CHAPTER 8: THE HEALER’S NEWS
注: 后面还有审问的内容,所以这里全都删了.
Sitting through the night, he (Legolas) had allowed the events of the last day to play again and again in his mind, and he still had come no closer to understanding who the attackers or what their purposes were. They were fast and merciless, so they must have been trained, but by whom were they trained? Was their leader with them? He wished Faramir’s interrogator could obtain answers quickly.
As aggravated as he was by the need to find answers to those questions, he had been even more greatly troubled by two thoughts throughout the night. First, the senseless assault had resulted in a little boy – the son of Aragorn, no less, lying unconscious next to his frightened mother. Second – and Legolas felt a rush of anger each time he realized this – the assault had taken place in Ithilien, the domain Aragorn had entrusted him to nurture and guard. Repeatedly, he rebuked himself: I should have been able to keep Aragorn’s family safe. No elves should have lost their lives. I should have been more vigilant. I should have anticipated…
Sunshine streamed in through the window next to where Eldarion lay. Moving to the still figure, Legolas and Faramir were faintly relieved to see that the boy’s face was less flushed now, and he seemed more peaceful than he had been through the night. But there was no smile on Arwen’s face as she greeted them, and dark circles under her eyes were silent testimony to the anguish she had gone through. Neither she nor Legolas had rested well or eaten since their arrival the previous night.
The healers bowed to Arwen and addressed her, “My lady, we have determined the nature of the substance used to coat the dart. The substance is a kind of poison. Fortunately, it is not used to kill, only to weaken. It causes the body to go cold and numb, and it will cause the mind of a man to lapse into unconsciousness, rendering him defenseless.”
“Eladrion –?” Arwen began.
“The prince is fortunate that only half the dart entered his flesh,” the healer responded, anticipating her question. “It must have been caught in something, perhaps some clothing, before it punctured the flesh.” The small tear in my tunic, thank the Valar, Legolas thought to himself, but that is of no importance now.
“Being a child, Prince Eldarion will require longer to recover. But we have hope that he will wake before the day is through. Fear not, my lady.”
Arwen’s relief was audible, and both Legolas’ and Faramir’s faces relaxed as well. With moist eyes, the queen turned her eyes back to her son and smiled.
“So where would this poison be found now? Who would make it?” Faramir repeated his earlier question.
“We cannot be certain, my lord. We know that the poison used to be harvested from the ipo plant that grew near bodies of water. Perhaps they can be also found further west and south, at the Bay of Belfalas or closer to the city of the Corsairs, where the Umbarians depend much on catch from the sea. Is it possible that – ”
“The men came from the east, near the northern fringes, not the south,” Legolas interjected. “That is what our guards observed.”
“What about further east from the Reclaimed Lands?” Arwen asked, as keen to identify the possible attackers as the Steward and elf prince were
“On the old battle plain of Dagorland? Nay, not likely,” Legolas responded, “but perhaps beyond that… what bodies of water lie to the east of Gondor?”
One of the healers spoke. “I know of one large one – the Sea of Rhûn.” When they all turned to face him, he looked embarrassed, and mumbled that he had heard about it from some of the men who had worked on the Dead Marshes.
“Well does your memory serve you, for your observation is correct,” Faramir said kindly. “There is the Sea, and several small rivers flow into it. Could the men have come from there?” he wondered.
“Does Gondor have any dealings with the people in that area? Would Aragorn have enemies there?” Legolas queried.
“I have no knowledge of any past or recent doings that tie us to the people who live there. We know little of them, and I suspect they of us.” Faramir furrowed his brow. “Perhaps this would be a good time for you to take some rest, My Lady?” he suggested politely. “The danger appears to be past, and the healers are ever watchful for changes.”
Legolas (says) “Faramir speaks wisely, Arwen. When Eldarion wakes, he will want to see his naneth happy and well.” Then he added gently, speaking softly, “Seeing the reminders of last evening may disturb him. It would not give Aragorn any comfort either were he to face the stains of the terrible experience you went through, when he returns.”
“You are right.” In a more subdued tone, she added, “I have not yet thanked you and your kin for saving our lives. We are grateful.”
Legolas was genuinely taken aback. “Arwen, if you had not been there, this would not have happened,” the note of self-reproach evident in this voice. “Thanks are misplaced. Words of deepest regret are what I should be expressing to you. If only I had been more – ”
Arwen cut him off, a startled look on her face. “Legolas, you cannot truly think any of this could have been foreseen by you. No blame do I lay on you or any of your kin!”
His disagreement was on this tongue, but before he could speak, a voice filled with authority, alarm and uncomprehending anxiety cut in.
“WHAT has happened here?”
