Fiore di Vetro – Glass Flower

Author's note: English is not my native tongue. Therefore there might be many mistakes in this story: please forgive and correct me. Thanks a lot.

Fiore di Vetro – Glass Flower

He did it.

I didn't think he could get this far.

Theodred is dead, my brother Èomer has been banished, King Theoden is nothing but the shadow of his former self…I am alone. But I'm not afraid.

Being afraid would be like surrendering, like letting him win. And this will never happen.

Not with me. His dirty trick will not work.

Èomer worries, he's scared for me…And this makes me his weak point. I can't forgive myself for this. But I have to be brave.

And then, if I am his weak point, he is mine.

My brother, my king and my country…Weak points and strong points at the same time.

Last time we saw each other and we spoke to each other the words Èomer told me were words of warning, filled with his fear for me.

I almost laugh, even if it is a bitter laughter. How appearances can be deceiving!

Everybody sees me as a fragile and unarmed maiden, almost a glass flower.

They forgot a small detail: even glass can cut as steel. Maybe even more.

And now there's anybody left, it's time for me to show that I can protect myself on my own.

I am a woman of Rohan and I don't need a knight to save me: I can do it on my own.

I'm not a defenseless maiden: I do have a weapon and I'm not afraid to use it. And I'm not talking about my sword.

I watch my own face mirrored in the blade of this small dagger I stole from the armoury long ago.

At that time, I didn't think that one day I would use it. But I'm willing to do it.

Like every soldier, I never leave my weapon: by day it's hidden among my clothes, by night under my pillow.

Small, but sharp and deadly…Especially if you are not afraid to make use of it.

So long as the enemy doesn't win, I'm ready to use this dagger against myself. I'm not afraid. Everything in order that he doesn't prevail.

A soldier fights against the enemies of his Country at any cost.

Know this, Grima, that more than any of the others, you'll have to be wary of me if you ever try anything.

May this dagger never let you achieve what you desire, in one way or another.

Try something, anything…I challenge you.

You will discover how cold can be the glass flower's kiss…Cold as this blade of steel.