A/N: Just a little notification for chapter fifteen. I really felt the need to write one chapter where all the events are brought together. One chapter to describe the rising war and how it affects the different characters in my story. And, in a way you could say that it ends the first part of the story...

Disclaimer: See previous statements.

Broken – Chapter XV

New Winds

On September 21, 3018, Gandalf the Grey rode out of Edoras on the King's most precious steed Shadowfax. By some wizardry miracle he had managed to tame the horse not even the King had managed to break, and Théoden had been furious. But, the Wizard had help him to his promise.

When he had left, Èowyn had been there to see him leave and he had given her one of those meaningful and wise glances that said, "This is not over yet. It hasn't even begun."

The following week of the Wizard's departure also marked the day when open attacks from Isengard finally started. How the King failed to see this, Èowyn couldn't understand, but influenced by Gandalf's words she had the feeling that the answer could be found by the King's right side. However, she kept to her promise and didn't say a word. If silence were the only way to help her King and people, then she would do whatever it took to keep it.

Shortly after Gandalf's departure, another unexpected visitor stopped by. The rider asked for food and water for his journey, but was then sent on his way before the King could be notified. Those who saw him in his elaborate Gondorian armor knew that he was Boromir son of Denethor, and Èowyn was grateful that Captain Èlfhelm had had the sense to hurry him along. He had then ridden west, and Èowyn had gotten the strange feeling that he was heading towards the same destination as the Wizard...

And part of her wished that she could have joined him. She wanted to see the outside world – to at least confirm that it existed. The past few years had isolated Rohan from the rest of Middle-Earth even more, and she had seen less and less of travelers and traders. Lord Boromir could have given her at least some answers. Answers that she desperately needed to hear...

Then, a month later it became evident that Isengard was no longer an ally of Rohan. Orcs and Wildmen attacked the horselands openly in the west and they all knew that it would come to war. And that realization brought a single question to the lips of every man, woman, child and soldier...

Who would lead the Rohirrim?