The hands of a king are the hands of a healer

[Anarchist]

I have brought this topic from the main thread just to begin using the new type of guild.

This is about the healing ability of Aragorn. The woman in the houses of healing says that the hands of a king are the hands of a healer. Now, there are some questions I have to express about this. First of all, did Aragorn use any sort of magic, the type of magic Gandalf uses, or perhaps something else? Also, is this an ability only of the Numenorian offsprings or only of particular people, who then are crowned? Shouldn't Denethor have this ability, since he was a worthy king and have some other, well sort of, magical abilities?

[Rangerdave]

Originally posted by Anarchist
First of all, did Aragorn use any sort of magic

I think it was part of the prophecies concerning the return of the king that became exagerated over time. Aragorn's healing hands had more to do with herb-lore and woodcraft than magic per se. I don't think it has anything to do with his bloodline or ancestry. I suppose this could be called magic in the true sense of the word, but not anything supernatural or arcane.

hope this helps
RD

[Anarchist]

About the herb lore, I believe that athelas, though it was important did nothing more than refreshing the ill. It is clearly stated that the ill where healed by Aragorn before he used the athelas.
The illneses he healed where not body injuries. He cured the mind injuries caused either by stabbing a Nazgul or by being poisoned. I think he didn't actually cure Faramir from the poison, but from the consequenses of it.

[Chymaera]

Tolkien magic is very subtle.

80 years of wood-craft and herb-lore are the base of his magic. The teaching of elves of Rivendell and Lorien most be factored in also. The words of prophesy are meant Aragorn and no one else.

[Anarchist]

At last someone answered! Chymaera, can you please be a little more clear? I mean you mention herb-lore as part of his magic. But using herbs doesn't have any magic in it. I agree on the elven part though, since he lived a lot of time with them and married one too. I guess Aragorn's magic was more about the power of the mind and his strong influence on the others. Remember how everybody took courage by looking at him (like Gimli in the paths of the dead).

[Chymaera]

Every time I mean to respond I get interupeted, sorry.

Aragorn's courage is like herb-lore it has no magic by itself. Aragorn didn't really have the 'healing hands' when he treated Frodo at Amon Sûl and he didn't have the confidence in himself to pull it off. It was not yet his time. I had been thinking that it was a combination of elvish herb-lore, the rememberance of Ioreth of 'the hands of a king are a healers hands' and the death of Denethor and that Aragorn did not immediatly take up the kingship. And also the prophecies of Malbeth the Seer might have contributed (but I am not sure how at this moment). All this contributied to the magic healing. This brought him into the city unhearalded and he became known to the people throught his good works and they then gave him the name that was foretold Elf-stone or Elessar. All fits together so nicely.

It is much like the killing of the Witch-king. Glorfindel foretold the he would not die by the hands of man. Everyone took this to mean that he was invincible. Then in the end fate brings a woman and a hobbit to the battle field and the hobbit has exacaly the right weapon to wound the Witch-king. This too is magic.

Sorry again will try to keep up ;)