A/N: Hey, that was fast. I didn't expect to finish this chapter so quickly, nor did I realise how much I already had written. I hope you all liked Chapter 29.
Remember when I said in my first Author's Note that Arwen would not appear in this version of the story? I lied. Thus proving that even though Arwen was there, Aragorn chose Éowyn over her. So HAHAHAHAHA!
I am very close to finishing Chapter 31. It's fairly non eventful but emotional and very cute. Thanks to all my reviewers: I am, however, disappointed to find only 4 REVIEWS for Chapter 29.
And so, to my precious few reviewers,
Rosa Cotton: You're going to hate me after this chapter, apologies
flipperjc: Nice to hear from you again, it's been too long
anfieldgyul: So happy you liked that line. I tried to incorporate some of the movie scene with Aragorn and Arwen into this, as it was their break-up scene.
minny2000: I'm very pleased to see that you, like me, are a proud Arwen basher. Go us!
Enjoy!
Updated Elvish and additional
Chapter 30: My Gift To You
Most of the Elves stood gracefully, conversing with the members of the court. Others refused to associate with Men. Too proud, thought Éowyn. She sought out Legolas amongst the crowd of Elves and men. She needed to speak with him urgently. She found him standing against one of the walls of the hall and walked quickly over to him. Legolas smiled as he noticed her approaching and followed her over to one corner of the room.
"How does you, Lady Éowyn?" he asked, smiling at her.
"Not as well as I would wish," she replied.
"Why is that," asked Legolas, observing her carefully.
"For some time now, I have wanted to travel, far from here, and now I feel it is necessary to leave Minas Tirith and my home at Edoras," she told him.
"What is the cause for this, my lady?" inquired Legolas. "What has compelled you to make this decision?"
"It is my own will and choice to do this," said Éowyn. "I have need of solace and reflection but with that adventure and independence. I plan to travel Middle Earth alone; to explore those places I have heard about but never seen. The vast plains and mysterious woods."
"I trust Éomer supports you in this decision," asked Legolas.
"He knows of my plans, yes," replied Éowyn. "But none other than he."
"Then you have not informed Aragorn," said Legolas, looking slightly confused.
"No," she answered simply. "For I fear that if I inform him of this, then he will not allow me to leave."
"Or perhaps it is you who will not allow him to let you," smiled Legolas, raising one eyebrow.
Éowyn smiled back at the elf guiltily but said nothing. Then she unclasped the gold chain, which hung around her neck and pressed it into his hand with these words:
"Mellon nîn, ceno Aragorn geri han. Pedo hon: han na ant nîn na le." (My friend, see that Aragorn receives this. Tell him: this is my gift to you)
With that, Éowyn bowed to Legolas and made her way swiftly to the side door, passing through into the corridor. There was one last thing to do.
Aragorn scanned the hall in search of Éowyn. He desired to speak with her, as she had seemed distressed earlier. He wished to make amends and console her. But Éowyn was nowhere to be found. He caught sight of Legolas standing aloof from the rest of the crowd. Aragorn went over to join his friend.
"Legolas," he asked. "Why do you stand alone here?"
"I do not feel much like talking," replied Legolas.
"Have you seen the Lady Éowyn?" inquired Aragorn.
"I have," answered Legolas.
"Tell me, where did she go?" Aragorn asked urgently.
Legolas said nothing but only looked at his friend. He opened his hand for Aragorn to see and placed the delicate golden chain into his.
"She bid me give you this message: Han na ant nîn na le," (This is my gift to you) said Legolas. "E bannen, Aragorn. (She is gone, Aragorn) You have lost her."
Aragorn's eyes fell on the necklace, which lay in his hand. And then he realised. Everything he had said, all he had told her. She thought that he did not love her. And now, now she had gone and she would not come back. He did not know where she had gone or what her plans. He may never see her again. He had made the mistake of denying his love for her or not making his feelings clear to her. She had misinterpreted his words after so many rejections. What a fool he was. How could he have been so blind?
He glanced up quickly at Legolas, who nodded to his friend. Aragorn closed his fingers around the delicate golden chain in his hand.
"I must find her," he said. "Before it is too late."
And with that, he turned and hurried to the great oak doors of the hall and passed outside to the city in search of Éowyn. He could not let her leave without saying goodbye and knowing the truth.
Éowyn wandered along the hallway, her black velvet gown brushed along the walls as she passed them. She would not be able to ride in this dress. Éowyn made her way back to her own chamber, disguising herself as Dernhelm once more. She found a back entrance to the palace leading from the hallway all the way outside to the city.
It was dark as she made her way along it. A dim light shone through small openings in it at certain points along her way. She shivered slightly as a cold draught blew along the passage. She thought of Aragorn, and of Faramir. She wondered where they were at that moment, and what they were doing. She suspected that Aragorn was still in the hall, enjoying the company of the Elvish guests. She cared not anymore. She would leave all of this behind, and with it, her love for Aragorn.
His mind was racing as he stepped outside into the sun and the city. His mind was unfocused, but his purpose was clear. He had to find her before she was lost to him forever. He remembered the conversations between them. How she had looked on him so pleadingly every time he told her that it was not meant to be. That she was too young and they were too different. How much Faramir loved her and how she could not leave him so cruelly.
If she had chosen to heed Aragorn's advice, she would have married Faramir. But she had chosen to go than stay in his presence. She was broken-hearted and in despair. A fallen angel. She had not the strength in her heart to stay after he had wounded it so.
Éowyn stepped outside, unspeaking and unseen, wandering along the city streets. She went immediately to the stables to fetch her horse, Windfola, and rode through the streets of Minas Tirith, down through the gates of each level of the citadel. She must leave the city before Aragorn realised that she had left, or he may find her. She wanted to run, to escape without having to bid farewell to those she loved. It hurt too much now for her to face them.
He ran through the streets to the stables to search for her. If she were leaving, she would need a horse. She was not there, and neither, Aragorn noticed, was her horse, Windfola. He was too late. It would not take her long to reach the gates and depart from the city. She was lost to him, as it seemed. But he had to try and bring her back. They could not part on these terms. He would not allow it. He needed an answer. An answer to the one question he had to ask her. The one answer he desired most as to her departure. One she had not answered. Why?
As she passed through the main gates of the city, Éowyn sighed deeply. She was free. Free to roam this world. To do all she wished to do. To be what she wished to be. But still an emptiness lingered within her soul, and her heart. There was a wound un-healing that would always remain while she was absent from the city. Absent from her love.
Aragorn ran down through the citadel to the main gates of the city. A guard stood atop the walls. Aragorn called up to him.
"Good sir," he cried.
"Majesty," replied the guard, bowing before him.
"Have you let the Lady Éowyn pass through these gates?" asked Aragorn.
"How looks the lady?" inquired the guard. "For I do not know her."
"She is fair as the dawn, with hair golden as the sun," said Aragorn. "But the lady would have been dressed as a rider. Her horse, Windfola, she rode."
"I have not seen a lady of that description pass through here today, your majesty," replied the guard, shaking his head earnestly. "I am sorry I could not be of more help to you."
Aragorn gazed blankly out over the Pelennor Fields. He sensed that Éowyn had gone. He no longer sensed her presence within the walls of Minas Tirith. But she had passed, unseen, unheard, unnoticed, from the city.
She was gone.
A/N: Well, how was that for a cliffhanger! My best yet! I am hoping that none of my readers will kill me over this ending. Éowyn leaving was not what everyone else had in mind, I'm sure. They were all asking me when Aragorn and Éowyn would get married. I couldn't very well tell them the ending. They did know about the sequel though. They don't know that Éowyn dies in that one. Oops, gave it away laughs. Just joking. This is not the end yet. There are two more chapters to go. We still have to find out what the one thing was that Éowyn had to do before she left (I'm so cruel, aren't I). Laughs evilly. Muahahahaha.