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| Poems and Tales of Middle-Earth: |
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(illustration by John Howe) |
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The Lord of the Rings
Part III. The Return of the King
Quotes from Tolkien's Novel
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| Aragorn: Lady Éowyn's bitter farewell |
"She smiled on him and said: 'Then it was kindly done, lord,
to ride so many miles out of your way to bring tidings to Eowyn, and to speak with her in her exile.'
'Indeed no man would count such a journey wasted,' said Aragorn; 'and yet, lady, I could
not have come hither, if it were not that the road which I must take leads me to Dunharrow.'
And she answered as one that likes not what is said: 'Then, lord, you are astray; for out
of Harrowdale no road runs east or south; and you had best return as you came.'
'Nay, lady,' said he, 'I am not astray; for I walked this land ere you were born to grace
it. There is a road out of this valley, and that road I shall take. Tomorrow I shall ride by the Paths of the Dead.'
'Then she stared at him as one that is stricken, and her face blanched, and for long she
spoke no more, while all sat silent. [...] but her eyes were ever upon Aragorn, and the others saw that she was
in great torment of mind." |
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"He turned and saw her as a glimmer in the night, for she was clad in white;
but her eyes were on fire.
'Aragorn', she said, 'why will you go on this deadly road?'
'Because I must,' he said. 'Only so can I see any hope of doing my part in the war against
Sauron. I do not choose paths of peril, Éowyn. Were I to go where my heart dwells, far in the North I would
now be wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell.'
For a while she sat silent, as if pondering what this might mean." |
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" 'Shall I always be chosen?' she said bitterly. 'Shall I always be left
behind when the Riders depart, to mind the house while they win renown, and find food and beds when they return?
[...] All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died
in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the
House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death.'
'What do you fear, lady?' he asked.
'A cage,' she said. 'To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance
of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.' " |
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"Then it seemed to Gimli and Legolas who were nearby that she wept, and in one
so stern and proud that seemed the more grievous. But she said: 'Aragorn, whilt thou go?'
'I will,' he said.
'Then whilt thou not let me ride with this company, as I have asked?'
'I will not, lady,' he said. 'For that I could not grant without leave of the king and of
your brother; and they will not return until tomorrow. But I count now every hour, indeed every minute. Farewell!'
Then she fell on her knees, sayin: 'I beg thee!'
'Nay, lady,' he said, and taking her by the hand he raised her. Then he kissed her hand,
and sprang into the saddle, and rode away, and did not look back; and only those who knew him well and were near
to him saw the pain that he bore.
But Éowyn stood still as a figure carven in stone, her hands clenched at her sides,
and she watched them until they passed into the shadows under the black Dwimorberg, the Haunted Moutain, in which
was the Door of the Dead. When they were lost to view, she turned, stumbling as one that is blind, and went back
to her lodging." |
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