A/N: all the first half of this chapter is my interpretation of what Aragorn saw/experienced while healing Faramir of the Black Breath.

Chapter 11

Blackness: all around him was blackness. Thick, velvety, and impenetrable.

Aragorn turned in circles, feeling completely disoriented…until he saw the light. No more than a pale, ghostly glow, it flickered somewhere ahead of him.

Following the light Aragorn eventually found himself walking on a well-beaten dirt pathway. Walking farther on he came upon a strange sight.

Flanking the path were two statues carved into the likeness of soldiers. Their left hands rested on the hilts of their stone swords, while their right hands were extended — palms upward. Beyond the statues was the form of a great hall wrapped in mist, but Aragorn's attention was not drawn toward the building. He was focussed on the Man standing before the statues.

It was Faramir.

"Faramir!" He called.

Faramir turned, a dazed, weary expression on his face.

"Why do you delay me?" he asked. "I wish to enter the Halls and find rest — all hope has left."

"Nay," Aragorn replied. "Hope has come—unlooked for—in the darkest hour and the king has returned."

A faint spark lit in Faramir's eyes. "Who is this king?" He questioned.

"Faramir, son of Denethor, hear me!" Aragorn drew himself up straighter. "I am Elessar, the Elfstone — Evinyatar, the Renewer. I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, Isildur's Heir and king of Gondor. Faramir," he entreated softly, "will you follow?"

Faramir hesitated for a moment, then stepped towards Aragorn.

As he led Faramir back down the path Aragorn noticed a change come over their surroundings. A sharp, white light illuminated the area — highlighting the steep sides of the valley where they stood. The light came from a tall, rectangular structure that appeared to be some sort of doorway.

Not noticing that Faramir had stopped, Aragorn walked through the doorway.

~o~o~

Slowly opening his eyes the Dúnedain turned around as the door opened. There stood the errand boy he had sent in search of athelas — with some of the leaves in his hand. Accepting the leaves, Aragorn breathed on them, crushed them, and threw the athelas into the boiling water.

As the sweet, refreshing scent filled the air it wafted over Faramir's face. Slowly he opened his eyes and met Aragorn's gaze.

"My lord, you called me." He whispered. "I come. What does the king command?"

"Walk no more in the shadows," Aragorn smiled, "but awake!"

~o~o~

Healing Éowyn and Merry proved to be an easier task than Faramir, for the Black Breath did not hang over them so heavily. But after that was done Aragorn left Minas Tirith with Gandalf and returned to his tent for some well-earned rest. He had much to do.

My proof for the Aragorn-healing-Faramir scenario comes from this part of the book:

...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. - The Return of the King, Chapter VIII The Houses of Healing, page 144

(Authors: if you have proof for something debatable [i.e. what Aragorn experienced while healing Faramir], share your proof to strengthen your point.)