Chapter 14: The Houses of Healing
Early the next morning, Legolas came to Seven's tent. He called in without opening the flap. "Lady Seven? Are you awake?" It was an utterly stupid question, but he didn't wish to enter without her permission. A moment later, Seven stepped out of the tent, blinking in the sunlight. "The sunlight is a welcome change, is it not?"
"Yes, it is. You are not here to inquire simply if I am awake or not or to comment on the weather."
Legolas grinned. "No, I am not. Gimli and I plan to go into the city to visit Merry and Pippin, and I thought perhaps you might wish to accompany us and visit Lady Éowyn."
"I will accompany you."
"Good! If you're ready, we'll leave immediately."
Seven nodded. "I am ready."
The two of them found Gimli, then obtained permission to leave the camp and entered the city. Seven, utterly confused by the layout of the city, just followed quietly as Legolas and Gimli discussed improvements to the city and eventually found their way to Prince Imrahil. The Prince of Dol Amroth was in awe of Legolas, who was obviously the first Elf he'd ever met.
Legolas introduced them. "I am one of the Nine Companions who set out with Mithrandir from Imladris, and with this Dwarf, my friend, I came with the Lord Aragorn. The lady is a companion to the Lady Éowyn. But now we wish to see our friends, Meriadoc and Peregrin, and the Lady Éowyn, who are in your keeping, we are told."*. The prince offered to accompany them, but Legolas told him, "It will be enough if you send one to guide us, lord. For Aragorn sends this message to you. He does not wish to enter the City again at this time. Yet there is need for the captains to hold council at once, and he prays that you and Éomer of Rohan will come down to his tents, as soon as may be. Mithrandir is already there." Imrahil arranged a guide for them and left to meet with Aragorn.
As they walked toward the Houses of Healing, Seven asked a question that had been bothering her. "Legolas, I have heard the name Mithrandir often, but I am not certain who that is. Is he—"
"Your pardon, lady!" Legolas chuckled. "Mithrandir is another name for the one you know as Gandalf. I used that name when I explained things to you because I thought you would recognize it, but I must have forgotten to tell you that other name. I pray you will forgive the oversight."
Seven was grateful to understand, but she wasn't sure how to respond to his phrasing. She nodded curtly and they continued walking. Legolas chuckled to himself. He'd been joking, using that chivalrous tone, but hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable. Whatever else she was, Seven of Nine was blunt, but he was getting used to it. It meant that he could always take her words at face value. He would have to ask Mithrandir about the woman. Perhaps the wizard would know more.
Soon they arrived at the Houses of Healing, and Seven left to talk to Éowyn while Legolas and Gimli caught up with the Hobbits. The woman watching Éowyn told Seven that Éowyn had been resting all night, and it wouldn't be a problem to wake her. The woman collected a tray of bland food and showed Seven to the room where Éowyn was resting. She was very pale but breathing deeply. The woman nudged Éowyn's arm gently and the young woman stirred.
Éowyn's face lit with a smile when she saw Seven. "I'd jump up and hug you if I thought I was strong enough." Éowyn laughed and took Seven's hand. Seven sat in a chair by the bed, uncomfortable with the emotional display. "How are you, Seven? We feared when your horse returned alone, but the hair band was reassuring."
"The horse would not enter the Paths of the Dead."
"Yet the others' horses did?"
"Yes. They were closer to their horses than I to mine."
Éowyn nodded. "And the journey went well?" The words didn't come out as she meant. Well was not a word easily applied to a journey on the Paths of the Dead.
"As well as could be expected. We had no major difficulties and arrived here just in time."
"I've heard about your arrival. It was quite spectacular, from what I hear."
"We could not have delayed any longer and still succeeded."
"How fares Lord Aragorn?"
"I assume he is well. He is holding council with the commanders as we speak. You have seen him more recently than I." Éowyn paused, and Seven continued. "What is your interest in him?"
"Interest?" Seven nodded. "He is…he is—I don't know."
Seven chose her words carefully. "I do not think it is wise to pursue him romantically."
"What do you mean?"
"Do not risk heartbreak on him, Éowyn. That is all I mean." There was an uncomfortable pause, then Seven changed the subject. "Tell me about your journey here." Éowyn was grateful for the subject change, too, and began recounting her tale.
When she finished, Éowyn asked, "Have you met the Hobbits yet, Seven?" Seven shook her head no. "Why don't you go meet them? They should be just down the hall. Anyway, I'm a bit tired."
Seven nodded. "I will see you later, then." With that, she left the room and looked for Legolas, Gimli, and the Hobbits. She found them sitting on a wall overlooking the river Anduin.
Legolas was speaking as she approached. "Follow what may, great deeds are not lessened in worth. Great deed was the riding of the Paths of the Dead, and great it shall remain, though none be left in Gondor to sing of it in the days that are to come." Legolas noticed Seven approach, and motioned her to a seat on the wall.
"And that may well befall," said Gimli. "For the faces of Aragorn and Gandalf are grave. Much In wonder what counsels they are taking in the tents there below. For my part, like Merry, I wish that with our victory the war was now over. Yet whatever is still to do, I hope to have a part in it, for the honour of the folk of the Lonely Mountain." **
"And I for the folk of the Great Wood," said Legolas, "and for the love of the Lord of the White Tree." **
"And me, too," Seven said. "Because I have come to love this place and I think it is worth fighting for."
Legolas reached over and squeezed her shoulder briefly, then dropped his hand. "Have you met the Hobbits, Seven?" It was probably improper to drop the 'lady,' but it felt out of place with her. Seven didn't seem to notice the oversight.
"No."
"Allow me to introduce Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, better known as Merry and Pippin. They are Hobbits from the Shire."
"I am honored to meet you." Seven felt a little odd talking to the small creatures, but despite their size, they did not have the appearance of children, but rather very small adults, even smaller than Gimli, and more slender. The phrasing was awkward, but she was trying to adapt her own language to the usage that was common in Middle Earth.
"The folk of Gondor know Hobbits by the word perian, but Hobbit is their own term. They are also called halflings," Legolas told her. "I told you about the other two who were part of our Fellowship, Frodo and Sam. I wonder how they are faring…" Legolas trailed off. The five of them sat in silence for a moment, then a gull cried above the river. Legolas' gaze grew distant.
"Legolas?" The Elf didn't reply when Seven called his name. "Legolas!"
Legolas shook his head. "I'm sorry, lady. While I haven't yet viewed the Sea, I fear the gulls have already awakened in me the wanderlust of my people. Lady Galadriel warned me about them, and now I understand. I do not expect I will remain long in Middle Earth after this war is over, regardless of the outcome. There will be no contentment left for me here."
Seven glanced at Gimli. Apparently he had heard this before, or at least expected it, because his expression was one of resignation. Conversation turned to other matters and Seven soon found herself listening to long genealogies and discussions of a substance called 'pipeweed' which sounded similar to tobacco. Eventually she followed Legolas and Gimli out to their tents once again and Seven took leave of the two friends.
* see p. 153 (modified)
** p. 159