And In The Dawn Save Them

Chapter 25 : Simbelmynë

Illustration : IA generated

This chapter is a lot longer, but I wanted to build up the tension and suspense between Alcara and Éomer. The story takes a surprising new and darker turn, I hope you like it!

Music to listen to on this chapter: 

She didn't have much time to think about it over the next few days. As soon as the opening of the House of Healing became known, many Rohirrim wounded in the war arrived to be examined, and she first had to deal with emergencies before considering setting up classes for healers. Part of the large vaulted hall was used as a small hospital, with extra beds, and the servants helped her provide first aid. Thanks to Gandalf's help, the first helpers arrived from all over the city: midwives, traditional healers and many dynamic young people. The women were in the majority, to Alcara's astonishment, because in Rohan, the young men learned first how to fight or look after the fields or herds. So she formed groups according to need, teaching them how to do things in action, unlike in Gondor, where theory was taught first and then practice. The older women were the most reluctant, as they felt they already knew how to do things, and Alcara had to convince them to do differently, and more effectively, than with the few aromatic herbs they had been using until now. The other obstacle was the language: when Gandalf was there, he could translate what she was saying into Rohirric, but in his absence, she would have to rely on the young people who knew the common language better. She herself had to learn Rohirric as she went along, as circumstances dictated.

After a week, a form of organisation had been put in place, and the laboratory was used both to make the remedies and to receive the most seriously injured. Alcara took the opportunity to rest a little: with the late arrival of spring and her fatigue, she had caught a heavy cold and had to stay in bed. After that, she thought a good morning's exercise would do her good, and she left the palace with her bow and quiver.

As she made her way through the streets of Edoras, she came across many familiar faces: many of those who needed her services greeted her with a smile. She smiled back: the locals were indeed very quiet, but once their trust was earned, they were loyal and grateful.

She then realised that she hadn't seen Éomer for a week: in the evening, too tired, she would eat a tray left in her room and fall asleep straight away. She hadn't even been able to put on a Gondorian outfit to annoy him, as she had envisaged; but in hindsight, the idea seemed childish to her: in the face of all the wounded who had protected Rohan, but also the Shire and Gondor, from Saruman's vengeance, her sensitivities or those of Éomer seemed derisory.

When she reached the bottom of the city, she found the archery training ground she had set up before leaving for Ithilien, used by several Rohirrim, and she was pleased to see it. Several young men, as well as many young women, were practising in front of the targets. She set up a new one a little further away, as her training was paying off and she had improved greatly in Ithilien. When they saw her shoot in the middle of the target, at a much greater distance, the young Rohirrim congratulated her and asked her in their language how to improve. Using her limited vocabulary, she tried to explain to them what reflexes to have and what posture to correct. She even pointed out the riders training in the neighbouring arena, to make them understand that it was also necessary to train on horseback, in full movement, and they were particularly enthusiastic about this.

So she went and got her horse, and gave them a demonstration of shooting at a trot and a canter, and they watched her enthusiastically, some of them going to get other horses from the stables. She was amused and thought that not only should there be a healing school, but also an archery school...