*AUTHOR'S NOTE*

~ Most of the dialogue in this chapter is from  "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" book 5, chapter 2 "The Passing of the Grey Company".  My own additions will be marked with asterisks (*).

I had quite a bit of trouble getting the first paragraph to work out and I still don't like it.  But, it's the best I could do, and I couldn't find any other way to get in the information.

This chapter is longer than chapter seven, which I though would be my longest.  I guess not.  I won't say that this will be my longest chapter, because I may prove myself wrong once again later on! : )

Also, many thanks to those of you who have reviewed!  I love reading what you have to say about my story! ~

March 6, 3019

Aragorn has returned today, along with a small host of others.  The Dunedain they are called, a host of thirty men and two elves.  Elladan and Elrohir are the elves, brothers, the sons of the Lord Elrond of Rivendell.  Also, the elf Legolas and the dwarf Gimli have returned with them.

At supper tonight Aragorn recounted the Battle of Helm's Deep.  Hearing him tell the tale was quite different from hearing Hengest tell it.  Aragorn told it in the fashion of a warrior, one who knows the art and craft of war and is wise in dealing with it.  He told the tale with excitement, his voice rising and falling with the climaxes and calms.  I delighted in hearing his words and the way his voice handled the words coming from his mouth.  He told me of how my uncle had led a charge against the enemy.  My heart rejoiced at these words, for not week ago such a thing would have seemed impossible.

When the tales were told, the food eaten and the night late, I was tired and ready to get some sleep.  "Lords," I said as I stood up, "You are weary and shall not go to your beds with such ease as can be contrived in haste.  But tomorrow fairer housing shall be found for you."

But Aragorn then replied, "Nay, lady, be not troubled for us!  If we may lie here tonight and break our fast tomorrow, it will be enough.  For I ride on an errand most urgent, and with the first light of morning we must go."

At these words I smiled, "Then it is kindly done, lord, to ride so many miles out of your way to bring tidings to me, and to speak with me in my exile" [1]

"Indeed no man would count such a journey wasted," he replied, "And yet, lady, I could not have come hither, if it were not that the road which I take leads me to Dunharrow."

* "Then I am to come with you.  The messenger Hengest arrived yesterday bearing the word from my uncle Theoden that I am to ride to Dunharrow to meet him for the muster of his army."

"Nay, lady," he replied, "You are not to ride with me for your uncle and I ride to Dunharrow with different intentions in mind.  I ride out to Dunharrow tomorrow, you are to arrive on the eighth."

My heart sank at these words.  I had hoped Aragorn and his host would ride with us, fight with us.  We are in need of warriors with their strength and renown.

"My lord, what is you purpose in Dunharrow?" I asked. *

"There is a road out of this valley, and that road I shall take.  Tomorrow I shall ride by the Paths of the Dead."

A long silence fell over the hall.  My mind raced as it went over the words he had just said.  The Paths of the Dead?  They had that name for a reason.  None who have entered have ever come back alive.  He would die!  The entire host would die!  What cause was leading him to this suicide?

I finally spoke, "But Aragorn, is it then you errand to seek death?  For that is all you will find on that road.  They do not suffer the living to pass."

"They may suffer me to pass," he replied, "But at the least I will adventure it.  No other road will serve."

"But this is madness!" the words were pouring from me faster than ever before, "For here are men of renown and prowess, whom you should not take into the shadows, but should lead to war, where men are needed.  I beg you to remain and ride with my brother; for then all our hearts will be gladdened, and out hope will be brighter."

I could feel my face get hot as the blood rushed to it.  My voice had risen considerably, though I was not yelling.

He looked my straight in the eye and replied gravely, "It is not madness, lady, for I go on a path appointed.  But those who follow me do so of their free will; and it the wish now to remain and ride with the Rohirrim, the may do so.  But I shall take the Paths of the Dead, alone, if needs be."

No more was said after that.  At length they each arose, thanking me for the meal, and went to their rest.  As Aragorn turned to leave, I called out to him.  He turned and came to where I was.

"Aragorn," I said, "Why will you go on this deadly road?"

"Because I must," he replied, "Only so can I see and hop of doing my part in the war against Sauron.  I do not choose paths of peril, Eowyn.  Were I to go where my heart dwells, far in the North I would now be wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell."

Rivendell?  Then he lived with the elves.  He must be a man of special kind, for never before have I heard of elves granting a human to stay with them.

To even my surprise, I found myself laying my hand on his arm.  He looked into my eyes, and I into his.

"You are a stern lord, and resolute," I said, once again calm, "And thus do men win renown." I paused here, searching for the words with which to make my request, "Lord," I began, "If you must go, then let me ride in you following.  For I am weary of skulking in the hills, and wish to face peril and battle."

"Your duty is with you people," he said.

All the calm I had collected before left me.  How could he answer me like this?  Could he not see how desperate I was to get out of Edoras?  Away from all my cares and "duties".  My tongue loosened and I found myself crying out, "Too often have I heard of duty!  But am I not of the house of Eorl, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse?  I have waited on faltering feet long enough.  Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?"

He remained calm.  How could he remain so calm?  Here before him was the unheard of.  A woman, near-yelling her soul out to a man she barely knew.  Or perhaps he found it humorous?  No.  One look in his eyes let me know he was taking my words seriously.

"Few may do that with honor," he said "But as for you lady: did you not accept the charge to govern the people until their lord's return?  If you had not been chosen, then some marshal or captain would have been set in the same place, and he could not ride away from his charge, were he weary of it or no."

"Shall I always be chosen?"  The words coming out of my mouth sounded bitter, even to me, "Shall I always be left behind when the Riders depart, to mind the house while they win renown, and find food and beds when they return?"

"A time may come soon when none will return.  Then there will be need of your valor without renown, for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defense of your homes.  Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised."

"All you words are to say: you are a woman and your part is in the house.  But when the men have died in battle and honor, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more.  But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman.  I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain of death."

I was calm again, but my words were stern and my voice firm.  He was taking me seriously, but he doubted my strength and dedication.  Was he scared that I would turn and flee at the first infliction of pain?

"What do you fear, lady?" he asked.

"A cage," I replied, my voice hard and cold, "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire."

"And yet you counseled me not to adventure on the road that I had chosen, because it is perilous?"

From any other person, speaking with any different tone of voice, those words would have been mockery.  But he spoke them genuinely.

"So one may counsel another," I replied, "Yet I do not bid you flee from peril, but to ride to battle where your sword may win renown and victory.  I would not see a thing that is high and excellent cast away needlessly."

"Nor would I," he said, "Therefore I say to you lady: Stay!  For you have no errand in the South."

"Neither have those others who go with thee.  They go only because they will not be parted from thee – because they love thee."

And with those words, the last I have spoken tonight, I turned and walked back to my room.

Now, recalling the conversation, I marvel at how forward I was.  It has been a long time since I have been that open with someone.  A long time since I have trusted so much of myself with another.

I am a woman, and proudly so.  But for that I should not be looked down upon.  My strength and dedication should not be underestimated.  I am willing to go to the ends of the earth to prove my worth.  I have not given up, no, not now, not ever.  I will prove my worth.  How and when, I know not.  It will be soon though.  It will be soon.

Eowyn

[1] In the book, it is "Eowyn" and "her" instead of "me" and "my".  I just really did not like the whole first person thing.  It gets on my nerves.  Sorry JRRT.