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.It fell upon his ears like the echo of all thejoys he had ever known.But he himself burst into tears.Then, as a sweet rainwill pass down a wind of spring and the sun will shine out the clearer, histears ceased, and his 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 theleaves; and like trumpets and harps and all the songs I have ever heard!’ Hestopped 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 histurn.I fell asleep again waiting for you, Sam, you sleepyhead.I was awakeearly 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 dayof April in the Shire reckoning.«[« There were thirty days in March (or Rethe) in the Shire calendar.] But inGondor the New Year will always now begin upon the twenty-fifth of March whenSauron fell, and when you were brought out of the fire to the King.He hastended you, and now he awaits you.You shall eat and drink with him.When youare 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 hastaken back all his ancient realm.He will ride soon to his crowning, but hewaits for you.’‘What shall we wear?’ said Sam; for all he could see was the old and tatteredclothes that they had journeyed in, lying folded on the ground beside theirbeds.‘The clothes that you wore on your way to Mordor,’ said Gandalf.‘Even theorc-rags that you bore in the black land; Frodo, shall be preserved.No silksand linens, nor any armour or heraldry could be more honourable.But later Iwill 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 wererescued.The Lady Galadriel’s gifts: your glass, Frodo, and your box, Sam.Youwill be glad to have these safe again.’When they were washed and clad, and had eaten a light meal, the Hobbitsfollowed 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 statelydark-leaved trees laden with scarlet blossom.Behind them they could hear thesound of falling water, and a stream ran down before them between floweringbanks, until it came to a greenwood at the lawn’s foot and passed then on underan 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 inbright mail and tall guards in silver and black standing there, who greetedthem with honour and bowed before them.And then one blew a long trumpet, andthey went on through the aisle of trees beside the singing stream.So they cameto a wide green land, and beyond it was a broad river in a silver haze, out ofwhich rose a long wooded isle, and many ships lay by its shores.But on thefield where they now stood a great host was drawn up, in ranks and companiesglittering in the sun.And as the Hobbits approached swords were unsheathed,and spears were shaken, and horns and trumpets sang, and men cried with manyvoices 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 Annûn! 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 withwonder, Frodo and Sam went forward and saw that amidst the clamorous host wereset three high-seats built of green turves.Behind the seat upon the rightfloated, white on green, a great horse running free; upon the left was abanner, silver upon blue, a ship swan-prowed faring on the sea; but behind thehighest 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 andseven glittering stars.On the throne sat a mail-clad man, a great sword waslaid across his knees, but he wore no helm.As they drew near he rose.And thenthey knew him, changed as he was, so high and glad of face, kingly, lord ofMen, dark-haired with eyes of grey.Frodo ran to meet him, and Sam followed close behind.‘Well, if that isn’t thecrown 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 beenthe darkest road
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