This is where I introduce my original character, Natalie. Remember what I said, I didn't steal her character, no mater how similar she may be to Hethlin.

Chapter Two

But two weeks had passed when I realized I loved her. I forgot everything for a few weeks following that. I forgot to report to my father, I forgot to speak with the men, and I even forgot to write to Natalie, one of my closest friends, who was in Ithilien at the time.

Natalie was the one who brought me back to reality and rationality. She wrote me a long, somewhat irritated if I recall correctly, letter asking what had happened to me. I snapped out of my reverie when this letter came, and I realized all I had been doing was speaking to, watching, and thinking about Eowyn. How was I to explain that one!

I didn't answer Natalie's question. I just wrote her a long letter saying I was terribly sorry and I wouldn't let it happen again. I know she was vexed at not knowing why it happened, but let her be vexed. I must figure out what in the entire galaxy in which we are will help me get out of the mess I'm going to be in with my father! I can't just tell him that it won't happen again!

What would Aragorn say? Aragorn wouldn't let himself in this position! No wonder Eowyn loves him! He wouldn't get caught in this situation. At least, I think Eowyn loves Aragorn. What if she does love me? I wish there was some way for me to know! Then again, if there was a way for me to know whom she loved, there would be a way for her to know whom I love! No, I wouldn't like that at all!

Here I go again. Thinking about Eowyn is what got me into this mess in the first place. Somehow, I don't think it will get me out.

I suppose I could just say I was ill, but I don't think that will work. Besides, it's not like nobody's seen me lately. I just haven't seen them.

Maybe I could say that I asked one of the soldiers that I was going to promote, to do the reports for a week, as training. But I had only recently found that he had been very ill for the last week. But then he would want the name of the soldier.

Whatever I say, I better come up with it within the next two hours, or I'll be in quite a lot of trouble.

(new scene)

Eowyn walked down to the stables, thinking of Aragorn again. More and more she had trouble getting her mind off of him. What torture!

As she passed the steward's office, she heard something that she didn't expect. Denethor seemed to be (unkindly) lecturing someone. As she stopped and listened, she heard him say Faramir's name. He also said something about neglecting duty without a reason.

Here was another person lecturing about duty! Couldn't anyone see that sometimes there were more important things? Duty, yes it was important, but it was simply what one should do, not what one must do! There were times when duty was secondary, and obeying one's heart was primary. Poor Faramir, he must have done something that his heart told him to do, and his father didn't understand the importance of that.

Eomer was like that too. He didn't understand what it was like to listen to one's heart. Eowyn sometimes wondered if he even had a heart! He was all about duty to his country. That was why he had accepted this kingship without even a crease of the brow.

Eowyn turned from the door, and found herself face to face with a young man with a hard face. Or, she thought it was a young man at first, but after a second glance, she realized that it was a woman dressed like a man with her hair cut like a man's.

"What were you doing, eavesdropping on the steward's office? He doesn't like it when people do things like that," the woman said with a frown. Eowyn frowned back. "It seems that that steward in there doesn't like much at all!" Eowyn exclaimed angrily. The woman smiled at this. "He doesn't. That is why most of us hate him," She replied. Eowyn studied this woman. She seemed like a shieldmaiden almost! She acted like a soldier, but she was a woman, that could only mean that Eowyn wasn't the only shieldmaiden in Gondor.

"Are you a shieldmaiden?" Eowyn asked. The woman laughed heartily and replied, "No, I'm a trained knight of Gondor. However, I now realize that you must be the shieldmaiden Eowyn of the Shield-arm, the White Lady of Rohan, and the woman who slew the Witch-King.

Eowyn laughed. She hadn't realized how many titles she had. There certainly were a lot. And there was one that this woman didn't know, to Eowyn's relief. She had never liked being called Ice Maiden, and she hoped that the title was losing its grip on her.

"I am she," she answered. The woman responded with, "Faramir speaks of you continually." Eowyn was just about to ask who this woman was, when the door behind her opened.

Eowyn turned, afraid that she might see the steward's face, but instead it was merely his son's. Faramir's face was calm. Too calm in Eowyn's opinion. He seemed shaken, but to well composed to show it.

He smiled grimly. "Eowyn, as always 'tis a pleasure to see you. I see you've met Natalie, I was wondering when you two would meet. I thought that you would like each other. Was I right?" Natalie nodded silently. Eowyn too, nodded, wondering what had shaken Faramir. True, his father had been lecturing him, but surely he wasn't childish enough to be upset about something like that!

Faramir bowed to Eowyn and Natalie and began to walk away down the hall. Natalie frowned again and began to follow him. She caught up with him and they whispered for a few moments, then Faramir continued on his way.

Natalie returned to Eowyn with a sigh. "He can be stubborn sometimes!" she exclaimed, then would talk no more about it.

Eowyn asked the other woman to duel with her, and Natalie agreed. They fought long and hard, until Natalie finally won. To Eowyn's embarrassment, she found later that Faramir had watched the entire duel. She didn't know why it bothered her that Natalie was a better swordsman than she was. After all, Natalie had a lot better training. Eowyn also didn't know why it bothered her that Natalie obviously shared something special with Faramir. But it did.

(new scene)

Natalie walked down the halls thinking about this new acquaintance of hers. Eowyn. A very good natured woman, yet very competitive in battle. She was just the sort of person that Natalie liked.

And here her best friend was in love with this woman. Actually, he was more than a best friend, but that was all that she could call him now.

Natalie's thoughts returned to Eowyn. There was but on problem with her. That was the fact that she loved the future king of Gondor. But perhaps that could be changed with time. After all, Faramir was a truly wonderful person, and Natalie was sure that he could turn this woman's heart, just like he had turned her own heart.

At that moment, one of Natalie's subjects came running up to her.

"Natalie," Eowyn breathed. "Natalie, I have to ask you, do you think that Lady Arwen is fair?" Natalie pondered for a moment as to what Eowyn meant by this.

"Well, yes. Of course she is fair," she replied.

"Beautiful?

"Beautiful," Natalie affirmed.

"Gorgeous?

"Of course.

"The most breathtaking woman you have yet seen?

Natalie nodded.

Eowyn nodded back and took off again. Natalie wondered what that was about. After all, Eowyn was in love with Arwen's betrothed was she not? Then, it hit Natalie, Eowyn wanted to know whether Arwen was more beautiful than she. Natalie sighed. You know what Eowyn? I think that you are a lot better off with Faramir.