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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