«That is Shadowfax. He is cheif of the Maeras, lords of all horses, and not even Theoden, King of Rohan, has ever looked on a better. Does he not shine like silver, and run as smoothly as a swift stream?»

«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 Erol and not a serving woman. I can ride and weild blade, and I do not fear either pain or death.»

«A fool, but an honest fool, you remain, Peregrin Took. Wiser ones migth have done worse in such a pass. But mark this! You have been saved, and all your friends too, mainly by good fortune, as it is called.»

«Out of doubt, out of dark to the day?s rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.To hope?s end I rode and to heart?s breaking:Now for wrath, now for ruin and red nightfall!These staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more the lust of battle was on him; and he was young, and he was still unscathed, and he was king, lord of a fell people. But even as he laughed at despair he looked out again at the black ships and lifted his sword to defy them. And then wonder took him, and great joy; and he threw up his sword in the sunlight and sang as he caught it. All eyes followed his gaze, and upon the foremost ship, a great standard broke, and the wind displayed it as she turned toward the Harlond. There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had born for years beyond count. And the stars flamed in he sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond; and the crown was bright in the morning, for it was wrought of mithril and gold. Thus came Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Elessar, Isildur's heir, out of the Paths of the Dead, born upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor; and the mirth if the Rohirrim was a torrent of laughter and a flashing of swords, and the joy of the City was a music of trumpets and a ringing of bells. But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment, and a great wizardry it seemed to them that their own ships could be filled with their foes; and a black dread fell upon them, knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was near at hand.»

«Tolkien offers sympathy, surrender, friendship and, most of all, forgiveness.»

«It's the job that's never started takes longest to finish.»