Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not a bloody thing.
Author's Notes: Those that reviewed, thank you! Those that didn't, you can still redeem yourself by reviewing this next chapter. : ) This next chapter takes place when everyone's gone home, and Eomer and Eowyn have gone back to Rohan. And don't worry, I will definitely NOT kill Eowyn. As for what happens with her and Aragorn, well, you'll just have to read on, won't you?
Hope Unlooked For
Chapter 2: Wanderlust
"I have thrown myself on the world... I must either conquer or die- succeed or be disgraced."
-Edgar A. Poe
How goes it, sister? I would think you would be happy, for the darkness has passed on at last. Why are you so disheartened?
Eomer, I feel as if I do not know myself. Evil nightmares still plague my sleep, and I cannot feel at home here.
This is the place where we were both born, sister. If this is not your home, what is?
I do not know-perhaps the grave, now, is my home. I never should have survived my battle with the ghost king. Perhaps I can only feel at peace now in a grave.
Speak not so! You are young yet-it is not your time. And woud you have the people of Rohan lose the fairest thing in this land? For if we could not look upon your beautiful face, much sorrow would come upon this land.
I do not care for this land as much as I did; and I would not shy from the grave for their sake. But you, Eomer-I would not cause you sorrow for anything. For your sake I will continue this pretense of living.
Must it be a pretense? Look around you, dearest sister! There is so much joy and beauty to be had in this life! Will you not partake in it?
I would, if I could. But ever something holds me back-ever there is a shadow on my mind, that I cannot live.
Is it the fault of the king in Gondor that you are so unhappy? If that be so, and he hath caused you sorrow, I will seek him out and smite him.
Nay-I would not have you smite so dear a friend for my sake. And anyhow, I do not think of him much; I thought myself in love with him, and he gave me only pity-and for that I hated him. But now ..... now I can feel nothing for him. He is not the cause of my condition, brother.
Then what is?
I do not know; but I feel I cannot stay here. I must go away from this place, with all its fell memories; I must travel, and hope to find some solace in movement.
Where will you go, then, sister?
To the North-perhaps I will visit The Shire and that good halfling Meriadoc, or maybe to Rivendell-it is said that people can find much healing in that place.
And will you ever come back?
I do not know-but I know I will see you again, Eomer. I would seek you out even if all the world was in shadow, and every obstacle lay between us. I love you, my brother.
And I love you, dearest Éowyn. Would that I could slay this shadow that lies upon you!
Would that I could, brother.
****
The day had come at last for Éowyn's departure. She had spoken only to Eomer of where she was going, and even he did not know for sure. He looked into his sister's eyes, and they were the same as always: blue, intense, proud-but now there seemed to be a sheet of ice over them, and they were shadowed and haunted. He kissed her brow and held her close, and she seemed so frail in his arms that he wanted to weep. Will you not reconsider, Éowyn?
I will not. I would that I could stay here, but alas, it is a hated place for me. I cannot wander these halls without remembering the foul words of Grima, and times when I walked proudly and was not merely a shadow of my former self. But for you, brother, I think I would have gone completely into darkness-and I will never forget that. Oh, would that times were younger, and we rode together again over the fields of Rohan, the proudest in all the land with not a care in the world! And then they both wept long, clinging to each other with great sorrow, for each feared that they would never see the other again.
And then Éowyn stepped back, and kissed her brother fiercely. Then she turned away, calling to her horse, and rode off towards the north. Eomer did not move, but stood watching her until she was merely a fading speck on the horizon, and then nothing. Even then he still stood looking North, until the sun's rays disappeared and twilight came. Then he turned, and all that looked upon him thought he looked aged beyond his years, for his back was stooped and his eyes were heavy.
Éowyn rode for many hours, until she made camp on the shores of the great Anduin. Her mind seemed to be awash with conflicting feelings: She was bitter with love for her brother, and she knew that he was thinking of her. And yet-she was a shieldmaiden, a warrior. There seemed to be a tiny flame kindling in her heart, a flame of adventure, for she had never been this far north-who knew what she might find?