The Triumphal Entry

This is it. Can you sense the it? The excitement? It's here. This is the coming of the King. All the promises will be fulfilled. All the wounds will be bound up--the imprisoned set free--the blind will see.

May we sense the wonder of it all. May we yearn to know the story in full. May our hearts give us no ease in mere good: may we embrace longing for the Best.

Amen.

Come.

Now Aragorn knelt beside Faramir, and held a hand upon his brow. And those that watched felt some great struggle was going on. For Aragorn's face grew grey with weariness; and ever and anon he called the name of Faramir, but each time more faintly to their hearing, as if Aragorn himself was removed from them, and walked afar in some dark vale, calling for one who was lost.

And at last Bergil cam running in, and he bore six leaves in a cloth. "It is kingsfoil, Sir," he said; "but not fresh, I fear. It must have been culled two weeks ago at the least. I hope it will serve, Sir?" Then looking at Faramir he burst into tears.

But Aragorn smiled. "It will serve," he said. "The worst is now over. Stay and be comforted!" Then taking two leaves, he laid them on his hands and breathed on them, and then he crushed them, and straightaway a living freshness filled the room, as if the air itself awoke and tingled, sparkling with joy. And then he cast the leaves into the bowls of steaming water that were brought to him, and at once all hearts were lightened. For the fragrance that came to each was like a memory of dewy mornings of unshadowed sun in some land of which the fair world in Spring itself is but a fleeting memory. But Aragorn stood up as one refreshed, and and his eyes smiled as he held a bowl before Faramir's dreaming face.

" Well now! Who would have believed it?" said Ioreth to a woman that stood beside her. " the weed is better than I thought. It reminds me of the roses of Imloth Melui when I was a lass, and no king could ask for better."

"Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he look on Aragorn who bent over him; and a light of knowledge and love was kindled in his eyes, and he spoke softly. "My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?"

"Walk no more in the shadows, but awake!" said Aragorn. "You are weary. Rest a while, and take food, and be ready when I return."

"I will, lord," said Faramir. "For who would lie idle when the king has returned?"


The Houses of Healing (8)
The Return of the King (3)
The Lord of the Rings
J. R. R. Tolkien