Epilogue: GrimhelmssagaGrimhelm stood at the edge of the wall on the seventh level of Minas Tirith. Before him stretched Gondor’s realm into Ithilien, and now into Mordor. The Darkness had been lifted from Osgiliath, and it was no longer a terrifying sight of impending war. Then came a sight that had not oft been seen in the last thousand years; dawn broke, and for the first time the sun rose through the Mountains of Mordor without fear of encroaching gloom. The sun’s rays shone kindly upon the Walls of the White City, and as Grimhelm turned around he saw Captain Althamus walking away from the Hall of the King. As he walked the sun reflected off the tree on his armour, brightly glowing before the true White tree – now in full bloom – a hopeful reminder of Númenor’s past now regained. The two glanced at each other. “This is the reward of vitory!” Grimhelm said. “And so the Fellowship of the War of the Ring is dissolved. Tuor has already gone south to the Swan City, and the others left also, though where to I do not know. Where do you go now?” “I have a house outside the city,” Althamus replied, “with a wonderful view of your pastures north!” And so the Ranger left, and departed the Gate of the City.
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Grimhelm remained in the City for several days after, but eventually came his time to go. He put Angure into its scabbard, and strapped that to his belt. He mounted his horse and put his feet into the stirrups, and rode out from the Gate onto the Pelennor. It was hard to believe it had once held the greatest battle of the Third Age, for it was now a pastureland full of flowers of all kinds. He rode up to a hill and took one last look at the White City, then turned his head and rode north into the Fenmarch. |
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Arriving in Snowbourn, he beheld what he had not seen for a long time. He looked west, and there stood Grimsburg - his manor upon the motte built long ago by his ancestors when they first came to the Riddermark. The wide open plains stretched around him, and he approached his home through the pleasant fields of his native land. No more need he lead the Helmingas in battle; no more need he expect war on his lands. Long had he fought, and through victory he had earned peace for his people. Now was the time to replant and rebuild what had been lost, and so the tale ended. |
