A new surge of excitement rushed through Moira's thoughts. Something was
finally happening, forcing her to wake up from the lulling dream state she had
been in for years. She had not felt this alive since her husband died and it felt
good, despite the events that had lead her here.
Certainly, she could not forget that Lord Aragorn was still ill and resting in the
Houses of Healing, but she had heard news that he was faring well and improving
by the hour.
During the entire morning, even while teaching the children, she had wondered
about the Man whom she had discovered in the quarry. She had wanted to go to
the Houses of Healing to see how he was, but then something always stepped in
the way, stopping her.
The children were very demanding and insisted on seeing the ill-stricken Man but
she refused. The Houses of Healing were no place for the young ones who had
already seen too much death in their lives. Théodred had left for his trip across
Rohan early this morning. It was as if life inside Edoras was proceeding, but all
waited for something to happen.
During lunchtime Moira discovered that Lord Elrond had planned a meeting in the
Houses of Healing with Théoden King and his counselors. She wanted to be a part
of this meeting, but knew she was not welcome. Théoden King was very clear on
the position of women in his court and would not stand for it, she knew.
For a long time she debated on sneaking in, then decided instead to bring Lord
Aragorn a visit. She needed to see him again and this time hopefully in a healthier
state of mind. She wanted to know what he had been through, to see if she could
help him. To find out if she could who his killer was.
For years after her husband's death, Moira had been living in a black void that had
rendered her spirits. She had suffered through many periods of ailment, as she
often allowed her depression to take over.
She had refused to speak with anyone about her sorrows, for she had no true
family left. She had no children of her own, and even though Théoden cared for
her as if she were his flesh and blood, she felt that his thoughts were more
focused on the tasks of war.
It was her sister's untimely death in childbirth that had set the basis for Moira's
early depressions, for it happened soon after their parents died. She had come to
Edoras not expecting to find love and care here, but then she met Granden, a
captain in Théoden's army. Even though her priorities had been the children, she
fell in love and married her captain.
For years, as they lived in the residence of the King, Moira felt the happiest
woman in Edoras. And then her husband had perished too, leaving another brink
in her heart. It seemed as if nobody she cared for would live long enough. She
feared that perhaps she had a negative influence on her loved ones, a thought she
could not push away. It made her afraid to love the children, and to love her King
as a brother.
In the end, the sorrow and pain just subsided and made way for a sense of living.
Living was all she did, but enjoying it was not an option. She found herself moving
through life like a soulless woman, one who lived for others but never for herself.
Until now.
What irony, she thought, as she stood near the doors of the Houses of Healing,
that other people's sorrow should become her new start. She felt she could do
something more than just sit and listen to her King. When she woke this morning,
she felt her spirits rejoice once more. It was such a beautiful day, and outside
there were many things to consider other than the shadows of death.
Moira felt as if she had played an important part in Aragorn's survival. Perhaps
she could thrive on that and suppress the negativity that had been inside of her
for so long.
*
Aragorn, who had been on the brink of death only a day ago, sat and ate the food
hungrily the servants of Rohan had brought him, using only his left hand. His right
arm had been immobilized by Lord Elrond to stop him from straining it. When he
moved it, a sharp pain shot him. He feared for the use of it, but the Elven-Lord
had reassured him he would return to his old stature. He would soon hold a sword
again.
To Lord Elrond's happiness, the Ranger was almost back to his normal self, even
quipping with the Elves on occasion. Yet Elrond knew that it was a brave face the
Ranger put up for others.
It was as if the Ranger's mind was constantly somewhere else, trying to
remember the events. Nobody knew how much astray his thoughts were, for he
would not admit to anyone that he constantly forced his memories to return. And
they would not come.
Some of them did.
He remembered a young woman - not much older than twenty years – with red
hair and fierce green eyes that stared at him in distress. He was in the room with
her yet she stood far away from him and he could not reach for her.
He also remembered a Man without a face. A man shooting two arrows towards
him, rendering him helpless. A Man dragging him by the legs and rolling him into
a blanket that reeked of horses and was suffocating.
He remembered trying to escape the blanket, and then he rolled away and onto
something hard and the world became a still place once more. It was mostly the
scent that stayed by him. The scent inside this very room. And outside, onto the
blanket in which he lay for so long.
He remembered the howling of wolves too. And the footsteps of horses and the
sniffling of the animals. And the taste of his own blood upon his lips.
That was all.
"Do not trouble yourself," Legolas spoke. "You are weary still and it shall return to
you, I am certain. Already you are starting to remember things."
Aragorn left his bed and stood by the windows, overlooking the beauty of Edoras
as it lay on top of the hill and looked down on the Plains. He had been here
before, many years ago, and he remembered every detail of it. It felt strange to
be here in these conditions. He was eager to see Théoden King, now a mature
Man who reigned over Rohan. Years ago, the King had been but a boy.
"Tell me about that night, my friend," Aragorn said without looking at Legolas.
"Tell me every detail of what you know and have seen. Perhaps it shall trigger
something."
The Ranger kept his arm still against his chest, sensing prickles of pain that
rushed through his fingers. A good sign it was, for it showed that his muscles and
nerves were repairing. He would have the full use of his arm again, he was
certain.
Legolas came to stand next to his friend. "It is a clear day out, Aragorn. The sun
blisters hard when it strikes midday. It can be as hot as a desert out there, when
the wind sits still and the world is quiet. It was like this that evening, after the sun
settled and the warmth remained. Do you remember?"
"I remember how warm it was. We were suffering and needed the rest but were
eager to leave the Land of Rohan and return home. We had traveled a long way,
our party. Lord Elrond missed the company of his kind and his daughter."
"That, he did. But our journey had been worthy. We took guard that night, one by
one. When it was your turn, we left you near the campfire while we slept. We
were tired, all of us. I remember that you sang. Your voice was gentle and soft. I
fell asleep upon the tunes of your song. I awoke under Lord Elrond's pressure. He
said you had gone and taken your horse."
"Why would I not have awoken you?"
"I do not know. Perhaps you could not spare the time. We searched for you and
called your name and did not find you. We were close to the village and
approached it in search of you. When we arrived on its outskirts, we found crying
Men and distraught Women who told us that a young woman had died. Lord
Elrond walked inside the hut and found her slaughtered. And he found your
possessions near her body."
"They must have thought that I had killed her."
"They did," Legolas said, "but we persuaded them otherwise. Your blood was on
the ground too, and a murderer would not leave his weapons. They trusted us in
good faith and helped us to search for you. A day had passed and we were nearly
without hope of finding you, when your mare came to us on the Plains. We
searched in the hills and on the Plains, and inside the village, and finally left for
Edoras in the hope to persuade Théoden to help us find you with his best Men."
"Then how did you find me?" Aragorn asked. "By sheer luck?"
"No." Legolas shook his head. "The Valar bestowed us with luck when he brought
Moira, Lady of Rohan, into our paths. She led us to you."
"Moira?"
"Aye. She is the sister of Théoden's deceased wife, and caretaker of the two
children that live here. You will meet her soon, for she is very eager to see you
awake and outspoken as you can be. Ah look, there she is now."
Legolas turned and smiled as the dark-haired Lady of Rohan entered the Room of
Healing and wavered. "Do I disturb your conversation?" she asked.
"Not at all," Legolas said, bowing his head. "Our friend has been asking for you."
"Oh?"
Moira's face lit in a beautiful smile as she proceeded into the room and stood still
in its centre, finally facing Aragorn. Their eyes met, and then she bowed, for she
again felt that same sense of royalty that came from him.
"Please." Aragorn approached her and slowly bowed his head. "I should bow to
you, not you to me, My Lady."
Moira looked up. "I hear you fare well, Lord Aragorn. It is a pleasure to hear, for
we have been very concerned for your welfare. Théoden King is eagerly awaiting
news about you, and should want to speak with you."
"And I with him," Aragorn said with a smile. "You are most kind, My Lady."
"My name is Moira and I wish you would use it."
"Then I shall. I hear that you have saved my life, but I have not heard the details
of my saving. Come, sit with me and tell me your tale."
"Are you well for it, My Lord?"
"I am," Aragorn said.
"Your arm. Your face."
"They are both healing. I shall live."
She smiled. "You are a fighter, My Lord Aragorn. So I have been told."
Moira sat, and soon the room was filled with her voice and the tale of how she had
gone out to ride for the very first time, and how that had lead her to her find. Her
eyes saw the exquisite ring on Aragorn's left finger, and moved up again to his
eyes. He was calm under her presence and asked no questions until she had
finished her tale.
"Legolas, I must ask you to bring me there later," Aragorn said. "I feel that it
might help me to regain some of my memories."
"You do not remember then?" Moira asked concerned.
"Nay, but I have hopes for that healing too."
"I wish to help as much as I can," Moira said, turning her attention to Legolas this
time. "I know that My Lord King will not allow it, but I shall go against his wishes.
Despite of what they might tell you, I am fit and capable of handling myself.
Please bear that in mind."
"I would not have it any other way, Lady Moira," the Elf replied with an amused
smile.
"Good."
Aragorn stood. "Do you know every Man that lives in Edoras, My Lady?"
"That I do."
"I would want you to guide me then, so I can search their faces for a trace of
recognition."
Legolas opened his mouth to reply, but stopped as Lord Elrond entered the room
and bowed for Moira. The Lady of Rohan accepted his greet and stood. "I am in
the Golden Hall if you require my aid."
With that, she retreated.
Aragorn's foster father moved in steady paces through the room when Aragorn
stood and asked for clothes to wear. He had been up and about in the Healer's
clothing but ached for something warmer he could use for outside.
Lord Elrond shook his head forcefully. "I will not allow you to pretend as if nothing
has happened," the Elven-Lord spoke. "You are not fit to do so."
"Aye, but I am," Aragorn countered. "I feel well enough to slay a boar, something
that I can do with my left hand."
"Amusing, but I do not believe that you can. Listen to what your body is telling
you, my son. And even then, I shall not allow you to find your prey by yourself.
You should proceed to Rivendell and allow us to deal with this. Here, you would
only be in harm's way."
"Ada." Aragorn stood before his father. The two were almost equal in height and
appearance. Lord Elrond sighed, for he knew he could not stop his son when his
mind was set on one thing.
The Ranger smiled amused. "Do I really have to say it?"
"No, you must not," Elrond said. "I know that I cannot persuade you to go home.
Yet I do not want you outside these walls by yourself. There are guards here to
protect you and I want you to make use of them."
"I shall," Aragorn replied with a smile and turned to Legolas. "I have this feeling
that our friend here will be my shadow for as long as we roam Edoras. Is that not
so, my friend?"
Legolas nodded without a word, his eyes burning with the intent of finding the
soul responsible.
"Good," Aragorn said. "That is then settled. Now, will someone find me some
fitting clothes, or do I have to walk through Edoras in these garments?"