A/N: Ok, I've finally finished the whole first chapter for the sequel. I wanted 30 reviews, but I got impatient. So, the winner is………drum roll

NUMBER 1!!! (duh) in a rather one-sided poll result! So here it is. A few changes have been made and the chapter name is slightly more interesting. I'll now give the long blurb for this story, to let you know what's coming.

Blurb: This is the long awaited sequel to 'Hope in the Darkness' and is set about two years after the events of its predecessor. Éowyn is now nineteen and soon to be twenty, but her return to Minas Tirith is not a happy one. She arrives seriously wounded to the High Court of Minas Tirith. Having been forced back to Minas Tirith by her injuries, Éowyn remains bitter towards Aragorn. Will she ever let him into her heart again? Meanwhile, reports come back to the city of a new captain who has gathered support from the men of Harad and wishes threaten the peace in Middle Earth after the defeat of Sauron, in vengeance against Gondor. This forces upon the men of Gondor the threat of war once more. Support is again called for from Rohan, for Éomer to come with the Rohirrim. This is the last struggle for peace again in Middle Earth. Time now to settle the scores. And when all of this is done, whom will Éowyn choose? Will she marry Aragorn and take her place as Queen of Gondor? Will she marry Faramir and live happily as Lady of Ithilien? Or will she leave them both once more?

You like? Very cool, huh. Ok, on to the story!

Chapter 1: A Reluctant Return

            The icy rain fell from the sky, stinging her face as she rode over the hillside and galloped down towards the plains of the Pelennor Fields. The white city of Minas Tirith rose up before her eyes and they rode over the slope and across the field. It had been so long since last she had seen these fields. The strong winds blew hard in her face, cold rain pelted down on her skin, soaking through her dress, causing it to cling to her skin. She clutched at the gash in her side, partially covered. The cut was deep; blood had stained the dress. It was so painful; the rain stung it as she sped along the flat towards Minas Tirith. The journey from her home had been a long one. More than a week of riding, without any stopping, straight to the white city.  Not only were she and her horse exhausted, but also she had lost so much blood. It was long since she had seen this place. She had not wanted to return. There were too many sad memories here. Too much bitterness. But she needed help, and she needed it quickly. She knew that within the city, she would be treated and healed. But she knew not how long she could last. The pain was worsening.

She raced up to the gates of the city and called out for the guard. He peered over the walls at her, standing in the icy rain with her horse.

"What is it that you're wanting, lady?" he asked her.

"I wish to enter the city, that is all," she said, wincing slightly.

The guard obliged her, as it was so cold and wet, and opened the gates to allow her entrance. She rode through the gates to the citadel, shivering. Her head was spinning and the rain kept falling as she slowly made her way to the High Court of Gondor, where she hoped to find Aragorn. She clutched her side with one hand and held the reigns with the other. The horse galloped carefully so as not to hurt her, but to reach the citadel quickly.

Her head was spinning and her vision was blurry as they rode nearer. The horse halted at the bottom of the steps, which led up to the High Court. She stroked his nuzzle before walking up the steps to the huge wooden doors.

            Inside, Aragorn sat on his throne, Legolas and Gimli beside him. They were talking together in low voices, their heads bent low. Suddenly they heard the massive oak doors give a creak. They all turned their attention to the dishevelled figure that staggered though the open doors into the hall. Aragorn rose from his throne to make out who it was. It didn't take long for him to realise who it was.

Her hair was bedraggled; her clothes were torn and soaked from the rain, a long sword hung from a belt at her waist. She was holding her side as she came towards them. She stopped still for a second and began to sway on the spot. Her knees started to shake and her eyes rolled into their sockets. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, only a tiny gasp before falling to the floor.

"Éowyn!" Aragorn cried out, as she collapsed. He rushed forwards, followed closely by Legolas and Gimli. He lifted her from the floor, holding her in his arms.

"She is cold as ice," said Aragorn. "I shall take her to one of the bedrooms." He lifted Éowyn effortlessly and carried her towards the doors. He turned around to Legolas and Gimli.

"Legolas, bring me some athelas," he said. "Éowyn is in urgent need of healing."

He addressed Gimli now.

"Gimli, I need blankets, cloths and a bowl of warm water," he said. "Bring them to first guest quarters."

Both the elf and the dwarf nodded and hurried away. Aragorn carried Éowyn along the halls of the Court to the guest room and laid her gently down on the bed. Her clothes were soaked through, and a bloodstained patch was visible on the side of her dress. Aragorn observed it closely. The wound was deep and needed immediate attention. He ripped a larger hole in the dress so that he would be able to treat it.

Legolas and Gimli arrived with the required items. Aragorn proceeded to crush the athelas, placing some in the bowl of warm water. The pungent smell filled the air. He dipped the cloth into the bowl and began to wash the wound, treating it with the remaining athelas. He then wrapped her in the blankets and waited beside her bed, observing her closely. She had not moved, nor was she breathing, that he could see. He looked at her wound.

How?

What had caused this?

Who had brought her to this?

He had. The answer was all too simple. He was wracked with guilt over her situation. Had he not driven her to leave the city, it never would have come to this. His mind went back to that day; the day Éowyn had left. He had searched the city for her, but was too late. Aragorn had come back to the High Court after his search for Éowyn, only to be faced by Éomer. He recalled their conversation:

Flashback

"My liege," said Éomer.

"My good friend," replied Aragorn, looking oddly at Éomer for addressing him so formally.

"Did you find my sister?" asked Éomer.

"No," said Aragorn. "I am afraid I was too late. Do you know where she may have gone?"

"Away from you, so she told me," said Éomer, turning away slightly.

"What?" inquired Aragorn, looking confused. "Why?"

"She loves you, Aragorn," said Éomer angrily, turning sharply around to face him, his eyes glaring. "You broke her heart, so she left."

Aragorn was in a daze from this comment. Éomer went on.

"You know nothing of her pain and suffering. I cannot even begin to comprehend it myself. She was only seven when our father died. One day, his éored came to the house to give our mother the news. She rode off to his grave but would not allow us to see him dead. Éowyn only remembers seeing her ride off and then realising that father was never coming home. She could not comprehend what death was until our mother passed away. She loved him so that she drove herself to sickness, which led her to eventual death not more than a year after."

Éomer stopped and sighed. His expression was one of pained sadness. He went on.

"Since her death, Éowyn has never quite been the same. Never as happy, rarely a smile to grace her beautiful face. Until she met you, that was," said Éomer. "I noticed a change in her. She became brighter, more hopeful than ever before. It was as if all of the dark things that had happened were now dissolved."

It was strange for Aragorn to see Éomer like this. He had never seen him so before. He looked as though his heart would break. Éomer looked down before facing Aragorn again.

"But there was always a part of her that remained cold and secret. That side that has never emerged from hiding since our mother died and seemed to grow further away as Gríma sucked all life out of Meduseld. I thought you would be the one to draw that side of her out, to shine in the sunlight once more instead of forever staying in the shadows. For many years, I have longed to see that side of my sister again. But now, I fear it will never be. I fear that, should she return, that side of her would have burned out. I do not wish to see that happen. Éowyn will never be the same if it does. She will fade and fail, falling into despair and utter darkness. Then, it will be too late."

Éomer looked Aragorn in the eye. His were wounded. He spoke in a low voice.

"She has dealt with enough pain in her life, Aragorn. Do not cause her any more unnecessary grief. She is my world, my life, and all that I have left. Take care not her hurt her."

And with that, Éomer departed, leaving Aragorn standing utterly speechless.

End Flashback

Aragorn had then realised Éowyn's reasons for leaving. She was angry with him. She wanted to prove to him that she could be as strong as he was. Only then had he realised exactly how strong she already was, and yet she did not see it.

He had denied her his love, rejected her, and broken her heart. And now she lay, once more, in the Houses of Healing, critically injured. Aragorn gazed at her. It had been so long since he had looked upon her face. She had grown much since last he had seen her. No longer a child, but a woman. How he loved her, but if only she knew how much.

She did not know how much it hurt him to see her like this. She did not know how he had sat beside her, every time she was hurt, until she woke. Now, once more, Aragorn sat by Éowyn's side, watching, waiting for her to wake. Eventually, he drifted off into peaceful sleep.

A short time later, Éowyn began to breathe.

A/N: Ok, that was my reason for not having Aragorn's POV for the last few chapters of 'Hope in the Darkness'. You all would have killed me if he had said that and then she had left, and don't deny it. I have enough denying to last me a lifetime. Now, you understand. Aragorn is not just starting to accept his feelings for her, he's now just starting to show them rather than hide them. The Aragorn and Éomer conversation was cut out of Chapter 30 in 'Hope in the Darkness' because the chapter was long enough, and also, I would have been skewed. I needed to stress how much Éomer cares for his sister, as well as give a bit of history about their family (all to come in detail in 'The White Lady'). My favourite line from that was Éomer's closing line:

"She has dealt with enough pain in her life, Aragorn. Do not cause her any more unnecessary grief. She is my world, my life, and all that I have left. Take care not her hurt her."

I hope you all enjoyed that. More to come, and it shouldn't be too long.

Hurry up and review, or I might change my mind about the ending. NO WEDDING IF YOU DON'T REVIEW!!! NO REVIEWS AND ÉOWYN DIES!!! Got it!