Author's Note; Well, one of the worst weeks ever has ended, and another worse one seems to beginning! Uggh! My E800 worth collection of DVDs was stolen (with all my LOTR discs – the originals AND extended editions), my kitten died and a stupid guy has returned into my life, so I'm NOT a happy camper! Anyway, enough of my annoyance (thought I'd add a bit of angst! LOL) – here's the fifth chapt. for ye:-) I'm gonna be headin' for sunny Spain on Wed, so if I am inspired, I'll have another chapt. up by then, but it looks more likely that you guys might have to wait for a week! If so, I'll have the 4th chapt. of 'The Birthday Boy' up tomorrow! Thanks as always to every1 for readin' and especially reviewin'!
Lindahoyland; Yup, I did mean 'arduous' damn! I appreciate all your attention to detail dear! Your gonna find out what happened to Aragorn and his healing later on, so you might be interested in that! Your extensive writing on the healers has really inspired me, so I have put in a bit of my own detail here…I've looked up stuff about herbs, so there'll be lil mentions here and there. Thnx so much for the faithful reviews! x
Sarahbarr17; Well my fellow islander:-) Delighted you are still enjoyin' the story – the lil things you point out are exactly the thing I try to convey, and you pick up all my lil hints - I think we are on the same page! Oh, Faramir (and Eowyn) will make much more than a cameo, and all the characters ye are familiar with (the elf, dwarf and co.) will feature strongly, though because I am such an A/A fan, it will still always mainly centre around Gondor's royal family.x
RS; Hey darlin' – I hope the King and Queen heed your warning! As I said to Linda above, all will be revealed regarding Aragorn's healing, and thanks for the quote hun, the hand's of the King are indeed those of a true healer…..but it may not be because Aragorn lost his abilities, it could be something more…. xx
Grumpy123; Well, my old, faithful reviewer – thank you so so so so so much for venturing onto this story as well! LOL! Hope you like the suspenseful, angsty fics! Oh, there will be much less sleep in the Telcontar household, and may I add, for her own sake, the old Nanny couldn't be leaving at a better time! Moooooohahahahahaa ahem sorry! Thnx for stoppin' in! Hope you continue to read on….
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Chapter 5 – The Houses of Healing
"But I am not ill….." Eldarion protested, perched high upon his bed as his mother tied his sandal. Every time he had to attend there, it was because he was feeling poorly and had to take some horrible medicines. Placing a small hand upon his own forehead, the boy concluded that was not ill, and would definitely not take such unpleasant mixtures for no reason!
"I know, my darling," Arwen said again. The Prince fought against going to the Houses of Healing all morning, wondering what was wrong with him. Though she could not explain to him her worry, she had reached the last resort and was adamant to bring him. "You are just getting a routine over-look, that is all." Though she diluted the truth, Eldarion was, infact, merely being examined by the healers. She could not think of a single treatment, if any, which her son would definitely receive, but it was at least worth a try….
"Are you both ready now?" The King asked, standing at the boy's chamber door. He was set to depart and was holding a cloak for both his wife and son.
Arwen lifted Eldarion to the ground, but with heavy steps, he reluctantly made his way to the door. "I do not want to go…. " he grumbled, furrowing his brows.
"Come, my son. Do not think you will have to consume any potions," Aragorn softly assured, reaching a large hand down to his, "And you also are permitted to miss schooling for today."
Weighing his father's words, the Prince found it very hard to pass an opportunity to miss tuition. Elraen and Sadriel would be stuck doing their sums at the moment, and he had no desire to join them. "You promise that I will not have to take any sort of medicine?" he asked warily, securing his father's pact.
"I promise," the King repeated, playfully bowing to the child. In accord, Eldarion happily skipped hand-in-hand with his father out into the hall, ready to go.
Watching in awe of how easily their son corresponded with his father, Arwen wondered at her husband's ability in relating to the children. He always knew both how and what they thought. When she was once more elven than mortal, she perhaps had taken such things for granted.
The three made their way down to the sixth level of the city quietly in a closed carriage. Word travelled fast and far across Gondor, and they did not want their son's plight to be part of idle gossip. It would not do Eldarion any good, and furthermore, it was most likely that nothing was wrong to begin with. The carriage parked in the private quarters and the King, Queen and Prince made their way into the spirituous Houses of Healing.
Once they stepped inside, it was as if they were detached from everywhere else. A fragile light seeped through the curtained narrow windows, with rays of a subtle rose and a glowing honey reflecting on the marble and white stone. A fresh breeze delicately danced in each room, softly caressing all who dwelt inside. Whispers and sleep echoed high up to the arched ceiling, and finely spun silks, whispy and pure, framed each bed. By window sills and the bedsides, small rounded candles burned, and with the flame, released sweet natural scents. The patients there were tended with the greatest care, and healed by those who were most gifted.
None were more so than Ioreth, the oldest and wisest of the Healers. Small and stooped, her long grey hair was kept up in a loose bun, with strands falling around her kind face. Her slow step was the only factor which revealed she was over ninety, and she had served in the Houses of Healing for many years. Upon the arrival of the royals, she came to meet them.
"Welcome King Elessar, Queen Arwen and young Prince," she greeted with delight, her wrinkled face smoothing with her wide smile, "We are blessed with your visit!"
"Thank you Ioreth. Your lively demeanour tells me you are as youthful as ever," the King said in good nature. As he hugged his dear friend, Aragorn spoke softly in her ear, "We would like you to see our son."
Taking a look at the child, her initial worry left her. He looked to be healthy. "Come," was all the old lady said, lifting a quick hand signing for them to follow her.
They walked through many rooms and narrow halls before they reached the most special of all healing chambers. It was reserved for those of noble blood. Similar in design to the others, this room boasted a stone carving of Gondor's seven stars bordered the large western window, and glittering gold threads were spun through the flimsy curtain fabric.
"Sit him here….." Ioreth ordered, patting a random bed. Arwen did as was asked and lifted Eldarion to place him upon the mattress whilst the slight woman looked around in search for something. She fumbled in drawers and trays, muttering incoherently to herself, before finally leaving the room. "I shan't be long," she assured.
"For a sick house, it is a peaceful place," Aragorn quietly remarked as he carefully gazed around the white walls. He noted that little had changed in his absence.
"Not a sick house, my Lord, a house of Healing!" came Ioreth's echo from the far down hall.
He looked to Arwen in surprise at the reply, for he did not expect one, nor to be heard.
With a half smile, the Queen again tied her son's opened sandal. "She is right. This is a place of Healing. Great wonders have transpired here."
Picking up on his wife's subtle hint, Aragorn responded with an effortless 'Hummmph' before awkwardly walking around the room.
"I am not ill….." Eldarion started again. With the quiet befallen, he had his first chance to renew his dissent.
Thankful that his son distracted his thoughts, the King turned to him, "We do not think you are, ion-nin (my son), but we should like to know what is causing your nightmares."
With this added information, the child's furrowed brow eased and he was now able to make sense of the situation. "I am here because of my nightmares? The healers might make them stop?"
"Maybe," Arwen said, glad that the Prince was comfortable with the idea, "we think we should at least let them examine the situation. They are wise people."
"I thank you, my Lady," came an old woman's voice behind them. Turning, they saw that Ioreth had returned, with a tray of al that she needed and a fellow healer. "This is Findel, he is this year's apprentice and has already proved himself to be a wonderful aide to me. Do you object at his attendance?"
Looking at the young man's pleasant face, the King and Queen both shook their heads with a soft 'no'.
"Let us then begin," Ioreth said, her weak voice becoming strong. With Findel behind her, she proceeded around to the opposite side of the bed and spoke to the Prince, "Tell me child, what is the cause of your parents bringing you here?"
"I am not ill….." Eldarion quickly established.
"Our son has been having some reoccurring nightmares," Arwen began, offering a perhaps more reliable account of the matter. She chose her few words with caution, as she was conscious of Eldarion's presence. "They have caused him some distress over the past three weeks."
"Nightmares?" Ioreth repeated, more to herself, as she looked at the boy.
Unsure of what the old lady was thinking, Aragorn extended the answer, "Yes. His cries not only wake him up, but also the whole Palace."
"Tell me, young Prince, what do you dream about?" Ioreth continued, keeping a fixed eye upon the child.
"A shadow man," Eldarion said lowly, though sure of what he was telling. "He wants to hurt me…..and Ada."
"Is it the same each night?"
"Well, at first, it was just a shadow which covered Ada's kingdom," the boy said, fiddling with a strap on his shirt, "but now there is the man."
"Do you remember every detail, or are parts…..hazy?"
"No," Eldarion adamantly replied, "I remember it all."
"Could you tell me about this…..shadow man? Will you tell us of your dream, from the very start?" Ioreth asked the child softly. He gave a diligent nod, and she looked to Findel briefly, motioning for him to write the details down on paper whilst the Prince would recount his nightmare.
As he told the healers of the White Tree turning black, the falling crown and sceptre, Anduril and the shadow figure floating toward the regally dressed King and Prince, he became nervous and quite vulnerable. Both Aragorn and Arwen wished to simply take him into their arms and end his worry, but it would not be so simple. They noticed that the old woman became increasingly interested with Eldarion's every word, and it was necessary for Ioreth to be in full knowledge of the case if she was to help their son.
"…we could not move. It came very near us, and it reached for me. But when it was about to touch me, I screamed, and then woke…." The Prince ended, with the strap breaking in his moist hand.
Digesting the information, the King and Queen noticed that Ioreth possessed a somewhat pensive, knowing look on her wise face. "You are a brave boy. That is indeed a most scary nightmare," was all she said, changing her sober face with a comforting smile.
"I will not have to take any medicines then?" Eldarion asked, surprised despite his father's promise.
Laughing, Ioreth went to her tray, "No, child, but it would help to burn some Lavender before you sleep." Showing some rich green leaves, speckled with tiny lilac buds, to the Prince with an aged hand, the elderly lady rubbed Eldarion's lengthy hair with the other, "It will calm the mind."
"Yes, I have some," Arwen offered, "I often place some dried leaves in a bowl on my desk."
"Your Majesty, My Lady….I think it better if you could return the Prince here later and let him rest here for tonight," Ioreth stated, "I can make no assumptions without watching his sleep."
Trusting in the old lady's healing, the King and Queen did not hesitate and permitted their son's stay. They then went to depart, and Ioreth escorted them back to their carriage.
"I thank you for all your help, dear friend," Aragorn said, lifting the old lady's soft hand to kiss in goodbye.
With a youthful beam, the healer squeezed his tightly, "You are missed, Lord Elessar. Will you not come back and join us here?"
Expecting the request at some stage during the visit, Aragorn returned her smile with one of sorrow, "I do not think so."
-
As promised, Eldarion was returned to the care of the city's healers that night. Faithful that their son was safe, Aragorn was very much looking forward to a blissful night of undisturbed slumber. Upon entering their chamber, Arwen noticed that her husband was, for once, in bed before her! Exhaustedly sprawled across the bed, the King was oblivious to all around him as he dwelt in a deep sleep. Giggling at noticing her husband had forgotten to remove his pants, Arwen did the honours and tried to adjust him into a comfortable position as she lay in beside him.
Yet again, however, the couple were roused from their repose with the call of the guards. "Sire," came the excited voice through the door, "Someone has been in the Prince's chamber!"
