The Return of the King: Book 6, Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

After the departure of Aragorn’s army, those remaining in Minas Tirith are filled with gloom. Éowyn refuses to rest for the amount of time the healers think is required. She rises, saying she’ll get sicker if she can’t find anything to do. She asks for tidings of war but there are none. She’s frustrated by the healers who suggest that there are other things outside of war that require attention, and she says that she would’ve rather died on the battlefield than be stuck here with nothing to do. She demands to be taken to Faramir, who is still resting in the Houses of Healing.

Faramir is walking in the garden when Éowyn finds him. She explains that she’s not upset with her treatment, but she cannot endure being caged. When Faramir sees her, he’s moved by her beauty and obvious strength, and asks what she wants. When she demands to be let go from the Houses of Healing, she begins to doubt herself; she doesn’t want Faramir to think she’s just being petulant. He tells her that he himself is under the care of the healers, and even if he had the power to release Éowyn, he wouldn’t, because she still needs care. Éowyn softens and begins to cry. One of the causes of her sadness is that the window by her bed doesn’t look to the east. Faramir tells her he can fix this, at least.

Faramir goes on to tell Éowyn that he’d enjoy her company during his walks in the garden. She isn’t sure what he wants with her company and doesn’t have much interest in conversation. Faramir tells her he thinks she is beautiful, and he feels close to her through their shared experience of the Dark Shadow. Éowyn tells him she is still under the shadow, so Faramir should not depend on her to lighten his spirits, but thanks him for the permission to walk in the gardens. When Faramir returns inside, he asks the warden to tell him everything he knows about Éowyn, but the warden tells him that Merry would be able to provide more insight. Merry helps Faramir to understand Éowyn’s sadness, but when Faramir walks in the garden again, Éowyn doesn’t join him.

In the morning, Faramir sees Éowyn again. They walk and talk together, seeming to grow stronger in each other’s company. A few days pass and the two of them look out from the wall together. The air has grown colder. Aragorn must be reaching the Black Gate soon. Faramir tells Éowyn that the last days have brought him both joy and pain: joy in meeting Éowyn, but increased sadness and fear of losing the war, because he does not want to lose her. Éowyn evades his statement. From the wall, they see a huge mountain of darkness rising in the distance and feel the city shake. Faramir says that he knows that this seems like the end, but he feels an unreasonable amount of hope and tells Éowyn he thinks that the darkness is over. Without knowing it, Éowyn and Faramir have been holding hands.

Suddenly, the huge shadow disperses and the sun shines on the river. An eagle arrives with the news that Sauron has been overthrown, and the people of the city sing in all their different languages. Faramir takes up his position as Steward of Gondor until the king’s return to take charge of readying the city. Though Éomer summons Éowyn to join the camp in Ithilien, she doesn’t go, and while she stays in the city, she seems to grow weaker and sadder.

Faramir asks Éowyn why she refused to go to Éomer. He suggests there are two reasons: first, that it was Éomer and not Aragorn that called for her; second, that she wishes to stay with Faramir. Faramir knows that Éowyn wished to have her love for Aragorn requited, but he suggests that she only loved him because he represented an ascent to power and an escape from her own life. Faramir tells Éowyn he loves her, not out of pity, which was the only way Aragorn could love her; but because he sees her beauty and strength. At this, Éowyn’s heart changes. She vows to become a healer rather than obsessing over battle and honor. Faramir and Éowyn agree to marry.

The people of the city prepare for the king’s return. Many groups of men arrive from distant cities, and the women and children return home. At last, the people of the city see a camp arrive in the field below. The next morning, the captains ride towards the city where Faramir greets them. Aragorn leads the company of Dúnedain forward, and with them are Éomer, Gandalf, Imrahil, and the four hobbits. Faramir meets them and surrenders his stewardship to Aragorn, but Aragorn tells him the office of steward will remain with Faramir. Then, Faramir announces to the people of Gondor that Aragorn has come to claim the kingship.  

Faramir brings Aragorn the crown of the last king. Aragorn gives the crown back to Faramir, saying that he has had the help of many in order to claim the kingship, so he’d like Frodo to bring him the crown and Gandalf to set it on his head. When this has been done, Aragorn rises: he appears to the crowd like one of the ancient kings, wise, strong, and gentle. Aragorn takes the throne and begins to transform Minas Tirith into a more beautiful place than it has ever been.

Over the following days, Aragorn issues pardons and judgments. He makes peace with the men from the south and east who fought under Sauron’s rule, and he releases the slaves of Mordor. He then comes to Beregond’s sentence. Because Beregond disobeyed his orders, he would have once been sentenced to death, but instead Aragorn appoints him to Faramir’s guard as a captain. Aragorn gives Ithilien to Faramir’s command. Éomer returns to Rohan to set things in order, and Éowyn goes with him, telling Faramir she’ll return when they’ve laid Théoden to rest. The Riders of Rohan leave Minas Tirith.

The people of the city are busy repairing the damage from battle. The hobbits, Legolas, and Gimli stay with Aragorn, who doesn’t want the Fellowship to disband yet. He tells them a day is approaching that he’s been anticipating for many years, though he won’t say what that day is. Frodo knows that the hobbits will have to return to the Shire soon. Gandalf assures him that, while their journey must’ve felt endless, it has in fact been less than a year since they left the Shire.

One night, Gandalf takes Aragorn to a high peak to survey the land of Gondor. He tells Aragorn that while much of the kingdom has been preserved, there will be a lot that will soon decay. With the destruction of the One Ring, the Three Rings also lost their power. It is now up to the mortal men to ensure the preservation of their lands and people. Gandalf goes on to say that he will not stay for long, now—his task was to be Sauron’s enemy, and that task is over.

Aragorn laments that he cannot see his line continuing, and one day he will die—who will be king after him? Gandalf tells him to look around him. Aragorn sees a sapling growing in the snow: it’s a White Tree that must’ve been planted from the fruit of the tree in Minas Tirith’s court. Aragorn lifts the tree easily from the soil and carries it back to the citadel where he replaces the old, withered tree with the young, healthy one. He says that “the sign has been given” and the day he spoke of will arrive soon. He sets watchmen on the walls.

Messengers come to Aragorn on the day before Midsummer to tell him that a group of Elves are riding towards the city. Aragorn orders the city be made ready. The Elves arrive, headed by Elladan and Elrohir and joined by others including Galadriel and Elrond. Beside Elrond is Arwen. Frodo exclaims that she, the “Evenstar,” has come to make the day as beautiful as the night. Aragorn welcomes the Elves. Elrond gives Arwen’s hand to Aragorn, and after they climb the levels of the city, Aragorn and Arwen are married.