Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, book or movie or anything else associated with the franchise. I'm making no money off this story-if I were, don't you think I'd be buying merchandise rather than writing fanfiction?
A/N: Originally completed 08/05/13. Let me know what you think in the reviews! I have a hard time writing romance...having absolutely no experience in the area...so I'd appreciate constructive criticism.
Definitions
Éowyn met him in the halls again, and again they were alone. He nodded a wordless greeting to her. Éowyn's returning gaze was unfriendly. She stopped in front of him.
"Now you've no words for me," she observed. The bitterness in her tone, the subtle emphasis she placed upon her first word, was not lost on the Ranger's keen ears. Lord Aragorn slowed his long strides as he was about to pass her. They ended up side by side, looking askance at one another.
"My lady, if I have done something to offend you…" His voice was puzzled, and he left his thought unfinished, inviting her to say more. Éowyn's face hardened still further. Of course, the man wasn't aware of what he had done. It shouldn't have been a surprise to her.
"Would you have the womenfolk sitting meekly in their homes till the end?" she asked him. "While the walls are breached, the city overthrown? While the enemy plunges through our gates, even into our own homes?" Rather daring, she stepped closer to him. "Must we cringe in corners, unarmed, unable to lift a hand to defend our land or our children?"
Aragorn stood quietly before her diatribe. Still he seemed not to know her meaning. Uncharacteristically awkward, he didn't say anything while waiting for an explanation he could understand.
And Éowyn would give it to him. Her eyes narrowed, she hissed, "Am I nothing more than a 'shieldmaiden' of Rohan?"
An expression of realization came over Aragorn's face. He blinked at her; his mouth tightened. Now, it was as though he had knowledge to which she wasn't privy. "Did you think I meant for you to polish boots and shields?" he wondered in a murmur. He shook his head and smiled at her mistake. "Lady Éowyn, do you not know what a shieldmaiden is?"
Éowyn's eyes widened, and she found herself breaking eye contact with him for the first time. Aragorn seemed to guess at her ignorance, and he moved to remedy it. "In the ancient folklore of our people, legend talks of a woman who is neither helpless nor afraid. She is a shieldmaiden, who rides into battle among the armed ranks." He paused to gaze down at the top of her golden head. "She is a proud warrior, valiant and strong to the end."
Duly abashed, Éowyn had cast her face down as he corrected her. When he was finished speaking, she dared to meet his eyes ruefully. She opened her mouth to beg his forgiveness, but now found that it was she who had no words.
The heir of Gondor nodded at her once more and went on his way. No longer blinded by her misguided anger, Éowyn saw his simple nod for what it truly was. Despite his royal lineage, Aragorn son of Arathorn did not lord himself above others. Nor was he condescending to her.
Rather, he was impressed by her.
The End
