Seeds of the White Tree

Chapter 47 - Healing

It had been almost four hours since daybreak, and by some miracle Eldarion still was on his feet. There was so much to do in the aftermath of the siege, everywhere one looked there seemed to be someone in need of a helping hand. 

After fighting their way into the city, Aragorn and Legolas had gone into the Tower of the Moon and not been seen since. Eldarion had spoken to his father briefly though; when he and Malbeth had carried Sufyan up the winding tower stairs, unconscious between them on his makeshift stretcher. Aragorn had emerged from Eruthiawen and Elboron's room - the cloth in his hands conspicuously stained with blood - and helped them settle Sufyan on a bed in another room before sending them away. 

"There is nothing I can give you yet besides hope, Eldarion," Aragorn had said, even as he started gathering more supplies. "Éowyn and I are doing all that we can for Eruthiawen, as we must now do for Sufyan. As soon as we know anything for certain, for good or ill...be assured that I will send for you." 

With the command of the army still under his responsibility, Eldarion had been unable to do anything more for Eruthiawen and Sufyan. He and Elboron met and embraced in the hall outside Eruthiawen's door, both relieved to find one another alive. Little Barahir had been taken by the midwife for tending, and Elboron was almost frantic with worry for Eruthiawen. Eldarion found his own nerves frayed to the breaking point, and to his dismay could be of little comfort to his oldest and dearest friend. And so it was that, when Mistress Eidith at last brought Barahir back to Elboron's arms, Eldarion only lingered long enough to kiss his sleeping nephew's brow before returning down to the city below. 

There was more than enough to be done throughout Minas Ithil. Eldarion was able to throw himself into the work and forget the thousands of thoughts which whirled about inside his head like birds in a storm. He helped to clear barricades, put out fires, carry the wounded to safety, and bury the dead. A single mass grave would be dug for the Easterlings, further north beyond the Vale of the Moon. The fallen men of Gondor (and of Harad) were buried within the Vale, and a rock cairn erected until such time as a proper marker could be built. No one seemed to know what to do about Gïdjls. The young Mûmak lay where he had fallen, his stillness eerie for a creature so vast. Eldarion had tried to ask the lone surviving member of Sufyan and Túrien's entourage what ought to be done for the fallen Mûmak. Unfortunately, Eldarion's command of the Haradrim tongue was too poor to properly convey the question. Not knowing what else to do, Eldarion had asked the first young boys he came across to keep watch over Gïdjls. Using their little bows and arrows, the children were tasked to ensure that the carrion birds circling overhead did not disturb Gïdjls' final sleep. 

Sometime around midday, Eldarion jerked awake with a start. He had sat down for only a moment, while looking out over the still-smoking city from the walls of the Citadel of Night. So exhausted was he though, he had managed to fall asleep while seated, on a stone bench no less. His eyelids felt like they were lined with raw-hide. Scrubbing the bleariness from his face, Eldarion could feel unkept stubble growing out across his chin and cheeks. The events of the past thirty-six hours felt somehow dreamlike, unreal, as if they had happened to someone else. The irritated itching of his chafed wrists and the pain radiating from his wounded arm served as unwanted reminders though. Unable to find the energy to stand, Eldarion watched through dull eyes as Ohtar guided a group of men to leverage pieces of broken gate out of the street below. 

"Eldarion?"

Eldarion started, his heart suddenly racing even as he recognized his father's voice. He tried to rise to his feet, but it seemed that the last of his strength had finally deserted him. The best Eldarion could manage was to lift his head and squint up at his father through the piercing sunlight.