Reminder:: If you recognize it, I don't own it. Simple as that, right?

Yup, there's a new summary, but it's the same story. I figured I should make it more unique and interesting… At first I wanted an excerpt, but that would be too long. Eh, what can ya do? x3

Thanks so much for all the reviews, colbub! Totally made my day. n_n Here's the next chapter – I'm really excited to get moving again. Hopefully I can finally get into my main plotline soon. xD

Chapter Thirteen :: Second Go

Ioreth brought me breakfast the next morning and the morning after that, and the next morning, and the next morning, and even the morning after that. She was very kind to me and even though I was positive I had my strength back by the fourth day, she kept me confined to my room for two weeks 'just to be sure'. I only saw Ioreth and the warden. The other women and girls helping in the Houses kept obediently away from me like I had a disease or something. I suppose it was rather kind of them to care that I would recover as quickly as possible without interference, but I would have liked a little company. Huan of course was great company, but I could tell he didn't like being cooped up with me either. At least he was let outside. Unlike me, he was free to roam the halls and all the girls and children were very fond of him.

Spending those weeks in my room was very relaxing, but I felt rather fidgety. When I felt like I needed some air, I would open up the window and lean outside for awhile, taking in the fresh summer air. Autumn would approach soon. Very soon. The few trees that I could see were very tiny but they were ready to change colors. All the greenery was in the small gardens around the Houses or way out in the Pelennor Fields, which I came to know as the townships and farmlands that surrounded the city.

I loved to look out my window down at the street. People would pass by every now and then and sometimes a daring salesman or two would set up market booths where passersby could trade for things like cabbages, potatoes, and carrots. One man tried to set up a stand for poultry, but he did not have permission or something and I watched as he was led away by city guards. That was the most interesting thing to happen all week.

Ioreth tapped on the door before entering with the usual breakfast tray. "Good morning, Lady! Breakfast as usual. We have some nice toast today, too. Good wheat bread – very fresh. And today's another bath day, too! I bet you would like to change out of that night gown and into a fresh one, no? Perhaps I can convince the warden to get some spare materials for a dress for you. You could use a nice dress."

I smiled and listened to her frequent chattering. She beckoned me over and I helped to set the desk with the food. There was milk and bread and butter as promised. I wasn't too hungry this morning, so it was plenty. There was also some sort of herb concoction that I was supposed to take every morning. Ioreth told me it was to help me recover quicker.

I pretended to sip the herb juice that tasted very sweet. It was a strange texture, and it would probably be bitter if Ioreth didn't add any sugar to it. It always made my muscles relax. She stood by and watched me eat my breakfast and bustled about the room every now and again to fix something she thought looked imperfect. Like the bed sheet was lopsided. Or the pillow needed to be fluffed. Or the latch on the window wasn't locked. Things like that she did every day, but when she was latching my window, I threw her herb concoction into my waste bucket.

"Ioreth?"

"Yes, dear?"

"May I go out to see the gardens soon? I feel much better, thanks to you, and I would very much like some fresh air."

"Hm…" Ioreth struggled with her words for a minute before making up her mind. "That doesn't sound like a good idea, dear. I would like to keep you in for a few more days… Just to—"

"Just to be sure." I sighed, finishing her sentence.

"Oh, don't pout! Everything will turn out just fine, you'll see." Ioreth gave me a pat on the shoulder and a quick squeeze. She was so… hm. I couldn't think of a good word for her… Perhaps it was… A word that Linius used to tease me with… Oh! That's it. Motherly. Ioreth was very motherly.

"I'm sorry. I've been impatient. That wasn't right of me to ask." I apologized. I mean, after all, she was taking care of me with her own volunteered time. She wasn't obligated to visit me, or make me dresses, or give me extra treatments.

"No, no, you're fine, dear. Now let me take that for you. Good! I'll be right back with the bath water!"

Ioreth hurried out with the tray as I finished chewing. By the time I stood up, the same two girls I had first seen bring in a tub of water were back. Only now I realized they looked exactly the same.

As Ioreth came back in to help me with whatever, I couldn't help but continue to stare at the two girls. I didn't realize I was being so rude until one of them quietly asked: "Yes?"

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean—" I said. "I just have never seen two people look exactly the same before… How do you do that?"

The girl on the left let out a giggle. The one who addressed me simply smiled. "We're twins. We were born like this."

"That's amazing!" I grinned. They seemed quite surprised that it made me so excited, but honestly, anything would excite me that was just the slightest bit different after being in here so long. It was like a prison! But somehow, in the back of my mind, these two girls that were twins, something I had never seen before, were eerily familiar to me…

"All right now, into the tub with you!" Ioreth started to untie my night gown.

"I can do it," I laughed and held the back closed. Ioreth, put out of the job, gave up and ushered the twins out of the room so I could bathe.

I soaked in the warm water for awhile before I finally stepped out clean. It seemed that Ioreth had some sort of psychic ability because she entered the room right when I started having trouble putting on my fresh night gown. She tied it up, gave me a slimming sash for me to wear during the day and remove at night, and sat me down in the chair.

Whipping a comb out of nowhere, Ioreth started to stroke my hair for me. It felt nice and I enjoyed her company. Only… I couldn't help thinking again of my so innocent little thought… But it stuck and it bothered me. It was like a prison! Was it? Really? Am I simply over-reacting or is Ioreth not letting me leave because I'm not allowed to?

"—you know dear, if I found some nice combs, your hair is plenty long for a very nice up do. And they would be black! Like the gown you would wear. And you would wear a silver circlet about your head. Oh, how I wish I had a daughter to dress up. She would look like a queen of Gondor! If only I had the money—"

"Ioreth, I'm sorry, but am I a prisoner?"

This startled her enough that she accidentally yanked my hair. Perhaps I should have asked her the question when the comb wasn't in my hair… Ow.

"What, dear? Don't be ridiculous!"

"I'm not. I've been locked in here for two weeks, maybe more. And I can't even go to the gardens and they're right outside my window…"

"Oh, don't be silly—"

"But, Ioreth, please!" I sighed. "Don't think I haven't noticed the herb potions. I'm really not that thick. They may taste sweet, but that doesn't mask how heavy they are. They're not helping me 'recover' any; they make me go to sleep!" I decided not to add that part about me throwing them in my waste bucket though. Who knows, she might force me to drink it if she knew.

Ioreth scrambled. It was obvious she was searching her mind for a good answer, but couldn't come up with one. Finally she sighed. "Yes, Lady, you are being detained."

"But why?"

"Don't sound so frightened, dear. It's just that… The Steward would like to see you and I can't easily keep you in the Houses without everyone else thinking you still need to be here."

"But why do I need to stay—"

"It was asked of me by the warden who was asked by one of the high Guards of the Citadel by the Steward himself! That kind of order isn't to be taken lightly."

"So you're supposed to keep drugging me so I can't escape?"

"No, no, no!" Ioreth scolded. "Sounds so foul when you put it that way… Dear, the Steward wants your condition… kept low for awhile."

"Why? Am I harming anyone? How does he know?" I became cold. Amnesia wasn't a condition. They made it sound like I was contagious or unstable or something. I was sure that once my memory was back, I would be quite the same. I mean, really? Give me a break. I'm a girl who looks to be just out of adolescence. What would a youth have to do with large world problems? How could I possibly be hurting anyone with my own personal burden?

"Now, Lady, calm down. The Lord Denethor just would like to ask a few questions of you, that is all. You're a fine girl, Lady, but apparently he knows something I don't. The Steward's been mighty busy lately, so he hasn't been able to arrange a meeting with you. I am supposed to make it look like you're too ill to leave. Otherwise, people around here will start to get suspicious that you aren't who you say you are, that you have amnesia, you were touched by dark magic, who knows what else! Lies and rumors spread like wildfire in a big city like this one, and if you don't want to get nasty glares and whispers, I suggest you listen to me and stop all the conspiracy theories."

To say the least, I was ashamed. I hung my head in the awkward silence that no one could seem to break. I finally let out a quick gulp. "Is… is that why you wanted to make me a dress? Because you… had to?"

"Oh, dearie!" Ioreth cooed and pulled me into a hug. "I care about you, Lady, no orders needed. You're a bright, pretty girl, and if the Steward doesn't like you, shame on him! I'll take you right home and you can be my dress up doll."

I let out a laugh and smiled up at her and she wiped away my stray tear. It was nice to feel someone care about me. It strongly reminded me of Beleg, but it was vastly different, too. This must be what a mother is like. It made me hurt for Linius even more that he lost his.

Since I had discovered Ioreth's herb tricks, she promised me I wouldn't have to take it anymore as long as I promised I wouldn't talk to anyone about anything. It was an easy enough deal to make considering I didn't know anyone but her.

So for the next three weeks after that, Ioreth taught me a little about herbs. I could never remember what they were for though. I could identify them by appearance easily enough though. Soon Ioreth was having fun quizzing me by holding up a dried plant and telling me to name it. It was just before autumn began and Ioreth was willing to let me go about the forest with her to collect herbs. It sounded like great fun to escape the Houses and I was looking forward to it all that week.

"Here, you are, Lady!" Ioreth presented with pizzazz a wicker basket. She reached inside and held up a brown dress with dark green trim. "It's not the most beautiful, but it's warm and it will serve its purpose."

"Thank you!" I said and gave her a hug. Ioreth helped me into the frock and when she was done tying and adjusting, I had great fun spinning around in circles to feel the fabric skirt flare out about me like flower petals.

"Come, now, enough of the sillies. Grab that basket and get ready for some work."

Ioreth and I snuck out of the Houses of Healing as casually as possible and tottered out way down the white streets of Minas Tirith. Huan was allowed to tag along with me and he was excited to leave the city as much as I was. We were ready for fresh air and open farms again. I tried to keep my eyes focused on the cobblestone like a good girl, but the sky was a clear blue (except for the dismal-as-ever East of course) and the architecture was simply too gorgeous to not gape at like a commoner. When Ioreth saw me staring up, she would give me a sharp pat and tell me to pull my shawl closer around my head. I adjusted the musty thing and we continued to walk down, down, down until we were freed from the city completely. Luckily the guards knew Ioreth so they let us out and promised to let us back in when we had collected the plants we needed.

"So where are we going, Ioreth?" I asked as I struggled to keep up with her. For looking like she was in her later years, she had quite a powerful stride. Huan burst ahead of us and enjoyed barking raucously at the farmhands tending their fields or sniffing out the path of some sort of rodent.

"Oh, how I wish we could venture to Lossarnach… Lovely country, if you ask me. Raised there meself! But alas, we haven't the time or horses today. Today we are going to the thin patches in the rocks where I know of some good places to find things like rosemary and thyme. And if we're lucky, perhaps some Goldenseal – does wonders on infections."

We made an immediate right when we left the city taking the main road to the South. But soon Ioreth turned right again and followed a dirt path through the tall stalks of corn that went up over our heads. The path grew thinner and thinner until we had to squeeze through. While the scratchy leaves and stalks were slapping my sides and face, I was still glad because Ioreth knew the way through this mess.

When we exited the corn field, we were almost right up against the mountain. There was a small overhang off the side that shaded a fertile area of grass that was rather muddy. Corn couldn't grow there, but there were plenty of herbs that Ioreth would be interested in.

"Ah, ha!" Ioreth immediately exclaimed. She stooped and rose quickly with a small grunt. "See this?"

She held up a plant that look somewhat like ivy, but very different with little flowering buds on it. I nodded.

"Goldenseal. Very useful. If you find anymore, put it in the basket. Best to pull it up by the bottom and make sure you get the root."

I obeyed and searched for the plant she showed me. Huan, being the foolish dog he is, decided to roll around the second he saw the mud and even crushed a few of the plants I was looking at that I thought to be Goldenseal. A few times I had to go back to the one she picked to make sure I found one before I decided to pull it out of the ground. For such a wet area, it was rather hard to heave the herb out of the earth. After only four plants, I was tired of yanking. Ioreth had already found seven.

"How do you work so quickly?" I let out a sarcastic laugh and took a deep breath as I had another go and dug my hands into the dirt.

"Practice." Ioreth answered shortly; something she rarely ever did.

After collecting thirteen of the Goldenseal plants, Ioreth moved on to look for thyme and sage. After a few hours of staring at the ground, we found some sage and gingerly plucked it from the ground. It was near sundown when Ioreth stated we had better give up on the thyme and head back to the city.

"Oh! And we never found the rosemary! And I wanted to make that into tea for you."

"Tea?"

"Yes, dear." Ioreth nodded as we walked back up the road, finally out of the corn with our loaded baskets. "I haven't ever tried it with… someone of your condition, but I imagine it would do wonders for you. Haven't been able to find some for quite some time, I'm afraid. My mother always told me it aided memory, so obviously it would help you along."

I smiled at the kind thought. She was just so nice to me. I was so lucky to have so quickly found someone else to stick with. I wouldn't make it long on my own.

We reentered the city and were soon hurrying up the steps and slopes to the Houses of Healing. The warden met us at the door, but Ioreth held her ground. He wasn't as upset as I thought he would be that I was out of my room, but he was happy to see that Ioreth had found a use for me instead.

I brushed the dust from my dress and put on my night gown readily enough, not realizing before how comfortable it really was. Ioreth promised we would go out again soon to a different spot to search for rosemary and then left me to sweet dreams. I quickly washed off my arms, legs, and face from the dirt of the day and plopped into bed.

The torch in the hall was still flickering under the door, but otherwise my room was dark except for the window. Feeling curious at the bluish glow from outside, I hopped out of bed and propped up the chair next to the window. The stream of light was beating down on me already as I unlatched the window and leaned out.

The whole city was pulsating with the beautiful light. I had never seen anything like it. It was lovely and exhilarating. I could see as far out as I could see during the day with minimal shadow. The white city was shrouded in pure, natural light.

I stared up at the sky and saw the cause. A full, shining moon as bright as the sun. I stood there at my window sill for quite awhile taking in the amazing view before I remembered I was tired and should be in bed. Huan, curious as to why I suddenly got out of bed in the first place, stared at me from the foot of the bed and wondered what was so great about the moon.

Sighing to myself, I closed the window, hopped off the chair, and got back into bed, shoving Huan aside so I could get some room for my feet. Of course, he crawled right back into place and I stroked his head for awhile. This time I faced the window and fell asleep to my, perhaps not so terrible, oblivious life.