Main Characters: Aragorn, Éowyn
Rating: G
Pairings: Aragorn/Éowyn
Genre: Drama
Length: Short story
Summary: Aragorn is haunted by Éowyn's spirit after she dies.
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Aragorn rode alone through the forest of Ithilien. It had been a few months since the Lady Éowyn had died. Aragorn wondered how Arwen could have blinded him as she had done to the love he had felt for Éowyn. He wondered what he had ever seen in Arwen.
Ever since Éowyn had died, she had haunted Aragorn's dreams, making him wake weeping with Éowyn's voice saying, "This is what you left me for? This cold-hearted and distant elf who sits and sews?" ringing in his ears. Aragorn could no longer find rest.
Éowyn had done so much that proved her strong. Éowyn had been a strong woman who had gone against years of tradition to go to war. Éowyn had slain the Witch king, Sauron's deadliest servant. Éowyn had overcome the black breath and returned from the brink of death. Arwen had stayed at home, safe and sound. Arwen had sent him a banner that had had little use.
Aragorn stopped. Tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Éowyn," he whispered. "I was wrong to choose Arwen over you. I am glad you found joy with Faramir." Aragorn wished he could say the same for himself. Arwen had been cold and distant.
"I forgive you."
Aragorn's breath caught as Éowyn's voice drifted to him on a cold wind that ripped through his soul and tore it to shreds of memories of what could have been. A pale figure stood before him. Her hair was gold like the sun and she had eyes the color of storm clouds. Éowyn, shieldmaiden of Rohan, had returned again to haunt his darkest memories, but he did not care. It was Éowyn, fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill.
"Éowyn," Aragorn whispered.
"I forgive you, Aragorn. Do not dwell on the past, nor on what we could have had together. You cannot change the choices that you have made in previous times. Nobody is perfect, everyone makes mistakes." Éowyn's voice was hollow and devoid of life, as if an echo from a far-off past.
"I never stopped loving you, Éowyn," Aragorn said, "even as I watched you marry Faramir."
"And I, though you married Arwen." Éowyn touched his face. "Live, Aragorn. Do not remain in this world, an empty shell of the joyful man you once were. Live, you can still find love and joy yet." Éowyn began to fade, her spirit blowing away on the cold and dry winds.
"Éowyn! Do not leave me here, Éowyn! I love you! How can I live without the one I love?" Aragorn cried in desperation.
"Find joy, Aragorn." Éowyn's voice became more and more distant. One last word remained on the wind, blowing through his soul and cleansing it. "Live."