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After the war of the ring, Gimli visits Éowyn in Gondor. Gimli and a special letter from Merry brings Éowyn hope at a difficult time. Gimli/Éowyn friendship.

Éowyn: Hero of Rohan

By Eugena

Rating: T

Chapter One: Tears of the White Lady

The White Lady of Rohan was as beautiful as the first day he set eyes upon her. He would never imagine knowing a human as beautiful as she. Without the war of the ring, he would have never met her. Man was among the Second Children, and his race had come before them.

The glory of her warrior's spirit lit her pale face. The lines in her face drew tightly to a frown on her lips. She looked downcast to Aragorn's boots. Aragron extended a hand to Éowyn's shoulder.

"You are welcomed here any time, my lady. You are a great warrior, and a daughter of kings. Any man would be a fool not to see that."

"You are kind, my lord."

Aragorn pulled her into a strong embrace. "My heart weeps for you, Éowyn," he said as pulled away. Éowyn began to cry. "I will give you time to gather your things," Aragorn said, "a traveling party will be ready to accompany you back to Rohan."

Éowyn nodded and silently watched Aragorn leave. As the doors pounded closed, she let her tears flow freely.

The observer waited a few moments before approaching her. He did not know what to make of Aragorn's visit. At the sight of her in tears, he wondered if Faramir had fallen in battle.

"My lady, why are you crying?" he asked gently.

She looked down at him and brushed away a tear as she spoke, "Oh, master dwarf, did the king send you already?"

"No, lady," he answered, "Legolas and I were already here to see you. I hope we have not arrived too late."

"Oh, no,"she said, skirting her tears away with her fingertips, "the king and I were just recalling past battles."

"Aye, lady" he agreed, "those days were very grim, but I should hope your life would be filled with better days now that the war is over."

"Life is much happier," she said, "we are free from Sauron, Aragorn reigns as king, and my brother rules Rohan."

"Then why does it bring you such unhappiness?"

"Oh, Gimli," she sighed, "you are a true friend to come and see me. I have been so lonely."

"You are a great hero, Éowyn. I shouldn't think you would feel so alone. The people of Gondor and the people of Rohan love you."

She gave a slight smile, but here eyes retained her sadness. Gimli reached into the satchel at his waist and pulled out a piece of parchment with an ornate wax seal bearing the letter "M." He offered it to her. As she took it from him, her free hand traced the outline of the seal, he said, "Merry misses your correspondence, lady. When I told him I was coming to see you, he asked me to give this to you. He hoped to meet you in Rohan."

Éowyn broke the seal carefully and unfolded the parchment. A slight smile brightened her face. "A Tale of Éowyn, Daughter of Éomud, Hero of Rohan by Meriadoc Brandybuck," she read, "He's writing a story about me." She turned the parchment around and showed it to Gimli. Merry had drawn a vivid picture of Éowyn dressed as Dernhelm.

"Merry said he'd never forget that day. When Frodo wrote his Lord of the Rings, it must have inspired him to write his own story, his own telling of the great battle between you and the Witch King."

Éowyn averted her eyes at his mention of the Witch King.

"What is it, Éowyn?" Gimli asked. "Why did you stop writing to Merry? What happened?"

"Faramir has left me."