Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings, all characters, places, and related terms are the sole property of J.R.R. Tolkien's estate.
Author's Note: This was written for dernhelm's "The Wood" challenge over at the Elfsheen boards, in which the challengers had to write a piece – short story, vignette, poem, film scene, etc. – to go along with an A/E manip supplied by Elva.
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A Simple Sight
Aragorn followed Eowyn at a distance as she walked through the wood with knowing steps, unaware of his presence. He watched her enter a small clearing before disappearing from his sight. Nearing the clearing, he paused as a laugh of delight reached his ears. Instantly he recalled the first time he heard Eowyn's laugh and how her then rare smile had lighted her face that day so long ago. Curious, he peeked from behind a tree into the clearing and caught his breath.
The grass, bushes, trees – everything – was bathed in a golden haze. Eowyn cast off her traveling coat and let down her hair, letting the long tresses be carried in the wind. Her gray eyes were clear and wide, her cheeks rosy, and a smile on her face. Another laugh escaped her lips before she began to dance around the clearing. Her movements were graceful and free, like a bird rejoicing in its newly gained freedom.
Aragorn watched Eowyn pass close by his hiding place with awe. She appeared to him as the shieldmaiden he had met in Edoras – his beloved shieldmaiden. He glanced down at his outfit of the ranger, Strider. A smile of understanding crossed his face. For now in this moment he and Eowyn were simply a ranger and shieldmaiden, having left the duties and titles of King and Queen of Gondor behind. They were just Aragorn and Eowyn.
THE END