The King Aragorn was sitting by a fire in the great hall with his advisors and other nobles around him. They were making plans to restore the lower tiers of Minas Tirith once spring came. He had invited Legolas and Gimli to attend the meeting since he had appointed Legolas head over anything pertaining to nature within the city and Gimli was to oversee the rebuilding of the outer wall. The meeting was just about finished when a young boy came running into the great hall, a scroll in his hand. "Are ye King Aragorn," he managed to gasp. "I have come from the Shire, in Hobbiton. They...they need...you." The hobbit boy had his hands on his knees and he gasped for air.
The king looked at the hobbit that had come in. It was not often that hobbits came barging in here – especially unknown hobbits. "Yes, I am," he said.
After a moment, Dairmack had regained his breath and he quickly handed the King Aragorn the scroll. His cheeks were red from the cold. The poor hobbit had rode for three days – never stopping, not even for a second. He did not even know how he got there so quickly, but he had. Aragorn took the scroll quickly and then bade his servants to warm up the messenger and feed him something hot. He sat back down and unrolled it.
"King Aragorn, We are in desperate need of your help here in the Shire. The winter weather is terribly cold and many of the hobbits are coming down with the winter flu especially because tis only September and the winter is too early. Our town doctor cannot see them all, nor does he have the skills needed to heal them. Mr. Merry an' countless others have fallen ill. Some are dyin' as we speak – includin' me parents. Haste is needed. We beg you to help. Sincerely, Dairmack."
Quickly he arose and commanded that his horse be made ready and he himself ran to the Houses of Healing. The others sitting near him were astonished at his behavior and only Legolas, Gimli and Dairmack followed him. "Our friends have taken ill as well as other inhabitants of the Shire. All haste is needed. If you wish to ride with me ready your horses and I will meet you at the stables."
Aragorn ran on for a bit with young Dairmack behind him and arrived quickly at the Houses of Healing. Once there he requested that Ioreth pack for him all of the kingsfoil, rosemary, spearmint, sage and thyme that she could find. She quickly did so and Dairmack watched her with interest.
Just as the king was about to leave, did the boy speak up. "May I come with ye sir? I ca' help with anything ye may need help with. I am Dairmack, sir," the lad said.
The king turned and looked at the hobbit lad. Aragorn and nodding he ran to the stables. Once there he was met by Legolas and Gimli. Dairmack kept up with each step, but he was panting nonetheless when he got there.
The Queen Arwen also was there with questions in her eyes. Aragorn went to her and said, "Arwen, the hobbits are in need of aid. I swore to protect them during the war and I will do so afterwards. I must ride with all haste to the Shire. I do not know when I shall return but take up my seat in my stead." Kissing her on the cheek, he jumped upon his mount. Silently, he offered a hand to the hobbit boy so he could get up. When he had gotten on the horse Aragorn said, "Hold on tight."
The lad nodded his head. Yes sir," he said as they followed by Gimli and Legolas d out of the city at an incredibly fast pace. Turning to Legolas he said, "We will be able to reach the Shire within 3 days if we hold our pace and the weather is fair to us." Legolas nodded gravely as Gimli looked nervously to the foreboding sky – it looked like it could start snowing at any moment.