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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 and young； as if it had not before been
breathed by any living thing and came new…made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of
stars； or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam。
'Awake； éowyn； Lady of Rohan！' said Aragorn again； and he took her right hand in his and felt
it warm with life returning。 'Awake！ The shadow is gone and all darkness is washed clean！' Then he
laid her hand in éomer's and stepped away。 'Call her！' he said； and he passed silently from the
chamber。
'éowyn； éowyn！' cried éomer amid his tears。 But she opened her eyes and said： 'éomer！ What
joy is this？ For they said that you were slain。 Nay； but that was only the dark voices in my dream。
How long have I been dreaming？'
'Not long； my sister；' said éomer。 'But think no more on it！'
' I am strangely weary；' she said。 'I must rest a little。 But tell me； what of the Lord of the Mark？
Alas！ Do not tell me that that was a dream for I know that it was not。 He is dead as he foresaw。'
'He is dead；' said éomer； 'but he bade me say farewell to éowyn dearer than daughter。 He lies
now in great honour in the Citadel of Gondor。'
'That is grievous；' she said。 'And yet it is good beyond all that I dared hope in the dark days；
when it seemed that the House of Eorl was sunk in honour less than any shepherd's cot。 And what
of the king's esquire； the Halfling？ éomer； you shall make him a knight of the Riddermark； for he is
valiant！'
'He lies nearby in this House； and I will go to him；' said Gandalf。 'éomer shall stay here for a
while。 But do not speak yet of war or woe； until you are made whole again。 Great gladness it is to
see you wake again to health and hope； so valiant a lady！'
'To health？' said éowyn。 'It may be so。 At least while there is an empty saddle of some fallen
Rider that I can fill； and there are deeds to do。 But to hope？ I do not know。'
Gandalf and Pippin came to Merry's room； and there they found Aragorn standing by the bed。
'Poor old Merry！' cried Pippin； and he ran to the bedside； for it seemed to him that his friend looked
worse； and a greyness was in his face； as if a weight of years of sorrow lay on him； and suddenly a
fear seized Pippin that Merry would die。
'Do not be afraid；' said Aragorn。 'I came in time； and I have called him back。 He is weary now；
and grieved； and he has taken a hurt like the Lady éowyn； daring to smite that deadly thing。 But
these evils can be amended； so strong and gay a spirit is in him。 His grief he will not forget； but it
will not darken his heart； it will teach him wisdom。'
Then Aragorn laid his hand on Merry's head； and passing his hand gently through the brown
curls； he touched the eyelids； and called him by name。 And when the fragrance of _athelas_ stole
through the room； like the scent of orchards； and of heather in the sunshine full of bees； suddenly
Merry awoke； and he said：
'I am hungry。 What is the time？'
'Past supper…time now；' said Pippin； 'though I daresay I could bring you something； if they will
let me。'
'They will indeed；' said Gandalf。 'And anything else that this Rider of Rohan may desire； if it can
be found in Minas Tirith； where his name is in honour。'
'Good！' said Merry。 'Then I would like supper first； and after that a pipe。' At that his face clouded。
'No； not a pipe。 I don't think I'll smoke again。'
'Why not？' said Pippin。
'Well；' answered Merry slowly。 'He is dead。 It has brought it all back to me。 He said he was sorry
he had never had a chance of talking herb…lore with me。 Almost the last thing he ever said。 I shan't
ever be able to smoke again without thinking of him； and that day； Pippin； when he rode up to
Isengard and was so polite。'
'Smoke then； and think of him！' said Aragorn。 'For he was a gentle heart and a great king and
kept his oaths； and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning。 Though your service to him
was brief； it should be a memory glad and honourable to the end of your days。'
Merry smiled。 'Well then；' he said； 'if Strider will provide what is needed； I will smoke and think。
I had some of Saruman's best in my pack； but what became of it in the battle； I am sure I don't
know。'
'Master Meriadoc；' said Aragorn； 'if you think that I have passed through the mountains and the
realm of Gondor with fire and sword to bring herbs to a careless soldier who throws away his gear；
you are mistaken。 If your pack has not been found； then you must send for the herb…master of this
House。 And he will tell you that he did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues； but that it
is called _westmansweed_ by the vulgar； and _galenas_ by the noble； and other names in other
tongues more learned； and after adding a few half…forgotten rhymes that he does not understand； he
will regretfully inform you that there is none in the House； and he will leave you to reflect on the
history of tongues。 And so now must I。 For I have not slept in such a bed as this； since I rode from
Dunharrow； nor eaten since the dark before dawn。'
Merry seized his hand and kissed it。 'I am frightfully sorry；' he said。 'Go at once！ Ever since that
night at Bree we have been a nuisance to you。 But it is the way of my people to use light words at
such times and say less than they mean。 We fear to say too much。 It robs us of the right words when
a jest is out of place。'
'I know that well； or I would not deal with you in the same way ' said Aragorn。 'May the Shire
live for ever unwithered！' And kissing Merry he went out； and Gandalf went with him。
Pippin remained behind。 'Was there ever any one like him？' he said。 'Except Gandalf； of course。
I think they must be related。 My dear ass； your pack is lying by your bed； and you had it on your
back when I met you。 He saw it all the time； of course。 And anyway I have some stuff of my own。
e on now！ Longbottom Leaf it is。 Fill up while I run and see about some food。 And then l