Here's another completely new chapter! Tell me what you think.

Hours later Arwen found Aragorn staring out at Pelennor Fields. His crown was hanging from his left hand. She sighed silently to herself and slowly shook her head with closed eyes. Her mint green gown and footsteps made no sound as she stepped from the shadows of the buildings. When she stood directly behind him he lowered his head with a sigh of his own.

"Arwen" he breathed.

She stepped forward to stand beside him taking the crown into her own hands and turning it over. She knew this was the biggest burden for him and this was what stood between him and most of his dreams. Now he had to lead his entire race instead of staying a spectator like he had for many years. This crown was a symbol of this, she knew.

"I must go, you know I must."

"Because of this" she held up the crown.

Aragorn looked back at the plains"that is a part of it, yes. I don't know what the other part is. I hope to find that out."

"You will not be content if you don not go" this was a statement as well as a question. He shook his head but did not turn to look at her. "Then you should go."

This time he turned, looked at her and took the crown back. He looked the crown over much the same way she had and then looked back into her eyes. "I will come back for this and for you. I promise you this."

"Then I believe you will and shall hold you to it."

Arwen took the crown and carried it with her back to the palace. Aragorn watched her go until she was out of sight.

-

In the Houses of Healing Faramir was trying figure out a way to convince Eowyn to stay behind. She was a warrior and he knew this but he still couldn't let her go with them. He felt protective of her and that was somehow his responsibility. There had to be some way, but what? What would she agree about? Nothing came to mind.

As he was staring out of the high open windows he noticed a presence just behind him. He knew it was her but he did not turn around. She would ask him why he wanted her to stay behind and that she was a shield maiden of Rohan and therefore could take care of herself. She had fought as brave as any man on the Fields and had taken out the Morgul King! These facts made it all the more difficult. He would have to face her sooner or later.

"Eowyn" he acknowledged. She came forward to stand by his side and he slipped his arm about her waist and pulled her close.

"Faramir, you know why I have come" she stated.

"I do" he breathed heavily.

"Then what right have you to say I must stay"

"I know all that you would say . . . and you are right."

"Then why are you trying to keep me here? I have proven myself to the race of Man on the battlefield of Pelennor. What more do I have to do to prove that I can do whatever a man can" She pulled away now to face him.

Faramir sighed again. This was not going to be easy. He had said all these things to himself and agreed with her reasoning. She had proven herself worthy of a shield maiden of Rohan and Gondor.

"I would not be a burden. I have traveled many times before . . "

"But only in Rohan, your homeland, and just recently in Minas Tirith. I have seen the worlds beyond the realms of Men and have seen their beauties and horrors alike. If this place is truly where Sauron came from, who knows what other horrors could be waiting there."

"I do not fear them"

"But I fear for you"

At this Eowyn lowered her now distant eyes and turned to face the window. She folded her arms as if cold and rubbed them slowly up and down. Faramir looked at her for a moment. Have I said something wrong? Have I upset her in some way by telling her this? Or perhaps it was raising my voice? Maybe she does not quite understand? He stood directly behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"I could not bear it if anything happened to you Eowyn. I could not . . ." They stood like that for a little longer before she touched his hand and turned around to face him again.

"I understand." There was a barely detectable mist in her eyes and quaver in her voice. She nodded with a weak smile before walking past him.

He did not turn and watch her go. He didn't want to. Leaning against the frame he sat down with his arms around his knees. Seeing her hurt was the last thing he wanted but it had been inevitable. It was the warrior spirit in her that made it so. In this case he wished it had been different.

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