"In the days that followed his crowning the King sat on his throne in the Hall of Kings and pronounced his judgements" (p. 246, The Return of the King). He met with embassies from the East and Dunland. He pardoned the men in Sauron's service who had given themselves up. Those in captivity in Mordor were give new lands of their own. Those who aided the King valiantly were rewarded. The case of Beregond was also judged during this time. He deserved death because of his acts of spilling blood in the Hallows and deserting his post in war. Aragron pronounced his sentence: "'All penalty is remitted for your valour in battle, and still more because all that you did was for the love of the Lord Faramir. Nonethless you must leave the Guard of the Citadel, and you must go forth from the City of Minis Tirith.' The the blood left Beregond's face, and he was stricken in the heart and bowed his head. But the King said: 'So it must be, for you are appointed to the White Company, the Guard of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, and you shall be its captain and dwell in Emyn Arnen in honour and peace, and in the service of him for whom you risked all, to save him from death'" (p. 247, The Return of the King). This set Beregond's heart to joy. What a beautiful mix of justice and mercy by Aragorn! He could not let Beregond's transgressions go unpunished and yet he could not leave a faithful servant unrewarded.
As stated Faramir was given the realm of Ithilien. To Eomer he said: "'Between us there can be no word of giving or taking, nor of reward; for we are brethren'" (p. 247, The Return of the King). He did offer to give Theoden a burial place of great honor in Minis Tirith or to bear his body back to Rohan for his friend. Eomer responded: "'Since the day when you rose before me out of the green grass of the downs I have loved you, and that love shall not fail'" (p. 247, The Return of the King). For the time being Eomer needed to return to Rohan and order his kingdom since the War was ended. He vowed to return for Theoden's body. I love the words of affirmation between the two; truly they are brothers with friendship forged in the fires of adversity. Eowyn, at this time, felt the need to return to her homeland but vowed to Faramir her return once Theoden, her father figure, was laid to rest in Rohan.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, May 2nd-7th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 246-247
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