Chapter 3
Legolas sprang lightly forward and caught Elireth in his arms. She was faint but yet conscious, and he raised her gently back to her feet, supporting her with his arm and scanning her pale face with his keen Elf eyes.
"You are exhausted, maiden," he said, simply.
The words vaguely registered in Elireth's blurred mind. Maiden. He thinks I am a child and a fool, she thought. And the shame and the Shadow and the long, weary nights seemed to press down upon her. Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes and coarsed unchecked down her face.
Pippin ran forward.
"Don't cry, Elireth," he cried in pity. And then, "Oh, poor Merry," he exclaimed, rushing back. For Merry was also swooning, without the support of his friend.
"Gimli, fetch help," said Legolas.
Then he and Pippin helped the other two to a bench just within the gardens. Elireth put her head on the shoulder of Legolas and sobbed uncontrollably, while he gently stroked her arm and whispered soft words in his own tongue.
"Elireth!" cried a stern voice.
Elireth looked up and saw the familiar figure of her aunt, Ioreth. Namira was with her, and had begun assisting Merry back towards the house. She sprang instantly to her feet in shock, but her legs would not hold her and she collapsed back to the bench again.
"What are you doing still up?" scolded Ioreth. "Namira tells me you have not -"
She stopped short as she noticed, for the first time, the attire and demeanour of her niece's rescuer, and saw the Elven light in his eyes.
"I apologise to you," she said, dropping a half-curtsey. "It is hard for an old woman to get used to all the great folk who appear in the White City in these days. But my niece, as you can see, is not well and needs to rest. Elireth, can you walk?"
But Elireth had sunk into an even deeper swoon.
"Please allow me to help," said Legolas. "I am not so great," he paused and smiled at Gimli and Pippin, who had returned, "that I cannot manage to help someone in need."
Then he picked up Elireth lightly in his arms and carried her to the place Ioreth directed, laying her softly upon her own bed before returning to his friends. Elireth was only vaguely aware of what was happening and, when the door closed, darkness overcame her completely.
It was a week before Elireth rose from her bed again. The Warden, who was sent to examine her, said she must have contracted some pestilence from the wounded, or else the Shadow of the Nameless Land had taken hold of her in her wearied state.
"For it sits upon us all," he said, "and who can tell now whether it will lift, or fall for ever?"
Merry had been to visit her, for he was mending and soon to be released from the Healers. When she asked for news of his friends, all he could say was that they had ridden into the East the day after she had fainted, and nothing had been heard since. However, he could tell her that Lady Eowyn was now walking in the company of Captain Faramir, which brought her at least a little comfort.
It was a cold and windy day when Elireth first went outdoors again. There was a hush in the air, as if the whole of Gondor had taken a breath and forgotten to exhale. Lady Eowyn and Captain Faramir were standing on the walls, facing East. Elireth smiled a little as she thought of the trouble the Lady of Rohan had caused her on the day of her illness. She wondered what the air of tension meant, being so out of touch with even the events of her own city.
Suddenly, a huge shadow fell across the courtyard. She looked up and saw an immense eagle flying in mid-air and, in that instant, the whole of the White City burst into song. Elireth sang too, with all the strength her still weak voice could muster, for she knew now that victory had been attained at last and the long-besieged city was saved. But it was not for the sake of her city, or even her family, that her heart soared. She, too, looked East, and awaited the day that the army would return.