***
Gandalf's words would not leave Eowyn's mind. As a result, she had a restless night. Visions of an enslaved world plagued her thoughts. Toss and turn though she might, she could not escape the certainty of what was to be if Aragorn remained where he was.
Pale and weary, body aching, she rose the next morning, weak. Going outside, she breathed in the air and began to walk aimlessly, before her feet led her eastward. Climbing the wall, she looked around her. The sky over Mordor darkened menacingly. Venomous clouds drifted their ways, shoving and eating the paler clouds on their journey.
This, then, was to be their future.
Behind her, a small cry pierced the early morning's peace. A baby was born to greet this world. A world decorated with hatred and despair. Twisting painfully inside, her heart reminded her of its existence. No longer protected by cold, it felt every little pain that surrounded her.
A small bird landed on her arm, careful not to irritate the break further. Still, she gasped in pain, looking down.
'A kittiwake,' she breathed. Hand shaking, she accepted the proffered note. 'Go. And go now.'
The three underlines marked the urgency of sped. With a renewed determination, the White Lady of the Rohirrim disappeared into her room. Emerging moments later, dressed in a dark brown with her arm bound tightly to her waist, she left the House of Healing behind.
Making her way to the stables, she saddled her horse and led him to the gates. Carefully making their way under the noses of the posted guards, they left the last wall behind them with a sigh of relief.
"Where are you going, Eowyn?"
Gasping, she whirled around. Unable to believe her eyes, she blinked and rubbed them. "Merry?"
He bowed, cheerfully joining her, "so, where are we going?"
She walked off, determined to ignore him, though it pained her to do so. Merry knew what she was up to and remained steadfast. They walked for several hours before she faced him, "why are you still here?"
"Because I am a squire and you are my lady knight," simple said, "where else would I be?"
"Safe. In Gondor."
"There is no safety in this world as long as that cloud hangs in the horizon."
No reply. Eowyn would not refute the truth she heard in his words. To do so would dishonor both of them and she respected him too much to do belittle him. "I am going on a rescue mission," she spoke quietly. "And you cannot come with me."
Merry's calm eyes met her own, "whither thou goest, I go. And where you sleep, I will sleep. If I am called to lay my life down to save your own, then I shall. Bid me not to leave thee, for I will only follow."
She could only swallow, holding back tears. "We are Mordor bound." With those words, she mounted her horse. Looking down at him, she challenged his resolve.
"My legs have grown long. My back is strong to bear many burdens," he would not back down. "I would prefer to ride with you, but I will go on foot, if necessary."
"No need, sir Merriadoc." Reaching out her hand, they clasped and she pulled him up. With the slightest pressure from her leg, they were off.
After a few moments of silence, Merry tapped her shoulder. "If you don't mind my asking, how are we to get there? The front gates are sure to be bared. And we lack the guide Frodo and Sam had."
"We ride through a forgotten path, known only now to those of my line. It will be dangerous for none have traveled those paths in ages. But we must make all haste," her reply was blunt. She was not going to blind him to the truth of their journey.
The horse gathered sped and headed towards the moments, gaining strength to make the arduous climb. Merry held onto Eowyn, knowing that he was doing the right thing. Together, they would make it through, as they had against the witch king.
Filled with a dreadful kind of certainty once more, Eowyn guided them along. Hang on, Aragorn, she thought. We're coming.
Merry's presence comforted and strengthened her. Hobbits were curious creatures of gentle strength and tremendous courage. Before this adventure was over, she'd need that to survive.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Author's Note: I felt the urge to write an actual ending to this story. The story of Eowyn as a sheild maiden did end here and another adventure began. I hope that this will satisfy everyone who reads this. Once more, I thank all of you who have read and responded to my work. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement, I appreciate it so much. If ever I feel compelled to write a sequel, you'll be the first to know.
Thank you all for your words, they do help inspire me.
Gandalf's words would not leave Eowyn's mind. As a result, she had a restless night. Visions of an enslaved world plagued her thoughts. Toss and turn though she might, she could not escape the certainty of what was to be if Aragorn remained where he was.
Pale and weary, body aching, she rose the next morning, weak. Going outside, she breathed in the air and began to walk aimlessly, before her feet led her eastward. Climbing the wall, she looked around her. The sky over Mordor darkened menacingly. Venomous clouds drifted their ways, shoving and eating the paler clouds on their journey.
This, then, was to be their future.
Behind her, a small cry pierced the early morning's peace. A baby was born to greet this world. A world decorated with hatred and despair. Twisting painfully inside, her heart reminded her of its existence. No longer protected by cold, it felt every little pain that surrounded her.
A small bird landed on her arm, careful not to irritate the break further. Still, she gasped in pain, looking down.
'A kittiwake,' she breathed. Hand shaking, she accepted the proffered note. 'Go. And go now.'
The three underlines marked the urgency of sped. With a renewed determination, the White Lady of the Rohirrim disappeared into her room. Emerging moments later, dressed in a dark brown with her arm bound tightly to her waist, she left the House of Healing behind.
Making her way to the stables, she saddled her horse and led him to the gates. Carefully making their way under the noses of the posted guards, they left the last wall behind them with a sigh of relief.
"Where are you going, Eowyn?"
Gasping, she whirled around. Unable to believe her eyes, she blinked and rubbed them. "Merry?"
He bowed, cheerfully joining her, "so, where are we going?"
She walked off, determined to ignore him, though it pained her to do so. Merry knew what she was up to and remained steadfast. They walked for several hours before she faced him, "why are you still here?"
"Because I am a squire and you are my lady knight," simple said, "where else would I be?"
"Safe. In Gondor."
"There is no safety in this world as long as that cloud hangs in the horizon."
No reply. Eowyn would not refute the truth she heard in his words. To do so would dishonor both of them and she respected him too much to do belittle him. "I am going on a rescue mission," she spoke quietly. "And you cannot come with me."
Merry's calm eyes met her own, "whither thou goest, I go. And where you sleep, I will sleep. If I am called to lay my life down to save your own, then I shall. Bid me not to leave thee, for I will only follow."
She could only swallow, holding back tears. "We are Mordor bound." With those words, she mounted her horse. Looking down at him, she challenged his resolve.
"My legs have grown long. My back is strong to bear many burdens," he would not back down. "I would prefer to ride with you, but I will go on foot, if necessary."
"No need, sir Merriadoc." Reaching out her hand, they clasped and she pulled him up. With the slightest pressure from her leg, they were off.
After a few moments of silence, Merry tapped her shoulder. "If you don't mind my asking, how are we to get there? The front gates are sure to be bared. And we lack the guide Frodo and Sam had."
"We ride through a forgotten path, known only now to those of my line. It will be dangerous for none have traveled those paths in ages. But we must make all haste," her reply was blunt. She was not going to blind him to the truth of their journey.
The horse gathered sped and headed towards the moments, gaining strength to make the arduous climb. Merry held onto Eowyn, knowing that he was doing the right thing. Together, they would make it through, as they had against the witch king.
Filled with a dreadful kind of certainty once more, Eowyn guided them along. Hang on, Aragorn, she thought. We're coming.
Merry's presence comforted and strengthened her. Hobbits were curious creatures of gentle strength and tremendous courage. Before this adventure was over, she'd need that to survive.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Author's Note: I felt the urge to write an actual ending to this story. The story of Eowyn as a sheild maiden did end here and another adventure began. I hope that this will satisfy everyone who reads this. Once more, I thank all of you who have read and responded to my work. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement, I appreciate it so much. If ever I feel compelled to write a sequel, you'll be the first to know.
Thank you all for your words, they do help inspire me.
