The gift of healing

Despite her growing fatigue from all the work that was needed in the Houses of Healing, Brienne knew that she could not leave the royal children alone. She was the sworn sword of Princess Argella, and was used to protecting the daughters of Lord Stannis back when training to be a knight at Storm's End.

"Ah…Shireen is singing again…"

The older daughter of Stannis had been heartbroken at seeing all the injured and dying soldiers out on the battlefield. In her sorrowful crying, she had began to sing a song in the same language which she had done when lady Selyse had struggled in childbirth with Rhea, and while the words was unknown, there was some form of familiarity to them, like she struggled to remember them in a mist of time where they could only be heard faintly.

"Yes…a prayer song…to guide lost souls back to their bodies if they are between life and death…"

Her hands moving by their own as her soul a for moment slipped back into her past life identity of Meryatum, the son of Khamûl who had been intended for a life as a priest, Brienne formed a protection sign against evil in the hope that it may help those in need of it.

"Prince Oberyn Martell?! What in the seven hells are you doing here!"

Robert had raised his voice when noticing the Martell prince talking with Holly among everyone else, groaned in tired annoyance at realizing that he now was stuck with having to explain quite a huge amount of things to the Baratheon King who had made them all a big favor by making Elia a widow so many years ago.

"I will only tell, if you swear a holy oath on all that is sacred to both the Faith of the Seven and the Old Gods of the North to never bring any harm, by deeds or words, to my sister and her two oldest children for their history to the previous royal dynasty if they ever cross the Red Mountains. I do not care what Rhaegar told the wolf-girl who was supposed to marry you, Robert Baratheon, to make her run away with him and light the sparks of the Rebellion that threw the Targaryens out from Westeros almost fourteen years ago, but Elia would never have accepted a illegitimate child of Rhaegar that could become a new Daemon Blackfyre to her own half-Dornish son Aegon, and especially not one born from a mother whose own family holds power by being the Warden of the North."

The seriousness in his ice-cold voice, and his eyes being like a true viper about to bite a victim as to bring a slow and painful death by poison, told Robert that the Martell prince was not joking.

"It always comes back to Harrenhal and Lyanna being crowned as the Queen of Love and Beauty that bastard, does it?" Robert muttered, having a rather strong feeling that he would not like this at all.

"In a sense, yes."

Oberyn smiled a almost feral smile over the blessing that finally, the image of Lyanna Stark as a innocent victim, the lie that Eddard Stark always insisted to tell anyone who asked about the events at the Tower of Joy, would be ruined by the reveal that her true manner of death was from a dangerous childbirth, and that Rhaegar was the one who had sired her stillborn bastard daughter.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

Now as the sun went down Aragorn and Éomer and Imrahil drew near the City with their captains and knights; and when they came before the Gate Aragorn said:

"Behold the Sun setting in a great fire! It is a sign of the end and fall of many things, and a change in the tides of the world. But this City and realm has rested in the charge of the Stewards for many long years, and I fear that if I enter it unbidden, then doubt and debate may arise, which should not be while this war is fought. I will not enter in, nor make any claim, until it be seen whether we or Mordor shall prevail. Men shall pitch my tents upon the field, and here I will await the welcome of the Lord of the City."

But Éomer wondered:

"Already you have raised the banner of the Kings and displayed the tokens of Elendil's House. Will you suffer these to be challenged?"

"No," answered Aragorn, "But I deem the time unripe; and I have no mind for strife except with our Enemy and his servants."

And the Prince Imrahil said:

"Your words, lord, are wise, if one who is a kinsman of the current Lord Boromir may counsel you in this matter. He is strong-willed and proud, but coming to his own seat in a difficult time, and his mood has been filled with fear since his brother was stricken down with the Black Breath. Yet I would not have you remain like a beggar at the door."

"Not a beggar," said Aragorn, recalling Boromir mentioning his brother with fondness during the earlier parts of the Fellowship's journey, "Say a captain of the Rangers, who are unused to cities and houses of stone."

And he commanded that his banner should be furled; and he did off the Star of the North Kingdom and gave it to the keeping of the sons of Elrond.

Then the Prince Imrahil and Éomer of Rohan left him and passed through the City and the tumult of the people, and mounted to the Citadel; and they came to the Hall of the Tower, seeking the Steward. But they found his chair empty, and before the dais lay Théoden King of the Mark upon a bed of state; and twelve torches stood about it, and twelve guards, knights both of Rohan and Gondor as well soldiers from Dorne who had been sent when Oberyn had heard about that the father-in-law of his beloved sister had fallen in battle. And the hangings of the bed were of green and white, but upon the old king was laid the great cloth of gold up to his breast, and upon that his unsheathed sword, and at his feet his shield, The light of the torches shimmered in his white hair like sun in the spray of a fountain, but his face was fair and young, save that a peace lay on it beyond the reach of youth; and it seemed that he slept.

When they had stood silent for a time beside the king, Imrahil asked:

"Where is the Steward? And where also is Mithrandir?"

And one of the guards answered:

"The Steward of Gondor is in the Houses of Healing."

They understood that Boromir could not have left the side of his brother, out of fear to not be there during the last moments of life if Faramir would soon join their late father Denethor.

But Éomer looked around in alarm when noticing that something was amiss, and wondered:

"Where is the Lady Éowyn, my sister; for surely she should be lying beside the king, our late uncle, and in no less honour? Where have they bestowed her?"

And Imrahil responded:

"But the Lady Éowyn was yet living when they bore her hither. Did you not know?"

Then hope unlooked-for came so suddenly to Éomer's heart, and with it the bite of care and fear renewed, that he said no more, but turned and went swiftly from the hall; and the Prince followed him.

"Of all times when Aegon's gift of healing is needed the most, he naturally is far away back home in Rohan and even with using the portals for a quicker travel, he would be overwhelmed with the patients needing his help…" Éomer muttered, but he could not blame his cousin for wanting the older son of Elia to remain home at Edoras. Besides, Aegon was mere days away from his 15th birthday, still three years too young to do military service according to the customs of Rohan.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

And when they came forth evening had fallen and many stars were in the sky. And there came Gandalf on foot and with him one cloaked in grey; and they met before the doors of the Houses of Healing. And they greeted Gandalf and said:

"We seek the Steward, and men say that he is in this House. Has any hurt befallen him? And the Lady Éowyn, where is she?"

And Gandalf answered:

"She lies within and is not dead, but is near death. But the Lord Faramir was wounded by the Shadow of the East, as you have heard, and Boromir is at his side."

And they were filled with grief and wonder at the tale that he told, about how Faramir had been in close contact with the Shadow of the East yet refusing to let his falling courage allow him to be an easy target. But Imrahil sighed with worry over the situation:

"So victory is shorn of gladness, and it is bitter bought, if both Gondor and Rohan are in one day bereft of their lords. Théodred King already rules the Rohirrim since a few years back, but will greatly mourn his father's passing when he receives the message. Who shall rule the City meanwhile, for Boromir will not stop fearing for his brother? Shall we not send now for the Lord Aragorn?"

And the cloaked man spoke and said:

"He is come."

And they saw as he stepped into the light of the lantern by the door that it was Aragorn, wrapped in the grey cloak of Lorien above his mail, and bearing no other token than the green stone of Galadriel.

"I have come because Gandalf begs me to do so," he explained, "But for the present I am but the Captain of the Dunedain of Arnor; and the Lord of Dol Amroth shall rule the City until Faramir awakes. But it is my counsel that Gandalf should rule us all in the days that follow and in our dealings with the Enemy.' And they agreed upon that.

Then Gandalf said:

"Let us not stay at the door, for the time is urgent. Let us enter! For it is only in the coming of Aragorn that any hope remains for the sick that lie in the House. Thus spake Ioreth, wise-woman of Gondor: The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known."

Then Aragorn entered first and the others followed. And there at the door were two guards in the livery of the Citadel: one tall, but the other scarce the height of a boy; and when he saw them he cried aloud in surprise and joy.

"Strider! How splendid! Do you know, I guessed it was you in the black ships. But they were all shouting corsairs and wouldn't listen to me. How did you do it?"

Aragorn laughed, and took the hobbit by the hand.

"Well met indeed!" he said, "But there is not time yet for travellers' tales."

This was not the time to tell of how Suleiman and his massive fleet had actually surprised the Grey Company. But Imrahil whispered to Éomer:

"Is it thus that we speak to our kings? Yet maybe he will wear his crown in some other name!"

And Aragorn hearing him, turned and said:

"Verily, for in the high tongue of old I am Elessar, the Elfstone, and Envinyatar, the Renewer': and he lifted from his breast the green stone that lay there. 'But Strider shall be the name of my house, if that be ever established. In the high tongue it will not sound so ill, and Telcontar I will be and all the heirs of my body."

And with that they passed into the House; and as they went towards the rooms where the sick were tended Gandalf told of the deeds of Éowyn and Meriadoc.

"For," he said, "long have I stood by them and at first they spoke much in their dreaming, before they sank into the deadly darkness. Also it is given to me to see many things far off."

~X~X~X~X~X~X

As expected, Boromir was found sitting next to the bed with his unconscious brother, holding his betrothed's hand in his, Éowyn herself also not awake. Hearing the footsteps coming closer and looking up with a face that revealed that he had not slept much in several days, he seemed to be more relieved than shocked to see Aragorn.

"They reacted slightly when we made them hold hands like this, as if somehow sensing who the other hand belonged to, but did not stir or wake up."

Aragorn went first to Faramir, and then to the Lady Éowyn, and last to Merry. When he had looked on the faces of the sick and seen their hurts he sighed.

"Here I must put forth all such power and skill as is given to me," he admitted, "Would that Elrond were here, for he is the eldest of all our race, and has the greater power."

And Éomer, seeing that he was sorrowful and weary, suggested:

"First you must rest, surely, and at the least eat a little?"

But Aragorn answered:

"Nay, for these three, and most soon for Faramir, time is running out. All speed is needed."

Neither Boromir or Éomer doubted why. With how close Faramir had been face to face to Khamûl, being exposed to the Black Breath could have killed him if he had remained that close for longer.

Then Aragorn called to Ioreth and he asked:

"You have store in this House of the herbs of healing?"

"Yes, lord," she answered, "but not enough, I reckon, for all that will need them. But I am sure I do not know where we shall find more; for all things are amiss in these dreadful days, what with fires and burnings, and the lads that run errands so few, and all the roads blocked. Why, it is days out of count since ever a carrier came in from Lossarnach to the market! But we do our best in this House with what we have, as I am sure your lordship will know."

"I will judge that when I see," said Aragorn, "One thing also is short time for speech. Have you athelas?"

"I do not know, I am sure, lord," she answered, "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 explained, "and maybe you know it by that name, for so the country-folk call it in these latter days."

"Oh that!" said Ioreth when she realized what herb he meant, "Well, if your lordship had named it at first I could have told you. No, we have none of it, I am sure. Why, I have never heard that it had any great virtue; and indeed I have often said to my sisters when we came upon it growing in the woods: "kingsfoil" I said, " 'tis a strange name, and I wonder why 'tis called so; for if I were a king, I would have plants more bright in my garden". Still it smells sweet when bruised, does it not? If sweet is the right word: wholesome, maybe, is nearer."

"Wholesome verily," said Aragorn, "And now, dame, if you love the Lord Faramir, run as quick as your tongue and get me kingsfoil, if there is a leaf in the City."

"And if not," said Gandalf, "I will ride to Lossarnach with Ioreth behind me, and she shall take me to the woods, but not to her sisters. And Shadowfax shall show her the meaning of haste."

When Ioreth was gone, Aragorn bade the other women to make water hot. Then he took Faramir's hand in his, and laid the other hand upon the sick man's brow. It was drenched with sweat; but Faramir did not move or make any sign, and seemed hardly to breathe.

"He is nearly spent," said Aragorn turning to Boromir, "Please, explain as best as you remember of his fight against the Shadow of the East? Was there any weapon that your brother was struck by?"

Boromir did so, and Aragorn could get a cleaner image of what had happened.

"Weariness, grief for his father's passing, the fear that you had suffered an ill fate somewhere between Gondor and Imladris, and over all the Black Breath," said Aragorn, "He is a man of staunch will, and would have been a target by the enemy to demorale the soldiers. Slowly the dark must have crept on him, even as he fought and strove to help you defend the White City. Would that I could have been here sooner!"

Thereupon the herb-master entered.

"Your lordship asked for kingsfoil, as the rustics name it, he said; or athelas in the noble tongue, or to those who know somewhat of the Valinorean…"

"I do so," said Aragorn, "and I care not whether you say now asea aranion or kingsfoil, so long as you have some."

"Your pardon lord!" said the man, "I see you are a lore-master, not merely a captain of war. But alas! sir, we do not keep this thing in the Houses of Healing, where only the gravely hurt or sick are tended. For it has no virtue that we know of, save perhaps to sweeten a fouled air, or to drive away some passing heaviness. Unless, of course, you give heed to rhymes of old days which women such as our good Ioreth still repeat without understanding.

When the black breath blows

and death's shadow grows

and all lights pass,

come athelas! come athelas!

Life to the dying

In the king's hand lying!

It is but a doggrel, I fear, garbled in the memory of old wives. Its meaning I leave to your judgement, if indeed it has any. But old folk 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!" cried Gandalf.

Now Aragorn knelt beside Faramir, and held a hand upon his brow. And those that watched felt that some great struggle was going on. For Aragorn's face grew grey with weariness; 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.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

And at last Bergil came running in, and he bore six leaves in a cloth.

"It is kingsfoil, Sir," he said, "but not fresh, I fear. It must have been culled two weeks ago at the least. I hope it will serve, Sir?"

Then, looking at Faramir he burst into tears.

But Aragorn smiled.

"It will serve," he said, "The worst is now over. Stay and be comforted!"

Then taking two leaves, he laid them on his hands and breathed on them, and then he crushed them, and straightway a living freshness filled the room, as if the air itself awoke and tingled, sparkling with joy. And then he cast the leaves into the bowls of steaming water that were brought to him, and at once all hearts were lightened. For the fragrance that came to each was like a memory of dewy mornings of unshadowed sun in some land of which the fair world in Spring is itself but a fleeting memory. But Aragorn stood up as one refreshed, and his eyes smiled as he held a bowl before Faramir's dreaming face.

"Well now! Who would have believed it?" said Ioreth to a woman that stood beside her, "The weed is better than I thought. It reminds me of the roses of Imloth Melui when I was a lass, and no king could ask for better."

Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he looked on Aragorn who bent over him; and a light of knowledge and love was kindled in his eyes when he also spotted his brother who cried in honest joy at seeing Faramir awaking, and he spoke softly:

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

"Walk no more in the shadows, but awake!" said Aragorn, "You are weary. Rest a while, and take food, and be ready when I return."

"I will, lord," whispered Faramir, "For who would lie idle when the king has returned?"

And then he paled at seeing whose hand he was holding.

"Éowyn?! What…how…why is she here?!"

"We are all wondering that, since she is supposed to be at Dunharrow with

Lothíriel and Elfhilda, and only joined us to Edoras for a quick errand since the army served well as protection and she was meant to ride back as soon as she could with a escort chosen from the remaining men of the royal guards. By now, her absence must have been noticed," Éomer answered, his face showing his worry for his sister yet also a faint anger born of the same worry was hinted in his voice.

But Aragorn looked over Éowyn and he said:

"Here there is a grievous hurt and a heavy blow. The arm that was broken has been tended with due skill, and it will mend in time, if she has the strength to live. It is the shield-arm that is maimed; but the chief evil comes through the sword-arm. In that there now seems no life, although it is unbroken. Alas! For she was pitted against a foe beyond the strength of her mind or body. And those who will take a weapon to such an enemy must be sterner than steel, if the very shock shall not destroy them. It was an evil doom that set her in his path. For she is a fair maiden, fairest lady of a house of queens. And yet I know not how I should speak of her…"

In his own anxiety over the situation, Éomer began to mutter in his own language under his breath, trying to find a suggestion himself, and then he recalled something which his wife had given him as an amulet for luck in battle.

"Perhaps this might work!"

Pulling out a small pouch from a long leather string around his neck, Éomer revealed it to be a simple little flat disk of dried clay, with a newborn's small palm and foot pressed in to make an image.

"My sister was really looking forward to becoming a fathu, despite the war and everything else, so maybe this imprint from Elfhilda…"

Laying this in her right hand, so the two tiny imprints was on her palm, Aragorn bent and kissed her on the brow, and called her softly, saying:

"Éowyn Éomund's daughter, awake! For your enemy has passed away!"

She did not stir, but now she began again to breathe deeply as her brother gently pressed the clay disk into her hand, so that her breast rose and fell beneath the white linen of the sheet. Once more Aragorn bruised two leaves of athelas and cast them into steaming water; and he laved her brow with it, and her right arm lying cold and nerveless on the coverlet.

"...Elf….hilda….won't let…you…lose..your father…I swear…"

Then, whether Aragorn had indeed some forgotten power of Westernesse, or whether it was but his words of the Lady Éowyn that wrought on them, as the sweet influence of the herb stole about the chamber it seemed to those who stood by that a keen wind blew through the window, and it bore no scent, but was an air wholly fresh and clean and young, as if it had not before been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam.

"Awake, Éowyn, Lady of Rohan!" said Aragorn again, and he took her right hand in his and felt it warm with life returning, "Awake! The shadow is gone and all darkness is washed clean!"

Then he laid her hand in Éomer's and stepped away.

"Call her!" he said, and he passed silently from the chamber to treat Merry next, Imrahil following after him with Beregond and his son, both unable to contain their joy. As he followed them out of the chamber and shut the door Pippin heard Ioreth exclaim:

"King! Did you hear that? What did I say? The hands of a healer, I said."

And soon the word had gone out from the House that the king was indeed come among them, and after war he brought healing; and the news ran through the City.

But for now, three of the four people inside the chamber were focused on something else.

'Éowyn, Éowyn!" cried Éomer amid his tears. She slowly opened her eyes and said with some confusion:

"Éomer! What joy is this? For they said that you were slain. Nay, but that was only the dark voices in my dream. How long have I been dreaming?"

"Not long, my sister," said Éomer, giving in to not scolding her about scaring them all like this for now, "But think no more on it!"

"I am strangely weary," she said, "I must rest a little. But tell me, what of our fedra Théoden? Alas! Do not tell me that that was a dream for I know that it was not. He is dead as he foresaw."

"He has joined our late aunts and his dearest Elfhild in the afterlife, yes," Éomer confirmed with sadness, "but he bade me say farewell to Éowyn dearer than daughter. He lies now in great honour in the Citadel of Gondor."

Éowyn took a deep, shaky breath, but at the same time, she knew that her beloved uncle would not have lived forever. He had gone out in war to defend his family, people and homeland, dying the death of a true King of Rohan.

"That is grievous," she finally said. 'And yet it is good beyond all that I dared hope in the dark days, when it seemed that the House of Eorl was sunk in honour less than any shepherd's cot. And what of the king's esquire, the Halfling? Éomer, you and our royal cousin shall make him a knight of the Riddermark, for he is valiant!"

"He lies nearby in this House, and I will go to him," said Gandalf, now also leaving, "Éomer shall stay here for a while. But do not speak yet of war or woe, until you are made whole again. Great gladness it is to see you wake again to health and hope, so valiant a lady!"

And he left them alone.

"We heard you whisper something about little Elfhilda, dearest."

She turned her head at hearing the voice of Faramir, and knew that she would have to explain her reason beyond dressing herself up as a male soldier of Rohan in secret by using a mixture of old, long-outgrown clothes of her brother and cousin which was stored in chests back home in Edoras, and joining the army.

"I did not want Elfhilda to lose her father in the war and grow up without ever knowing him."

Judging from their reactions, all three of the men realized what she referred to. For Éomund had fallen in battle against orcs when both his children were still young, and Denethor had died not even a month ago.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

Gandalf and Pippin came to Merry's room, and there they found Aragorn standing by the bed.

"Poor old Merry!" cried Pippin, and he ran to the bedside, for it seemed to him that his cousin and best friend looked worse, and a greyness was in his face, as if a weight of years of sorrow lay on him; and suddenly a fear seized Pippin that Merry would die.

"Do not be afraid," said Aragorn, "I came in time, and I have called him back. He is weary now, and grieved, and he has taken a hurt like the Lady Éowyn, daring to smite that deadly thing. But these evils can be amended, so strong and gay a spirit is in him. His grief he will not forget; but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom."

Then Aragorn laid his hand on Merry's head, and passing his hand gently through the brown curls, he touched the eyelids, and called him by name. And when the fragrance of athelas stole through the room, like the scent of orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees, suddenly Merry awoke, and he said:

"I am hungry. What is the time?"

"Past supper-time now," answered Pippin, "though I daresay I could bring you something, if they will let me."

"They will indeed," said Gandalf, "And anything else that this Rider of Rohan may desire, if it can be found in Minas Tirith, where his name is in honour."

"Good!" said Merry with a faint joy on his face, "Then I would like supper first, and after that a pipe."

At that his face clouded.

"No, not a pipe. I don't think I'll smoke again."

"Why not?" asked Pippin.

"Well," answered Merry slowly. "Lord Théoden is dead. It has brought it all back to me. He said he was sorry he had never had a chance of talking herb-lore with me. Almost the last thing he ever said. I shan't ever be able to smoke again without thinking of him, and that day, Pippin, when he rode up to Isengard and was so polite."

'Smoke then, and think of Théoden!' said Aragorn, "For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning. Though your service to him was brief, it should be a memory glad and honourable to the end of your days."

Merry smiled faintly.

"Well then," he said, "if Strider will provide what is needed, I will smoke and think. I had some of Saruman's best in my pack, but what became of it in the battle, I am sure I don't know."

"Master Meriadoc," said Aragorn, "if you think that I have passed through the mountains and the realm of Gondor with fire and sword to bring herbs to a careless soldier who throws away his gear, you are mistaken. If your pack has not been found, then you must send for the herb-master of this House. And he will tell you that he did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues, but that it is called westmansweed by the vulgar, and galenas by the noble, and other names in other tongues more learned, and after adding a few half-forgotten rhymes that he does not understand, he will regretfully inform you that there is none in the House, and he will leave you to reflect on the history of tongues. And so now must I. For I have not slept in such a bed as this, since I rode from Dunharrow, nor eaten since the dark before dawn."

Merry seized his hand and kissed it.

"I am frightfully sorry," he said, "Go at once! Ever since that night at Bree we have been a nuisance to you. But it is the way of my people to use light words at such times and say less than they mean. We fear to say too much. It robs us of the right words when a jest is out of place."

"I know that well, or I would not deal with you in the same way," Aragorn smiled, "May the Shire live for ever unwithered!'"

And after kissing Merry on the brow, he went out, and Gandalf went with him while Pippin remained behind.

"Was there ever any one like him?" he wondered, "Except Gandalf, of course. I think they must be related. My dear ass, your pack is lying by your bed, and you had it on your back when I met you. He saw it all the time, of course. And anyway I have some stuff of my own. Come on now! Longbottom Leaf it is. Fill up while I run and see about some food. And then let's be easy for a bit. Dear me! We Tooks and Brandybucks, we can't live long on the heights."

"No,' said Merry, "I can't. Not yet, at any rate. But at least, Pippin, we can now see them, and honour them. It is best to love first what you are fitted to love, I suppose: you must start somewhere and have some roots, and the soil of the Shire is deep. Still there are things deeper and higher; and not a gaffer could tend his garden in what he calls peace but for them, whether he knows about them or not. I am glad that I know about them, a little. But I don't know why I am talking like this. Where is that leaf? And get my pipe out of my pack, if it isn't broken."

~X~X~X~X~X~X

Aragorn and Gandalf went now to the Warden of the Houses of Healing, and they counselled him that Faramir and Éowyn should remain there and still be tended with care for many days.

"The Lady Éowyn," said Aragorn, "will wish soon to rise and depart; but she should not be permitted to do so, if you can in any way restrain her, until at least ten days be passed."

Besides, there was a quite likely change for either Morwen or Laywyn showing up through the use of a portal, undoubtedly to give their younger female relative the scolding of her lifetime for what she had done, unless they were restrained by others back in Rohan.

"As for Faramir," said Gandalf, "he needs to heal properly before trying to help his brother ruling Gondor again. No more battles for him now! And the presence of his lady of the heart can help him to heal."

"And the other perian Meriadoc who is under my care, what of him?" wondered the Warden.

"It is likely that he will be fit to arise tomorrow, for a short while," said Aragorn, "Let him do so, if he wishes. He may walk a little in the care of his friends."

"They are a remarkable race," said the Warden, nodding his head, "Very tough in the fibre, I deem."

At the doors of the Houses many were already gathered to see Aragorn, and they followed after him; and when at last he had supped, men came and prayed that he would heal their kinsmen or their friends whose lives were in peril through hurt or wound, or who lay under the Black Shadow. And Aragorn arose and went out, and he sent for the sons of Elrond, and together they laboured far into the night. And word went through the City:

"The King is come again indeed."

And they named him Elfstone, because of the green stone that he wore, and so the name which it was foretold at his birth that he should bear was chosen for him by his own people. And when he could labour no more, he cast his cloak about him, and slipped out of the City, and went to his tent just ere dawn and slept for a little. And in the morning the banner of Dol Amroth, a white ship like a swan upon blue water, beside the pure black banner of the Steward, floated from the Tower side by side, and men looked up and wondered if the coming of the King had been but a dream.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

Author note: Given that Grima died off-screen several years ago in-story, and he never joined the royal court at Edoras, Éowyn's reason to join the war in secret, in this case by not wanting her brother to die in battle and leave her young niece without her biological father, would naturally be very different from canon. Besides, with Denethor dying instead of Boromir on 26 February in-story, his passing would still be rather fresh in the memory of his sons.