Hey guys! Sorry this is a little late. I've had next to no free time to get this typed and sent to my beta. Thanks PuNKyCoWGiRL for a quick return! Next one will be up on Sunday. I promise. Life gets easier after Thursday.
Review Responses:
John, actually, I had already answered your question in this chapter. I hope the explanation clears things up.
Kyra2, things will start moving quickly as all my loose ends get wrapped up. Frodo and Sam will be found soon.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Healing
Faith smiled as she looked up at the sign over the British establishment in London. It was the closest thing to the Bronze that she could find in muggle London to carry out her plan. She had tried to convince Dumbledore into letting her take everyone to the Bronze or even someplace in L.A. where she was familiar with the territory. The headmaster, however, had insisted that she kept them on that side of the ocean.
She turned back to the students who were looking at her in confusion. "We're here," she said.
"This is your great plan?" Hermione asked in disbelief. "You want us to party? I don't see how this is going to help us find Frodo and Sam and get the others back home."
The slayer rolled her eyes. She knew that Hermione, with her strict adherence to the rules, would be the hardest one to convince. It was the reason why she hadn't told any of them about where they were going until just then.
"You guys need a break. Research is all good and stuff, but if ya don't step back and relax every so often you'll go nuts. Even the Scoobies are coming here tonight. They had a few more things to take care of back at the castle, but they'll definitely be here later." She slipped an arm around Remus' waist. "Now let's go in there, forget about our problems, and just have some fun. Then tomorrow, I promise we can go back to studying those dusty old books and glowing dots on maps."
Seamus grinned. "Well alright. Let's do what the professor ordered." Then he led the other students inside.
"I just hope this works," Faith muttered to Remus as the kids filed passed them into the club.
"I'm sure it will," he assured her and they followed them in.
A few hours later, a flushed Hermione plopped in a seat next to Faith. With a grin, the Gryffindor said, "Thanks, Faith. This has been really great."
"Hey, I know that sometimes you just need to blow off steam," Faith said. "There's nothing wrong with taking the night off. See," she said, indicating Willow and Tara who were dancing close together. The two Wiccans seemed to be blissfully unaware of their surroundings as they only had eyes for each other.
Hermione giggled. "They aren't the only ones," she said, pointing at Neville and Blaise.
The shy Gryffindor wasn't holding the Slytherin as close as Willow was holding Tara, but you couldn't see any space between them.
"I think it's so cute," Hermione said.
"Here you go, 'Mione," Ron said, as he set a drink in front of his girlfriend. "Sorry it took so long. I thought the line was bloody going to go on forever. Where's Professor Lupin?"
"Probably pissin' Snape off," Faith said with a shrug.
Remus was twirling the vengeance demon around the floor while Snape glowered at them. They had all been surprised when the muggle dressed potions master had arrived with the Scoobies.
"You're not jealous?" Hermione asked.
"Nah. Demon-girl is too wrapped up in the potions man to try for mine. 'Sides, I think Remus is just doing it to mess with Snape. They have history you know."
Ron and Hermione both shuddered as they remembered the stories Harry had told them about Snape and the Marauders.
"May I have the pleasure of this dance?" Came a cool, deep voice from behind Faith.
She turned to see Snape holding a hand out. His eyes glittered with something dark and furious, causing Faith to smirk. She had a feeling he was playing his own game with Remus. "Why not?" She replied, taking his hand and following him out onto the dance floor.
"This should be fun," Ron snickered, watching how Remus and Snape glowered at each other over their respective dance partners' heads.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh honestly, Ron. They're in the middle of a muggle club. They're not going to do anything to risk exposure."
Ron nodded in agreement and grabbed Hermione's hand to pull her onto the floor. He looked down at her with a huge smile on his face. "We did need a night out like this."
She grinned. "Yes, now let's stop talking about it and just enjoy it."
After Draco had his shoulder tended to, he and Dawn went into the room that they had placed Faramir, Éowyn, and Ginny. The healers didn't know how to help them and had placed them apart from the rest of the injured. Éomer sat quietly next to Éowyn's bedside. He was now King of Rohan since Théoden had perished on the battlefield. Éowyn was his only family left and he clung to her good hand like a lifeline. Her broken shield arm had been set and bandaged.
Harry sat next to Ginny with an anguished look on his face. She carried no visible wound, yet her sleep was deep and fevered like Faramir and Éowyn. Occasionally they would call out in grief causing everyone present to wince.
"Aragorn is their only hope now," Gandalf said from behind the two teens. They jumped slightly, not having heard the old wizard come up to them.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked, her eyes returning to Ginny's pale face. "What can he do that the others can't?"
"He has no small skill in healing. Lord Elrond taught him much of what he knows."
"Then where is he? Shouldn't he be here helping?" Draco asked, his concern for his friends shining in his grey eyes.
"I'm here," Aragorn said softly, walking in.
"Where's Buffy and Spike?" Dawn asked.
"And Legolas and Gimli?" Draco added.
"They are tending to the city. They are well," he assured them. He moved to the three patients and briefly examined them.
As he finished, a young healer entered the room. Aragorn turned to her and asked, "Ioreth, you have in store in the House of the herbs of healing?"
"Yes, lord," she answered. "But not enough, I reckon, for all that will need them. I am not sure where we will find more."
"Have you any athelas?" Aragorn asked.
"I do not know, at least not by that name. I will go and ask of the herb-master; he knows all the old names."
"It is also called kingsfoil," Aragorn supplied.
"Oh that," Ioreth said. "No, we have none of that. Why, I have never heard that it had any great virtue."
Aragorn held up a hand to still her speech. "Run and get me some kingsfoil if there is a leaf in the city." She left and he turned wearily back to the patients.
"First you must rest and eat a little," Éomer said, seeing how tired he was.
"Nay, for these three, and most soon for Faramir, time is running out. All speed is needed." Aragorn turned to Pippin who had been sitting quietly with Faramir. "I need several bowls of hot water. Can you fetch them please?" Pippin, happy to do something useful, nodded and left the room.
Aragorn turned his attention back to Faramir. "He is nearly spent, but this comes not from the wound. See, that is healing. He has fallen under the influence of the Black Breath. They all have."
"Black Breath? What's that?" Dawn asked from her position against the wall. Her and Draco tried to be as unobtrusive as possible so they wouldn't hinder their friends' treatment.
"Those who have been near the Nazgûl for too long, fall to it," Gandalf explained. "It causes despair, unconsciousness, and nightmares. And if they were too long exposed - death."
"And Éowyn and Ginny? They have only been here a day. How could they fall victim to it?" Draco asked.
"They slew the Witch-King, the leader of the Nazgûl," Gandalf said. "The hands that wielded their weapons gave the infection a place to enter, a direct line to their body and soul. And if any grief or weariness was present in their heart prior to the event, it can be doubled or even tripled."
Harry looked up at the others with red-rimmed eyes. "Faramir was plagued by his father. We've only been here for a few days and even I could see that. Nothing he did was good enough for Denethor."
At that time the herb-master entered. "Your lordship asked for kingsfoil, as the rustics name it, or athelas in the noble tongue, or to those who know somewhat of the Valinorean..."
"I do so," Aragorn said a bit testily, he was in no mood to hear so called learned men prattle on. "I care not what you call it so long as you have some."
"Your pardon, lord," the man said with a slight bow. "We do not keep this thing in the House of Healing for it has no virtue that I know of. Unless, of course, you give heed to the rhymes of old which women such as Ioreth still repeat without understanding.
When the black breath blows,
and death's shadow grows
and all light's pass,
come athelas! Come athelas!
Life to the dying
In the king's hand lying.
"It is but a doggerel I fear, garbled in the memory of old wives. Its meaning I leave to your judgment, if indeed it has any. But old folks still use an infusion of the herb for headaches."
"Then in the name of the king, go and find some old man of less lore and more wisdom who keeps some in his house!" Gandalf cried, fighting a strong urge to roll his eyes. Their friends from the other dimension seemed to be rubbing off on him, he thought briefly.
The herbmster, looking a trifle offended, huffed out of the room and went in search of the plant.
"I bet chocolate would help," Draco said thoughtfully.
"Chocolate?" Dawn asked.
"The effects of the Nazgûl are similar to dementors."
Harry nodded in agreement. "It's not exactly the same, but the feeling of despair is. Remus gave us chocolate the first time we encountered one. Madame Pomfrey also gave it to us, made us feel better."
"We didn't happen to bring any, did we?" Dawn asked hopefully. Both boys shook their heads. "Well then, we'll hope they find some kingsfoil... athelas... whatever."
They grew silent as Aragorn knelt next to Faramir. He placed his hand upon Faramir's brow and it seemed to the others in the room that he was struggling with something as he continually called out the young captain's name.
Ioreth returned, carrying six athelas leaves. "It's not fresh, I fear, but I hope it will serve."
Aragorn smiled at her. "It will." He took two leaves, laid them on his hand, and breathed on them. He crushed them in his worn hands and straightaway a living freshness filled the room, as if the air itself awoke and tingled. Pippin returned with three bowls of steaming water and Aragorn placed the crushed leaves into one of the bowls. He stood up as one refreshed and his eyes smiled as he held a bowl before Faramir's face.
Even Dawn and Draco relaxed and they felt better than they had in days.
Faramir stirred and opened his eyes. He looked up at Aragorn and his eyes registered the truth. "My lord you called me. I come. What does the king command?"
"Walk no more in the shadows, but awake. You are weary. Rest a while and take food, and be ready when I return."
"I will lord, for who would be idle when the king has returned?" Faramir said, his voice getting stronger with each spoken word.
Aragorn moved next to Éowyn. "She is a fair maiden, but I know not of the frost that has touched her. Her malady begins far back before this day, does it not, Éomer?"
"I know not," Éomer said in a strained voice.
Draco spoke up. "She wanted to fight. She has the spirit and the ability to help defend her people, yet no one would let her. She was forced to stay home and watch Grima suck the life out of Théoden."
"Well spoken," Gandalf murmured.
The future king of Gondor sighed. "I have, maybe, the power to heal her body and to recall her from the dark valley. But to what she will awake - hope, forgetfulness, or despair, I do not know. And if to despair, then she will die, unless other healing comes which I cannot bring." Then he bent and softly kissed her brow, calling her name. "Éowyn. Éomund's daughter, awake! For your enemy has passed away."
Aragorn repeated the process with the athelas and washed her brow and right arm with the sweet smelling water. He called to her again, and though she stirred slightly, she did not wake. He turned to Éomer and said, "Call her."
"Éowyn, Éowyn," he cried amid his tears. The new king of Rohan feared she'd never awake.
She slowly opened her eyes and focused on her brother. "Éomer. What joy is this? For they said that you were slain. Nay, but that was only the dark voices in my dreams. How long have I been dreaming?"
"Not long, my sister," Éomer said, his smile brightening the room. "But think no more on it."
Éowyn looked over to Aragorn who smiled softly at her. Then he moved to Ginny's bedside.
"Fear not, Master Harry," Aragorn said. "Her will is strong, she will return to you."
"But I don't know what grief filled her," Harry said, his tears leaving clean tracks on his dirty face.
"I do," Draco said, walking over to the bed. "She committed an act during Helm's Deep and then again today, I think. It's left her feeling dirty and ashamed. She doesn't think she's worthy of you, that you will turn away from her when you learn the truth."
"But she could tell you?" Harry sneered slightly through his pain.
Draco sighed. "She told me because instinctively she knew I'd understand. Harry, she used the killing curse... twice. I'm pretty sure I saw the light during the battle."
Gandalf and Aragorn looked at Dawn. "The killing curse?" The old wizard asked, curiosity coloring his voice.
"In our wizarding world there are three unforgivable curses, that one doing exactly what it says. No one can survive it. It requires a lot of hate and anger to perform it. It's the darkest magic."
Aragorn looked at her in confusion. "Lady Ginny always seemed to have the lighter heart."
"Which is why it's upsetting her," Draco said. "I know she used it on am orc to save another's life, but that doesn't help the dirtiness on your soul go away. Nothing can make it go away," he concluded sadly.
"You speak as if from experience," Aragorn noted.
"My father was raising me to follow an evil wizard. He made sure I learned how to use all the Unforgiveables. I know how she felt."
Aragorn nodded and turned to Harry. "Let Draco take your place by her side. When she is fully awake, then you may sit next to her."
"But..." Harry protested.
"No. Through no fault of your own, you are part of the cause of her despair," Aragorn gently explained. "Let her overcome the nightmares before allowing her to see you."
Unhappily, Harry moved and allowed Draco to take his place.
Aragorn repeated the process with the leaves once more, only this time he bathed both of Ginny's arms. She breathed deeply and he nodded to Draco.
The blond leaned close and called out, "Ginny! Ginny Weasley! It's time to wake up. We're all here waiting for you."
Her brown eyes blinked open and she smiled softly up at Draco. "Did we win?"
Draco chuckled. "Yeah, we won. There are a few people here who'd like to see you."
She looked behind him to see Harry standing there nervously. Her smile faltered slightly. "Harry, can you ever forgive me?"
Draco moved so Harry could return to her side.
"You've done nothing that needs forgiving," Harry said, taking her hands into his own.
"But I..."
"He told us. It's nothing to be ashamed of." He bent over and kissed her softly on the lips. "I still love you."
Tears glistened in her eyes as she said, "I love you, too."
"Geez you two, get a room," Dawn said with a roll of her eyes, causing Ginny to laugh and forget her tears.
"Did we all make it?" The redhead asked.
"Everyone but Théoden, it was too late. But hey, sun is shining again. You and Éowyn did that."
Ginny and Éowyn looked at each other and smiled. "Not too bad for a couple of girls," Ginny said.
"Not bad at all," Éowyn agreed.