the king comes again

"and the king will come there again one day."

"well, that sounds more hopeful, I'll allow," said Butterbar.  "and it will be good for business, no doubt.  so long as he lets Bree alone."

"he will," said Gandalf.  "he knows it and loves it."

"does he now?" said Butterbar, looking puzzled. "though I'm sure I don't know why he should, sitting in his big chair up in his great castle, hundreds of miles away.  and drinking wine out of a golden cup, I shouldn't wonder.  what's The Pony to him, or mugs o' beer?  not but what my beer's good, Gandalf.  it's been uncommon good, since you came in the autumn of last year and put a good word on it.  and that's been a comfort in trouble, I will say."

"ah!" said Sam.  "but he says your beer is good."

"he says?" 

"of course he does.  he's Strider.  the chief of the Rangers.   haven't you got that into your head yet?" 

it went in at last, and Butterbar's face was a study in wonder.  the eyes in his round face grew round, and his mouth opened wide, and he gasped.  "Strider!" he exclaimed when he got back his breath.  "him with a crown and all and a golden cup!  well, what are we coming to?"

-- return of the king

but whoever would have thought, or dreamed, or deemed possible, that the weather-beaten man who walked our paths, who broke bread together and sang the old tales, who smiled at us in the glow of the night campfire, who fought by our sides and protected us from the dangers, who suffered for our sake, the man of steel determination and courage with the spark of hope, would have returned to ascend the throne?  who would have thought that the man, muddied and stained and haggard by days of traveling without nights of rest, torn and bloodied by battle for the innocent, wearied by fighting the good fight yet never relinquishing hope, would have been returned to the throne that was promised to him?

who would have thought that Strider was the King? 

who would have though that Christ, too, was the King?  

for the world knew them not, thought they trod its paths, and how our own hearts will be gladdened when the King comes here again one day, to the land he knows and loves.