The ending of "The Houses of healing" chapter is so powerful!

I first read LOTR at the age of 13, almost two decades back. Since then, if I had to choose one favourite chapter from the book, it would have been "The Houses of healing" probably. It has everything I love the story for - serious moments, happy moments, mythological moments and even funny moments. I love the scene of Faramir's healing.

I still remember the emotions upon my first read. The relief that everyone is saved was immense, And this is when this quote hits:

At the doors of the Houses many were already gathered to see Aragorn, and they followed after him; and when at last he had supped, men came and prayed that he would heal their kinsmen or their friends whose lives were in peril through hurt or wound, or who lay under the Black Shadow. And Aragorn arose and went out, and he sent for the sons of Elrond, and together they laboured far into the night. And word went through the City: ‘The King is come again indeed.’ And they named him Elfstone, because of the green stone that he wore, and so the name which it was foretold at his birth that he should bear was chosen for him by his own people.

And when he could labour no more, he cast his cloak about him, and slipped out of the City, and went to his tent just ere dawn and slept for a little. And in the morning the banner of Dol Amroth, a white ship like a swan upon blue water, floated from the Tower, and men looked up and wondered if the coming of the King had been but a dream. (The Houses of healing, ROTK)

Well, the first thing, that struck me even by then, as a young teen, was how close the first passage is to the Gospel. I usually quite intentionally don't speak about the Biblical connections in my posts (one of the things I love about the book is how it has biblical references, but they are possible to overlook, if you would not like to see them), but here, I just can't overlook it. The whole 'return of the king' concept is quite messianic, but... this passage brings it to a new level. It hit me even harder, when I first read it in English and noticed, that "men came and prayed" . Not asked, or begged - prayed. I know, of course that one of the meanings of the word is to strengthen the supplication, but it seems a deliberate and conscious choice of words in the narrative.

Then, we have something that really stirs my imagination. Aragorn sends for the sons of Elrond and they work together long into the night. Probably there are so many wounded that he realises it is beyond the ken of one person, no matter how powerful. He needs some help. Of course, Elladan and Elrohir are natural and reasonable choice - they have probably studied healing under Elrond as well, and share at least part of his power. They would not need explanation or instructions to do what is needed. And equally important - the three work together really well (there are glimpses of this in FOTR, and on the Path of the Dead).

It hits stronger still, if you think - there is the whole Grey Company and probably a bunch of Gondorian healers to call upon for help if needed (even if the Rangers have no healing abilities, they could have been useful) - and only sons of Elrond are fetched. Which means only they are trusted enough to do what is needed. They are also close to Aragorn himself, being his first comrades and teachers in the wilds.

But during the events of the ROTK, the roles are reversed - Aragorn is the leader and they are his followers.

To conclude, some time ago I had a conversation with one of my older friends. She told me that there was a time, when Tolkien writings were formally forbidden in the country I live in (not my original country, but under Soviet Union influence till 1989). She told me that, and added, that she had no idea, why it was considered 'bad and anti-communist' enough to be formally forbidden. I smiled and said:

"O, but I know." and proceeded to read the above quote to her. She smiled back. We've understood each other perfectly well. In a country where, at some point, for owning a Bible you could be sentenced to prison, this quote alone could be enough to forbid the writings alltogether.

(The official translation of LOTR in this country came out in 1990).

What are your thoughts? Do you like this quote, and why?