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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 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；' sa