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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；
e athelas！ e 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。
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 forted！'
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； and he spoke softly。 'My lord； you called
me。 I e。 What does the king mand？'
'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；' said Faramir。 'For who would lie idle when the king has returned？'
'Farewell then for a while！' said Aragorn。 'I must go to others who need me。' And he left the
chamber with Gandalf and Imrahil； but Beregond and his son remained behind； unable to contain
their joy。 As he followed Gandalf 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 e among them； and after war he brought
healing； and the news ran through the City。
But Aragorn came to 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 es 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。 When I first looked on her and perceived
her unhappiness； it seemed to me that I saw a white flower standing straight and proud； shapely as a
lily； and yet knew that it was hard； as if wrought by elf…wrights out of steel。 Or was it； maybe； a
frost that had turned its sap to ice； and so it stood； bitter…sweet； still fair to see； but stricken； soon to
fall and die？ Her malady begins far back before this day； does it not； éomer？'
'I marvel that you should ask me； lord；' he answered。 'For I hold you blameless in this matter； as
in all else； yet I knew not that éowyn； my sister； was touched by any frost； until she first looked on
you。 Care and dread she had； and shared with me； in the days of Wormtongue and the king's
bewitchment； and she tended the king in growing fear。 But that did not bring her to this pass！'
'My friend；' said Gandalf； 'you had horses； and deeds of arms； and the free fields； but she； born
in the body of a maid； had a spirit and courage at least the match of yours。 Yet she was doomed to
wait upon an old man； whom she loved as a father； and watch him falling into a mean dishonoured
dotage； and her part seemed to her more ignoble than that of the staff he leaned on。
'Think you that Wormtongue had poison only for Théoden's ears？ _Dotard！ What is the house of
Eorl but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek； and their brats roll on the floor among
their dogs？_Have you not heard those words before？ Saruman spoke them； the teacher of
Wormtongue。 Though I do not doubt that Wormtongue at home wrapped their meaning in terms
more cunning。 My lord； if your sister's love for you； and her will still bent to her duty； had not
restrained her lips； you might have heard even such things as these escape them。 But who knows
what she spoke to the darkness； alone； in the bitter watches of the night； when all her life seemed
shrinking； and the walls of her bower closing in about her； a hutch to trammel some wild thing in？'
Then éomer was silent； and looked on his sister； as if pondering anew all the days of their past
life together。 But Aragorn said： 'I saw also what you saw； éomer。 Few other griefs amid the ill
chances of this world have more bitterness and shame for a man's heart than to behold the love of a
lady so fair and brave that cannot be returned Sorrow and pity have followed me ever since I left
her desperate in Dunharrow and rode to the Paths of the Dead； and no fear upon that way was so
present as the fear for what might befall her。 And yet； éomer； I say to you that she loves you more
truly than me； for you she loves and knows； but in me she loves only a shadow and a thought： a
hope of glory and great deeds； and lands far from the fields of Rohan。
'I have； maybe； the power to heal her body； and to recall her from the dark valley。 But to what
she will awake： hope； or forgetfulness； or despair； I do not know。 And if to despair； then she will
die； unless other healing es which I cannot bring。 Alas！ for her deeds have set her among the
queens of great renown。'
Then Aragorn stooped and looked in her face； and it was indeed white as a lily； cold as frost；
and hard as graven stone。 But he 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； 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。
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