"Ever have I wished thee joy"

O Lady White, so fair, so cold,

Who knew a heart of fire

Beneath thy snow-white bosom beat

With passionate desire?

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Silent beside thy Lord thou stood, 

A gentle maiden meek,

O, that another and not I

Had roused the roses in thy cheek.

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Upon the cup, thy trembling hand met mine,

My heart did wince with pain

Alas, to think thy young and tender heart

Was doomed to love in vain.

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I cannot love thee, gentle maid,

Thou art as fair as morn,

But my heart is to the Evening given

And I must not be forsworn.

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In haste I to Dunharrow came

And there thou didst entreat me,

“Let me follow for love of thee,

Leave me not, I beseech thee!”

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My heart did groan within my breast

For the damage I must do.

I would not pluck thy maiden flower,

But, thine heart I’d break in two.

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I rode away in sorrow,

My soul weighed down with care

When I last looked into thine eyes,

I saw naught but despair.

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A wild creature caged then didst thou seem

Thine heart bereft of joy,

But freeing thee to follow me

Would both our lives destroy.

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Faith, duty, honor, virtue, all

We both must cast aside

Ere I could give the love ye sought

And keep thee by my side.

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Hopeless despair then drove thee forth

Seeking only valiant death,

To slay the Nazgul Lord and fall

O’erwhelmed by his Black Breath.

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When in the House of Healing

I unto thy side was led,

I feared Death, the bitter bridegroom,

Would take thee to his grim bed.

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I laid thine ice cold hand in mine

And smoothed thine ashen brow

I might but mend thy broken body,

Another’s hand must heal thee now.

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He will thy riven heart bind up

And to thy winter bring

The promise of a future bright,

The golden hope of spring.

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Good Faramir, my Steward, shalt

Thee husband in my stead.

May he give the joy ye sought of me

When thou art come to his bed.