It is only fair that I start this section out by groveling at my reader's feet. Thanks to Dimfuin's timely review, I finally realized that I had never posted part two. *smacks self on the head* Please enjoy dear reader while I write "I won't be a space cadet" 100 times on the blackboard.

He Said, She Said - Part Two

By Deby

April 18th, 3019 of the Third Age

The sounds of optimistic hope that rang through every circle of the city were muted and a silent stillness shrouded her like a fog. Her senses closed down one by one until she was left with nothing but her sight and that was limited to the man facing her. She had no past, no future, she only existed in that single moment of time. Could she do as he asked?

She was Eowyn of Rohan, a shield-maiden, trained in the ways of war, not home and hearth. She had at last broke free of the bonds that forced her to remain behind as the Riders galloped out of Edoras to meet battle and glory. Through subterfuge, she had attained these things, though, now, it seemed a hollow victory. There had been no comfort in remaining at the King's side as he was felled by his own horse. Even the achievement of a feat that no mortal man could have hoped to accomplish, the slaying of the Witch-king, offered little in the way of consolation. Was she ready to relinquish all she had ever known, all she had ever been and join with this man?

From their conversations in the Houses of Healing, she knew that Faramir was no ordinary man with the requisite expectations. Just as she, he had experienced loss and despair, peace and hope. From his lips she had heard the words of admiration for the qualities that most would consider unsuitable in a woman. This man would never ask her to lay aside her sword, because of this, and his love for her, she would do so willingly.

He loved her and he deserved no less than the whole of her, not one half given to him while she withheld what she had thought to give to another. And what about this other? From his sudden appearance at Edoras, until this moment, she had lived for a particular summons that would now come from the east, if it came at all. Or so she had thought. Of course she realized that such a summons would be tantamount to a declaration that Aragorn would not, could not make. Yet even if the uncrowned King of Gondor had allowed himself to do so, did it mean he had accomplished what no other man had?

Long ago she had barricaded her heart behind glacial walls of ice. Walls thick and cold that forbid any man to break through to claim her love, and none had. Did she believe that Aragorn had done so? Inherent honesty proclaimed 'no'. At long last she acknowledged the thread of truth that stood out in his rejection that night, and repeated itself the next day. Bitter tears had fallen to cold stone in the barren hall. She knew, as he did, that he was denying more than just her desire to ride with him. Did she weep for his rejection of her affections or for underlying knowledge that he had not truly touched her heart?

Faramir and Aragorn, both bore the grey eyes and raven locks that came with their Numenorean heritage. She studied the man before her. So alike they were and yet so different. Unlike the other, this man offered her his heart, his wise and gentle heart which saw her more clearly than she saw herself and for that reason, or in spite of it, loved her.

Slowly, Eowyn again became aware of her surroundings as the fog lifted and her senses returned. She felt the icy sheath around her heart melting, and for the first time in recent memory, she truly felt the warmth of the sun. Not the blinding orb that arced above them, but the light that shone in his eyes and surrounded her with its dazzling brilliance. The heat seeped through the pores of her skin, penetrated tissue and sank into her bones.

Her eyes widened in naïve astonishment, is this how it was meant to be? Is this how it was supposed to feel? No banners or trumpets to announce it, nor town criers to shout from the highest circle in the city that she loved Faramir of Gondor. Instead, it was found in the warmth of the sun as it declared that the winter's prolonged reign had ended and the long awaited spring had come. Joyfully, she flung open the door to her heart to his knock and let the light shine in.

****finis****

'Then the heart of Eowyn changed, or else at last she understood it. And suddenly her winter passed, and the sun shone upon her.'

The Steward and The King

Return of the King