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time yet for travellers' tales。'
But Imrahil said to éomer： 'Is it thus that we speak to our kings？ Yet maybe he will wear his
crown in some other name！'
And Aragorn hearing him； turned and said： 'Verily； for in the high tongue of old I am _Elessar_；
the _Elfstone_； and _Envinyatar_； the Renewer'： and he lifted from his breast the green stone that
lay there。 'But Strider shall be the name of my house； if that be ever established。 In the high tongue
it will not sound so ill； and _Telcontar_ I will be and all the heirs of my body。'
And with that they passed into the House； and as they went towards the rooms where the sick
were tended Gandalf told of the deeds of éowyn and Meriadoc。 'For；' he said； 'long have I stood by
them and at first they spoke much in their dreaming； before they sank into the deadly darkness。
Also it is given to me to see many things far off。'
Aragorn went first to Faramir； and then to the Lady éowyn； and last to Merry。 When he had
looked on the faces of the sick and seen their hurts he sighed。 'Here I must put forth all such power
and skill as is given to me；' he said。 'Would that Elrond were here； for he is the eldest of all our race；
and has the greater power。'
And éomer seeing that he was sorrowful and weary said： 'First you must rest； surely； and at the
least eat a little？'
But Aragorn answered： 'Nay； for these three； and most soon for Faramir； time is running out。 All
speed is needed。'
Then he called to Ioreth and he said： 'You have store in this House of the herbs of healing？'
'Yes； lord；' she answered； 'but not enough； I reckon； for all that will need them。 But I am sure I
do not know where we shall find more； for all things are amiss in these dreadful days； what with
fires and burnings； and the lads that run errands so few； and all the roads blocked。 Why； it is days
out of count since ever a carrier came in from Lossarnach to the market！ But we do our best in this
House with what we have； as I am sure your lordship will know。'
'I will judge that when I see；' said Aragorn。 'One thing also is short time for speech。 Have you
_athelas_？'
'I do not know； I am sure； lord；' she answered； 'at least not by that name。 I will go and ask of the
herb…master； he knows all the old names。'
'It is also called _kingsfoil_；' said Aragorn； 'and maybe you know it by that name； for so the
country…folk call it in these latter days。' 'Oh that！' said Ioreth。 'Well； if your lordship had named it at
first I could have told you。 No； we have none of it； I am sure。 Why； I have never heard that it had
any great virtue； and indeed I have often said to my sisters when we came upon it growing in the
woods： 〃kingsfoil〃 I said； 〃 'tis a strange name； and I wonder why 'tis called so； for if I were a king；
I would have plants more bright in my garden〃。 Still it smells sweet when bruised； does it not？ If
sweet is the right word： wholesome； maybe； is nearer。'
'Wholesome verily；' said Aragorn。 'And now； dame； if you love the Lord Faramir； run as quick
as your tongue and get me kingsfoil； if there is a leaf in the City。'
'And if not；' said Gandalf； 'I will ride to Lossarnach with Ioreth behind me； and she shall take me
to the woods； but not to her sisters。 And Shadowfax shall show her the meaning of haste。'
When Ioreth was gone； Aragorn bade the other women to make water hot。 Then he took
Faramir's hand in his； and laid the other hand upon the sick man's brow。 It was drenched with sweat；
but Faramir did not move or make any sign； and seemed hardly to breathe。
'He is nearly spent；' said Aragorn turning to Gandalf。 'But this es not from the wound。 See！
that is healing。 Had he been smitten by some dart of the Nazg？l； as you thought； he would have
died that night。 This hurt was given by some Southron arrow； I would guess。 Who drew it forth？
Was it kept？'
'I drew it forth；' said Imrahil； 'and staunched the wound。 But I did not keep the arrow； for we had
much to do。 It was； as I remember； just such a dart as the Southrons use。 Yet I believed that it came
from the Shadows above； for else his fever and sickness were not to be understood； since the
wound was not deep or vital。 How then do you read the matter？'
'Weariness； grief for his father's mood； a wound； and over all the Black Breath；' said Aragorn。
'He is a man of staunch will； for already he had e close under the Shadow before ever he rode
to battle on the out…walls。 Slowly the dark must have crept on him； even as he fought and strove to
hold his outpost。 Would that I could have been here sooner！'
Thereupon the herb…master entered。 'Your lordship asked for kingsfoil； as the rustics name it； he
said； or _athelas_ in the noble tongue； or to those who know somewhat of the Valinorean。 。 。'
'I do so；' said Aragorn； 'and I care not whether you say now _as？a aranion_ or _kingsfoil_； so
long as you have some。'
'Your pardon lord！' said the man。 'I see you are a lore…master； not merely a captain of war。 But
alas！ sir； we do not keep this thing in the Houses of Healing； where only the gravely hurt or sick are
tended。 For it has no virtue that we know of； save perhaps to sweeten a fouled air； or to drive away
some passing heaviness。 Unless； of course； you give heed to rhymes of old days which women such
as our good Ioreth still repeat without understanding。
When the black breath blows
and death's shadow grows
and all lights pass；
e athelas！ e athelas！
Life to the dying
In the king's hand lying！
It is but a doggrel； I fear； garbled in the memory of old wives。 Its meaning I leave to your
judgement； if indeed it has any。 But old folk still use an infusion of the herb for headaches。'
'Then in the name of the king； go and find some old man of less lore and more wisdom who
keeps some in his house！' cried Gandalf。
Now Aragorn knelt beside Faramir； and held a hand upon his brow。 And those that watched felt
that some great struggle was going on。 For Aragorn's face grew grey with weariness； and ever and
anon he called the name of Faramir； but each time more faintly to their hearing； as if Aragorn
himself was removed from them； and walked afar in some dark vale； calling for one that was lost。
And at last Bergil came running in； and he bore six leaves in a cloth。 'It is kingsfoil； Sir；' he said；
'but not fresh； I fear。 It must have been culled two weeks ago at the least。 I hope it will serve； Sir？'
Then looking at Faramir he burst into tears。
But Aragorn smiled。 'It will serve；' he said。 'The worst is now over。 Stay and be forted！'
Then taking two leaves； he laid them on his hands and breathed on them； and then he crushed them；
and straightway a living freshness filled the room； as if the air itself awoke and tingled； sparkling
with joy。 And then he cast the leaves into the bowls of steaming water that were brought to him；
and at once all hearts were lightened。 For the fragrance that came to each was like a memory of
dewy mornings of unshadowed sun in some land of which the fair world in Spring is itself but a
fleeting memory。 But Aragorn stood up as one refreshed； and his eyes smiled as he held a bowl
before Faramir's dreaming face。
'Well now！ Who would have believed it？' said Ioreth to a woman that stood beside her。 'The
weed is better than I thought。 It reminds me of the roses of Imloth Melui when I was a lass； and no
king could ask for better。'
Suddenly Faramir stirred； and he opened his eyes； and he looked on Aragorn who bent over him；
and a light of knowledge and love was kindled in his eyes； and he spoke softly。 'My lord； you called
me。 I e。 What does the king mand？'
'Walk no more in the shadows； but awake！' said Aragorn。 'You are weary。 Rest a while； and take
food； and be ready when I return。'
'I will； lord；' said Faramir。 'For who would lie idle when the king has returned？'
'Farewell then for a while！' said Aragorn。 'I must go to others who need me。' And he left the
chamber with Gandalf and Imrahil； but Beregond and his son remained behind； unable to contain
their joy。 As he followed Gandalf and shut the door Pippin heard Ioreth exclaim：
'King！ Did you hear that？ What did I say？ The hands of a healer； I said。' And soon the word had
gone out from the House that the king was indeed e among them； and after war he brought
healing； and the news ran through the City。
But Aragorn came to éowyn； and he said： 'Here there is a grievous hurt and a heavy blow。 The
arm that was broken has been tended with due skill； and it will mend in time； if she has the strength
to live： It is the shield…arm that is maimed； but the chief evil es through the sword…arm。 In that
there now seems no life； although it is unbroken。
'Alas！ For she was pitted against a foe beyond the strength of her mind or body。 And those who
will take a weapon to such an enemy must be sterner than steel； if the very shock shall not destroy
them。 It was an evil doom that set her in his path。 For she is a fair maiden； fairest lady of a house of
queens。 And yet I know not how I should speak of her。 When I first looked on her and perceived
her unhappiness； it seemed to me that I saw a white flower standing straight and proud； shapely as a
lily； and yet knew that it was hard； as if wrought by elf…wrights out of steel。 Or was it； maybe； a
frost that had turned its sap to ice； and so it stood； bitter…sweet； still fair to see； but stricken； soon to
fall and die？ Her malady begins far back before this day； does it not； éomer？'
'I marvel that you should ask me； lord；' he answered。 'For I hold you blameless in this matter； as
in all else； yet I knew not that éowyn； my sister； was touched by any frost； until she first looked on
you。 Care and dread she had； and shared with me； in the days of Wormtongue and the king's
bewitchment； and she tended the king in growing fear。 But that did not bring her to this pass！'
'My friend；' said Gandalf； 'you had horses； and deeds of arms； and the free fields； but she； born
in the body of a maid； had a spirit and courage at least the match of yours。 Yet she was doomed to
wait upon an old man； whom she loved as a father； and watch him falling into a mean dishonoured
dotage； and her part seemed to her more ignoble than that of the staff he leaned on。
'Think you that Wormtongue had poison only for Théoden's ears？ _Dotard！ What is the house of
Eorl but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek； and their brats roll on the floor among
their dogs？_Have you not heard those words before？ Saruman spoke them； the teacher of
Wormtongue。 Though I do not doubt that Wormtongue at home wrapped their meaning in terms
more cunning。 My lord； if your sister's love for you； and her will still bent to her duty； had not
restrained her lips； you might have heard even such things as these escape them。 But who knows
what she spoke to the darkness； alone； in the bitter watches of the night； when all her life seemed
shrinking； and the walls of her bower closing in about her； a hutch to trammel some wild thing in？'
Then éomer was silent； and looked on his sister； as if pondering anew all the days of their past
life together。 But Aragorn said： 'I saw also what you saw； éomer。 Few other griefs amid the ill
chances of this world have more bitterness and shame for a man's heart than to behold the love of a
lady so fair and brave that cannot be returned Sorrow and pity have followed me ever since I left
her desperate in Dunharrow and rode to the Paths of the Dead； and no fear upon that way was so
present as the fear for what might befall her。 And yet； éomer； I say to you that she loves you more
truly than me； for you she loves and knows； but in me she loves only a shadow and a thought： a
hope of glory and great deeds； and lands far from the fields of Rohan。
'I have； maybe； the power to heal her body； and to recall her from the dark valley。 But to what
she will awake： hope； or forgetfulness； or despair； I do not know。 And if to despair； then she will
die； unless other healing es which I cannot bring。 Alas！ for her deeds have set her among the
queens of great renown。'
Then Aragorn stooped and looked in her face； and it was indeed white as a lily； cold as frost；
and hard as graven stone。 But he bent and kissed her on the brow； and called her softly； saying：
'éowyn éomund's daughter； awake！ For your enemy has passed away！'
She did not stir； but now she began again to breathe deeply； so that her breast rose and fell
beneath the white linen of the sheet。 Once more Aragorn bruised two leaves of _athelas_ and cast
them into steaming water； and he laved her brow with it； and her right arm lying cold and nerveless
on the coverlet。
Then； whether Aragorn had indeed some forgotten power of Westernesse； or whether it was but
his words of the Lady éowyn that wrought on them； as the sweet influence of the herb stole about
the chamber it seemed to those who stood by that a keen wind blew through the window； and it
bore no scent； but was an air wholly fr