Chapter 2

It seemed an eternity to Elireth that she stood there, staring straight ahead, her heart still in her throat, but then she saw the servant of Dol Amroth with the silver swan at his breast enter the courtyard and, seeing her standing thus, make a slight bow and retreat. And so the two companions advanced unaccompanied towards her. Now that Elireth could see the Elf clearly, her breath was quite taken, for he walked with a grace and poise such as she had never seen before, and his eyes shone with a radiance that made her drop her own gaze to the ground.

She made a curtsey as the two friends approached.

"The hands and herbs of the Healers are at your service," she said, in the customary greeting of her office. "I am Elireth, daughter of Elbrin, of the Houses of Healing."

"I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm," said the Elf, "and this Dwarf, my friend, is Gimli, Gloin's son. We seek two hobbits, our friends, who are in this place, we are told."

His voice was clear and soft, as the striking of small bells in the night air.

"They walk in the gardens and await you there," said Elireth, indicating with her hand, and with that the two passed by and left her standing alone once again.

For a few moments, Elireth could not move but stood, rooted to the ground, as the sun shone down upon her. Then she made her way slowly to her own quarters, in a daze. An Elf had come to Minas Tirith and had spoken to her! He was even now walking in the gardens of her own house. Then she gave a sudden, excited gasp as she realised that the windows of her own apartment looked onto the gardens. Perhaps she might be able to see him as he walked, just before she went to sleep, of course, for that was her duty, to be prepared for the following night's work. She would just take a brief look.

She would go to bed in five more minutes, thought Elireth as she gazed out of the window, her eyes aching and heavy but her mind and heart as alert as ever. She had, as she had hoped, been able to see the four companions as they walked and now sat in the Gardens of Healing. They were holding some sort of conversation, although she couldn't hear the words at this distance. Legolas seemed to be relating a tale to the hobbits, with help from Gimli the Dwarf. Now the tales was finished and each of the companions in turn fell silent and seemed lost in thought. Elireth thought the Elf looked sad and thoughtful, and she longed to know what pained him, and what she could do to help, even though she knew full well that it was no business of hers. Even so, her eyes did not leave the window, and the sun continued to climb in the sky, and her bed was still empty.

Eventually, the four companions left the garden and Elireth lay down on the bed. But the compounding excitement of the night followed by the morning had rendered her totally incapable of resting. Her mind and heartbeat still raced and, however she tossed and turned, however many times she got up and lay down again, sleep eluded her, as morning wore into afternoon. She was wondering whether to find some herbs to concoct a sleeping draught when there was a knock at the door.

"Elireth!" called a voice. It was Namira, another one of the Healers. She put her head around the door.

"Oh, you're awake," she said. "Look, I know it's early but could you possibly come back? We are so short-handed with all the wounded, and Lady Eowyn keeps trying to get out of bed, and then there's Lord Faramir and the pherian..."

Elireth slipped off the bed and stood up.

"I'm coming," she said.

It was a weary night, which seemed to get longer as dawn approached. Elireth's head and limbs ached, and her eyes felt almost bruised with tiredness. She had seen Merry again during the course of the night, and found out something of the conversation he had had that morning. The news that Legolas was thinking of seeking the Havens shocked her deeply, although she could not think why it should.

"But will he really go?" she asked. "Will he not stay with his friends?"

"I don't know," said Merry, quietly. His mind was turned more towards the War, and the sense of impending doom, which seemed to hang over them all. Especially he thought of Pippin, who would doubtless take his place in the battle, and of Frodo and Sam.

Suddenly, Elireth felt light-headed and clutched at the bedpost for support. Merry looked up.

"Are you all right, Elireth?" he said. "You look worse than me."

"It's nothing," she said, "just tiredness. Go to sleep."

Eventually, the silver trumpet sounded again, and Elireth stumbled into the open air. She had not slept now for two days and had barely eaten, having time only to snatch a few hasty bites. Perhaps she would find some breakfast first, in order to sleep the better, and then lay her head down on the soft pillow...

"Elireth! Elireth!" Namira was calling her again. "We need help! Lady Eowyn of Rohan is trying to get up again and the Warden is nowhere to be found."

Elireth turned and staggered back into the House, but she knew not what she said or did there. She only knew that, when all was done, she was standing in the courtyard once more, with scarcely the will to even find her quarters. Vaguely, she became aware of Merry and Pippin, and Legolas and Gimli with them, walking towards her from the gardens. Merry seemed to be leaning on Pippin's arm. But she saw them as if through a mist, or under water.

"Can you take Merry back to the House?" said a voice that seemed to come from far away. "The Shadow has come back."

Elireth tried to respond, to speak or move, but her body seemed not to belong to her. The mist deepened and she felt her legs give way.