A/N: Sincerest apologies about the delay on this chapter, it has taken me so long to get any ideas for it or find time to write any of it. We are nearing the end, only seven or eight chapters to go, and then the sequel. Thanks to all of my reviewers, especially to Rosa Cotton, who has been my most frequent reviewer: every chapter so far, am I right? Enjoy what's coming. Also to anfieldgyul: I'm glad you liked that line in Chapter 24. To Salysha: I know you've been sick, hope you're better and sorry about adding more chapters before you finished the other ones. To one part of the crazy ladies: KK, what the hell are you doing? Review and stop reading Spuffy fics! Finish my story and set a good example for the rest of my fans! And to McGothic: thanks for the review, Sam, I'll try to get my Harry Potter fic up soon. (Yes, I am writing a few, none will be up until this story is finished and I have had time to go over them.) And finally, to TheOneAndOnlyElbereth, I can't believe you liked my story. Thanks so much. To all of you wonderful people, if there is anything you want to suggest, e- mail me, I am very happy to receive feedback on my writing and I will consider it. Yes, I know I promised to fix up the Elvish in my story before I posted any more, but this chapter has no Elvish, and it was taking too bloody long to work out. I'll try later. Let the chapter begin, I know you're all dying to know what happened after that hilarious argument.

Updated chapter

Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, you know the drill. If not, read a different chapter; come one people, the disclaimers aren't great.



Chapter 25: Steel Lily

            The evening air was cold, as icy as Éowyn, who stood in the gardens once more, lost in thought and in her grief; a lament for Aragorn. Again, she had tried, and again in vain, to make Aragorn see reason. He could not see, he would not see. And now, he would leave, and it would not be a happy parting for either party. They had not resolved their quarrel; there was still tension between them, and bitterness too. Tomorrow, he would ride again. And what if he did not return, as he had before? What if he did not pass through death and return to Minas Tirith once more? Even if his place may not be beside her, the people of Gondor needed their King. Should he not return, they would again be in darkness.

It did not bear thinking of; she must not think such things. But she had seen how irate his expressions had been just before. Never had she seen him like that. She, too, had been cruel, she knew. She had spoken thus out of frustration and anger. But his response had been strange, something she had not expected. It had been harsh, cold, and true. He had meant those things. His heart was lost from her, forever. She could not win it back. What hope now remained here for her if Aragorn did not love her? All was lost, and all was forgotten.

Aragorn spent the next day discussing the plans for departure and the attack on the Black Gate. The army was exhausted from the Battle of the Pelennor Fields; many had taken themselves to the healers in Gondor to be revived.

Denethor had fled into the tunnels behind the city before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields had ended, to the tombs of his forefathers inside. There, he had killed himself after seeing all that the Seeing Stone wished him to see; out of despair, he had passed. Gandalf had told the news to the people of Minas Tirith when the battle was done. The news of Denethor's passing had shocked Aragorn. But the men were busily preparing themselves for the ride out to the Black Gates.

The eve before the battle, Aragorn spoke with Gandalf, Éomer and Prince Imrahil. They were all uneasy about their chances in this final assault. If this failed, there would be no hope left for any race in Middle Earth.

"Hear now the last words of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, before his death: 'You may triumph on the fields of Pelennor for a day, but against the Power that has now arisen there is no victory.' Do not despair, for these words were spoken out of such, but take to heart the truth in them. The Stones of Númenor do not lie, but it is possible that Denethor did not see all that is to come."

"But, if this is as you say, what hope have we of a victory in arms?" asked Imrahil, anxiously. "Why risk our lives when there is nothing to fight for?"

"I do not hope for victory in our battle," said Gandalf. "But two hobbits are, at present, making their way up the slopes of Mount Doom to destroy the Ring of Power. Our hope of success now lies with them, and only them. My aim is to draw the Eye away from them and towards the Black Gates, where we base our attack. A direct assault on the Black Gates will be unlooked for by Sauron. He is not prepared for such an attempt on our part, which, I pray, will give us an advantage. If we stay within the city, we only prolong our suffering. If we stand against Mordor, we offer some assistance to Frodo by drawing the Eye away from him."

"We have barely seven thousand men to stand against all of Mordor," protested Imrahil. "This is but a jest. The Dark Lord will smile rather than fear, he will crush us, like a fly, with his finger if we dare to sting him."

"He will not crush us, but try to trap us and take the sting," said Gandalf. "And we have many strong and skilled men amongst us. He will not smile."

"Nor will we," said Aragorn.

That evening was one of discomfort for all. None knew what their fate would be and all were uneasy. Éomer watched his sister over the course of the evening. She was a steel lily once more to his eye. He felt her pain and spoke to her.

"Éowyn, dear sister," he said. "What has brought this woe upon you? For whom do you grieve?"

"I grieve for none," she replied angrily. "I am now as I ever was before all of this."

"That is my concern," said Éomer. "There is one for whom you grieve. I hate to see you as the steel lily you once were. It healed my heart to see you so happy, and it seems now dissolved."

Éowyn looked at him with an emptiness in her eyes.

"You have seen me in sorrow before," she said softly. "But never has that sorrow caused me such pain as this. I have overcome sufferings and grief, but never the pain of a broken heart. Over the years of my life, my heart was hardened, and when at last, I found love, I was rejected. My heart now lies shattered and I fear it shall never be healed," she said bitterly.

"You will not be broken-hearted forever," Éomer assured her. "I would not let you be so."

"I look not for love any longer," said Éowyn. "Let it be. It is done."

The following morning, the armies assembled on the Pelennor Fields, ready to march on Mordor. The men were frightened; Aragorn could see it in their eyes. As he stood waiting for all to assemble, Aragorn wondered about Frodo and Sam, how they were faring with the Ring. It had been long since he had seen them both, having departed with Gandalf to Minas Tirith at the Great River. They had left with heavy hearts after the death of Boromir. He had fought with great courage, not caring for his fate. Now, too, there was need for great courage against Mordor. They knew not what they had yet to face and all were frightened, but the glimmer of hope that soon good would triumph shone brighter than ever now. Their fates rested with two young hobbits, scrambling up the slopes of Mount Doom on their hands and knees, unaware of what Aragorn and the others were planning or what had already befallen. Aragorn mounted Roheryn, observing the army of loyal and brave soldiers before him. Éomer rode up beside him.

"Where is Lady Éowyn?" asked Aragorn.

"She comes now, from the gates of the city," said Éomer.

Aragorn lifted his eyes to the gates of the city. There stood Éowyn, clad in a white gown, which was flapping in the wind. As he looked at her, Aragorn saw the cold, stern expression on her face. That same that she had worn at Edoras, at the time of Gríma and the spells on her uncle, in sadder times, times of despair and trouble. It caused him pain to see Éowyn this way again. It was as if all hope of happiness had flown from her life and from within her. She was a steel lily once more. She did not move, but stood as a statue, staring at him.

Aragorn led the army away from Minas Tirith, a sorrow in his heart for those who would not see the White Tower again. Also for Éowyn, as she patiently awaited his return to the city and the assurance of his safety. That image of her standing there would stay with him in this time of war, representing those who must always wait behind, never able to help.

Again, Éowyn stood atop the walls, gazing out over the horizon beyond. It had been several days since the departure of the army and no news had returned of their safety. She feared for them. She longed to be there with them. Her mind floated back to Edoras, before leaving for the Pelennor Fields. She had spoken with Théoden not long after his arrival:

"Éowyn," said a voice from the doorway. Éowyn turned around to face her uncle.

"I beg you, come out of your room," asked Théoden. "You have not moved since Aragorn departed."

He walked over to the window where she stood.

"I wish to ride with you to battle, uncle," she said. "I cannot see you all ride to battle again without me; to your death."

"I will not allow that," he argued. "You are my niece, and the salvation of your people. They need you now more than ever."

"The plains of Rohan will be silent," Éowyn murmured quietly. "Never will Riders of the Mark pass this way again. They will fall. An evil lies ahead, which only one can stop. The prophecy. The Witch-King will not fall by the hand of man."

"I would have you smile again, not grieve for those whose time has come," said Théoden, firmly.

"Aragorn's time has not come," said Éowyn. "He will live on, a great ruler in Gondor for many years to come."

"He may not return from the Paths of the Dead," said Théoden. "You must accept that."

These words faded with the winds, as they blew across the field of battle once more. Éowyn closed her eyes, listening to the breeze whisper to her. Meanwhile, at the Black Gates, Aragorn was assembled with the army on a hill overlooking the Black Gates.

A messenger had spoken with them, telling them of the hobbits' deaths. Now, he led an army from inside Mordor out to face the forces of the King of Gondor in the final assault in the battle for Middle Earth. Aragorn drew his sword as the armies of Mordor approached.

"Ride now! Ride to ruin, and the world's ending!" he cried, and charged forward on the mass of Mordor orcs.



A/N: I just watched the preview for the Return of the King, and there were two fantastic lines that were in it, unfortunately both said by Théoden. So anyway, I sort of made other characters say them. See if you can guess who and which the lines were, those who have the Two Towers DVD. P.S. I don't actually have the Two Towers DVD but I did watch the preview both on the Internet (bad news, the link has been taken down) and on a rented copy of it.