I do not own Tamora Pierce's books. Well I do...I bought them all. But I don't own the rights to them. OK?

Written when I was in an extremely bad mood with King Jonathan and bound to take it out somehow. And how better than with my favourite shieldmaiden???

In which Eowyn gets a turn at Jon-bashing.......

Oh no, GIRLS can't fight. Of course not. Why would anyone think they could? I mean, even if they've been trained to fight, and are known to be a shieldmaiden of a noble fighting house, they still shouldn't want to fight in a proper BATTLE. They might faint or something. No, no, let them take the refugees to a safe hiding place while the men do the REAL work.

What a load of rubbish! But it's what everyone in Rohan seems to think. I mean, why else'd I get packed off with the oldies and the squalling little children. I can fight just as well as the men my lord trusts to defend his realm. Even Lord Aragorn expects me to stay at home in safety, while he does his bit defending MY country, MY people. But he likes nice, gentle, pretty elf girls, doesn't he? Not some girl with ideas about fighting. He just feels SORRY for HER.

It's not fair. I want to die, heroically, in battle. Sure, it's a form of suicide. Maybe Lord Aragorn'd feel sorry for me when he learnt of my death. Only I'm not allowed to ride with the men, am I? My lord commands me to stay here. Well for once, I'm not going to do as I'm told. I've been faithful, even with that snake Grima always at me. I deserve some reward for my service, but no, I get to stay here. I told Lord Aragorn I fear a cage. So I do.

Poor Merry, he's not allowed to go either. Very well, "Dernhelm" will go, and he shall come too. So there, elf girl!

Let's see what today holds. I hope it brings my death. Lord Aragorn loves an elf maiden. He deserves better than me. No matter how royal my blood is.

The Nazghul is coming! No men dare fight it. Perhaps a mere girl dares though.

Everything's black. I'm dying. Is it dead? I don't know. I don't care. Tired. Ice. So cold, cold, cold...................."