I do not know why I've decided to tell this tale,but I feel it must be told,in order for you to uderstand exactly my decision for going to war. I let my brother,Eomer,read this once,and he thought it was amusing,yet he understood. So,here,my tale begins. I guess part of the blame could be laid on my uncle,Thoeden King. When I was little,he would allow me to sword play with the other little boys. For there were no girl-children for me to play with. I learned how to use a sword rather early in my life. I loved it. It was the only time I ever felt like I bested my brother and our kin. This went on for quite a while,until the boys grew to be old enough to join our uncle's army of fighters. As they each grew,so did I. Yet,I could not make myself give up that easily. Oh,I was taught how to do women's work,but it did little to fill the void for the adventures of sword play. I would take my sword out,and practice strokes,even if no one came to play. My brother,Eomer,would often say that I was too old to play with the boys. I would always shrug,and wipe him clean in the match. Finally,the day came when Uncle Theoden King called me to his hall. I was sixteen. I went into his hall,and stood still,while he lectured me on being a right court lady. "I must insist,"he said,"that you give me your sword. You have outgrown childish whims,Eowyn." I was distraught,but,I did as I was told. My beautiful sword,I gave to him,promising to never touch another one again. I thought that would be the last time I would ever touch a sword. Alas,war came. My uncle left with the great wizard,Gandalf to fight with Gondor against the Dark Lord. More travellers came. This time,I joined them. I would not be left behind. Everything I remembered from childhood came back,clear as if it had just happened. I was no longer Eowyn,maiden of Rohan. I was Eowyn,warrior maiden.