Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, names, places, or scenarios mentioned below. This story was not written for cash-monies, pancakes, royalty checks, tater tots,or anything of the like.
Author's Note: I wrote this down shortly after the idea came to me, then typed it up and refined it that same night. It's kind of retrospective, on how people are so quick to point out the shortcomings of certain characters (not to mention real people).It could have been longer, with more characters, but after Théoden I felt I didn't need any more. One-shot.
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Will you judge her?
She wished to be loved by another, unaware of the one who waited for him, far away, unspoken of. She felt the sting of rejection and experienced the loss of one dear to her heart, and languished in her heart's misery until another rescued her.
Will you blame her, you who have ever had thoughts of love, unrequited? Will you blame her, you who have ever fallen into grief at a loss?
Will you judge him?
His life was not his, but belonged to his country. Slowly, he had watched everything fall apart around him. Separated from family and home, he could no longer resist this thing that could make his world right again, or so he thought.
Will you blame him, you who have ever snapped under pressure? Will you blame him, you who have ever been tempted and faltered?
Will you judge him?
Evil times came, and he fell into the trap set for him. Things were whispered in the failing twilight, spoken in secrecy. He had no reason to doubt this man whom he had so trusted. He fell into darkness, and had to be awoken by The White.
Will you blame him, you who have ever been deceived by a lie? Will you blame him, you who have ever been used for another's gain? Will you blame him, you who have ever been betrayed by a misplaced trust?
She fought valiantly, slaying darkness' Captain in defense of her beloved King and uncle. She opened her heart once more, and vowed to heal and mend, to no more long for a heroic death. She was regarded with renown, as one of the Queens of Old, and loved by many.
He fell honorably, in the defense of those who could not themselves protect, and refused to flee, even when the struggle was hopeless. At the end, he repented, and swore devotion to the not-yet King.
He was called forth from the shadows, to war and a different gloom. He defended his people well, and in the end gave his life to help an ally in their most desperate hour.
Could you even begin to fill their shoes, much less walk a mile in them?
To judge is to set the standard by which you will be judged.
"He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone." John 8:7
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Author's Endnote: I hope that you enjoyed this, and I hope that it made you think a bit! Don't be a stranger, send a review! For those who could not tell (and I hope that's not the majority) the three characters referenced were Éowyn, Boromir, and Théoden. Why those three, you might ask? Well, I felt that they were some of the characters more subject to dislike than most, so I wanted to kind of change things around. You know, let's see you burdened with a county and dangle something that like, three men in all of history have been able to withstand the lure of, and then you can tell me what you think of poor Boromir! Walk a mile in his shoes, perhaps? …Anyways, have a nice day, and please drop a comment and/or criticism!