T.A. 3019

March 20

Minis Tirith: The Houses of Healing

A new day had dawned over Gondor. The sun shone brightly over the White City, and the weather was fair. Yet, a pall hung over this same city, for the inhabitants were in great fear of the dark lord and those he commanded. But this spirit of dread was less prevalent in those who dwelt in the Houses of Healing on the Sixth Level. Here dwelt those brave men who had fought and been injured in the Battle of Pelennor Fields less than a week before.

In these halls walked Faramir, now the Steward of Gondor after the death of his father, for he was not yet healed from his grievous wounds. Here the Warden of the Houses of Healing found him now looking eastward, now speaking an encouraging word to one or other of the inhabitants of this House.

"Stay a moment, my lord," the Warden said approaching the Steward, "I would speak with you for a moment."

Faramir paused and turned back when he heard the words of the Warden. "What do need, sir?"

"Your help, my lord," The Warden replied. "There is in my care, sir, an elf, one of those who rode in the Grey Company. She was injured during the battle and now rests here in these halls."

"She?" Said Faramir in surprise.

"Yes, lord, an elf lady. . . . I didn't know that the elves sent their women into battle." The warden replied. It was obvious that he thought this practice quite strange and not altogether pleasing.

"It is not unheard of among the elves, but it is certainly uncommon." Said the Steward. "Please, continue."

"Of course, sir. As I was saying, she was injured during the battle. Now that the Host has set out into the East, she will not rest. She just walks back and forth in the gardens. She will not listen to me when I tell her to rest."

"And you wish me to speak with her?" Asked Faramir.

"Yes, my lord, perhaps she will be more willing to follow your commands."

"How badly is she hurt? Will this restless pacing do her harm?"

"For an elf her wounds are relatively minor." Replied the Warden. "She has several broken ribs, a wound on the side of her face, and a broken wrist and several broken fingers on her left hand. The only wound she might aggravate is her twisted knee. Since she is an elf, her knee should heal anyway, but it will heal more quickly if she would rest."

"I will speak with her." Said Faramir. "Where is she? And what is her name?"

"She walks still in the garden. The two elf princes who brought her here called her Gloredhel."

"Very well, thank you, Warden." And saying this Faramir left the Warden and made his way toward the gardens.

Faramir's first sight of this mysterious elf was as he walked down the short flight of stone steps that led to a small garden from where one could look east. The elf lady had for the moment ceased her pacing and stood looking eastward. Faramir, curious, stood watching her for a moment. The elf was quite tall, not much shorter than Faramir himself. Her hair was golden and was pulled back in one long braid. She was dressed in what appeared to be a tunic and trousers of a dark color, and over her shoulders lay a cloak of grey cloth.

As Faramir stepped off the last step onto the grass, the elf lady turned, her keen ears picking up the sounds of his approach. As they were too far off yet for polite speech, she didn't speak but waited for him to approach. For a moment Faramir had another chance to study her now that he could see her better. Even injured her manner was stately and dignified. Her bearing was upright, her face queenly. More plainly now he could see her injuries. The expression of her face and of her keen blue eyes was marred by the bandage wrapped around the right side of her face and over her eye. Her left arm and hand were splinted and hung in a sling; her good arm was wrapped protectively around her injured ribs. Faramir could also see by the way she was standing that she was trying to keep her weight off her injured knee.

Faramir stopped a polite distance away from the elf. "Lady Gloredhel, I presume."

"I am" She replied her voice polite but restrained. "But tell me lord, if you are the Steward, as I believe, is there any news about those who have ridden east?"

"There is no news yet, lady, which would soothe a troubled heart. All we know is that the Captains have crossed into the Morgul Vale." Faramir replied.

She sighed heavily and turned away. "I should be with them. I should be with them." She murmured softly seeming to forget for a moment that anyone else was there.

Faramir pitied her, for he could see that she was deeply troubled by something. Thinking of the Warden's wish he moved a short distance away to where there was shade from a small tree. Faramir perceived that he wouldn't get very far by simply telling her to do something, but perhaps he might get her to rest by another means. "Won't you sit and talk with me for a little while, lady?"

Gloredhel agreed and moved over to where he was standing. Faramir assisted her to sit down on the soft grass and then sat down himself about an arm's length away.

"The Warden tells me that you rode in the Grey Company." Faramir said once they were seated.

Gloredhel glanced over at him for a moment with her keen eyes, but seeing that he was speaking sincerely, she replied, "I did."

"If I might ask, how came you, a lady of high rank, to ride with the Grey Company to battle and possible death?"

"Oaths made long ago led me here; oaths that constrained my brother and myself to protect Elrond and his children." Gloredhel said softly. She took a deep breath and for a moment looked east before bringing her attention back to her companion sitting nearby. "I am an elf of the House of Elrond. For many long years I have dwelt there in safety, though I sometimes carried messages to the other Elven Realms for Master Elrond. But most the time I have dwelt in Rivendell serving as an advisor to Lord Elrond. But when the Grey Company decided to ride south to seek Aragorn, I chose to ride south with Elrond's sons while my brother remained in Rivendell with Lord Elrond. I traveled with them south. I was there when they met Aragorn at Dol Baran; I followed them through the Path of the Dead, and I fought with them at Pelagir and at Pelennor Fields. I was injured there with many wounds. I am told that the 'elf princes' brought me here. And here I have stayed, waiting, watching, hoping . . . and praying. "

All was quiet for a few moments after Gloredhel brought her explanation to a close. Then she spoke again. "But why have you sought me, my lord? Surely not just to see why an elf lady rode in the Grey Company?"

"Nay, lady, not for that purpose, thought I did wonder." Faramir replied. "I come on behalf of the Warden of this house. He worries that you will aggravate your injuries by your restlessness and hoped that I might be able to convince you to rest."

"I see." For a moment her face showed a trace of annoyance, but then her face cleared. "I will rest now." She said. "I do begin to grow weary."

Faramir stood and then gave the lady a hand to arise. Together they started to walk inside. They were part up way the steps that led indoors, when Gloredhel stumbled badly. She would have fallen, but Faramir caught her arm.

She reached out her hand to the wall to help steady herself. Once she was steady, he released her arm. "Are you alright?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yes, I'm alright. This bandage on my face throws off my depth perception."

"Why don't you take my arm, lady, until we reach your quarters. The Warden would be very unhappy with me, if you received a new wound on my watch."

Gloredhel gave a small smile and took his arm, and they continued inside. Faramir saw her safely to her room and then left to search for the Warden.