Chapter 10

Harry could not bear to look at Gandalf. His face was so full of emotion, so taken over by his heart that it seemed an awful thing to do anything that might have invaded that circle of grief. Although they sat together, suddenly, they were worlds apart once more, Gandalf on a whole new level of understanding. Harry suddenly felt he had to say something.
"I-I am sorry, Gandalf," he began uncertainly. "I didn't mean-"
"There is no call for an apology, Harry," replied Gandalf the White, his voice slightly shaky. "But I so fear for Frodo...and what will become of him..."

Harry looked carefully at Gandalf.
"Why? What do you mean, what will become of him?"
Gandalf said nothing.
"What do you mean? He's going to destroy the evil of all the worlds, Gandalf! What could possibly-"
"Do not trouble your mind with it, Harry," replied Gandalf the White. "Nothing is certain. Nothing."
Harry did not know if what he was hearing was the truth. He could not tell. Yet he needed to know. Something inside him told him that he should know...before it was too late again.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself when he saw Gandalf suddenly stand up. He walked over to the door.
"Ah," he said. "It appears that the others have gone. Go back to your room, Harry - I will speak more with you later."
"But-" Harry began.
"Please, Harry, I think it will be best for you to leave."
Gandalf would not meet Harry's eyes. Harry closed his mouth, got up, and strode out of the room without looking at him.

Harry came to the small space outside the room to find it empty. The others had left; Harry did not know where they had gone.
Harry was disappointed; he had been fascinated by Gandalf's explanations of each of the people, particularly Aragorn. It would have helped him for them to speak again, once they knew the truth about each other. Harry sighed. Nothing seemed to be working.
Harry turned back to the room behind him. Gandalf had closed the door. He started to go back to the door, meaning to tell him that he had no idea how to get back to his room, but something inside him made him stop. He paused for a moment, and realised that once again he was angry with Gandalf. Again, he was to be shut out, excluded. Harry rubbed his forehead, his scar. After all he had faced, all he had proved, all he had lost, this was still happening to him.

Harry began to make his way down the steps. He knew he'd never be able to get back to his room.
Oh well, he thought bitterly. To hell with it. I don't care what they think. I don't care where I'm going. I just want to be as far away from him as I can be.
He carried on making his way down the steps. He felt better with each one; each put that little bit of extra distance between himself and Gandalf.
He came to the last stretch of steps and his heart leapt as he saw Eowyn standing at the bottom of them. She was not looking at him; she was lost in thought and had not noticed him. Harry felt suddenly worried. What would she think of him, now that she knew he was here to fight the allegiance of Voldemort and Sauron? He stopped suddenly. Maybe he should go back, turn away, so he wouldn't have to face her...

He began to back away slowly, all the while facing her to check she had not noticed him. It seemed that he was just about to creep out of sight, but suddenly-
"Harry!" Eowyn exclaimed, turning to face him. Her eyes lit up and her beautiful mouth smiled in joy at the sight of him, and she held her clothes up as she ran up the stairs to greet him. As her arms outstretched and she hugged him hard, Harry felt any fear or doubt that he might have had leave him. Eowyn had swore to remain his friend, and this he trusted her to do so.
Harry put his arms around her and hugged her back as tightly as he could, never wanting to let her go.

At last they parted. Eowyn drew away, her hands still on his shoulders.
"Oh, Harry," she said. "Thank goodness I can talk to you again."
"H-have you been waiting long?" he asked.
"Not too long," she replied with a smile. "Though in truth you were quite a while. I suppose there was a lot to explain?"
"There was," Harry nodded. "Gandalf told me loads."
"Though he no longer is just Gandalf any more, is he?" sighed Eowyn. "Albus Dumbledore and Gandalf the Grey form Gandalf the White. It's...incredible."
"I found it difficult to understand," replied Harry, nodding. "How...how did everyone take it?"
"They accepted what Aragorn said, and for that I believe that he felt proud," she smiled.
Harry noticed the wide-eyed look that Eowyn took when she spoke of Aragorn.
"You feel for him, don't you, Eowyn?" he asked her softly.
She looked down.
"I care for him greatly, Harry," she replied slowly. "I do love him. Yet...I love him as a brother, for I have come to know him as one through this war. He is one of the few men that I truly look up to. They are hard to find."

Harry put his arm around Eowyn.
"He is an incredible man, Eowyn. Gandalf told me all about him."
Eowyn looked carefully at him.
"You know...who he is?"
Harry nodded.
"The heir of Isildur...son of the King thousands of years ago."
Eowyn nodded.
"We would be lost without him. Without him, we would not stand a chance in this war. In fact, I believe we would already be dead," she said, with a sad smile. "For he fought so bravely and brilliantly in the battle for Helm's Deep..."
She broke off, and stared into space.
"He has a destiny."
Harry started at these words as he realised their full meaning. A destiny. A purpose, a resolve, a focus, a reason for being here, a definite happening surrounding the being. Was he...?
"Eowyn?" he said suddenly.
She turned to him.
"Yes, Harry...what is it?"
Well...you know why, now, don't you? We both do. We know why I am here."
She paused before answering.
"Yes. I know."
Harry took a deep breath and asked one of the most incredible, frightening questions he had ever asked in his life.
"Does that mean...do you think that I have a...reason...too? Am I meant to do this...was I always meant to be here? Is this...is this my destiny?"