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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 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