Éomer gazed at himself in the mirror. There were very few times he cared for his appearance. But there are occasions a good look in the mirror was necessary. And today was one of those times. He knew that he was current in a far more "refined" society than what he was accustomed. And as king of Rohan, he must look the part to impress the Gondorians (ladies included, unfortunately, not that he cared anyway) and make his sister proud. He knew very well that Gondorian nobility looked down on Rohirric customs for ridiculous reasons, but he could not intentionally disgust them while in Gondor, thus ruining relations between the two countries.
"You look very handsome, sire," a lilting voice remarked. "If that is what you are worried about."
Éomer whirled around, fearing that some upstart, scheming lady has come into his room. He saw nobody in the room.
"Look in the mirror," the voice said again.
Éomer did so. A lady stood behind him with hair blacker than the night and eyes twinkling like the stars. She smiled almost smugly as she remarked, "I know, it is not every day you meet a lady in a mirror. And it is not every day that I reveal myself so completely."
"How?" he managed to ask without stuttering out of disbelief. "Are you trapped?"
"You could say it is magic, but magic cannot explain everything," she responded lightly. "No, I am not trapped. I can choose to project myself in any reflecting object in the past, present, or future. I prefer not to travel to the near future, but I have explored the far future and the past. Why, I've learned far more from these excursions than what my governess taught me."
"Then are you happy?"
"Happy as in I enjoy what I do? Yes, but would I be happy if I stayed in the world of mirrors? Maybe for a little while, but I doubt I would enjoy it forever."
There was so much more he wished to ask, but time was running short. He sighed, "Will I see you again? If you've been into the far future, I should like to know what the people of those times think of governing a nation."
At this, her face grew thoughtful. She responded quietly, "If I did, I do not know how much you will understand. It took me a long time to comprehend it since I had to learn the language!" The last part, she said with a merry laugh. She continued, "We shall meet again, but the question is whether or not you shall know." The mysterious lady then disappeared from his sight.
Éomer shook his head, hardly believing what he just witnessed or understanding the lady's parting words. He turned to his chest, which lay at the foot of the bed, and removed Guthwine. He withdrew the sword from its scabbard, losing himself in the gleam of the blade and remembering that strange light in the mirror lady's eyes. He strapped his sword to his side since he thought it appropriate to wear for his blood-brother's coronation.