgee, I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things. Sam: Oh, yes, I am with you, master. And you're with me. And the journey's finished. But after coming all that way, I don't want to give up, yet! [Frodo laughs] Sam: It's not like me, somehow. Frodo: Maybe not, Sam. But it is like things are in the world. You see? Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait, now. Soon, we shall be engulfed in these rivers of fire. We are lost in ruin and downfall, and there is no escape. Sam: Now, well, Master! We could at least go further than this dangerous place, here. Now, couldn't we? Well, come on, Mr. Frodo. Well, let's go down the path, at any rate. Frodo: Very well, Sam. If you wish to go, I'll come. [Their footsteps are muffled on the ash] Sam: Well! What a tale we've been in, Mr. Frodo, haven't we? I wish I could here it told. Do you - do you think they'll say, "Now comes the story of Nine-fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom"? Frodo: Oh! Sam: And then everyone will hush and listen. I wish I could hear it! I wonder how it will go after our part? [Frodo loses his footing] Frodo: I can go no further, Sam. Sam: Sir... Frodo: The smoke and the fumes! Let us stay here. Sam: Very well, Mr. Frodo. Here we stay. [Eagles' wings beat far above them] Sam: Oh, that's - that's strange, Mr. Frodo. I thought I heard Eagles. [He laughs as his voice fails] Sam: Very strange. The Eagles. [He laughs again] Sam: Eagles... Narrator: It was Gwaihir the Eagle and his brothers who came to them out of the North, bearing Gandalf across the ruin of Mordor, to the aid of Frodo and Samwise. -   -   -   -   - [Birds chirp. Sam wakes] Sam: Bless me! Oh! Oh, how long have I been asleep? What a dream I had! Oh, I'm glad to wake - no, no! It wasn't a dream. Well, then, where are we? Gandalf: In the land of Ithilien. [Sam gasps] Gandalf: And in the keeping of the King who awaits you. Sam: Gandalf! Gandalf! I - I thought you were dead! Gandalf: Ah. Sam: Well, I - I... I thought I was dead myself. Well, is everything sad going to come untrue? What's happened in the world? Gandalf: A great Shadow has departed. Well, Master Samwise! How do you feel? Sam: Oh, how do I feel? I... I - well, I don't know how to say it. I feel like spring after winter, sun on the leaves, like - like trumpets and harps and all the songs I ever heard... Oh, but how's Mr. Frodo? Oh, isn't it a shame about his poor hand? I hope he's all right otherwise. He had a cruel time. [Frodo laughs] Sam: Ah! Frodo: Yes, I'm all right otherwise, Sam! I fell alseep again, waiting for you, you sleepyhead. I was awake earlier this morning, but - but now it must be nearly noon. Sam: Noon? What - noon of what day? Gandalf: The fourteenth of the New Year, or if you like, the eighth day of April in the Shire reckoning. But in Gondor, the New Year will always begin upon the twenty-fifth of March when Sauron fell, and when the Eagles brought you out of the fire to the King. Sam: The King? What King? Gandalf: The King of Gondor and Lord of the Western Lands who has taken back all his ancient realm. He will ride soon to his crowning. He awaits only to do honour to the Ring-bearers. -   -   -   -   - [Music is played and minstrels sing:      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 Annûn! Elglerio!      A laita te, laita te! Andave laituvalmet!      Cormacolindor, a laita tárienna!      Praise them! The Ring-bearers, praise them with great praise!      Frodo and Samwise! Praise them with great praise! ] Sam: Look! Mr. Frodo, look here! It's Pippin and Merry! [They laugh] Sam: And how they've grown! Bless me! I can see there's more tales to tell than ours. Pippin: There are indeed! And we'll begin telling them as soon as we may, for it will take weeks. [They laugh] Merry: And then Frodo will have to be locked up in a tower in Minas Tirith and write it all down. Otherwise he will forget half of it, and poor old Bilbo will be dreadfully disappointed! Frodo: My dear, dear hobbits! I never thought to see you again. Sam: Gimli and Legolas! [Frodo laughs] Gimli: Hail Frodo! Hail Samwise! Legolas: The first and second-born of the races of Middle-earth salute you. Frodo: It's a joy to see you both again! Gandalf: Come! The King is waiting. There will be time enough later for reunions. -   -   -   -   - Aragorn: Hail, Frodo. Sam! Sam: Well, if that isn't the crown of all. Strider! Or I'm still asleep. Aragorn: Yes, Strider. It is a long way, is it not, from Bree, where you did not like the look of me? A long way for all of us. But yours has been the darkest road. I bend my knee in acknowledgement of that. Frodo: No, Strider! You - you must not bow. Not - not to us. Aragorn: Come. You shall sit upon my throne. There. Praise them with great praise! [Men answer: "Praise them! Praise them!"] Aragorn: Let the minstrel sing to us. Minstrel: Now, listen to my lay. For I will sing to you of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom. Pippin: What about us? Merry: Will we be in it, too? Sam: O great glory and splendour! All my wishes have come true! Frodo: Dear, dear Sam. [Sam cries. Music is played] Minstrel:      Frodo went forth on a fateful journey... -   -   -   -   - Narrator: As the minstrel sang to them, away in the west, upon the walls of Gondor stood Faramir and Éowyn. A great wind rose, and their hair, raven and golden, streamed out, mingling in the air. The sun was unveiled. The light leapt forth, and the waters of the River Anduin shone like silver. Faramir: See, Éowyn! The darkness has passed! Éowyn: And look! How a mighty Eagle comes to us from out the East! [The Eagle sings:      Sing, ye people of the Tower of Anor,      For the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever,      and the Dark Tower is thrown down.      Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard,      for your watch hath not been in vain,      and the Black Gate is broken,      and your King has passed through,      and he is victorious. ] [Bells swing in the distance] Faramir: Now you will wish to go and meet your brother and share in the celebration of this victory. Éowyn: No, lord. I will tarry here. Faramir: Why? Éowyn: Do you not know? Faramir: Two reasons there may be, but which it is, I do not know. Either you still fear to see the Lord Aragorn, or you wish to stay with me. Éowyn, do you not love me, or will you not? Éowyn: I had wished to be loved by another. But I desire no man's pity. Faramir: Look at me, Éowyn! I love you. Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Éowyn, do you not love me? Éowyn: I stand in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun, and behold the Shadow has departed! No longer do I desire to be a Queen. Faramir: That is well, for I am not a king. Yet I will wed with the White Lady of Rohan, if it be her will. Éowyn: Then let it be as my good lord wishes! Faramir: Éowyn! [The Eagle sings:      Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,      for your King shall come again,      and he shall dwell among you      all the days of your life. ] -   -   -   -   - Faramir: The last Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office. Aragorn: The office is not ended, and it shall be thine and thy heirs as long as my line shall last. And the princetom of Ithilien shall be thine also. Now, Steward, do your office. Faramir: Men of Gondor, hear now the Steward of the Realm! Behold! One has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chiefton of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword that was Broken, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Númenor. Shall he be King and enter into the City and dwell there? [The people cry: "Yea!"] Faramir: Men of Gondor, using the authority of the Steward, I have today brought hither the crown of Eärnur, the last king, whose days passed in the time of our longfathers of old. Take it now, lord. Aragorn: Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta. By the labour and valour of many I have come into my inheritance. In token of this I would have the Ring-bearer bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir set it upon my head, if he will; for he has been the mover of all that has been accomplished, and this is his victory. Gandalf: Go on, Frodo! Take the crown from Faramir and bring it to me. Frodo: Yes. Gandalf: Aragorn son of Arathorn, I crown you King of Gondor and Arnor. Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure! Faramir: Behold the King! [The Eagle sings:      And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed,      and he shall plant it in the high places,      and the City shall be blessed.      Sing! Sing all ye people! ] -   -   -   -   - Narrator: So the glad days passed. Then, one night, Gandalf took Aragorn out from the City, and brought him to Mount Mindolluin. And there, below the snows that clad the lofty peaks, they looked down over the precipice that stood behind the City of Gondor. [A wind blows] Gandalf: Do you still look for a sign, Aragorn? Aragorn: Yes, Gandalf. The Tree in the Court of the Fountain which grew from the fruit which Isildur brought out from the West is still withered and barren. Gandalf: Turn your face from the green world, and look where all seems barren and cold! Now, what do you see there? Aragorn: A young tree! Why, Gandalf, it is flower. Yé! Utúvienyes! I have found it! Lo! Here is a scion of the Eldest of Trees! But how comes it here? For it is itself not seven years old. Gandalf: Verily, this is a sapling of the line of Nimloth the fair; the White Tree of Númenor. Aragorn: The sign has been given. The line of Gondor will be restored and will flourish and flower anew! Narrator: Then Aragorn took the sapling and bore it back to the Citadel. And the withered tree was uprooted, but with reverence; and they did not burn it, but laid it to rest with the dead. And Aragorn planted the new tree in the Court of the Fountain, and swiftly and gladly it began to grow. And when the month of June entered in, it was laden with blossom. -   -   -   -   - Narrator: Then Midsummer came, and with it came news. Frodo: Gandalf, messengers say that a company of fair folk are approaching the City. What does this mean? Gandalf: It is Elrond, coming from Rivendell, with his daughter, Arwen. Frodo: But why are they coming to Gondor? Gandalf: Arwen comes to wed with Aragorn. Frodo: Ah. Gandalf: The cost of this union is great, for Aragorn has waited many years for this day and could not hope to marry her until he sat in Minas Tirith as the King of Gondor. And in deciding to cleave to Aragorn, the Lady Arwen has made a costly choice. For she must renounce the Twilight and become, like him, a mortal who must, one day, die. Frodo: Just as Lúthien Tinúviel chose to become mortal for the sake of Beren. Gandalf: Indeed. And when Aragorn first saw Arwen, he believed her to be Lúthien Tinúviel. For in her beauty, she resembles her. Frodo: I had forgotten. But Bilbo spoke of this to me, long ago, in Rivendell. Gandalf: Well, Frodo. Shall we go out and greet their arrival? Frodo: Yes. -   -   -   -   - [Elves sing in the background:      A Elbereth! A Gilthoniel!      Silivren penna míriel!      A Elbereth! A Gilthoniel!      Silivren penna míriel!      A Elbereth! A Gilthoniel!] Gandalf: There she is, Frodo. Arwen Undómiel, the Lady Evenstar. Frodo: Oh, she is beautiful, Gandalf! At last, I understand why we have waited. This is the ending. Now not only day shall be beloved, but night too shall beautiful and blessed, and all its fear pass away. Narrator: Then the King welcomed his guests, and Elrond layed the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King. And together, they went up into the high City, and all the stars flowered in the sky, and Aragorn, the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undómiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfilment. -   -   -   -   - Narrator: When the days of rejoicing were over at last, Frodo went to the King, as he was sitting with the Queen Arwen by the Fountain. [Water springs from the Fountain] Frodo: My lord and most fairest of Queens... Aragorn: I know what you come to say, Frodo. You wish to return to your own home. Frodo: It is true that I wish to go back to the Shire, but first I must go to Rivendell. For if there could be anything wanting in a time so blessed, I miss Bilbo. And I was grieved when, among all the household of Elrond, I saw that he was not come. Arwen: Do you wonder at that, Ring-bearer? For you know the power of that thing which is now destroyed; and all that was done by that power is now passing away. But your kinsman possessed this thing longer than you. He is ancient in years now, according to his kind; and he awaits you, for he will not again make any long journey, save one. Frodo: What journey is that? Arwen: Age and weariness will now fall on many. And they will yearn to cross the Sundering Seas to the Deathless Lands of the West. That is the journey which lies yet before Bilbo and my father, Elrond. Frodo: Then I beg leave to depart soon, Queen Arwen. Aragorn: In seven days we will go. For we shall ride with you far on the road, even as far as the country of Rohan. For we must bear Théoden back to rest in the Mark. Arwen: But before you depart, a gift I give to you. For I am the daughter of Elrond, and I shall not go with him now when he departs to the Havens; for mine is the choice of Lúthien, and as she so have I chosen, both the sweet and the bitter. But in my stead, you shall go, Ring-bearer, when the time comes, and if you then desire it. If your hurt grieve you still and the memory of your burden is heavy, then you may pass into the West, until all your wounds and weariness are healed. But wear this white gem about your neck, in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar, with whom your life has been woven. Frodo: Lady! Arwen: There. [She places the gem around Frodo's neck] Arwen: When the memory of the fear and the darkness troubles you, this will bring you aid. -   -   -   -   - Narrator: At last, the day of departure came, and a great and fair company made ready to ride north from the City, and bear King Théoden upon a golden bier back to his realm of Rohan. There, they laid Théoden in a house of stone with his arms and many other fair things, and over him raised a great mound, covered with green turfs of grass. [Men sing:      Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day's rising      he rode singing in the sunlight, sword unsheathing.      Hope he rekindled, and in hope he ended;      over death, over dread, over doom lifted      out of loss, out of life, unto long glory. ] Merry: Farewell, Théoden, King of the Mark! As a father you were to me, for a little while. Farewell! [The men cry: "Hail, Éomer, King of the Mark!"] Éomer: This is the funeral of Théoden, the King. But I will speak, ere we go, of tidings of joy. He would not grudge that I should do so, since he was ever a father to Éowyn, my sister. Hear then, all my guests, fair folk of many realms: Faramir, Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien asks that Éowyn, Lady of Rohan, should be his wife. And she grants it full-willing. Therefore they shall be trothplighted before you all. Thus is the friendship of the Mark and Gondor bound with a new bond, and the more do I rejoice. Faramir: As do I, Lord Éomer. Aragorn: Well, Éomer! You give thus to Gondor the fairest thing in your realm. Éowyn: Wish me joy, my liege-lord and healer! Aragorn: I have wished thee joy ever since first I saw thee. It heals my heart to see thee now in bliss. Frodo: Now, though it grieves us to leave, we must be parted from you all. Éomer: Farewell, Ring-bearer. Frodo: Farewell, King Éomer. May you live long in the Golden Hall of Rohan. And may your people long know peace. Éowyn: Farewell, Samwise! Sam: Why... good-bye. Éowyn: Legolas. Legolas: Farewell. Éowyn: Gimli. Gimli: Farewell, Lady. Éowyn: And Pippin. Pippin: Good-bye. Éomer: And farewell, Meriadoc of the Shire, Holdwine of the Mark! Ride to good fortune, and ride back soon to our welcome! Merry: I will, my lord. Éomer: Kings of old would have laden you with gifts; yet I have no gift that is worthy. Éowyn: But this I beg you to recieve. Tis an ancient horn of silver. Take it as a memorial of the horns of the Mark at the coming of morning. Merry: Thank you, Lady! It will serve thus. And as a memorial of Dernhelm, the knight of the Mark who carried me to battle. Faramir: Now we must part. All speed to you, Ring-bearer and companions, all. Frodo: We thank you, Faramir, Steward of Gondor. Pippin: What about you, Gandalf? Gandalf: I shall ride yet a while longer with you. For we must go with Elrond to Rivendell. Sam: And... um, what about you, Strider? I - I mean, Lord Aragorn? Aragorn: I will ride with you as far as Isengard, Sam. Sam: Good news! [Aragorn laughs] Gandalf: Yes, we shall go to Isengard, though I am uneasy as to what we shall find when we come to the tower of Saruman.