Disclaimer: I do not claim to own these characters or any part of Tolkien's world.

"Take Me With You."

"Take me with you." the woman pleaded,

"I want to defend my land."

"On the battlefield you are not needed,

stay here and make your stand."

The woman's eyes welled up with tears,

"Let me come, you need my aid!"

"I understand, my lady, but the shadow nears,

the king's orders have been laid.

King Theoden ordered that you stay

so the men may eat and have a bed.

I have delivered his orders, you must obey

and rule Rohan in his stead.

I cannot go against his will

and allow you to fight.

I am sorry, but you my stay until

the war is done, and all is again made right."

Eowyn watched Aragorn ride away

when the sun's first light shone

and she promised herself that she would not stay.

"Take me with you." she whispered, he would not fight alone.

"Take me with you!" the hobbit cried,

"let me fight alongside my friends."

"No, my brave Holbytla," the good king sighed,

"You would fall behind before the end."

"But sire, I vowed to stay with you,

your life I pledged to defend.

I am prepared for battle, after all it's nothing new!

I know I am small,

but my heart is true.

I will not forsake the call."

"I have said my peace.

You will not be alone,

you will stay with Eowyn, my niece,

who has been ordered to maintain the throne."

And with that, King Theoden rode away,

his death warrant already signed.

Amid the thunder of hooves, he could not hear Merry say,

"Take me with you!" He would not be left behind.

"Take me with you!" the hobbit wept,

staring into his friend's mournful eyes.

"Our friendship we have long kept

we cannot now forsake our ties!"

"I am afraid I cannot stay,"

his friend told him, sadly.

"I am afraid there is no other way

for I have been wounded too badly.

But you must stay

my faithful friend.

Don't worry, there will be a day

when your heart will mend.

We saved the Shire,

but not for me.

And someday you too will tire

and sail across the sea.

I will be waiting there for you,

when you have finished your work here and come.

For you were a ring bearer too,

and are counted among the sum

of those who may pass

into the Undying Lands.

The gray rain-curtain will turn to silver glass

and you will see white sands."

With that Frodo turned to board the ship

and sailed across the sea.

Sam watched with a quivering lip.

"Take me with you!" Through his tears he could hardly see.

Eowyn did indeed ride into battle,

she was  determined to join the fray.

She took Merry on her saddle;

he also hated to stay.

Together they killed the Witch King

who had terrorized one and all,

or so the minstrels sing,

and they lived to tell it all.

Sam stayed in the Shire

and fulfilled all he was meant to be.

And, as Frodo had said, he did tire

and sailed across the sea.

The Ages passed by

and men nearly forgot

these heroes and their cry;

the tales they had wrought.

These three were told to stay behind.

Each one's plea went unheeded.

But too strong are the ties that bind

and in the end they were needed.