And In The Dawn Save Them

Chapter 25 : To Seize The Day

Illustration : John Howe, Edoras

Music to listen to on this chapter: 

This music is amazing, especially the end! ;)

With the departure of Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas, winter gave way to spring, and from the beginning of March, the weather began to improve. In the palace nestling in the hills of Emyn Arnen, Arcala took the opportunity to ride with Eowyn again, and the inhabitants of Ithilien got used to seeing their Rohirrim princess riding like a man around the city. Arcala felt, however, that she would have liked to see more of the landscape, to travel further, as Legolas could. The House of Healing had been completed, and was built around Sisters, healers and gifted pupils who quickly built up a solid reputation. Alcara would have liked to find new projects to fill her life, as Éomer stopped sending her letters. She thought he must have grown weary of the distance, and her hope that he would respond to her affection for him waned.

Over time, her pain eased, but she was dismayed to realise that it was still there. She missed Éomer, even his touchy, stubborn nature; the idea that he might have forgotten her, or seen no point in continuing to ask about her, hurt her deeply. She felt abandoned, she felt that he was betraying a promise he had never made, and she hated herself for being so angry at him, without any hindsight or reason.

But the future was full of surprises.

One sunny morning, while she was in her laboratory, Eowyn knocked on the door and entered. Sitting down opposite Alcara, she handed her a letter of patent from Éomer, with the King's official wax seal of Rohan, adorned with a prancing horse and official ribbons.

"It is for you!" Eowyn exclaimed with a smile, without saying anything else.

Alcara took the letter, intrigued and anxious. The ribbons and the seal were unusual and solemn; Éomer had never used them in his previous letters to her or to Eowyn. It must have been a royal decision, and an important one.

When she unfolded the parchment, she couldn't believe it: it was stated that the King of Rohan was asking the Prince and Princess of Ithilien for permission to send their healer, Lady Alcara, to set up a House of Healing in Edoras.

Once she'd got over the surprise of this news, she felt her heart leap: an immense joy ran through her from head to toe, and she felt as if she'd woken up from a long sleep. If she could, she would have left immediately. But she had Eowyn in front of her, the one she had promised to follow, and whom she looked after as her personal healer and as a friend. And who, moreover, knew nothing of her secret love for her brother Éomer.

After telling Eowyn the news contained in the official letter, Alcara asked simply: "What do you think?", cautiously, without revealing anything.

"I think it's an excellent idea!" exclaimed Eowyn sincerely. "After the battles in Isengard and the Shire, there must have been a lot of wounded warriors and we need to set up a well-organised House of Healing for the kingdom. And even though I love Rohan with all my heart, I have to admit that it's not ahead of Gondor when it comes to medicine..."

Alcara, whose heart was still beating rapidly, replied:

"But... I won't be here with you any more... if you ever get pregnant again, for example, I won't be able to take care of you..."

Eowyn was silent for a moment, surprised by Alcara's question, but also implying that the two friends would not be in close proximity for much longer. The princess lowered her head, as if she had already made up her mind.