a/n: I hope you enjoy this! It was a long chapter, so I broke it up. The next one will follow rather quickly. Please review!

Proud Fights

Edoras was simple but beautiful. It seemed warm, especially as everyone's mood was cheerful and victorious. The people settled back into their homes, which thankfully were left untouched in their absence.

Eowyn busied herself with preparing a feast for the Rohirrim. Selanae had no idea what she did all day, but she kept busy, expecting the men to be back soon.

Selanae couldn't have been more bored. She was not used to this life, this everyday normality of living in a city, in an actual home. Too long she had wandered, though she really didn't know or remember any other way of life.

The Golden Hall wasn't really golden. She wondered why it was called so. It was lit up with torches and smelled of fresh cooked meats. Part of it was disheartening to Selanae.

It was too peaceful. It'd been a few days since she'd killed an orc, and she grew restless. Not that she lived to slaughter them, but she was used to fighting and living with constant danger. Aside from the soldiers, such a life was foreign to the people of Rohan.

She sighed as she stared from the steps of the Golden Hall. She sat on them, halfway up to the Hall and halfway down to the main street. Her hands found her sword. She pulled it out and inspected the blade.

That only took a few minutes to do, and she was left back again with boredom.

"Enough of this." Selanae stood and walked down the stairs, her eyes set on the open and free land before her.

She made it to the gates when Eowyn hurried to cut her off.

"Where are you going?" she asked, breathless.

Selanae rolled her eyes. "Where does it look like I'm going?"

"You cannot leave," Eomer's sister said, trying to be authoritative.

"I can. It is my choice," Selanae shot back. She pushed by Eowyn a little roughly, and suddenly found a swarm of soldiers around her.

"Do not insult the shieldmaiden of Rohan!" one shouted. Eowyn held up a hand to stay the guards. She turned to Selanae.

"I will not let you make so poor a choice," she said. She turned to one of the soldiers, and removed his sword. "You will have to leave my dead body in your wake if you choose to leave."

She's as annoying as her brother, Selanae thought. She smirked at the woman, and at all the guards.

"You would waste your life," she said, and pushed by again. This time she was met with several swords, crisscrossed in front of her by the soldiers. They glared at her from under their horse-head helmets. And something inside Selanae snapped.

She bit hard on her lip as she suddenly whipped out her sword and brought it up like a gust of wind through the swords blocking her. The swords separated, and the men scattered around her like she was a dangerous animal. Eowyn opened her mouth but before anything could be said, Selanae attacked.

She leapt up on one foot and kicked out sideways. The kick landed on one man's chest, and he grunted as he went down. Selanae crouched down and flipped backwards, twisting her sword around to use the hilt as a weapon.

She flung out her arm and hit the dragon head hilt against another soldier. He became dazed enough to fall down completely. She twisted her body to the left, dodging a swing at her head. Eowyn yelled out something, but Selanae did not pay attention.

Her actions became automatic, and her mind drifted to what Gandalf said. Things would never be the same. If she stayed, she was bound to try and defend. If she left, Gandalf's words (and Eomer's) would haunt her. She knew too much all of a sudden, and she wasn't used to any knowledge of herself beyond what she made of her life in the last four years.

Something hit her arm, making her lose grip of her sword. Selanae frowned but simply leapt back and crouched down. Her arms were spread out stiffly, ready to attack again even without a weapon.

There was no one else really to defeat. Except Eowyn. Her blue eyes were dark with anger as she looked over the soldiers. They weren't dead—Selanae wasn't about to go that far—but evidently no longer obstacles. Eowyn was the only one left in her way.

Selanae didn't know if she wanted to go down this road. She was, after all, Eomer's sister. But as Eowyn yelled out and swung her sword over head, Selanae discarded any reservations.

Eowyn slashed ferociously at the air as Selanae dodged from side to side. She leaned back as the sword would come within inches, but never close enough to make Selanae's heart drop. Eowyn continued to attack, suddenly thrusting the sword to impale her.

It amused Selanae how angry this woman was. She was definitely Eomer's sister. Must be a family trait, she thought. Selanae spun on one heel and stuck out a leg right behind Eowyn's ankle. The Shieldmaiden fell unceremoniously on her backside. She got up on her feet and was as furious as ever all too quickly.

Again she advanced, and Selanae stepped to the side and twirled her body with her leg extended and out. Eowyn barely ducked in time to miss being flattened again to the ground. She yelled out again, and gripped the sword tightly with both hands.

Selanae eyed the sword. She watched but stood still as Eowyn charged her. At the last moment, Selanae reached out and grabbed Eowyn by the wrists. She spun around and twisted hard at the woman's hands. The sword was released. Selanae continued her momentum and flung Eowyn away, then quickly caught the sword with one hand before it hit the ground.

Eowyn's chest heaved and she stared wide-eyed at Selanae. Selanae took the sword in her right hand and swiveled once before hurling it at Eowyn.

Eowyn gasped, even as it sunk into a water trough by her. The sword swayed back and forth but stuck in the wood. The Shieldmaiden glared from the sword and back to Selanae.

And suddenly, the cool metal tip of a sword touched her throat.

Selanae glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Eomer, very red-faced and fuming.

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Aragorn tried to calm down his friend, but Eomer brushed him off. He stormed ahead, following after the fresh soldiers who cautiously escorted Selanae inside the Golden Hall.

"She did not hurt anyone, Eomer," Aragorn said. "And consider that she could probably best you if you intend to attack her."

Eomer glanced sharply at the Ranger. "You saw it, Aragorn. She would have killed my sister."

Aragorn rolled his eyes, something Eomer had never seen the soft-spoken man do. "She had no such intention. If she meant to kill anyone, your soldiers would all be dead! And you know Eowyn has a temper, like all children of Eomund."

It was meant to lighten the mood, but Eomer suddenly turned on his friend and grabbed him by the shirt. He yelled out and pushed him against a pillar outside the hall.

"Just whose side are you on!"

Aragorn stared at him, surprised but not upset by Eomer's actions. "We're all on the same side, Eomer. Remember that." Eomer sighed and released his friend.

"I am sorry," he mumbled. He ran his hand over his hair, and then down his face. How he wanted to return to Edoras under different circumstances. Last time his uncle was still under a spell, and he left banished. Now he returned to find the hope of Middle Earth attacking his beloved sister.

"She has had a difficult time," Aragorn said a bit quietly. "She has gone from knowing nothing to knowing more than she wanted to. The burden she carries and the evils she will face are not easy things." He let that sink in. "And remember you did start this off aggressively, keeping her captive."

Eomer shot a look at him, but the Ranger just smiled. Eomer sighed and rolled his eyes this time. He drew a deep breath, and continued inside the Golden Hall. He passed the feast that was being prepared and set out, and went further to the royal chambers of the house. He stopped in the library, where all waited.

Eowyn was there, glaring at Selanae. Eomer suspected part of it was hurt pride, a sentiment he was well aware of when it came to interaction with Selanae. He shot a look to his sister.

"What happened?" he asked a bit gruffly. Eowyn raised her chin at her brother, though her eyes flickered to Aragorn, who joined them. Gandalf, it seemed, was not going to get in the middle of this one.

"She meant to leave," Eowyn said simply but confidently. "I could not allow her to do so, not when she has such responsibility." At the mention of that word, Selanae stiffened.

"And yet you tried to kill her?" Eomer asked. Eowyn opened her mouth to protest, but Eomer held up a hand. "I saw enough, Eowyn. She had no weapon, and you tried to run her through."

"After she incapacitated all the soldiers!" Eowyn cried out. Eomer flickered a glance to Selanae. She seemed undisturbed by any of this. She just stood still in the middle of the library, with a dozen soldiers around her.

Eomer waved at the soldiers. "You may go." The soldiers cast wary glances at Selanae, but bowed and left.

"What is this about a fight at the city gates!" someone yelled. Eomer whirled around to see his uncle. Immediately, Eomer bowed, as did Eowyn and Aragorn. Selanae didn't move a muscle.

Theoden glared at her and pointed a finger in her direction. "You will not wreak havoc on my city, or my kin!" He whirled around to face Eomer. "Throw her in the dungeons, now!"

Selanae's calm façade broke at that, but she didn't say a word. Eomer tried to explain.

"Uncle, she did not mean—"

"Why do you make excuses!" Eowyn shouted. "Your king gave you an order!" Eomer rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated yell of his own.

"Would you all please calm down! The last time any rash decision was made here, I was banished on pains of death." He regretted saying that, especially since they all knew Theoden wasn't himself when he signed the order. It was a low hit, and one that made the king glare at his heir.

Theoden took slow, purposeful steps towards Eomer, his eyes glaring into him.

"I want her in the dungeons for the night, sister-son," he said. "And as long as I am king, you will obey my orders."

Eomer sighed and closed his eyes. Reluctantly, he bowed.

"Theoden King," Aragorn called. "May we speak privately?" He was completely calm and polite, a quality which rather annoyed Eomer. How can he do that when we all just screamed and argued?

He glanced at Selanae, who was still and ready to bolt. He'd seen that stance before. He was about to motion for her to follow him when Eowyn rushed by him and called for the guards.

"Eowyn!" he hissed at her. But the guards came quickly, and Eomer found himself under his uncle's scrutinizing gaze. The guards surrounded Selanae with drawn swords. Eomer sighed again. "Take her to the dungeon." The command was soft, but the men didn't hesitate to act. None of them trusted this wild woman. Eomer felt her eyes on him, but didn't dare look at her.

Aragorn and Theoden watched her leave, and then glanced at Eomer. He bowed and left.

He came upon Gandalf as he moved through the hall. Already, he could hear merriment as the feast geared up to begin. Gandalf wore a large smile as cheers from the hall echoed throughout.

"Eomer!" he greeted. The Third Marshall scowled.

"Gandalf," he said, taking the wizard by the arm and leading him back the way he'd come. "I need your help."

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Dungeons. She'd never been in one, that she could remember. It wasn't what she imagined.

It was dark, and wet. The stone walls were slick with cool, moist air. She found herself sitting on the floor and staring at the dirt and hay. It was odd that they had hay on the floor. It reminded her of a stable.

Surely they wouldn't treat their prisoners as well as their horses. She smirked to herself at that.

Above her, she could hear singing and music. Drunken laughter echoed its way to her ears. Nice to know they're comfortable. Especially when she helped save them from destruction by ten thousand orcs.

I'm not bitter.

She laughed to the emptiness around her. No one else seemed to occupy the king's hatred, but Selanae was actually glad. She stood and stretched her body, and paced the small cell.

Several hours passed, with no change in her condition. Selanae ended up on the floor, resting. Part of her wanted to sleep, but she'd been so lazy and useless the last few days that she couldn't bring herself to close her eyes. So she began to think about her plight.

Reflecting on the situation, it might not have been the best move to fight one of the royal house of Rohan. Eowyn wasn't next in line to the throne, but evidently she had enough clout to get her down here. That, and Theoden didn't trust Selanae or even like her. She'd noticed that when Gandalf told her about the "prophecy."

Selanae sighed. She'd been trying to avoid that topic. Too late.

So I'm supposed to defeat evil, or whatever was said. Saruman feared her. So did Sauron. Why, she still didn't know. She found herself somewhat fearful of them, mainly because they were part of this new burden on her.

When she'd stormed into the tower to rescue Eomer, she hadn't found any doubt in her. She'd had no knowledge to make her doubt.

How can knowledge make me doubt?

She sighed to herself in the cell.

So what will I do?

Run. She shook her head. That was so instinctual for her, but it wasn't the right decision. Which means I stay, and do what I can.

Somewhere inside her, doom and uncertainty panged through her body. She closed her eyes, and let out a long breath.