A/N: This is a AU fic based upon the little ramblings in my head. Here
Arwen has chosen to take the ships to Valinor, thus forsaking her love for
Aragorn. Èowyn has battled in the War but has rejected Faramir's proposal
of love and chooses to return to the Shire with the hobbits. Takes place
two years after the War of the Ring.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters they belong to the great Professor Tolkien and P.J. I am just borrowing them for a short time to make this crazy dream of mine come true ;-) All reviews are welcome.
It was a hot morning in the Shire yet life was bustling as always. Children were scampering along the dusty road, laughing at each other and being caught up in their own little world where everything was perfect. Lady Èowyn sat by her window, admiring them for their carefree attitude. Yet, there was pain on the young woman's beautiful face. She had left Rohan two years before and had returned to the Shire with the hobbits.
Though she was extremely happy with the quiet life of the quaint Shire, the old ways of life were calling to her. Lately, she had found herself questioning her decisions. She knew that Èomer missed her terribly for though they were leagues away from each other, she felt it in her heart and she pined for her brother. Yet, there was another reason for her departure, and it grieved as well as disgusted her. Even after two years, she was still in love with Aragorn.
It would have been unbearable to be so close yet so far from him. Daily she chided herself for the lack of strength she had around him. It was ironic that the renowned Lady of the Mark, who valiantly faced and slew the Nazgul King, ran away because of a broken heart. Her physical shell was intact but the inside of her was dying. It would not have been fair to kind Faramir to accept his proposal. As much as she cared for him and his friendship, she had already given her heart to Aragorn. Yet another case of unrequited love she thought bitterly.
At the time, she felt she had made the correct decision. Had she remained there, her pain would have grown. She wanted Aragorn to be happy, even though it meant he would be with another woman. There were nights in the Shire when she dreamt she had never met him but deep down she knew it was a total lie. Had he not come to Edoras she would now be rotting in some hellhole with that dastardly Wormtongue. Even after all this time, she shivered when she remembered that snake.
She stepped outside of her hut and walked in the direction of Samwise' house. Rose was expecting her for lunch and she knew better than to turn down her invitation. She had much love and admiration for these wonderful people and understood why Gandalf spoke of them in such high esteem. Merry and Pippin came to visit her daily, and she spent much time with Frodo but she worried about the Ring bearer. He seemed to be ailing daily and was becoming world-weary. Gandalf spoke to her on many occasions about taking him to the Grey Heavens where he would be at peace and she found herself agreeing with the suggestion.
Èowyn sat outside with Rose in the bright sunlight. All seemed well, but there was a sense of secrecy surrounding the hobbit. She was hiding something from her, though it was difficult to fathom the carefree hobbit engaging in such acts. Rose seemed to be weighing the matter, and the turmoil was apparent on her face arousing Èowyn's curiosity.
"Is everything all right Rose?" Eowyn asked gently as they walked.
"Ah... yes my Lady... sorry, Èowyn" she replied correcting herself but the agitation did not go away and she visibly fails to control herself.
"Are Sam and Elanor in fine health?" Èowyn breathed a sigh of relief as the hobbit nodded her head. "Then tell me what ails you, my friend?"
Rose looked at the woman with such pity in her eyes and instantly Èowyn knew it concerned one of her loved ones. "Is it Èomer?" she asked quickly as her heart quickened. Rose nodded silently, too choked to say anything else.
"Tell me Rosie what has happened?" she asked as her calm demeanour vanished.
"Word came today that he is gravely ill. They say that he may... he may...." she attempted to finish her sentence but burst into tears.
Èowyn sat in total shock. The news began to take a toll on her. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. It was unbelievable that Èomer of all people should be in that condition. He was her beacon of strength apart from Aragorn. Memories of their child hood through to the dark days of Grima's hold in Rohan flashed past her. She wondered if Aragorn had healed him and at that moment she knew her days in the Shire were limited.
"I must go to him Rose. I cannot waste one moment longer." She stated with a fierce look of determination in her blue eyes.
"Then we must hurry my child for time is of the essence." said a new voice from behind her.
"Gandalf!!" she cried as waves of relief washed through her body. He then soothed her in a tight embrace.
"Come my child we must hurry for we have a long journey ahead of us."
"Are you accompanying me?" she asked
"Yes Èowyn I must. I sense dark days are coming again." He said ominously. "Hurry and pack your belongings. Return as soon as you can. I shall await you at the outskirts of the Shire." He told her as she made her way home.
Èowyn knew that eventually, it was destiny for her to return to the land of her birth. Whether she was prepared for this homecoming, was an entirely different matter.
With much haste, she packed her essential belongings and made certain nothing was left behind. She spied her chest, dusty from misuse, and after much deliberation, opened it revelling in its contents. Here lay her sword Helm and her battle gear from the Battle on the Pelennor Fields. Though her sword had been shattered in her battle with the Nazgul King, Elrond before she left had renewed it as a parting gift to her.
She removed it from its scabbard and it shone in the light with a deadly blue fire, reminiscent of Andruil and Sting. Inside lay also a vest of Mithril - another gift from Elrond. Though there may not be any need for the weapons, her Shieldmaiden instincts told her to take them.
It was almost evening as she made her way to Gandalf. The delicious aroma of dinner pervaded the still atmosphere as she walked the dusty paths to the edge of the Shire. There in the clearing awaiting her arrival were the hobbits and Gandalf. Rose rushed to Eowyn, embraced her waist and began to cry uncontrollably as Elanor tottered up behind her mother. She picked up the child and held her tightly, and Elanor laughed gaily as Èowyn kissed her. "Darling Elanor, I must leave you for a while but I shall return to visit you one day." She said as the child played with her golden locks.
"Will you come back soon?" the child asked as tears welled up in her blue eyes.
"I shall try but I want you to have something of mine so when you miss me, you can hold on to it and I will be there comforting you." She whispered in her ear.
Nodding eagerly, the child stretched out her hands and Èowyn placed in them a beautiful ring she worn for ages.
"This was my grandmother's Elanor and now it's yours. Do you promise you shall keep it safe?" she asked. Elanor nodded and kissed the fair lady before her mother took her away.
The Rohirric woman approached her friends and knew they were reluctant for her to leave but there was little choice in the matter. "Èowyn...." Merry began before she stopped him.
"No Master Meriadoc. I know you all wish to accompany me, but this is my journey." She said sternly as they all began to argue with her but Frodo intervened.
"We understand Lady Èowyn. There are moments in life where we have to perform singular tasks. Even though we all wish to journey to Rohan, this is your destiny. May Eru watch over you and the health of all your loved ones." He said as he kissed her hand.
"Thank you Master Hobbit" she said gratefully.
The rest of them bade her a tearful farewell and her heart pained to leave them. Merry was affected the most for he loved her as a sister.
"Know you are always welcome here Èowyn" he whispered tearfully as they embraced.
"I know Merry. Be safe. I shall return one day. Do not fear." She said.
"Come my child, our mounts await us. We must leave at once." Gandalf said gently as he led the weeping woman to Gwaihir and Meneldor.
She looked back for the last time at the twinkling village and her adopted family in the dark, dusky evening and knew that her life was about to change in a most dramatic fashion.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters they belong to the great Professor Tolkien and P.J. I am just borrowing them for a short time to make this crazy dream of mine come true ;-) All reviews are welcome.
It was a hot morning in the Shire yet life was bustling as always. Children were scampering along the dusty road, laughing at each other and being caught up in their own little world where everything was perfect. Lady Èowyn sat by her window, admiring them for their carefree attitude. Yet, there was pain on the young woman's beautiful face. She had left Rohan two years before and had returned to the Shire with the hobbits.
Though she was extremely happy with the quiet life of the quaint Shire, the old ways of life were calling to her. Lately, she had found herself questioning her decisions. She knew that Èomer missed her terribly for though they were leagues away from each other, she felt it in her heart and she pined for her brother. Yet, there was another reason for her departure, and it grieved as well as disgusted her. Even after two years, she was still in love with Aragorn.
It would have been unbearable to be so close yet so far from him. Daily she chided herself for the lack of strength she had around him. It was ironic that the renowned Lady of the Mark, who valiantly faced and slew the Nazgul King, ran away because of a broken heart. Her physical shell was intact but the inside of her was dying. It would not have been fair to kind Faramir to accept his proposal. As much as she cared for him and his friendship, she had already given her heart to Aragorn. Yet another case of unrequited love she thought bitterly.
At the time, she felt she had made the correct decision. Had she remained there, her pain would have grown. She wanted Aragorn to be happy, even though it meant he would be with another woman. There were nights in the Shire when she dreamt she had never met him but deep down she knew it was a total lie. Had he not come to Edoras she would now be rotting in some hellhole with that dastardly Wormtongue. Even after all this time, she shivered when she remembered that snake.
She stepped outside of her hut and walked in the direction of Samwise' house. Rose was expecting her for lunch and she knew better than to turn down her invitation. She had much love and admiration for these wonderful people and understood why Gandalf spoke of them in such high esteem. Merry and Pippin came to visit her daily, and she spent much time with Frodo but she worried about the Ring bearer. He seemed to be ailing daily and was becoming world-weary. Gandalf spoke to her on many occasions about taking him to the Grey Heavens where he would be at peace and she found herself agreeing with the suggestion.
Èowyn sat outside with Rose in the bright sunlight. All seemed well, but there was a sense of secrecy surrounding the hobbit. She was hiding something from her, though it was difficult to fathom the carefree hobbit engaging in such acts. Rose seemed to be weighing the matter, and the turmoil was apparent on her face arousing Èowyn's curiosity.
"Is everything all right Rose?" Eowyn asked gently as they walked.
"Ah... yes my Lady... sorry, Èowyn" she replied correcting herself but the agitation did not go away and she visibly fails to control herself.
"Are Sam and Elanor in fine health?" Èowyn breathed a sigh of relief as the hobbit nodded her head. "Then tell me what ails you, my friend?"
Rose looked at the woman with such pity in her eyes and instantly Èowyn knew it concerned one of her loved ones. "Is it Èomer?" she asked quickly as her heart quickened. Rose nodded silently, too choked to say anything else.
"Tell me Rosie what has happened?" she asked as her calm demeanour vanished.
"Word came today that he is gravely ill. They say that he may... he may...." she attempted to finish her sentence but burst into tears.
Èowyn sat in total shock. The news began to take a toll on her. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. It was unbelievable that Èomer of all people should be in that condition. He was her beacon of strength apart from Aragorn. Memories of their child hood through to the dark days of Grima's hold in Rohan flashed past her. She wondered if Aragorn had healed him and at that moment she knew her days in the Shire were limited.
"I must go to him Rose. I cannot waste one moment longer." She stated with a fierce look of determination in her blue eyes.
"Then we must hurry my child for time is of the essence." said a new voice from behind her.
"Gandalf!!" she cried as waves of relief washed through her body. He then soothed her in a tight embrace.
"Come my child we must hurry for we have a long journey ahead of us."
"Are you accompanying me?" she asked
"Yes Èowyn I must. I sense dark days are coming again." He said ominously. "Hurry and pack your belongings. Return as soon as you can. I shall await you at the outskirts of the Shire." He told her as she made her way home.
Èowyn knew that eventually, it was destiny for her to return to the land of her birth. Whether she was prepared for this homecoming, was an entirely different matter.
With much haste, she packed her essential belongings and made certain nothing was left behind. She spied her chest, dusty from misuse, and after much deliberation, opened it revelling in its contents. Here lay her sword Helm and her battle gear from the Battle on the Pelennor Fields. Though her sword had been shattered in her battle with the Nazgul King, Elrond before she left had renewed it as a parting gift to her.
She removed it from its scabbard and it shone in the light with a deadly blue fire, reminiscent of Andruil and Sting. Inside lay also a vest of Mithril - another gift from Elrond. Though there may not be any need for the weapons, her Shieldmaiden instincts told her to take them.
It was almost evening as she made her way to Gandalf. The delicious aroma of dinner pervaded the still atmosphere as she walked the dusty paths to the edge of the Shire. There in the clearing awaiting her arrival were the hobbits and Gandalf. Rose rushed to Eowyn, embraced her waist and began to cry uncontrollably as Elanor tottered up behind her mother. She picked up the child and held her tightly, and Elanor laughed gaily as Èowyn kissed her. "Darling Elanor, I must leave you for a while but I shall return to visit you one day." She said as the child played with her golden locks.
"Will you come back soon?" the child asked as tears welled up in her blue eyes.
"I shall try but I want you to have something of mine so when you miss me, you can hold on to it and I will be there comforting you." She whispered in her ear.
Nodding eagerly, the child stretched out her hands and Èowyn placed in them a beautiful ring she worn for ages.
"This was my grandmother's Elanor and now it's yours. Do you promise you shall keep it safe?" she asked. Elanor nodded and kissed the fair lady before her mother took her away.
The Rohirric woman approached her friends and knew they were reluctant for her to leave but there was little choice in the matter. "Èowyn...." Merry began before she stopped him.
"No Master Meriadoc. I know you all wish to accompany me, but this is my journey." She said sternly as they all began to argue with her but Frodo intervened.
"We understand Lady Èowyn. There are moments in life where we have to perform singular tasks. Even though we all wish to journey to Rohan, this is your destiny. May Eru watch over you and the health of all your loved ones." He said as he kissed her hand.
"Thank you Master Hobbit" she said gratefully.
The rest of them bade her a tearful farewell and her heart pained to leave them. Merry was affected the most for he loved her as a sister.
"Know you are always welcome here Èowyn" he whispered tearfully as they embraced.
"I know Merry. Be safe. I shall return one day. Do not fear." She said.
"Come my child, our mounts await us. We must leave at once." Gandalf said gently as he led the weeping woman to Gwaihir and Meneldor.
She looked back for the last time at the twinkling village and her adopted family in the dark, dusky evening and knew that her life was about to change in a most dramatic fashion.