Middle-earth Journeys
Tolkien Studies
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1 Lithe, TA 3019
1 July 2006 13:37:25Arwen comes to the City.
- In one of the most beautiful passages in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien describes the end of Arwen's journey to the City of Kings. Visual and full of symbolism, the passage contains meaningful references to stars and sun, east and west, night and day, silver and gold, woven in with the end of the age of the Elves and the beginning of the age of Men, all accomplished in the long-awaited union of Undomiel and Elessar. Only Tolkien's words will do:
"Upon the very Eve of Midsummer, when the sky was blue as sappire and white stars opened in the East, but the West was still golden, and the air was cool and fragrant, the riders came down the North-way to the gates of Minas Tirith. First rode Elrohir and Elladan with a banner of silver, and then came Glorfindel and Erestor and all the household of Rivendell, and after them came the Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord of Lothlorien, riding upon white steeds and with them many fair folk of their land, grey-cloaked with white gems in their hair; and last came Master Elrond, mighty among Elves and Men, bearing the sceptre of Annuminas, and beside him upon a grey palfrey rode Arwen hid daughter, Evenstar of her people."
Images © "The White Tree of Gondor" by Alan Lee.