Not really much to say, I hope you like this chapter. This is kind of the changing chapter, it sets the story up for the millions of other scenes. Sorry if it is kind of boring! Please review! I'd really like feedback about this one!

Chapter Seven

Aragorn was on his unsaddled horse within mere moments of Eowyn's announcement, shouting instructions for Faramir to warn Denethor, and then also tell the men to prepare. He ordered Eowyn to take care of the woman and children. She was to take them into safety.

"And you milord?" Faramir asked hurriedly.

"I ride to the wall," Aragorn replied. Faramir nodded, muttering to himself, "sometimes, he reminds me so much of Gandalf."

Both Eowyn and Faramir rushed to their duties. Neither had times to speak to one another, as much as they wanted to.

Eowyn marched down to the down to the third level, furious. Once again, she was stuck in the role of the woman. Even though Aragorn knew she could fight.

But not for long. She wouldn't abide by this. Besides, he hadn't ever said that she couldn't fight, just that she had to care for the women instead. But she knew that she could find someone else who could defend the women and children of this city.

She changed her course. Instead, she ran up to the citadel. Of course, there could only be one woman who could help her in this. But wait, Natalie would also be out upon the field. And she was actually trained to do so, Eowyn was not.

Eowyn pondered her dilemma for a brief moment, ere coming up with another, better, person.

And here she was, trotting down the hall.

"My Lady! Did you hear about the war?" Eowyn asked Arwen.

"Eowyn? No, what is happening?" The elf asked.

"We are being attacked by orcs, a whole army of them. Aragorn told me to take care of the women and children, but I think he should have told you to do it. I don't even know where the safe havens are!"

Arwen smiled. "I'm sure you can do it. I'll show you the havens, but I'm sure you can take care of it," she said reassuringly.

Eowyn frowned unintentionally. "No, I think that you should do it. I don't think that I can. If, that is you don't have anything else to do, don't you think that 'twould be less of an embarrassment for both of us if you did it?"

Arwen studied her carefully, and then nodded. "Yes, perhaps you are right."

Eowyn smiled gleefully. "Oh thank you Arwen!" she cried. And then she hurried off to prepare for battle.

She did not have any Gondorian armor, so she would just have to ride under her brother's banner.

She didn't like the thought of that. It should have been Theoden's banner, not Eomer's. Why did the orcs have to pick such an emotionally hard day for her? Why couldn't they have come another day, when Faramir hadn't spoken to her like that, when she wasn't thinking about her uncle and cousin, when she wasn't so angry with Faramir, when she wasn't so hurt by Aragorn, when she wasn't battling feelings for Faramir...what? She wasn't battling any feelings for Faramir. NONE.

(new scene)

Faramir prepared the men as best as he could. He was a good leader, and he knew how to comfort the men and get them ready for the battle ahead, but at the moment, he was preoccupied.

Natalie tried to recall him from his daze, but did not succeed. He was too lost in thought. Nonetheless, he worked hard to ready his men. For he knew that Aragorn would need them all. The orcs wouldn't make a last stand that they weren't ready for; this had to be their best numberings that they could muster.

Natalie shook her head in sympathy, and then turned to muster the men herself, since her captain wasn't doing a very good job.

She saw King Eomer nearby, also mustering his men. He would stop and comfort little children, and telling them to go find his sister, and that she would take care of them.

Poor Eowyn. You're stuck down in the havens, while everyone else that you care about is up here fighting. I'm sorry, she thought regretfully.

Then she noticed a face among the Rohirrim warriors that was familiar. She smiled to herself. Eowyn was not stuck down there in the havens. She had done what any prideful warrior would do, admittedly, 'twas reckless and unhonourable, but still. 'Twas brave and prideful.

Faramir suddenly glanced over at Natalie. She immediately ceased to watch Eowyn. She would keep the secret.

Instead, there were men to rally, there were battles to win, and there were lives to protect.

(new scene)

The battle raged on like a never-ending storm. The orcs had somehow mustered a power that almost matched Aragorn's. Almost. It was clear that at some point, Aragorn would win.

There could have been one good thing that came from this battle. The men were able to work under Aragorn. They were able to see whether they really wanted him as their leader or not, and they did not loose too many men.

For the orcs, though close in numbers, were weak from the lack of nutrition. Since the end of the War, the orcs had scattered and their food source grew stronger. The men were no longer unprotected. Aragorn was there, healing the land. Men were not weak any longer.

Faramir fought alongside his men, and each passing moment filled him with more allegiance, admiration, and devotion to Aragorn. Aragorn proved himself in this battle as a great warrior, and an even greater king.

Slowly, the orcs began to die out. Their numbers began to lack, and the men were winning. It happened soon ere the end of the battle, when Faramir heard a strange cry overhead. He hadn't ever heard such a cry except for once.

He was spending a month with his cousin, Lothliriel, at Dol Amroth. He remembered the birds crying across the sea. When he had asked, Lothliriel said, "Oh you silly, those are seagulls!"

Seagulls, suddenly, Lord Elrond's words came back to him. He didn't know why it was vital, but he turned toward the seagull, and away from the orc that was moving in behind him.

(new scene)

Eowyn battled orc after orc, joy ringing through her veins. When the Rohirrim started singing their battle song, Eowyn joined in, singing with joy, for she was killing orcs. She was doing something beneficial, something worth her while.

Orcs fell to the ground before her, not aware any longer of the battle that they were loosing. It wouldn't be much longer before it would all be over.

Some strange sort of bird cried overhead in chorus with the crows. Crows. They came when there were dead to feed on. And way up above, Eowyn knew there were vultures flocking. But what dead would they feed on? Not orcs surely. No. It was the only sad part of a battle. The noble ones die alongside of the orcs. What if it was someone like Eomer? How could she live if Eomer died and left her behind? She couldn't, that is why she would have to go out and get herself killed as well.

Aragorn cried out something, Eowyn couldn't here what it was. Apparently it was retreat because Eomer was leading his men, and woman, into a steady retreat. Why were they retreating? Because Aragorn wanted the rest to escape and warn the others not to come against Minas Tirith. The orcs were trying to escape now, and so Aragorn let them. Besides, he didn't want to kill too much.

Eowyn rushed into the city and up to the citadel. She quickly changed into her dress and brushed her hair. She was sweating, and her face was all blotchy, but there was nothing that could be done about that. She could just pretend that the caves were really hot, or that she had been crying in worry. The men would believe it. They would believe anything that portrayed a woman as weak and silly.

As she walked down the hall, she caught sight of Aragorn.

"Aragorn! Is it safe, are the orcs gone? Oh, I was so worried!" Aragorn frowned and nodded wearily.

"Yes, the orcs are gone, everything should be okay. Unfortunately we lost several good men though," he said half-heartedly.

Eowyn nodded. "And Eomer? Was he safe?" Aragorn nodded. Eowyn smiled in relief.

"Good, if he is safe, then I can breath yet," she said. But Aragorn frowned again.

"You have not asked after Faramir," he said hesitantly,

Eowyn nodded vigorously. "Oh yes, how is he?"

Aragorn sighed. "Eowyn, Faramir....he...he was wounded in the battle. The healers have looked at him. They think he is going to die."