The Choices We Make
Eowyn stood, her arms crossed, as the breeze rustled through her blonde hair and her dark red dress. She stood at the top of Minas Tirith and looked at the people slowly rebuilding the damage. The Hobbits were long on their way back home. The elves would be leaving soon after, must to Eowyn's relief.
She was startled by a voice, "Beautiful isn't it."
Eowyn turned and gave a small bow, "I didn't hear you you're highness."
Queen Arwen made a wave with her hand, "Please don't. All these formalities make me uncomfortable."
Eowyn slowly turned away from her and looked back out at the horizon. Arwen made her way up to Eowyn and stood next to her. "I figured you would be used to it," Eowyn replied.
Arwen gave a shrug, "Used to it doesn't make me comfortable with it."
Eowyn gave a small nod, "Yes, I understand."
Arwen gave her a small look out of the corner of her eye, "Yes I figured you would. Aragorn tells me you are an amazing warrior."
Eowyn's heart contracted at the thought of Aragorn. She had loved Aragorn deeply, but his heart had belonged solely to another. Solely to the elf woman that she was now standing with, "Aragorn had said you were on your way west, with the rest of your people."
Arwen let the soft wind rustle through her light fabricated dress before answering. She choose her next words carefully, "I was. I was nearly to the ships when I saw a vision. A vision of Aragorn and a son. My son. I knew then, that no matter what his wishes were I could not abandon him."
"Wishes?"
Arwen smiled, "Aragorn turned me away, wanted me to leave with the rest of my people, for my own safety," she finally turned to Eowyn and was not surprised to see the woman's face carved in stone, "It is the choices we make that determine who we are.
"Aragorn's choice to send me away told me that he loved me greatly. My choice to give up my immortality told Aragorn that I loved him greatly. My decision not to leave Middle Earth strengthened my relationship with Aragorn. His decision to sacrifice himself for Middle Earth proved that there was still strength in men."
Arwen gave a lengthy pause and then finished with, "his decision to sacrifice himself for Middle Earth proved how much he loved Middle Earth and how great of a person he really is."
Eowyn turned to Arwen, tears glistening in her eyes, "Why are you telling me this?"
Arwen studied her for a moment, "The choices we make also determine how we are remembered," Arwen uncrossed her arms, "How do you want to be remembered?"
Arwen turned and walked back inside the great hall. Eowyn watched her for a moment before turning back to the country side. How did she want to be remembered?
"Lady?"
Eowyn turned and her face broke into a smile. It was Faramir. "Yes?"
Faramir smiled back and held out his crooked arm, "The feast is about to start."
Eowyn had almost forgotten. Her and Eomer were returning to Rohan in the morning. Eowyn threaded her arm through Faramir's, "I had almost forgotten." Faramir gave her such a look of affection that Eowyn had to look down, knowing that she was blushing and smiling.
They walked slowly into the great hall and Eowyn gave herself a secret smile. Aragorn was right that it was with a shadow and a doubt that she loved him. She saw Arwen, sitting next to King Aragorn, and gave her a curt nod. A nod of understanding.
Arwen returned the small nod before sipping some wine from her goblet and returning to the conversation between Aragorn and Eomer. Eowyn thanked Faramir as he held out a chair for her. Eowyn knew, then, what she wanted to be remembered for. She knew then, the choices that she would make.
THE END