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and bowed； and they passed through the ash and fume of the burned circle； and went on and up
along the streets of stone。 To Merry the ascent seemed agelong； a meaningless journey in a hateful
dream； going on and on to some dim ending that memory cannot seize。
Slowly the lights of the torches in front of him flickered and went out； and he was walking in a
darkness； and he thought： 'This is a tunnel leading to a tomb； there we shall stay forever。' But
suddenly into his dream there fell a living voice。
'Well； Merry！ Thank goodness I have found you！'
He looked up and the mist before his eyes cleared a little。 There was Pippin！ They were face to
face in a narrow lane； and but for themselves it was empty。 He rubbed his eyes。
'Where is the king？' he said。 'And éowyn？' Then he stumbled and sat down on a doorstep and
began to weep again。
'They have gone up into the Citadel；' said Pippin。 'I think you must have fallen asleep on your
feet and taken the wrong turning。 When we found that you were not with them； Gandalf sent me to
look for you。 Poor old Merry！ How glad I am to see you again！ But you are worn out； and I won't
bother you with any talk。 But tell me； are you hurt； or wounded？'
'No；' said Merry。 'Well； no； I don't think so。 But I can't use my right arm； Pippin； not since I
stabbed him。 And my sword burned all away like a piece of wood。'
Pippin's face was anxious。 'Well； you had better e with me as quick as you can；' he said。 'I
wish I could carry you。 You aren't fit to walk any further。 They shouldn't have let you walk at all；
but you must forgive them。 So many dreadful things have happened in the City； Merry； that one
poor hobbit ing in from the battle is easily overlooked。'
'It's not always a misfortune being overlooked；' said Merry。 'I was overlooked just now by – no；
no； I can't speak of it。 Help me； Pippin！ It's all going dark again； and my arm is so cold。'
'Lean on me； Merry lad！' said Pippin。 'e now！ Foot by foot。 It's not far。'
'Are you going to bury me？' said Merry。
'No； indeed！' said Pippin； trying to sound cheerful； though his heart was wrung with fear and
pity。 'No； we are going to the Houses of Healing。'
They turned out of the lane that ran between tall houses and the outer wall of the fourth circle；
and they regained the main street climbing up to the Citadel。 Step by step they went； while Merry
swayed and murmured as one in sleep。
'I'll never get him there；' thought Pippin。 'Is there no one to help me？ I can't leave him here。' Just
then to his surprise a boy came running up behind； and as he passed he recognized Bergil
Beregond's son。
'Hullo； Bergil！' he called。 'Where are you going？ Glad to see you again； and still alive！'
'I am running errands for the Healers；' said Bergil。 'I cannot stay。'
'Don't！' said Pippin。 'But tell them up there that I have a sick hobbit； a _perian_ mind you； e
from the battle…field。 I don't think he can walk so far。 If Mithrandir is there； he will be glad of the
message。' Bergil ran on。
'I'd better wait here；' thought Pippin。 So he let Merry sink gently down on to the pavement in a
patch of sunlight； and then he sat down beside him； laying Merry's head in his lap。 He felt his body
and limbs gently； and took his friend's hands in his own。 The right hand felt icy to the touch。
It was not long before Gandalf himself came in search of them。 He stooped over Merry and
caressed his brow； then he lifted him carefully。 'He should have been borne in honour into this city；'
he said。 'He has well repaid my trust； for if Elrond had not yielded to me； neither of you would have
set out； and then far more grievous would the evils of this day have been。' He sighed。 'And yet here
is another charge on my hands； while all the time the battle hangs in the balance。'
So at last Faramir and éowyn and Meriadoc were laid in beds in the Houses of Healing； and
there they were tended well。 For though all lore was in these latter days fallen from its fullness of
old； the leechcraft of Gondor was still wise； and skilled in the healing of wound and hurt； and all
such sickness as east of the Sea mortal men were subject to。 Save old age only。 For that they had
found no cure； and indeed the span of their lives had now waned to little more than that of other
men； and those among them who passed the tale of five score years with vigour were grown few；
save in some houses of purer blood。 But now their art and knowledge were baffled； for there were
many sick of a malady that would not be healed； and they called it the Black Shadow； for it came
from the Nazg？l。 And those who were stricken with it fell slowly into an ever deeper dream； and
then passed to silence and a deadly cold； and so died。 And it seemed to the tenders of the sick that
on the Halfling and on the Lady of Rohan this malady lay heavily。 Still at whiles as the morning
wore away they would speak； murmuring in their dreams； and the watchers listened to all that they
said； hoping perhaps to learn something that would help them to understand their hurts。 But soon
they began to fall down into the darkness； and as the sun turned west a grey shadow crept over their
faces。 But Faramir burned with a fever that would not abate。
Gandalf went from one to the other full of care； and he was told all that the watchers could hear。
And so the day passed； while the great battle outside went on with shifting hopes and strange
tidings； and still Gandalf waited and watched and did not go forth； till at last the red sunset filled all
the sky； and the light through the windows fell on the grey faces of the sick。 Then it seemed to
those who stood by that in the glow the faces flushed softly as with health returning； but it was only
a mockery of hope。
Then an old wife； Ioreth； the eldest of the women who served in that house； looking on the fair
face of Faramir； wept； for all the people loved him。 And she said： 'Alas！ if he should die。 Would
that there were kings in Gondor； as there were once upon a time； they say！ For it is said in old lore：
_The hands of the king are the hands of a healer_。 And so the rightful king could ever be known。'
And Gandalf； who stood by； said： 'Men may long remember your words； Ioreth！ For there is
hope in them。 Maybe a king has indeed returned to Gondor； or have you not heard the strange
tidings that have e to the City？'
'I have been too busy with this and that to heed all the crying and shouting；' she answered。 'All I
hope is that those murdering devils do not e to this House and trouble the sick。'
Then Gandalf went out in haste； and already the fire in the sky was burning out； and the
smouldering hills were fading； while ash…grey evening crept over the fields。
Now as the sun went down Aragorn and éomer and Imrahil drew near the City with their
captains and knights； and when they came before the Gate Aragorn said：
'Behold the Sun setting in a great fire！ It is a sign of the end and fall of many things； and a
change in the tides of the world。 But this City and realm has rested in the charge