----------------
Part Five: The Paths of the Dead
----------------
Aragorn's mind was in turmoil. He had done the unspeakable - cheated on Arwen. What now was the use in continuing? He loved Éowyn, but was now so familiar with the idea of loving Arwen that he had lost interest.
Halbarad, who stood near Aragorn that morning, before they set off, saw the great pain in his face as he looked on Éowyn, and caught a mutter: "Loth- arin o Undómiel?" Morning Flower or Evening Star? Halbarad was troubled.
Éowyn was dressed as a rider. He pale golden hair flowed in the wind. "Good speed!" she toasted, drinking to it. She gave the cup to Aragorn, and gave him a sad but loving look. He drank also.
"Farewell, Lady of Rohan. I drink to the good fortune of your land, you and your people. Tell your brother: beyond the shadows we shall meet again!" Then he passed back the cup.
"Wilt thou still go?" Éowyn pleaded.
"I will," he replied.
"Wilt thou not take me?"
"I could not grant you leave to come," said Aragorn, with anguish, "Not without the presence of your uncle and brother. They will come tomorrow, and I cannot wait that long. Farewell!"
The chalice clattered on the rocky ground, for Éowyn dropped it as she fell to her knees. "Take me with you, I beg you!" she cried.
"Nay, lady," was the soft answer. And with that, the horses were spurred and the Grey Company left. Tears flowed down Éowyn's face as she watched them. She stood until they were out of sight and could be seen from afar: a silver gleam on the hillside.
*****
But though Éowyn thought herself forsaken by her lover, he kept the Rohirric princess in his thoughts, even as he looked on the bones of Baldor son of Bregor at the Door of the Dead.
And when at last he emerged in the vale of Morthond, the gleam of the sunset he likened to the gleam of her hair. He remembered her smile and sense of humour, as well as her tears. He had never joked with Arwen.
At the Stone of Erech, he wondered if his ghost should be united with Éowyn's, or should he rob Arwen of her place in Valinor. . .
-------------
Part Six: The Dawnless Day
-------------
Aragorn was gone, and Éowyn kept him in her prayers. She kept also her plan in her mind, while she prepared the camp for the King's arrival. And arrive he did, at sunset on the day after Aragorn left. Éowyn had wept for much of that time and hoped that the broth did not taste of tears.
Éowyn wiped her eyes when she heard the horns, and took horse to greet her lords. "Hail," she cried, "My heart is glad at your return!"
"Are you well, daughter?" asked Théoden, "For so I shall call you."
"All is well," replied Éowyn, realising the redness of her eyes, "Though the people are weary for the road was hard. All is prepared for you, for I had full tidings of your coming."
Éomer spoke. "So Aragorn has been here - is he still?"
Éowyn sighed. "Nay. He left ere dawn yesterday. He has taken the Paths of the Dead." All gasped, except for a bewildered-looking creature at the King's side. He looked to be a Man, only half the height.
"You are grieved," said Théoden, concerned.
"Yes, lord. He is lost." Éomer look mournful.
"Then our paths are sundered," he said. "We must ride without him."
Éowyn learned that the creature was called a Hobbit, and she made room for him at the King's table, for he was amused by this Master Meriadoc. He was unfamiliar with Rohirric legend, and did not know of the Paths of the Dead.
"What lies beyond that door," said Éomer, "No men know."
"But," Théoden continued, "Legend says that the Door under Dwimorberg leads to a secret way through the mountain to some forgotten end. None have explored it since Baldor, the son of King Brego, made a rash vow at the feast that hallowed the new-built hall of Meduseld, and never returned to claim his throne.
"Yet it has been said in Harrowdale," added Éowyn, "That last night, a moonless one, a strangely-arrayed host passed into Dwimorberg, as if to keep a tryst. They have been seen here before. But also it is said that no mortal may pass their door."
"Why then," began the Hobbit, "Has Aragorn gone that way?"
"We know not," said Éomer.
"Why I saw him in Meduseld, he seemed to me older and grimmer." Éowyn voiced her fear: "He is like one whom the Dead call."
"Maybe he was called, for I predict that I shall never see him again. It is a pity, for he was a noble man of high destiny. But I see that you are most grieved, Éowyn. Take comfort! It is fact that when Brego and Baldor first found the Paths, an old man sat there and told them that the Door was shut until the time came. Baldor returned not, but perhaps the time foretold is now."
Éowyn remembered Aragorn's words. "I believe you are right," she said, a great gladness dawning on her. "He said that this path was appointed to him."
"Although," said Éomer, "What if this is not the time? If Aragorn is erroneous, he is lost."
Then it could be heard that someone was shouting, "Théoden!" A Gondorian messenger had arrived, bearing the Red Arrow: a sign that Gondor was in gravest need and required aid from Rohan. Théoden realised that if Rohan did not ride soon, Minas Tirith could fall. He agreed to a counsel in the morning. But there was none. The Darkness had begun.
Part Five: The Paths of the Dead
----------------
Aragorn's mind was in turmoil. He had done the unspeakable - cheated on Arwen. What now was the use in continuing? He loved Éowyn, but was now so familiar with the idea of loving Arwen that he had lost interest.
Halbarad, who stood near Aragorn that morning, before they set off, saw the great pain in his face as he looked on Éowyn, and caught a mutter: "Loth- arin o Undómiel?" Morning Flower or Evening Star? Halbarad was troubled.
Éowyn was dressed as a rider. He pale golden hair flowed in the wind. "Good speed!" she toasted, drinking to it. She gave the cup to Aragorn, and gave him a sad but loving look. He drank also.
"Farewell, Lady of Rohan. I drink to the good fortune of your land, you and your people. Tell your brother: beyond the shadows we shall meet again!" Then he passed back the cup.
"Wilt thou still go?" Éowyn pleaded.
"I will," he replied.
"Wilt thou not take me?"
"I could not grant you leave to come," said Aragorn, with anguish, "Not without the presence of your uncle and brother. They will come tomorrow, and I cannot wait that long. Farewell!"
The chalice clattered on the rocky ground, for Éowyn dropped it as she fell to her knees. "Take me with you, I beg you!" she cried.
"Nay, lady," was the soft answer. And with that, the horses were spurred and the Grey Company left. Tears flowed down Éowyn's face as she watched them. She stood until they were out of sight and could be seen from afar: a silver gleam on the hillside.
*****
But though Éowyn thought herself forsaken by her lover, he kept the Rohirric princess in his thoughts, even as he looked on the bones of Baldor son of Bregor at the Door of the Dead.
And when at last he emerged in the vale of Morthond, the gleam of the sunset he likened to the gleam of her hair. He remembered her smile and sense of humour, as well as her tears. He had never joked with Arwen.
At the Stone of Erech, he wondered if his ghost should be united with Éowyn's, or should he rob Arwen of her place in Valinor. . .
-------------
Part Six: The Dawnless Day
-------------
Aragorn was gone, and Éowyn kept him in her prayers. She kept also her plan in her mind, while she prepared the camp for the King's arrival. And arrive he did, at sunset on the day after Aragorn left. Éowyn had wept for much of that time and hoped that the broth did not taste of tears.
Éowyn wiped her eyes when she heard the horns, and took horse to greet her lords. "Hail," she cried, "My heart is glad at your return!"
"Are you well, daughter?" asked Théoden, "For so I shall call you."
"All is well," replied Éowyn, realising the redness of her eyes, "Though the people are weary for the road was hard. All is prepared for you, for I had full tidings of your coming."
Éomer spoke. "So Aragorn has been here - is he still?"
Éowyn sighed. "Nay. He left ere dawn yesterday. He has taken the Paths of the Dead." All gasped, except for a bewildered-looking creature at the King's side. He looked to be a Man, only half the height.
"You are grieved," said Théoden, concerned.
"Yes, lord. He is lost." Éomer look mournful.
"Then our paths are sundered," he said. "We must ride without him."
Éowyn learned that the creature was called a Hobbit, and she made room for him at the King's table, for he was amused by this Master Meriadoc. He was unfamiliar with Rohirric legend, and did not know of the Paths of the Dead.
"What lies beyond that door," said Éomer, "No men know."
"But," Théoden continued, "Legend says that the Door under Dwimorberg leads to a secret way through the mountain to some forgotten end. None have explored it since Baldor, the son of King Brego, made a rash vow at the feast that hallowed the new-built hall of Meduseld, and never returned to claim his throne.
"Yet it has been said in Harrowdale," added Éowyn, "That last night, a moonless one, a strangely-arrayed host passed into Dwimorberg, as if to keep a tryst. They have been seen here before. But also it is said that no mortal may pass their door."
"Why then," began the Hobbit, "Has Aragorn gone that way?"
"We know not," said Éomer.
"Why I saw him in Meduseld, he seemed to me older and grimmer." Éowyn voiced her fear: "He is like one whom the Dead call."
"Maybe he was called, for I predict that I shall never see him again. It is a pity, for he was a noble man of high destiny. But I see that you are most grieved, Éowyn. Take comfort! It is fact that when Brego and Baldor first found the Paths, an old man sat there and told them that the Door was shut until the time came. Baldor returned not, but perhaps the time foretold is now."
Éowyn remembered Aragorn's words. "I believe you are right," she said, a great gladness dawning on her. "He said that this path was appointed to him."
"Although," said Éomer, "What if this is not the time? If Aragorn is erroneous, he is lost."
Then it could be heard that someone was shouting, "Théoden!" A Gondorian messenger had arrived, bearing the Red Arrow: a sign that Gondor was in gravest need and required aid from Rohan. Théoden realised that if Rohan did not ride soon, Minas Tirith could fall. He agreed to a counsel in the morning. But there was none. The Darkness had begun.