WHOLE

Eowyn found herself in darkness, in a place of evil and ruin and death. She looked around- but there was nothing to see, for everywhere was a mist, swirling around her everytime she moved. She felt trapped, even in this infinite space, like she was newly brounght back into the cage she had just broken free of. The air around her was boiling to breathe and to feel, yet Eowyn shivered, for she felt an icy sensation going through her. She started shivering uncontrollably, and felt the ice inside her surrounding her heart, weakening it. Eowyn dropped to her knees, for she was finding it hard to breathe- her lungs felt like they were being compressed, and however hard Eowyn tried to get the rancid air into her lungs, they would not inflate. She fell on her back, barely holding on to conciesness, fighting for it with everything she had. Then suddenly, she stopped fighting, letting the ice freeze her brain and bring her into darkness. For what hope was there? She had wished to die in battle, and now she had her wish. With a smile, she prepared to let everything go.

But then, above her, a little light appeared, and shined upon her. Eowyn looked up, and suddenly she was reminded of a time when she was a little girl, and her family took her into the woods on a camping trip. Then she saw a light ahead of her, and ran towards it in curiosity, and lo- before her was a humanlike race- but their faces displayed such complicated beauty that she knew they could not be human. The were the elves- heading for the ships in Valinor that would take them across the sea. Eowyn stared in wonder and awe, until the elves vanished form sight, leaving the woods in darkness.

As Eowyn was immersed in her memories, a voice floated down to her.

" I have, maybe, the pwer to heal her body, and to recall her from the dark valley. But to what she will awake: hope, of forgetfulness, or despair, i do not kow. And if to despair, then she will die, unless some other healing comes which i cannot bring. Alas! for her deeds have set her among the queends of great renown."

Eowyn sat up, and foud that she could breathe. Yet she couldn' t het the heavenly voice out of her head. It's tones reminded her of the voices of the elves as they sung and chanted. The voice continued to speak, but Eowyn could not maked out its words. The voice was strangely familiar to her- it sent the shadow of an ache to her heart- an ache she thought she had overcome.

Eowyn listened closely. The voice seemed to be calling her name again ands again, but then it changed. The new voice she knew. It was one of her kin, one that she loved.

Eowyn felt then that she was being lifted, up out of the darkness, into the light. She thought she saw angels smiling down at her.

Then it was all gone.

Eowyn opened her eyes. There were indeed people smiling down at her, but they were not angels. Closest was Eomer, tears streaming down his face.

" Eomer, Eomer, what joy is this? Nay, that was just the voices in my dram. How long have I been dreaming?"asked Eowyn.

" Not long, dear sister, but think no more on it. Now you must rest," said Eomer, putting a hand over his sister's eyes.

Not a moment after this was said, Eowyn felt her mind ebbing away, but this time to a place of peace and comfort, and she dreamed.

Eowyn awoke bathed in sunlight in the room she had woken in before. This time, though, it was empty save for a healer woman, who upon seeing her charge awake, was hurrying towards her.

" I hope your ladyship is feeling better and refreshed?" asked the healer.

" Yes, thank you," was her reply.

Eowyn sat up, feeling her muscles snap into place. Except for her right arm, which was as lifeless as it had been since she fell to the nazgul. She was not as strong as she used to be, but that was expected.

" Would your ladyship care for some food?" inquired the healer.

Eowyn realized that she was ravenously hungry, having not eaten properly for several days.

"Yes,please. And may I also have some water, please? Thank you." replied Eowyn.

The healer nodded and left the room, leaving Eowyn by herself. She got out of bed, feeling her legs weaken a little under her weight. She walked over to the balcony, enjoying the breeze against her face. She looked out to see a white city, still bearing the casualties of war. Even in this state, it was beautiful, winking out at her. And many of the healers looked upon her and the great city notice a great amount of similarities between them. Both were tall,stron, and fair beyond the measure of living things. Both had fallen into decay, and the same hand had brought them both back to the light.

"M'lady, your food is here,"said the healer, having returned laden with a tray of food.

Eowyn returned to the bed and chewed on a piece of bread. Instantly she felt strength returning to her limbs and her stumach being filled. When she was finished with her lunch, the healer took it out, leaving Eowyn alone again.

Eowyn was restless. She got out of bed and streched a little-this task was made harder for her right arm was in a sling. She longed to get free of theis room, this place, so she walked out the door, trying to find the warden. On the way out, she met her healer.

" M'lady! How comee you are not in bed? 'Tis the first day you have awoken! You shall lose all the strength you have regained! To bed,M'lady! Now!"

And Eowyn, accepting defeat, followeed the healer into her room.

Eowyn had now been in the houses for a week, and had been forced to stay in bed for most of the time save for occasional walks in the gardens. She became very restless, prone to sulks and solitude, and the healers were worried. They saw that she needed to be free, but that might weaken her and take all of the strength she had regained while in her time in the houses, so they held out.

As for Eowyn herself, she felt that her time in the houses was over, that she had milked out all the healing that she was going to get. For the healers knew not that they looked upon one who's heart had been cleaved in two-and then surrounded with ice, nevertheless that it was made that way by the same hand that had brought her back to the light.

Eowyn was used to constant movement and rigorous training, and to be confined in bed for so many days was almost like being back in her dream. Her hand itched for a sword, her body for the support of a horse. She decided to slip out, though this time more stealthily than last. She wished she had some breeches but all she had was her healing robe, so she set off with that to the armory, knowing there she could find a sword. She carefully climbed down her balcont and jumped into the main road. Ah, what a pleasure it was to be free again. She asked a couple commoners for directions and made her way. She could feel her strength leaking out of her, little by little, but she maded herself go on.

" I am a shieldmaiden," she said to herself, " not a prisoner too weak to even get out of bed. I am of the house of Eorl, and am made of steel."

After what seemed like hours, Eowyn clambered up the steps to the armory. To her relief, it was empty except for a couple of guards patrolling around it. Eowyn searched for a blade she could use, finally spotting one, with a thin handle and slender blade. She lifted it and felt a thrill coursing through her. Ah, it was so light and swift! Eowyn(using her left hand), brought the sword down in thrusts and parries, running through sequences, onand on and on, until her fatigued limbs could do no more. She put down the sword and stumbled down the path, using all her efforts to get back to the houses of healing.Darkness was creeping through the sky, making it difficult for Eowyn to see. In this dim light she knocked into a tall man dressed in dark colors, which, because of his attire, she had not seen.

" Oh, I'm terribly sorry," she said to the stranger.

" It's perfectly all right," replied a familiar voice.