You have been through so much.

Call the retreat.

When the men of Gondor began their desperate race,

there is no more light, not in this sun

as they fled from Osgiliath, from the dark terror that held them

black wings against a pale morning

you alone tried to bring them to safety,

the Citadel of the Stars is gone

and I thought:

"He is a man worthy of being followed."

When you wearily came before your lord,

the proud Steward, tall and cold,

stern and cruel, your own father,

I felt pity for you then.

You were stained with many faults in his eyes.

"Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious" he sneered.

But to me, you seemed wise and grave,

thoughtful; you were without hope,

yet you gave hope to those around you.

I thought, "He is a man whom men would follow

even under the shadow of black wings."

I thought my heart would break the day you rode out,

were sent on an impossible mission,

The day you were sent to your death.

I knew,

even me, theFool of a Took,

knew it was folly to try to retake Osgiliath.

And yet you went,

in a final attempt to win his approval, maybe

did your father's bidding to the bitter end.

I thought, "He is a man whom I would follow."

They brought you back, to the Houses of Healing,

pale and cold as death,

muttering in strange tongues,

drifting far from the shore of this world,

where those who loved you waited.

I thought "You have kept your honour,

but you will not see morning's first rays.

You will die, and with you,

a part of me shall die too.

I shall follow you to Death."

Your father obviously thought the same thing.

Now I see you, standing at the balcony, leaning heavily against a pillar,

for support of your wasted body,its solid design bearing your frail weight, pale

walking slowly, carefully, in the gardens,

each step a new challenge.

Wouldn't it be easier to just lie down and die?

Yet you still keep on, slowly gaining new strength,

trying to rebuild this war-torn world around you,

never minding your own hurts,

recovering, weak in body

and yet

strong in spirit.

"I will still follow you."