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slept。
When they had stood silent for a time beside the king； Imrahil said： '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。'
But éomer said： 'Where is the Lady éowyn； my sister； for surely she should be lying beside the
king； and in no less honour？ Where have they bestowed her？'
And Imrahil said： '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。 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 an evil dart； as you have heard； and he is now the Steward； for Denethor has
departed； and his house is in ashes。' And they were filled with grief and wonder at the tale that he
told。
But Imrahil said： 'So victory is shorn of gladness； and it is bitter bought； if both Gondor and
Rohan are in one day bereft of their lords。 éomer rules the Rohirrim。 Who shall rule the City
meanwhile？ Shall we not send now for the Lord Aragorn？'
And the cloaked man spoke and said： 'He is e。' 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 Lórien above his mail； and
bearing no other token than the green stone of Galadriel。 'I have e because Gandalf begs me to
do so；' he said。 'But for the present I am but the Captain of the Dúnedain 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 ing 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。'
But Imrahil said 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。'
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 said。 '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 said： '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。'
Then he called to Ioreth and he said： '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_；' said Aragorn； 'and maybe you know it by that name； for so the
country…folk call it in these latter days。' 'Oh that！' said Ioreth。 '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 Gandalf。 'But this es not from the wound。 See！
that is healing。 Had he been smitten by some dart of the Nazg？l； as you thought； he would have
died that night。 This hurt was given by some Southron arrow； I would guess。 Who drew it forth？
Was it kept？'
'I drew it forth；' said Imrahil； 'and staunched the wound。 But I did not keep the arrow； for we had
much to do。 It was； as I remember； just such a dart as the Southrons use。 Yet I believed that it came
from the Shadows above； for else his fever and sickness were not to be understood； since the
wound was not deep or vital。 How then do you read the matter？'
'Weariness； grief for his father's mood； a wound； and over all the Black Breath；' said Aragorn。
'He is a man of staunch will； for already he had e close under the Shadow before ever he rode
to battle on the out…walls。 Slowly the dark must have crept on him； even as he fought and strove to
hold his outpost。 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 _as？a 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 th