Yay, I'm back. Enjoy this chapter. You know the drill, anything LotR is not mine. A little minor error in my last note, Eowyn's funeral song was sung in Old English, but probably meant to be the language of Rohan. -shrugs- I dunno.

Review Responses (for my anonymous reviewers... tsk tsk. I love you!):

..? -- Well, it would seem you're right. Rohan was founded in the Third Age. Oh well. It's not an important matter to the story, so I'll leave it be.

And without further ado (because ado is boring and meaningless) Part two:

The Power of Love

Part Two

When the women and children reached Helm's Deep, they were alone. The men had stayed behind to fight the wolves of Isengard who had attacked them along the way. Eowyn helped the children find their mothers, and then waited atop the battlements for the men to return, her eyes scanning the horizon. When they did, she raced down to greet them. Their numbers were few. She mentioned this to Theoden King, but he did not reply. She looked at the men, and was afraid, for Aragorn was not among them. Gimli the Dwarf approached her.

"My lord Aragorn," she said, her voice shaking. "Where is he?" The Dwarf looked at her, then back at the ground.

"He feel," Gimli said, in a voice choked by sorrow. Tears filled Eowyn's eyes, and she looked up at the Kin. His gaze met hers only for a moment, then he looked away in shame. The shield lady of Rohan crumbled in defeat. Her tears threatened to spill over, but she checked herself and looked around at her people. They needed her help, she could not afford to lose her strength. She tended to as many wounded and needy as she could throughout the next few hours. Her heart was heavy, but she did not let her personal trails keep her from caring for her people.

That evening, as the shadows began to lengthen, she was helping a mother tend to her many small children, when she thought she heard a familiar voice. Looking up, she saw Legolas talking to Aragorn, who was obviously fatigued, having just arrived at the Keep. Her heart began to race. Standing up, she walked near them. She saw Legolas slip something into Aragorn's hand. It was the jewel from his Lady. Eowyn's heart fell slightly, remembering the conversation she had had with Aragorn earlier, and how obvious it was that he loved his Lady very much, despite her leaving him for the lands in the West. As Eowyn watched, Aragorn gave no sign that he had yet seen her. But even as he left to find the King, his grey eyes met her emerald ones briefly, and he almost smiled.

She returned to the young mother with a joyful heart. She soon learned, however, that Aragorn had seen Saruman's army, and that Helm's Deep would be under siege by nightfall. Already the light was growing golden, a sure sign that there were mere hours of daylight left. The King's captain was striding about, calling for all men older than twelve years to be sent to the armory. Everyone else was herded into the caves. Eowyn's heart froze. A cage...

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The women and children were huddled together near the doors of the caves. Most were crying, and shivering with the cold. Only Eowyn stood alone near the back of the cave, her eyes wide, her face pale. Suddenly, a white hand grabbed her wrist in a strong grip.

"My lady," said a voice, "Would you...?" The hand tugged on her wrist. She followed the stranger far back into the caves. There they found a tunnel passage that lead sharply uphill. As they climbed, sounds drifted down from above. There was the sound of many metal-shod feet. The army of Saruman was coming. After nearly an hour of climbing, a blast of cold air hit Eowyn's face. She looked up. The tunnel ended abruptly, and a hole opened above them. The stranger climbed out quickly, and extended its arms to help her. As Eowyn took the offered hands, she noticed a familiar G-rune and snake tattoo on the stranger's wrist. Upon climbing out of the hole, she noticed a very familiar black stallion tethered to a rock nearby. She gasped slightly.

Grima.

"Yes, my lady," he said smoothly. "I have returned..." He trailed off, lightly running his finger down her jaw. She swatted his hand away.

"Why have you returned?" she asked stonily. Grima did not answer. Instead he removed his hood and looked down the mountain, back to the Keep. Eowyn followed his gaze. Hundreds of Men and Elves stood along the Wall, un-bothered by the pouring rain. Tens of thousands of Uruk-hai were beyond the wall, screaming and stamping. All at once, a forest of arrows flew over the wall at the Uruks, and the battle began.

"I returned to save you from this," Grima said quietly. "When I left Edoras, I saw your face. You were watching me. I rode swiftly, reaching Isengard at sunset. My horse was exhausted, I was weary, but my rest had not come. Saruman's wrath was upon me, and he meant to torture me, I am sure. But first, he showed me his army. I tried to dissuade him, telling him it was impossible, that no such force could exist, hoping that if I said it enough, it would be true. But I failed. He showed me his army, ten thousand strong, and the horror at my treachery struck me. For the first time, I feared for the life of someone who was not myself. I feared for the lives of my countrymen. For your life, my lady, my fear was greatest. I know of your desire to battle alongside your brethren. But I also trusted in the wisdom of Theoden King--" Eowyn scoffed at this-- "Yes, my lady, even now I do not doubt the King's strength. But back to my tale. I trusted that the King would protect you.

"During the night, I fled Isengard and rode to this place above the Keep. It took a very long time. I arrived at the same time that you and the rest arrived at the Keep, and crept down, low enough to hear the shouted orders of the King, but hidden well, so that none could see me, not even the Elf. When the order to came to get the women and children into the caves, I took the secret passage, and waited for you. And here we are.

"You must understand, my lady Eowyn, I never meant any harm to come to you." Grima reached for her.

"Then why have you committed such treachery?" Eowyn cried, rising from the rock where they had been sitting.

"Because of you, my lady. I had loved you, as I still love you, for years, and you shunned my love. You made me who I am, Eowyn. Through your disdain, you have hardened me. I was driven to Saruman because he promised your love."

"But it was you who made the choice to go to him!" Eowyn was half screaming at him, tears welling in her eyes. "I would have loved you, for I did! I loved you, Grima! I love you still!" Her voice dropped to an almost-whisper. "But your treachery forces me to hate you, for I cannot trust you any more."

"You will trust me, my lady. I have repented of my sin, and I ask for your forgiveness." Grima bowed low before Eowyn. Her face hardened.

"Groveling has never suited you, Worm. Get up." Grima rose and looked the princess in the eye. "I do not reject your apology, nor your love." Grima made to close the distance between them, but Eowyn stopped him. "Neither do I accept it. You must earn my forgiveness, and, if possible, my love. Only then--"

She was interrupted by an explosion from below. They turned, as the world shook beneath them. The Deeping Wall was broken. Eowyn sank to the ground. Grima knelt beside her.

"Do not despair, my princess," he said, touching her back lightly. "This Keep cannot fall, not even now. Saruman knows not, but there is a power here greater than the strength of Men and Uruk-hai. The blood of the men of Rohan that is stained on the stones of the Keep gives power to all of those their countrymen, power drawn from their enemies."

"What is this power? And how do you know of it, if not taught by Saruman?" Eowyn asked, her eyes riveted to the battle below.

"Love, my lady," Grima whispered. Eowyn cast him a sharp, sideways glance. "The love of the men of Rohan for their brothers gives them an added measure of strength, as does the love I have for you. You shall not fall in this battle, nor in any others to come. As for myself, Saruman's hold over me was loosed, not broken, but loosed, when you declared your love for me just now." Grima leaned closer, hoping, fearing, that at last he might feel he lips of the White Lady against his own. But Eowyn turned away, and his lips grazed her cheek as he hung his head.

"How do you know this?" she repeated. His head hit her shoulder, and he straightened.

"In the library at Orthanc, the White Council kept many ancient scrolls regarding ancient and forgotten Magics and Powers. Saruman, in his new, industrious way of thinking, has forgotten them. All of the peoples of the world have forgotten, save perhaps the Elves, who know and see all."

Privately, Eowyn thought that Grima was far more wise that most people believed. But she could never tell him so. She stood up and walked a few paces from him, watching the battle rage below. Grima moved to stand behind her. She began to shiver from the cold rain. Grima removed his cloak and placed it over her shoulders. His hands reached around her and fastened the cloak, then lightly rested his hands on her arms. Her shivering quickly grew violent, and she turned to face him. Her lips were purple, her face pale. Grima leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

Eowyn tried to pull away, but his grip on her arms tightened, and he pulled her closer. She felt the coldness of her lips melting under the warmth of his simple, chaste kiss. He pulled away, and tried to lead her back into the sheltered caves, but she refused to budge. A slight smile appeared on Grima's face. "Of course, my lady, I forgot. You fear a cage."

"How do you know this, as well?"

Grima looked at her slowly. "My lady, have you forgotten that I know you better than perhaps anyone else on this earth?"

"Except Lord Aragorn," Eowyn said to herself. She saw Grima glance sharply at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Then I am no longer the only one who knows the true Lady Eowyn," he said cooly. "This matters not to me. Lord Aragorn was betrothed to another woman, long ago. you know this." He pause. "My lady, these words are solely for your protection, disregard how I may feel for you. But if you continue to love Aragorn this way, it will only serve to wound your heart. Aragorn may love you, I know not, but he loves another deeper, and he will cleave to her. I would hate to see your heart broken."

"It is a bit late for that, Grima," Eowyn replied. "Your treachery broke my heart long ago." She wrapped Grima's black cloak tighter around her, still shivering.

"Then mayhap my repentance may heal your heart." Grima leaned towards her to kiss her again. She turned away.

"I believe I told you, Grima Galmod's son, that you must earn my love. You have long to go before your rest." Eowyn's voice was stone. After a moment, Grima turned her face to him.

"Let us take tonight's rest together," he said. "After all, you must stay warm, my lady, or you shall surely perish. Since you refuse to enter the caves again, this is the only other option." Standing up, he drew from his horse's saddle bags and blanket, and a leather flask. He spread the blanket on a flat patch of ground, and handed Eowyn the flask. She eyed it warily. "Drink, Eowyn," he commanded. "You need to keep up your strength. The drink was warm, and it cleared her mind. Grima bade her lay upon the blanket. He lay next to her, drawing his cloak up over both of them.

"I trust, Lord Grima, that you will not lay a finger on me during the night. If you do, I will personally see you beheaded."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Grima said. Eowyn seriously doubted this, certain that he had dreamt of it for years. He interrupted her thoughts. "However, for both our safety, you should sleep close to me, or we shall both freeze."

"I am not a fool, Grima." Eowyn scooted closer to him, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her completely against him. She kept her arms between them, as a precaution, but Grima gave no sign of any desire he felt for her. Wrapped in his warm embrace, Eowyn slowly fell asleep to the lullaby of battle sounds that drifted up from the keep below.

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The silence woke them both quite suddenly the next morning. The sounds of battle had ceased, and the world was uncannily still. Eowyn's eyes flickered open to see Grima's ice blue eyes gazing at her in the dim light. Apparently he had pulled the cloak-hood over their heads in the night, and his nose was millimeters from hers. His eyes were wide, flicking back and forth between hers, as they had done at the scene of Theodred's death. She remembered the pleasure she had found in his touch that day, and wondered if she could find it again. She shifted slightly, pulling her hand from beneath her. She touched the side of his face, thenreached up and pulled the cloak-hood off their heads. The sunlight was cold and bright. Shouts of "Eowyn!" could be dimly heard from the Keep. She sat up sharply. Grima opened his mouth to say something, but Eowyn had jumped back down the hole and sprinted off down the pass before his silver words could sway her.

Grima gathered his things, mounted his horse, and set off at a trot. Pausing at the peak of the mountain, he looked back to see Eowyn and Aragorn embracing on the broken battlements of the Deep. Growling and muttering threats, he turned his course to Edoras.

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