Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the master, J. R. R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings books/movies-)
I merely express my feelings for the characters and landscapes; and own only my uniqueness.
This story is a mix of direct book canon (with a few movie 'feels') and some personal AU ideas, as you will see . . .
Some things I knew in a very concrete way at first, other more obscure LOTR facts revealed themselves later, so the story shows that.
This is undergoing some much needed revision . . . (ah how I love that word!) . . . so I think this is a great time to join the long always evolving journey! :) Review! Enjoy!
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*Prologue~
The cold wind was stirring over the high City of Minas Tirith. Eowyn Shieldmaiden, the White Lady of Rohan, amongst other things, was never so stark or white as she was in that moment standing on a high balcony overlooking the ivory city. Her fur-lined white cloak billowed in the frosty air, and grave sorrow and ire were in her features.
The people in the city murmured amongst themselves at the Lady Eowyn's state of distress. As always she was a mystery to them, remote and untamed all at once. Few knew her true reason for her presence in the city; they guessed at the scandal as rumors flew, but there was still no proof.
Eowyn could feel her disgrace and paranoia in the very marrow of her bones. She could feel the disapproval of her sweeping throughout Minas Tirith as people speculated. Her only relief was that so far there had been no visitors. Even King Aragorn Elessar and Queen Arwen Undomiel were absent on a royal visit to the south. Yet soon they would return. And someone would speak to her, come to her.
Escape had loomed often in her mind; but where would she go, who would have her? Certainly not her brother, Eomer. He would be angry, laugh as if to cover it all up and then shuffle her back where she belonged. And after the recent news from Lothiriel, Eowyn felt all the more ashamed. No, her brother and sister-in-law had their own heartache and turmoil to deal with.
It was all almost too much to bear. Eowyn often spent her time in Minas Tirith out upon the balcony outside their warm apartments. Despite the chilly incoming winter weather, it was a respite to feel the shifting breeze. It chased away her stifling fears and feelings of rage, remorse.
How could life be so cruel to them? Had it been their choices? They had been the chosen ones of a golden age, healers for a new time. Maybe there was still some good left or even meaning. But Eowyn was casting ruthlessly about for that silver lining. She needed time to reflect, time to prepare herself.
How in all of Middle-earth had it come to this? Where were the maidens, battle-scarred but indomitable who had overcome so much? Where and who was she Eowyn and of course the lovely Lothiriel of days gone by, the two women who had learned and beat the odds and formed an unlikely friendship all that time ago in the Houses of Healing? Could they move forward from this, taking in what had happened in the past?
Eowyn's hands clenched the gilt metal railing. She blinked back a single glistening tear from her stormy eyes. As her golden hair whipped her face and her clothes rustled, she looked up at the sky and then closed her eyes. She was going to go back in time and make sense of it all if she could. Eowyn opened her eyes wide against the clouds and blue firmament. She inhaled a strong sweet breath. . .