Hope's End.
Disclaimer:Lord of the Rings is strictly the property of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Hope's End:
"Mourn not overmuch! Mighty was the fallen, meet was his ending. When his mound is raised, women then shall weep. War now calls us! Let his knights remain here, and bear his body in honour from the field, lest the battle ride over it! Ys, and all these other of the king's men that lie here. Hirluin, Grimbold, Harding, Fastred, Herefara and…"
I knew that face, so fair and cold in death. I knew the golden tress of hair that lay about her, like a crown made of the rays of the sun. I knew that pale hand, curled under then chin as though it would bear her comfort. Alas! That I know that face!
And, as though struck dead myself, I stood unmoving and studied every feature that I knew like my own. And then guilt rained upon me, that I, her sole protector, should have lead her to such a fate. That I who knew her best should have let her die alone in this forsaken place.
And guilt and pain combined, took over my very being and consumed me, filling my being with cold fury as I have never felt before. That some fouled creature could strike down she who is fairest, she who was dearest to me. And as my heart broke in two I cried to the heavens.
"Éowyn, Éowyn! Éowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death takes us all!"
Oh, what wretched time is this! That I, Éomer, son of Éomund, should live to see the deaths of those I love. That I should see the end of man!
And I took my spear and charged and brought down many foes. They fell like rain around me. I gave back tenfold and more than what they took, they robbed the world or something pure, and I took those that thieved it.
"Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!"
Alas that they should pluck Rohan's most delicate flower, and alas that I should have been so blind as to let them. To let her travel with me and not know, to not heed her manner when she begged to fight. To have led her to her end.
Despair! O People of Rohan! Despair! O People of the Riddermark, for today we lose she who is most beautiful.
And fear, O creatures of Mordor and the bowels of the earth, for today you suffer the wrath of Éomer, brother of Éowyn. Tremble at my call, run whilst you still have breath, for I will not stop until the ground runs with your blood in payment for my sister.
Flee, foul spawn of Mordor! But do not hope for life, for there is no place that I will not follow you, no time when I will not stop hunting you.
For Éowyn.
Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's riding
I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
To hope's end I rode, and to heart's breaking:
Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!
A/N: More angst. Sigh, did you really expect anything else? Although I am not particularily happy with this one... Ah well, it matter's not! This story is dedicated to a Dedicated Ant. The stupid thing kept climbing up my leg whist I was writting, and therefor was probably responsible for all the angst.
I am going away in a few days time, so there will be a flurry of stories posted until I leave. I will be gone for two weeks, but expect another flurry of updates because all I will be doing is writting!
Please review, this is the first time I have tried to write in "Tolkien English" and would love some feedback on it. Thanks!
(NB:Changes made thanks to Shieldmaidenofrohan, thanks!)
