Main Characters: Aragorn, Éowyn
Rating: PG
Pairings: Aragorn/Éowyn
Genre: Drama/Romance
Length: 6 chapters
Summary: The story takes place after Aragorn and his companions meet Gandalf in Fangorn Forest. AU, movie-verse
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"The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dur, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumour has reached him. The heir of Númenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you might become. And so he will strike hard and fast at the world of men. Your death would be of welcome to him in these times. We must make him believe you have perished. He will use his puppet, Saruman, to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself. And therein lies our first challenge, for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The king's mind is enslaved. It is an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning, we will have two advantages: the ring and you. The heir of Gondor shall be hidden and thought of as dead, and that we should seek to destroy the ring has not entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor, and in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo and that our plan will not be unveiled."
The day after, they moved on to the grand kingdom of Rohan. Little did they know of the true sorrow of the place.
---
Aragorn saw a flag land on the ground before him as he was about to ride through the gates of Edoras. He was awestruck from seeing the mighty symbol on the ground before him. It was like the spirit of Edoras was calling for him.
The men rode through the quiet village while the poor people stared at them gravely. Nothing could be heard but the wailing of the wind and the hoofs of the horses as they rode on.
Aragorn looked up at Meduseld and saw a white figure of a woman standing tall before them. She was like a shieldmaiden of Rohan, a proud being in a deserted kingdom. He looked around the village, and when he gazed up again, she had vanished like a ghostly reminder of a prouder era.
As they entered the great Hall of Meduseld, they understood what had taken place as Gandalf wittingly cleared the great King from the bewitchment of Saruman.
Aragorn recognized the woman he had stopped, when Gandalf was working his craft. It was her, that being he had seen up on the hill. Now she tore herself from his embrace as she hurried to the tormented King and supported his weak body back into his seat. It was a miraculous sight when the ancient king turned into his former self in a matter of seconds before their eyes. The sickly grey hue gave way to the confused but young-looking king, who now looked at Éowyn and said, "I know your face, Éowyn."
Éowyn was weeping from relief and happiness at having regained her uncle. Aragorn was touched at the sight of their heartfelt reunion, and he could not help but admire the bravery of the woman in white.
As the king had regained his posture and sword, he threw Wormtongue out from the kingdom. When the maggot was gone, Aragorn cried out, "Hail, Théoden King!"
Everybody bowed, and this had a deep effect on Théoden. He turned around and suddenly when he looked upon the people before him, he noticed that some were missing. "Where is Théodred? Where is my son?"
When everybody was back inside, Éowyn had to explain the sorrowful events of her cousin's death and of her brother's abandonment to her Uncle. Aragorn felt for her, for the task was indeed trying, especially on she who had already been through so much. He felt good when he was able to reveal the truth about her brother's loyalty to Rohan and tell them about his and Éomer's meeting on the plains the day before.
Very fair and slender she seemed. Her face was filled with gentle pity, and her eyes shone with unshed tears as she looked at him. But the pain of seeing her uncle so succumbed at his son's death was too much for her, so she soon bade them farewell and went to her chamber. After she was gone, Aragorn stood still, looking at the dark doors of her bower and taking little heed of other things.
II. Gríma's Revenge
The day after, the kingdom of Rohan was gathered to bury the heir of the thrown. The king was inconsolable that night, but soon he had another thing on his mind. Two children had reached Rohan, and they brought evil tidings. War was coming. Saruman's troups were on their way, and now they had to decide what to do.
Gandalf was sitting next to Théoden, while Éowyn was tending to the children. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were sitting next to them. They were contemplating what this could mean to Rohan.
"This is but a taste of the terror Saruman will unleash," said Gandalf, "all the more potent now, for he is driven now by the fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head-on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight!"
"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak," said Aragorn. "Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now," said the king, worried. "The best thing would be to get the women and children to Helm's Deep."
"It is far too perilous," said Gandalf. "You must stay here and fight."
The king was reluctant but finally gave in to the men's persuasion.
"Prepare for war," said Gandalf. "The Rohan knights will return in time for battle, and I shall gather them," he said. Then he went out and rode into the night on his stallion.
---
The following days were busy as everybody was making ready for the upcoming battle. It was as if Théodred's horse sensed the turmoil, and he would not be quiet in the stable. Éowyn was in there as well, tending the horses, and looked upon the troubled animal with grief.
Four strong men were trying to manage the horse when Aragorn, having heard the tumult, came in. He walked towards the commotion and started speaking to the horse in a calm voice. The men tried to stop him, saying the animal was half mad, but he continued. He gestured for the men to give him the ropes, and as the animal relaxed at his words, he was finally able to loosen the ropes and take them off. When the men saw this, they let them be. Aragorn petted the horse and kept speaking in the strange tongue.
Éowyn was amazed at what she saw, for no one had been able to handle the troubled creature.
"Hvat nemnath thee?" said Aragorn.
"His name is Brego. He was my cousin's horse," said Éowyn as she approached them.
"Brego. Your name is kingly," he said to the horse while he stroked its face with great care.
Éowyn walked up to them and said, intrigued, "I have heard of the magic of elves, but I did not look for it in a Ranger from the North. You speak as one of their own."
"I was raised in Rivendell for a time," he replied reluctantly. Éowyn's curiosity had been aroused, but he did not say more of himself. Instead he said firmly, "Turn this fellow free. He has seen enough of war."
---
A great cloud of dust was seen heading their way in the rays of the early mornig sun. This meant only one thing: the battle would commence before nightfall. Every able man was put in his place, and there were hundreds of stallions made ready for battle on the plains. No news was there of Gandalf and the Rohan knights, and the people were getting very anxious.
Éowyn had begged her uncle to let her stay with the soldiers, but he refused and assigned her to take care of the women and children in the great hall. She was in quite an uneasy state when she reached the armoury. Everybody had been given their swords and chain mail and were ready, so now there was no one there. She picked up a shiny sword and started practicing with it.
Aragorn walked towards the armoury while he contemplated Gandalf's plan. They would wait for the war to begin that evening and make everybody believe he had been killed in the battle. Gandalf with his wizardry could take a dead man and make people see him as Aragorn. Aragorn was to be seen in the battle, but before midnight he was to take his horse and supplies and ride away into the night towards the lonely mountains in the east. From there, he was to ride to an enchanted forest in the mountains guarded by ancient forces, keeping the place hidden from preying eyes. He would be safe there until Gandalf considered it safe for him to return and continue their quest.
Aragorn was against the idea at first, telling the wizard that he would not abandon his companions in their hour of need. Gandalf told him that his time was to come, but if he did not go into hiding now, horrible things would befall him. So for now, he would have to stay in the shadows, away from the preying eyes of their enemies. This would make the enemy think that the world of men was not such a threat. And so reluctantly he agreed to the plan, as Gandalf promised to visit him with tidings of the war ahead and summon him when the time was right.
He walked into the main hall and saw Éowyn holding a sword. She skillfully threw the weapon around her in imitation of a fight. She did not notice his presence, and when she turned around quikly, Aragorn stopped her sword with his in the air. She was startled, but gained her posture quickly.
"You have some skill with the blade," he said.
She replied in defiance, "The women of this country learned long ago that those without weapons can still die upon them. I do not fear either death or pain."
"What do you fear, my lady?" he asked, intrigued.
"A cage. To be locked up behind bars until use and old age accept them, and all chance of valour and renown has gone beyond recall or desire," she said sternly, yet with sorrow in her eyes.
Aragorn looked at her and was touched by her enthusiasm, and he understood how frustrating it must be for a person with a warrior's heart to be kept down and not be able to fight for her people. He said sincerely, "You are the daughter of kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate."
Éowyn was taken aback at his words. Aragorn bowed respectfully to her and bade her farewell, and then he walked away, leaving her to her thoughts. His words stirred something in her heart. It was as if he understood her, and he did so when others closer to her did not.
---
She had been raised by warriors, had picked up their skill, but was not allowed to use it. But she knew that she had no choice but to stay at the hall and help to give courage to her subjects, as they could do nothing but wait for what was to come.
The hours passed, and they could hear the large army emerging. The noises were chilling. Éowyn tried her best to calm the terrified women and children, but in her heart she felt she had to do more to help defend her people.
As the night wore on, they heard the terrifing sounds of battle. The sounds were very trying to all, but more to Éowyn than anyone else. With each passing hour, she felt more and more urge to act. She was pacing back and forth, and then she suddenly remembered Aragorn's words: "You are a shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that being caged will be your fate."
It struck her then that his words were true, and she would never be able to forgive herself if she stayed here. Aragorn's words had given her the confidence that she needed to do what she was about to do, and so she stole away through the back doors.
The cool spring air caught her, and the teeth in her mouth clammered, partly because of the cold and partly because of the excitement of what she was about to do. She looked over the great plains around Edoras and saw a terrifing sight of the horsemen battling a great army of wild men from afar. There were only a few warriors near the gates, but apart from them, there was no one around in the city.
She hurried to the armoury in hope that no one would see her. When she got to the armoury, she closed the heavy wooden door behind her, put down her sword, and tried to find armour that would fit her. She was so occupied that she did not realize a malicious presence until it was too late.
Somebody grabbed her in a panic. She tried to cry out, but her cry was turned into a muffled yelp as the stranger's hand forced her mouth to close. She waited for the man to take her life, but he did not. Instead, he pushed her to the back door and forced her to run towards a secret passageway that led from the armoury through a rather big tunnel to the outskirts of the village. She had never heard of this obviously old passageway, and it puzzled her that this man did. She battled to try to free herself, only to find the man clutching on to her even harder as they ran down the dark tunnel.
They had run a good while when they finally reached the opening, and Éowyn could feel the cool, fresh air. But she saw that they were now far from Edoras and the battle. When they were outside, they stopped. Nobody was in sight, and the noises of war could barely be heard from where they were standing.
The man, who was panting heavily, lowered his head behind her, and she could hear a loathsome sniff and a shivering sigh as he turned her around.
She froze when she saw his face. It was the dreaded sight of her worst enemy, Wormtongue. The king must have told him about this way to and from the city.
He started to whisper in her ear a loathsome speech. "Finally you are mine," he said. "I was promised to have you, but our plans got ruined when the damned wizard entered Meduseld. But fate could not allow us to be parted. You will be mine now, and never shall we be seperated again."
When she heard those gruesome words, she panicked and knew she had to get away. When he lessened his grip, she tore herself loose and started running. He got hold of her coat, but she freed herself by taking it off and ran as hard as she could. She did not get far before he caught her again.
He was furious when he realized that she obviously did not return his feelings. It was as if he only realised this now, and in his furious rage, he pushed her down to the ground and held her down with the weight of his body. She panicked and tried with all of her might to get him off, but her fighting only made him more enraged. He got hold of both her hands, but she swayed to her side and thus released one hand. He then grabbed her dress by the front and tore a big piece of it asunder. She froze when he started to try to lift her skirt up, and panting to her face, grabbed her legs. He then held her down with one hand as he was trying to take his belt off. It was clear what his intentions were, and she desperately tried to free herself, but was overpowered.
All of a sudden, she felt Wormtongue's weight lessen upon her as he was picked up and torn away from her. She struggled to her feet and realized that a stranger was fighting Wormtongue. The man was tall and strong, but Wormtongue's rage seemed to overpower him. When Gríma gave him a heavy blow, it made the stranger fall over a tussock to the ground.
Wormtongue seized the opportunity, and grabbing his knife, he quickly gained on his rival, who was struggling to get up. Éowyn saw the stranger's sword on the ground. Without thinking, she grabbed it, and using both her hands, raised the sword in the air and thrust it into Wormtongue's back. He gave out a gasp at the unexpected attack. Wormtongue fell on the ground and gasped for air as his lungs were filling with blood. He stared at her with a morbid look, trying to reach out for her. He tried to say something, but the words turned into a last gasp, and his painstricken face stiffened in a frown of death as his motionless body fell on the ground.
Éowyn, panting from the exertion, turned away from the body to recover. Her heart was pounding furiously as she let go of the blood-stained sword. She heard something behind her and when she turned round, she just caught a glimpse of Wormtongue rushing towards her before he grabbed her throat. He pushed his hands so hard around her neck that she was out of breath, even though the insanity in his eyes chilled her more than the actual attack.
She felt as if her body was withering away, when suddenly the stranger pulled him off her. Hastily, he raised up his sword and slit Wormtongue's throat right before her eyes. The sight was ghastly, and already exhausted by the events, this vision put Éowyn in a state of shock. She went numb and felt a wave of darkness consume her.
She woke up to the sound of a calming voice that felt familiar. She looked up and gazed directly into her rescuer's eyes, and then she recognized him.
"Aragorn," she whispered.
"My lady, are you unharmed?" he asked compassionately.
She nodded numbly, but her body started to shake, and the tears came rushing down her cheeks.
Her vulnerable state touched him, and he felt he had to comfort her, so he took her into his arms to comfort her. His mind was in turmoil as he held her. He could not risk his and Gandalf's plan to be enlightened. There was no other way but for him to take her with him to his hiding place. Not only would this secure the progressive security of his plan, but he also worried that the war could take greater toll on the Rohan people than they had expected, and he did not want to leave her behind to an uncertain fate.
Éowyn found solace and a feeling of security in his arms and gave way to the tears.
After a while, Aragorn loosened his grip and looked at her. She was indeed a remarkable woman. The heroic image of her with the sword aloft was imprinted in his mind. She had looked like a goddess of vengeance coming fearlessly to strike down her enemy. Now that sight only intensified her vulnerability, and her expression touched him deeply.
"I cannot explain presently, but you are going to have to come with me. You are not safe here, my lady," he said.
He called his horse, and she found her coat lying on the ground. She hurriedly put it on while she wiped away the tears. Aragorn helped her to mount the horse, and then he sat himself behind her. They sped off, away into the night.
III. The Enchanted Valley
They went speedily on their journey the first two days.
Éowyn recognised the horse, being her cousin's horse Brego that they had let loose a few days earlier. He was a strong and able stallion who they were both able to ride for most of the way, but it became harder as they went higher up the mountains.
They had been lucky that no one crossed their path the whole way, which was partly because they tried to travel by night and rested a few hours during the day time. The fear of being seen weighed heavily on them, and they were never able to relax. Instead, they concentrated on getting to the valley as soon as was possible. They could not risk being seen if they lit a fire, so they had to eat herbs and a special kind of elven bread Aragorn had with him. It was very filling, and they only needed a small dose of it to satisfy their appetites.
Éowyn saw that Aragorn was not well. He had bruises on his hands and feet from the battle. He told her that many had been killed, but fortunately Gandalf had arrived at the hour of need, along with her brother's army.
"Many were lost, but your countrymen are indeed skillful warriors, and hopefully they managed to defeat the evil army."
On their way, he explained to her why he had taken her with him on his journey. He surprised himself when he, undaunted, told her about Gandalf's plan and the reason for why he had to go away into hiding. It seemed safe to tell her these secrets, for he felt he could trust her. He also told her that he had heard her screaming as he was coming out of the passageway Gandalf had told him to use for his escape.
"I had to risk my mission to help you," he said.
"Fortunately you did, my lord," Éowyn said, and thought of the events of that night with horror.
"Gandalf told me that unforeseen things might happen on my journey, and that I should take them as they came, for they might prove to be of a blessing for the future. I did not understand what he meant by those words. It is his custom to speak in riddles."
They looked at each other with a puzzled look but did not speak of it again.
Aragorn knew that the entrance to the valley would not be easy to find. It was hidden beyond a glacier, which they had to pass under through a hidden tunnel. Gandalf had described the way in detail, but still it took them quite a long time to find it. Eventually, Éowyn found a small passageway and that led to the tunnel.
At first the passage was very small, and they had a tough time getting the horse in there. Aragorn had to break through the ice in some places to make it possible. They had walked for a while when all of a sudden, the tunnel came to a huge hallway in the icy cave. There was a strange green-blue light that came in through holes in the ceiling, and huge blocks of stalagmites hung from the ceiling and gave the place mythical semblance. Aragorn and Éowyn stopped and looked at this unexpected beauty with awe. They were very tired, but this beautiful sight gave them a newfound strength, and so they continued lighter at heart.
When they came out of the icy caves some hours later, it was already beginning to get dark.
They had not expected their new home to be so beautiful. The valley was small and very secluded. In the middle they could see a lake, and on the other side of it there was a beautiful waterfall, which gave the valley a peaceful drone. Beyond the lake there was a forest, and in the outskirts of it they glimpsed a ruined dwelling. It was located near a creek that ran playfully into the lake nearby.
"Let us see if we can make a dwelling out of these ruins," Aragorn said optimistically.
They walked down the hill and past the lake until they reached the ruin. It was an ideal location, but the ruin consisted of mossy blocks of stone someone had put there in ancient times. They would have to put a roof over the blocks, but it was a good foundation for a small dwelling.
Aragorn knew they could not afford to take any chances and would have to work hard to collect food that would see them through the winter, if indeed they would have to stay for so long.
Éowyn was happy that they had finally reached their destination. She was very tired after the long journey, but now that they were here, she was too excited to rest. She helped Aragorn with the small supplies he had taken with him.
They decided to rejoice in their escape by cooking a decent meal by an open fire. They got busy finding kindling and some herbs, and while Éowyn got the meal ready, Aragorn collected straw and made a comfortable bed for each of them. The meal tasted delicious, and the fire warmed their tired bodies. Their spirits rose, and before they knew it, the worries and the fear of their perilous journey gave way to laughter and merriment.
Aragorn told Éowyn briefly about his companions, for she was curious why a man, a wizard, a dwarf, and an elf were traveling together. He did not tell her the full truth about Frodo and the ring, but he told her amusing stories of his curious companions, where the stories of Gimli the dwarf gave them much joy.
It did not take Éowyn long to fall asleep when she lay down. She could not rationalize it, but she felt content with the path her life had so unexpectedly taken, now that they seemed to be out of danger. Although she constantly worried for her people whom she had left behind, she felt safe here with this mysterious man, who had brought her to this beautiful and remote place.
---
The following weeks did not give the settlers much time to reflect on the world outside the valley, for they were too busy mending their dwelling and settling in. Aragorn, although still hurt from the battle, bore up when it came to doing the more difficult work, like cutting down trees to make a steady roof and carrying the timber to make walls.
They made a fireside on one side of the small quarters that heated up the small dwelling nicely. Opposite the fire Aragorn made a small bed for her from timber and rocks. He made his sleeping quarters in a small room at the side of the larger room, so both had their small quarters. They spent little time inside, for their favourite place was outside under the sky, where Aragorn had made a hearth close to their dwelling.
One night they were sitting by the fire after a hard day's work. They were tired, but their humor was joyous. Aragorn had asked her about her childhood, which made her reminisce many fond memories she had kept forgotten for so long.
Now they were staring at the magnificent sunset that painted the sky with deep red and golden hues. Aragorn started singing quietly a meloncholic song of days of yore. His voice touched her heart, and she looked at him, feeling her admiration for him, which had been growing with each passing day.
She felt closer to him than many she had known all her life after this brief period. She often thought of why this was. Could it be because of the way they met? The tragedy around them had indeed tightened their relationship, but there was more to it. Aragorn treated her unlike all other men she had known before. He respected her and treated her as an equal. When the song was finished, it was almost dark, apart from a deep purple hue on the clouds above the mountains, which added even more magic to the moment.
---
It was a beautiful, sunny day when they decided to take a walk around the lake to collect herbs and other food that was there to be found in abundance. Éowyn looked forward to these walks, for they tightened the bond between them. Aragorn would teach her about plants and how to survive in nature, which she found very interesting.
When they had walked for some time, they heard a strange sound coming from the forest, so they went closer. There in a clearing, they came upon a wolf who was giving birth.
There seemed to be something wrong with the animal, for she did not try to get away, and later they realized that she had broken her leg. The wolf seemed to have some trouble, so Éowyn risked being attacked by the animal to try to help her in her labour. Éowyn tried her best to make the wolf feel comfortable, but the wolf was very anxious - although she did not try to harm her helper.
Aragorn began to speak gently and soothingly in elvish tongue, as he had done to Brego before. His tender voice soothed the animal and eased the labour immediately.
The first cub was in a wrong position, so the birth was very trying for the animal. The birth took its toll on all of them, but finally the litter of four were born. The cubs were blind and small, but all were well. When the cubs had all had their share of their mother's milk, Aragorn and Éowyn decided to take the animals with them back to their dwelling, so that the wolf would not be harmed, as helpless as she was in her unfortunate state.
The wolf now seemed to trust these strange people and allowed Aragorn to pick her up and carry her when she saw that Éowyn took her cubs and put them in a pouch she made from her frock.
On their way home, Éowyn was so overjoyed over this miracle she could not stop smiling. Her mirth was so complete, and Aragorn could not help but to feel a deep admiration for her. She had shown great courage, having so selflessly and fearlessly helped the animal in its need.
The small cubs and their mother would not leave their sight that night. They lay next to Aragorn and Éowyn as they sat by the fire. Aragorn started to sing a sad and heartfelt song. Hearing his deep and meloncholic voice and having witnessed the miracle of birth earlier suddenly made Éowyn feel intense longing in her heart.
This feeling was so much more intense than she had ever felt before, but this yearning had troubled her for some time. Now suddenly she understood what it was. She needed to love and feel loved by someone, and that someone she had found in Aragorn. He had captivated her thoughts gradually with his noble and humble character, and now her yearning was overpowering her.
---
One night Éowyn had been woken up by a bad dream. She could not remember it specifically, but she was panting heavily, and her whole body shook with inexplicable fright. The only thing she could remember was Wormtongue and some other figure of terror which did not have a face - just a dark, terrifiying aura of hatred and destruction. She got up and went outside when she heard Aragorn humming, and hearing his voice appeased her immediately.
Ylve, which was the name they had given the wolf, was sleeping peacefully near the entrance along with her cubs. She was still weak in her leg but was recovering fast with Aragorn's fomentations and his tender care. He had gained her trust effortlessly from early on, and now she followed him with her eyes wherever he went.
"I hope I did not keep you from your sleep," he said quietly when she came to him.
"That you did not," she said. "I could not sleep. Do you mind me joining you?" She gave him an apologetic smile.
"Not at all. Do have a seat," he said, and moved slightly so she could sit next to him.
She immediately felt relaxed as always in his presence. Aragorn felt that she was shaking beside him, but thought it was because of the chill of the night air, so he took off his mantle and put it around her. His face came so near to hers that she could smell his skin. Without thinking, she moved slightly towards him, and their eyes met for a second.
Éowyn's emotions were already in turmoil, and she could feel her heart pulsate heavily at having him so near. In the moonlight she felt a deep love for him as she gazed in his eyes. The moment was very brief, for Aragorn drew himself from her and looked into the fire. There was an awkward silence for a while, and taken aback, Éowyn struggled to try to find something to say.
Suddenly she remembered something she had overheard her uncle talk about. He had said that Aragorn had fought with Thengel, her grandfather, almost half a century ago. It did not make sense, but she decided to ask him about it.
"Your uncle has a good memory," Aragorn replied. "He was only a small child at the time."
Éowyn was puzzled at his confession. "But that makes you at least sixty," she said, astonished. Aragorn shook his head with an awkward smile. "Seventy?" Éowyn continued and shook her head in disbelief when he continued to deny. "You cannot be eighty?"
"Eighty-seven," he confessed.
Éowyn suddenly understood what this meant, and she said in amazement, "You are one of the Dúnedain, of the race of the Númenóreans, blessed with long life!" Aragorn gave her a nod. "I thought your kin had passed into legend," she said.
"There are only a few of us left," he replied as he looked to the ground. He saw something glistening in the moonlight. He picked it up and saw that it was his necklace. It had fallen from his neck when he had taken his mantle off before. It was a beautiful ornament, figured like a winged person and made from mithril, the most precious material to be found in Middle-earth.
"Where did you get that jewel?" she asked tentatively.
He gave a faint sigh and said in a dreamy yet hesitant voice, "This is Evenstar. It was given to me by an Elf woman. She should have been sailing into the West with what is left of her kin, but with this jewel she bound herself to me."
Éowyn's heart sank. She felt an embarrassing rush of tears come to her eyes as she realized what this meant. She did not dare to look at Aragorn, for she did not want him to sense her disappointment. She felt as if her newly-mended world had shattered in that instant, yet she gathered her posture and with all her inner strength, gave him a felicitous smile.
Aragorn started reminiscing days of old, and he spoke of this to Éowyn. "I first saw her several years after I left Rivendell. I was returning after many years of wandering in the wild. Arwen had been with her grandmother, the lady Galadriel of Lothlórien, for the time I had spent in the Elven city. Our love kindled over the years, but I know that her father does not look upon our union with delight. I would have her leave along with her people to the Grey Havens, but she says she will give up her eternal life for me."
Éowyn listened to his tale, but her heart pounded with sorrow. Yet she forced herself to believe that his happiness meant more to her than hers, so she said calmly, "It must be trying on you to be apart."
He sighed and looked up to the sky and then at her, and seeing the sadness in her eyes, he suddenly realized her feelings and the reason for her sorrow at his confession. He got a terrible feeling, for the last thing he wanted was to hurt this woman he had come to care for in such a strong manner.
He stood up and bade her good night with a heavy heart, and felt completely helpless, for he knew there was nothing he could do to mend her sorrow. His heart was already given to another, and he had to be loyal to Arwen's love.
Éowyn watched him go in, and then concealed her face with her hands and gave way to the bitter tears. She sat there for a good while, trying to calm herself, but always the tears came rushing down again. An hour had passed when she finally entered her bed, and there she kept sobbing quietly, not knowing that Aragorn was feeling morbid at hearing her affliction.
IV. The Magical Pond
Éowyn woke up the morning after. Her head felt heavy and her eyes were sore. She saw that the sun was high in the air, so she must have slept longer than usual. When she came outside, she could not see Aragorn, so she wandered into the forest.
It was a warm day, and she felt relieved to walk in the cool of the shades. The wind made the crown of the trees dance in the sunlight, and the forest seemed to come alive. Birds were singing cheerfully, and the small squirrels and rabbits were running around playfully. It was such a delightful day that it affected her humor, and she felt a rush of happiness overshadow her grief.
She had been walking for some time when she came upon a peaceful pond. She could not help but to wade into the refreshing, clear water. The cooling sensation of the water felt like a cleansing of the mind as well as the body. She laughed out loud and revelled in the beauty around her.
---
Aragorn had woken early and did not want to wake Éowyn, so he decided to go and have a look around the valley. He decided to go further than they had done before to explore. He and Brego rode around the lake and up towards the waterfall. No signs of humans were to be found in the valley, and that made him at ease. Gandalf had said that this valley had been kept secret by the Valars of old. The vegetation bore witness of this, for it was so lush and unspoiled.
Aragorn was still tormented by the night before. He felt troubled when he started to think back to the time they had spent together, and he found more and more clues he should have picked up on before. How could he have been so blind to her feelings, which now seemed so obvious?
This stirred his own emotions towards her, and he tried so hard not to give in to his ever-growing fondness of her. He hurriedly wiped those thoughts away and steered his mind towards Arwen and their love. Arwen was the love of his life, and he reminded himself of her sacrifice. This made him strive for what seemed to be the impossible quest to become king of Gondor, and to do whatever he could in the battle of freeing Middle-earth from the dark Lord and all his evil deeds. Not until that was accomplished did he feel worthy of Arwen's love and her sacrifice.
Aragorn and Brego had traveled for a few hours and were now on their way back through the woods. The air was magical. Aragorn was getting warm in the heat, so he dismounted Brego and led him to a creek so he could drink. Suddenly the breeze brought to him a delightful sound of laughter. He wasn't sure if he had imagined it, so he got curious and started walking to where the sound came from.
He reached the pond, and through the trees he saw a white figure in the water. At first he thought he was seeing an illusion from the sun and the trees. It was a beautiful image of a woman with her hair shining like gold in the sunlight. Her dress, white as daisies, clung to her body, bedewed from the water. He could not tear himself from this beautiful sight, and when she turned around, he had already fallen into her spell. She looked so peaceful and fair with her eyes closed, smiling and savouring the cool water.
Aragorn was about to leave, for he did not want to ruin her serenity, when Éowyn looked up and saw him standing there. She came out of the water as if in a daze and walked towards him with a stern and solemn expression which made his heart beat faster.
To his surprise, she reached out and touched his face gently as she looked into his eyes. He could not move, for he felt bewitched in her presence. Her beauty was so pure and versatile, so like the nature around them. She could be stong and firm like the trees, fierce like the unpredictable winds. Yet she possessed the fragile beauty of a small flower blossoming in the snow in earliest spring. Now she shone like the sun itself, with inner fire that sparked intensely through her eyes.
Aragorn forgot all that was around them as he gazed at this being in front of him. Without thinking, he took her face between his hands and caressed her cheeks gently with his fingers. He moved closer to her, and she could feel the heat from his body enwrap her. She shivered when he stroked his thumb gently over her lips. Aragorn bent down to her, so close that he could smell the dew in her hair. Her lips lured him even closer. It was like the elements of nature had halted, so as not to interfere in the moment.
Aragorn was just about to kiss her lips when all of a sudden, a bird sprang from the ground, and this unexpected interruption woke them both from their enchantment. When Aragorn realized where he was and what he was doing, he quikly drew back from her. He was petrified of the immensity of his feelings, and that was blended with the intense feeling of guilt that gnawed at his heart now when he thought of Arwen. He could not be so easily beguiled from the love of his life. His heart was given to Arwen, and never before had her image been shadowed by another.
Éowyn was taken aback at his sudden withdrawal. She felt a sense of inexplicable emptiness now that he was not in her arms. When she had placaded herself, she looked up at Aragorn, who stood there looking troubled.
"I do apologize. This should not have taken place," he said gravely.
This hurt her more than she cared to admit, but she replied that they had been carried away by the enchantment of the place, which was true - for little did they know the real magic the place possessed.
They walked silently back to their dwelling, both in deep thought. The air was tense between them, although they did try to act like nothing had happened during the afternoon. The atmosphere had been so strange and the events so unreal that Éowyn had almost convinced herself that it had all been a dream, and that she had imagined the incident. Deep down, neither of them had forgotten the magic of that moment, and that made things difficult in different ways for them both.
---
The weeks ahead went by in a haze. They kept themselves busy, tending the animals, helping Ylve to recover, collecting food, and seeing to the dwelling. They had been in the valley now for almost two moons, and almost three weeks had passed since the incident by the pond. They never spoke of it, but the tension was like a shadow between them.
Éowyn felt that Aragorn had drawn back and seldom came near her. She knew he was in love with another, and she tried her best to remind herself that their love was never to be. Yet her heart constantly betrayed her mind, and she could not quench her feelings for him.
These times were also very trying for Aragorn. He saw the longing in the eyes of the woman he cherised so dearly, and he knew that with each passing day, his feelings for her were growing. It was getting ever more strenuous for him to convince himself of the opposite. She had an amazing personality, which came out in her determination and strong presence. He often caught himself watching her, and he saw in her a person who had lived a troubled life and survived as a strong and determined woman. She never seemed to cease to amaze him, and he saw in her a much greater beauty than just what her outer appearance revealed.
His thoughts were coming between him and his sleep, and knowing that she was so near did not help him in his struggle. He demanded himself to think of Arwen, but to his dismay, her memory was slowly beginning to diminish in his mind.
One night he had a dream about him and Éowyn, where they were entwined like two trees, growing so close that in the end it gets hard to tell them apart. Arwen was there, and she represented a future with him as a glorious king of Gondor. He knew he had always dreamt of this, but his heart told him that his true nature was not being king in a beautiful, cold city. His identity was being a Ranger, living in the wild, and the wild was now personalized in Éowyn.
When Aragorn woke up, he was afraid of what truth there was in his dream, and he felt like a traitor. He decided that he would have to cool down his feelings for Éowyn and found it easier being apart from her, so he would leave her behind for some days to hunt and to contemplate. He convinced himself that this was the best thing to do in the situation. He knew Éowyn's feelings were hurt by his abandonment, but he knew it was the best thing for both of them.
---
Aragorn had been away for four days now. He had traveled into the mountains to explore, and suddenly he felt a gust of cold air, which made him anxious. He had had no word from Gandalf. Although there were still a few weeks until autumn, he knew that they would have to get away from the valley before winter. There was no way of knowing what the weather was, here so high up in the mountains during winter. He felt ready for war, and now he convinced himself that he would have to start fighting soon for the quest he had made up for so many months before.
Being here was holding him from his destiny, and he felt an urge to see Arwen again before she would diminish even more from his mind. His sudden infatuation with Éowyn was understandable, he convinced himself, for she was so lovely. But it did not compare to his deep love with the elven princess.
He decided to return with his game, and he knew it would take him the whole day to get back. He had traveled high up in the mountains, and now he had to go down again by foot, letting Brego follow. He had walked for a few hours when suddenly, the cold winds began to blow, and to his dismay it began to snow. It was only a few flakes at first, but within the hour the weather had turned into a blizzard.
---
Éowyn had always been alone. Her parents had died far too early, and for many years she had lost her uncle to the bewitchment of Wormtongue.
Yet she had never felt as abandoned as she did now.
She knew that Aragorn did care about her, but it was obvious that he was deliberately being more averse with her. When he decided to leave her alone to go on his hunting trips, she got the feeling that he was intentionally withdrawing from her, and hunting was not the real reason for his absence.
Now he had been gone longer than usual, and she was getting uneasy. She stayed inside during that day, for the winds blew bitter cold. Where was he? She kept thinking and hoping that he had not ventured to the mountains, which were now black from the storm. Éowyn's nervousness grew with every passing hour that night.
Ylve and her cubs were with her inside, and they were huddling together. The wolf seemed to be as anxious as Éowyn, and once during the night, she began to howl quietly and wanted to go outside. It was as if she knew something was wrong, and that was the same feeling Éowyn had.
At the first sight of sunlight the next morning, Éowyn went out, and to her surprise the wolf left her cubs to help her track Aragorn down. Éowyn had to go fast to be able to follow the animal. It got cold as they went up into the mountains, and at a certain altitude, the ground was cowered with snow. Éowyn was growing tired, but she did not dare to stop, for she did not want to lose sight of Ylve, who kept going steadfastly.
They had reached a river that was running fast down the hill when they saw Brego coming towards them. Éowyn was devastated when she saw that the horse was alone! Something must have happened, she thought in a panic.
Ylve started running as if she was on to something. She went so fast that Éowyn could not keep up, so she mounted Brego and went after the wolf. Soon they found the wolf bending over something on the riverbank. Éowyn jumped from the horse and ran towards Aragorn, who was lying there, lifeless. She did not know whether he was dead or alive, and this tore her heart to the point where she thought it would break.
She felt the warm tears fall down her cheeks, and in her panic she shook him to try to wake him. When he did not respond for some time, she hugged him and gave way to the tears. Was this her imagination, or did she hear a faint heartbeat? She looked at him and caressed his face while she appealed to the Valar not to take him away. Her prayers seemed to succeed, for suddenly he stirred and drowsily opened his eyes.
Aragorn looked up and saw her hair glow in the sunlight above him. Is it really her? he thought to himself. Or was this his mind playing tricks on him?
The night before, he had struggled to get home, but the weather had blinded him, and he had fallen down a cliff and ended in the river. He had struggled to stay afloat, but the current had dragged him down. Gasping for air in a panic was the last thing he could remember. He had hit a rock at the bottom of the river, and the blow had pushed him out of the current, and finally he had been washed ashore. There he lay in the freezing cold until she had found him.
Aragorn was very weak, but seeing her gave him the strength to sit up. She helped him to his feet and supported him to the horse. Ylve watched them closely and then followed them down the hill as they returned home. The journey was trying for both of them, for Aragorn had a difficoult time keeping himself on the horse. Éowyn had to use all her strength to steady him.
When they finally reached home, Éowyn helped him to her bed so he could benefit from the fire. His clothes were soaked and cold, so she helped him to take off his boots, coat, and shirt. She tried to make him warm by getting him her blanket, as well as some fur Aragorn had worked from some of his prey. They were useful now. She went and got timber for the fire and made some hot soup.
---
The night was very tiresome for them, for Aragorn got a high fever, mumbled constantly, and could not rest in his feverish state. Éowyn felt helpless, for he had been delirious for most of the night. He was wet with fever and sweat, so she got some cloth and some water to cleanse him.
She sat down next to him and wet the cloth and began to stoke his heated forehead. Suddenly, he sat up and grabbed her hands and stared at her with madness in his eyes. He began to speak to her of strange things, most of which she could not understand, for it was spoken in elvish tongue. His tone was menacing, and she got scared and tried to break free, but his grip was too strong. The more she struggled, the harder he held her.
Suddenly, he seemed to recognize her, and his expression became gentle; and although still in feverish drowse, he looked at her with alleviation. He brushed her hair from her face with a shaking hand, whispering her name repeatedly. He fell back into the bed but did not let her go. Instead, he pulled her down to him and held her tightly to his chest, stroking her hair gently.
A few moments later he was fast asleep.
---
Éowyn woke at the first light of day. They were lying abreast, and Aragorn's arms were still holding her tightly in his sleep. She put her forehead to his to see if he still had a temperature. It seemed as if the fever had diminished.
She watched him sleep for some time, absorbing every inch of his features. How she loved his weatherbitten and rough face. He bore marks of a hard life, but he had an aura of wisdom and kindness about him, which was a large part of what drew her to him. She stroked his face gently and ran her hand gently to his neck and down his arm. His stong arms held her even tighter when he responded to her touch, and he murmured something in his sleep as he brushed his face in her hair.
Éowyn wanted nothing more than to savour this moment, but she was afraid of his reaction if he would wake up with her in his arms, and she feared that he would push her away as he had done before. So she gently removed herself from his embrace and got up.
Aragorn woke up some hours later. He was feeling very weak and extremely thirsty, but he was gaining health. He started reminiscing the events, but they were all in a blur. One thing he did know was that Éowyn had probably saved his life with her rescue. She had done well.
He suddenly remembered having woken up during the night, and he wasn't sure, but he thought he remembered holding her next to him. Had it been a dream? It wasn't the first time his mind had betrayed him with that lovely dream, so he brushed the memory from his mind and tried to get up. He felt a pain all over his body where he had been hit in his fall.
---
Aragorn was a difficult patient, for she had to use all her willpower to make him stay in bed and rest. She enjoyed having him around, so she would sit with him during the day, and they would talk while she worked. It reminded her of the first few weeks they had stayed in the valley. They had been so close and had enjoyed each other's company without the tension that came later and altered everything. She longed to keep this mood as long as was possible.
Aragorn dared not confess to himself how good it felt to be in her care. She spoiled him with her kindness, and he knew it was about time for him to get on his feet again. Eventually, Aragorn moved back into his dwelling and started wandering again. He was finding it hard to be parted from her, but he knew he had to, for both their sakes. He would only leave for a day or two this time, but Éowyn was sad to lose him.
V. The Nightmare
The summer was slowly beginning to fade. The air was getting increasingly colder, but the sun still kept them warm. Aragorn had been away for the whole day, and so Éowyn went to sleep early that night. She had had the same bad dream again a few times, but now it was really haunting.
She dreamed that she was walking in a desolate place, and somebody was following her. She started to run, and suddenly Wormtongue, with his head covered with blood, got hold of her and, with a devious grin, started tearing at her clothes. She struggled to free herself, but that only made things worse. All of a sudden, Wormtongue was gone, and the menacing being of her first dream was there instead. He was much stronger, and she felt his physical strength overpowering her.
Aragorn was out hunting when it began to rain heavily, so he decided to return home, even though it was the middle of the night. When he reached the dwelling, he heard a terrible scream coming from inside. His heart froze at the sound, and without thinking he rushed in.
Éowyn was panting heavily as she struggled in her sleep, screaming terribly, and the sound gave him a chill. He hurried to her and grabbed her to try and wake her, but she got even more frightened when she sensed his presence. When he tried to hold her down, she got furious and started beating him with clenched fists. Her screams intensified, and Aragorn was forced to hold her closer to him while he tried to calm her.
Suddenly, she woke from her dream and hearing his voice made her realize where she was. She whispered his name through the tears. Being in his arms gave her a sense of safety, and she clasped him, not wanting to let him go. Aragorn felt her shaking, so he held her closer.
"There is nothing to fear, my dear," he said gently as he stroked her hair to comfort her.
Éowyn felt his wet clothes soak her thin undergarment, and she could smell fresh air and rain from his hair. He kept stroking her hair and kissed her forehead gently. She trembled at his touch and gravely looked at him, and her expression gave away all her longing and desire.
He was overwhelmed by the sincerity he saw in her eyes. She could hear him breathing heavily as he bent and kissed her cheek. She moved her head slightly, so their lips touched ever so gently, and then they looked at each other again. Now she saw the deep emotion reflecting in his eyes, for all his depressed feelings now rushed to the surface, and he was unable to control them. He took her face in his hands and kissed her lips passionately.
Éowyn felt a rush of heat wreath her body as she gave way to the rapture of his kiss. He drew her to him, and she felt the strength of his arms as he held her tightly, and then he kissed her again with more passion than before. She clasped his shoulders as he moved his lips and started kissing her neck. She sighed and heaved at his touch, unable to control herself. He kissed her collarbone, and his hand stole gently down her side, touching her breast slightly through her soaked underdress. She shivered at his touch and held him closer.
All of a sudden, Aragorn woke up from his passion and realised what he was doing. With immense difficulty, he drew himself from her embrace, stood up, and mumbled something apologizingly before he rushed out into the night.
Éowyn was in such turmoil that it took her some time to understand what had happened. When she had gathered her thoughts, she went outside to look for him. It was raining heavily, but he was nowhere to be seen. She was feeling confused and distessed, but she could do nothing but go inside and hope that he would return.
---
Aragorn had been roaming aimlessly for hours, contemplating the events of the night. His mind was in an uproar, and he felt completely at a loss. He knew that his admiration for Éowyn had gone too far, but there was something about her that made him so easily forget all he had held so dear. Now she felt like the only thing that mattered to him. It was as if he was under a spell. Ever since the incident by the pond, he had not been able to keep his mind off her. Was he so blind that he could not see that it was the situation and the magic of the valley that made him forget about his fiancé? He had to see Arwen again - and soon - for he had to believe that their love was still strong, and he hoped that seeing her again would help him forget his feelings for Éowyn.
Aragorn kept walking until he suddenly heard the sound of horses coming from above him down the mountain. He looked up and saw Gandalf on his white stallion and another man with him. When they came closer, he recognized him as Elrond.
The two came to him, and Elrond bore tidings that surpriced him and filled him with fear. Isildur's Bane, the great sword that had been used to strike down Sauron in the First Age, had been reforged, and Aragorn's mission was to enter the mountain of the dead and fulfill the oath the last king of Gondor had taken from the wild men so long ago. The king had put a terrible curse on the men, for they had betrayed their king in his hour of need. It was their destiny to roam the haunted mountain as the "living dead" until the heir of the throne would come and make them fulfill their pledge.
Elrond handed him the great sword, and Aragorn was filled with awe, grasping the ancient weapon. So often had he looked at it and thought how appropriate it was that it should lie there, broken like the world of men. Now, in spite of his growing fear for his task, he knew this was his destiny.
---
Éowyn woke when she heard voices coming from outside. She went outside, but was not prepared for what greeted her. Aragorn was there, but with him were Gandalf and a dark majestic Elf she had not seen before. They greeted her as they dismounted their horses.
Aragorn came to her, and when the others could not see, she thought she glimpsed the remnants of his emotions from the night before. But at the next minute it was gone. She desperately wanted to talk to him, but instead they were forced to talk lightheartedly as Aragorn introduced the stranger as Elrond.
Arwen's father, she thought to herself. She felt a bit timid at seeing other faces after all the time they had been on their own, but she greeted them with a royal welcome.
Gandalf approached her, and when the men left them, he told her that they were going to have to leave speedily, for a great war was commencing at Gondor. She yearned for news of the war they had fled, and Gandalf bore good news, for the Rohan army had at the eleventh hour arrived and defeated the evil army. They were now on their way to aid Gondor in an even larger battle. They had no time to waste and would have to leave the valley before nightfall. The men were already packing their few belongings, and the quiet of their haven seemed so unusually preoccupied that it made her bewildered.
She went inside to be by herself, but when she saw how empty and abandoned their dwelling looked, it made her realize what was about to happen. It made her incredibly sad when she thought that her time with Aragorn was at an end. She had tried to prepare for this moment, but in her heart could not accept it. Now she was forced to remind herself that it had only been a bittersweet dream, which she was now about to wake up from.
Aragorn was uneasy and wanted to leave presently, so he busied himself in making ready for their trip. Éowyn had hoped that they would get a chance to speak, but Gandalf and Elrond were always present, so the opportunity did not present itself.
They were ready before long, and when they had eaten their last meal in the valley, they departed. Gandalf, being foresighted, had brought an extra horse for Éowyn, so she did not have to share as they had had to do when they came.
Éowyn was silent on their way up the mountain. The memories came rushing to her, and tears came to her eyes when she looked upon her beautiful valley for the last time. She looked at Aragorn and saw the sadness in his eyes as he returned her gaze. It was as if they knew that this was the last time they would be together where they both had felt so at home.
This was symbolically their goodbye, not only to the place, but to each other. At last they reached the icy cave and rode out of the valley. It broke their hearts when they heard a lonely howl coming from the forest. Ylve was bidding them her farewell.
---
They had only traveled for a day when they reached the meeting place where the whole Rohan army was gathered in the evening. They were taken to the main encampment, and there Éowyn saw her brother Éomer for the first time in months. Their meeting was indeed joyous, especially since no one had known what had happened to her, and they were relieved to see her alive.
She heard endless stories of how bravely Aragorn had fought in the battle for Rohan. He had shown exceptional courage, and he, along with his companions, had almost single-handedly kept the enemy at bay until Gandalf arrived with Éomer's army. He was obviously admired and adored by all the men that were there, and he was hailed as a hero when he returned. Everybody believed he had been killed, but seeing him here now gave the men hope for the upcoming battle.
Éowyn spent the greater part of the day with her uncle and her brother. They had much to talk about, but Éowyn knew she could not mention where they had been, and why they had had to go into hiding. Gandalf had made them promise never to tell a living soul about the valley.
It was growing dark, and Éowyn was walking around the camp when she saw that men were uneasy around a passageway into the mountains. She had heard the ancient stories of the ghosts that dwelled in the mountain, but now it was as if the rumours had been rekindled in people's minds, for everybody was talking about some evil coming from the lonely place. She had not seen Aragorn for the better part of the day, but had noticed that he too was being rejoined with his two companions, Legolas and Gimli.
---
Aragorn had been preparing for his journey since he spoke to Elrond. As the days had gone by, his feelings towards Éowyn had not diminished. On their journey, it had been even more of a struggle for him, being so close to her but not being able to tell her of his strong feelings towards her. He had desperately wanted to, but then he realized that telling her would only give her hopes that he could not fulfill. He could not tell whether his feelings would still be the same after they would be apart.
Arwen was his first love and his only love until so resently. He had told himself over and over again that his feelings could not be so strong, stronger than his love for Arwen after such a short period of time. He would have to spend some time away from her to truly know. If he indeed had such a time ahead, for it was more than likely that he was indeed to perish on his perilous jorney. It would be easier for her if she did not know. He had to be strong and he had to be cold. It was the best thing for both of them.
Meeting Gimli and Legolas eased his worries slightly, and it was good seeing his old companions again. He did not tell them about his plan, but being with them helped him forget about his other worries.
---
It was almost midnight when Aragorn stepped out of his tent and headed for the passageway. He grasped his sword for a moment, and in it he found the strength he needed to continue. He heard voices of the warriors in the distance, and suddenly he heard somebody come behind him.
"Aragorn," she said quietly. He turned around and his heart missed a beat when he saw Éowyn standing there. She looked so lovely where she was standing in the moonlight, yet her eyes were so sad and confused. "You cannot leave on the eve of battle. You cannot risk your life by entering this perilous place!" she said with a trembling voice as she despairingly tried to withhold him from his mission.
The day had not been easy on Aragorn, but now looking at her made it even more trying, for he saw in her eyes all the feelings he knew he possessed for her in his own heart.
"It cannot be undone," he said, trying to keep his posture. "It is my destiny," he continued. He could see the tears sprinkle down her cheeks, and without thinking, he reached out and wiped them from her face.
Éowyn closed her eyes as her grief overwhelmed her. The sight was too much for him, and before he knew it, she was in his arms. He gave out a sigh before he whispered in her ear, "Do not mourn for me. I do not deserve your love. I have to plead for your forgiveness for my behaviour that night. I let my feelings for you possess me into doing things I should not have done, I who should have given you all the respect you so richly deserve."
"It was not only you that acted that night," Éowyn whispered, but was too ashamed to look into his eyes.
Aragorn looked at her timid gesture and wanted nothing more than to hold her, kiss her gently, and tell her that all would be well. He could not bear to see her like this, for he felt he was on the edge of revealing his true feelings for her, and he could not do that.
He had to be firm, so he said, "I cannot give you what you seek." His words were harsh, but Éowyn could hear his voice tremble as he uttered them.
They looked at each other for the last time, and it was as if time stood still for a moment. Then he turned and walked away without looking back. If anyone could have seen him, they would have witnessed the deep sorrow that his face expressed as tears came rushing down his cheeks. All of a sudden, he did not fear his dangerous task, for he felt he would welcome death if it could only free him of this morbid feeling of sorrow.
Éowyn watched him walk away and knew there was nothing she could do to stop him, and the thought broke her heart. Yet her tears ceased, and she felt her heart turn cold.
A few moments later, she returned with the knowledge that now nothing would hinder her in fulfilling her destiny. She returned to the camp with a plan that would alter the destiny of mankind. She was out for war.
VI. Gandalf's Secret
The next day, the sun rose like it always did, but Éowyn failed to see the beauty in all things around her. She already felt dead inside, and now all she yearned for was a heroic death in battle. She went out and found armour that fit her, and when she had put on her helmet, she was ready.
An hour later the troops were gathered and ready to commence to Gondor. The men were uneasy when they heard that Aragorn was gone. He had not gone alone, for Legolas and Gimli were also departed.
Éowyn could see the small Hobbit she had been introduced to the day before. His name was Merry, and she had immediately become fond of his eagerness and curiousity. Now she saw that he was imploring Théoden to get the chance to take part in the battle. She felt for her new friend, and when she looked upon her uncle treating him like she would have expected him to treat herself, she felt the need to help him. And therefore, when the troops rode off, she picked the hobbit up and bore him with her to battle.
It took them three days to reach Gondor. They kept quiet and by themselves when the troops halted for the night, and Merry could not thank her enough for having taken him with her.
On the third day, they could hear the roars of battle long before they saw it. The sound was daunting, but it only helped her to prepare for what was ahead. An hour later, the troops gave their massive entrance and stamped down the orcs and caused them to flee.
Éowyn felt so empowered from where she was sitting on her horse. She, along with everyone else, had caused such turmoil with the enemy. She was yelling out in victory, when suddenly the tramps of huge Oliphants blocked all other sound. She watched in utter terror as they raged towards her. She had to use all her riding skills to run from the great, stamping feet of the Olilphants. She did not care so much for herself, but her mind was on Merry, who sat helplessly in front of her on the horse. She could not let anything happen to the brave hobbit.
Now one of the huge animals was so near them that Éowyn seized the opportunity and hewed at the legs of the beast, so it came chrashing down. Others had noticed this, and came in and helped kill the animal and the orcs it had carried. Éowyn watched the animal on the ground, when all of a sudden, another Oliphant fell down so near that it had almost crushed them. The horse could not hold balance, so they fell off. Just before the huge head fell to the ground, Éowyn managed to pull herself away from it.
It took her a little while to gather her thoughts, but then she discovered to her dismay that she had lost sight of Merry. She called him in despair.
All of a sudden, her thoughts were overshadowed by the most chilling sound she had ever heard in her life.
She saw the malicious being from her nightmares. Here he was in all his glory, tall and dark, a Nazgûl sitting on a huge dragon-like creature. The huge wings of the creature flapped around them, and the menacing presence of the Ringwraith filled her heart with fear.
Then she saw that the being was heading for her uncle, who was positioned a few feet in front of her. It tore her heart when she witnessed the Nazgûl bite at her uncle's horse, lift it up, and shake them like a cat would do to a mouse. Her uncle and his stallion were then thrown up in the air and landed on the ground, where the horse rolled on top of the king.
Éowyn was terrified when she heard the Ringwraith bid his steed in his unearthly voice: "Feast on his flesh." Her uncle could do nothing but wait for his fate as the creature got ready to do its master's bidding.
Without thinking, she ran in front of the Ringwraith and said with a demanding tone, "I will kill you if you touch him!"
The Ringhwraith looked at her, and he was furious when he replied, "Do not come between a Nazgûl and its prey."
Then, as the animal prepared to bite her, she ducked and got away from its mouth. And as the creature prepared another attack, she hewed at its neck with all of her might. She could see the blood rushing out of its wound before she gave it another blow. Its head finally came off, and the creature's body fell lifeless to the ground.
She could not believe what she had done, but before she had time to think, she could feel the fury of the Nazgûl poision the air around her. He walked towards her in all his splendour, and the pure sight chilled her to the bone. He swung his heavy weapon around, trying to crush her, but she managed to sway from it many times. At last, he managed to get a blow on her, and it was so heavy that she fell back on the lifeless body of her uncle's horse.
The Nazgûl came to her and lifted her up by her neck. Her heart was pounding so fast that she could not see straight. She could do nothing but accept her fate.
The Nazgûl uttered in total spite, "You fool, no man can kill me. You die now."
She waited for what was to come, but suddenly she glimpsed somebody coming from behind her enemy, and then she could feel the tight grip on her neck loosen. She fell to the ground. She heard the chilling shriek of the Nazgûl as he let out a scream of pain. The sound helped her find the strength to stand up, and seeing her enemy on his knees in front of her made her finally take off her helmet.
She stared at the Nazgûl, putting all her force into her sword as she uttered, "I am no man!"
Then she stabbed him in the face. She could feel his malice wreath her as her sword stabbed deep inside his ghostly presence. She knew she had succeeded in killing him, but she found no joy in it. It was as if his malice was too strong, and she could only feel death and hopelessless as she watched him wihter away like dust in front of her eyes.
When his ashes had blown away in the wind, she hurried to her uncle's motionless body. He was still alive but very weak. He stroked her chin softly, and then he said, "I know your face, Éowyn."
She smiled at him as she remembered their heartfelt reunion not so long ago in the Golden Hall, when he had uttered those same words. A tiny ray of hope came to her heart, but then he continued.
"My eyes darken."
"No!" she said. "I am going to save you."
"You already did," he replied. He looked at her and said, "My body is broken, Éowyn. You have to let me go." She shook her head as he continued, not wanting to believe the obvious. "I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed."
His face looked at her mournfully, and then he said her name one more time before he passed away, and his soul abandoned his body. Éowyn could not bear this sorrow, and she finally succumbed to her tears. Her body felt so weak, so broken, like her spirit.
---
Éowyn woke up in a dark room. She did not remember a thing since lying at the side of her uncle's lifeless body. Have I died? was the first thought that entered her mind, for she felt like her soul had abandoned her. She felt so utterly alone and deserted, like nobody cared for her anymore, and she could not find it in her heart to care about anything either.
She heard voices and saw two women coming into the room, which convinced her that she must still be alive. One of the women came to her and took her hand. She told her all about what had happened and where she was.
She had been found in the battleground and brought to the Houses of Healing. She was to rest, for although her visible scars were not so severe, she obviously had been through a lot, for she had been tormented in her sleep for all the three days and nights that she had spent in this place.
"The Lord Aragorn brought you here, and he has proven that he is indeed the heir of the crown. He managed to heal Lord Faramir from his wounds, as well as the little hobbit, Merry."
Éowyn's cold heart dropped a beat when she heard Aragorn's name spoken. She was also glad that Merry had been saved. It would have been devastating for her had he not lived.
"It was I who remembered the old prophesy: 'The hands of the King are the hands of a healer,'" said the woman proudly. "It is a shame that the Lord Aragorn had to leave for Mordor before you awakened. He has been away for two nights now, but he is sure to be able to help you when he returns," continued the woman, and the last words obviously gave way the worry she had for the men's safe return.
"Come now, let us not tire our patient more than we have," said the other woman. And so the women left her to her thoughts.
Aragorn brought me here, she thought, and a ray of hope entered her troubled mind. "The hands of the King are the hands of the healer," they had said. She felt truly proud of him.
Éowyn stopped smiling when she realized what this meant. He was to become king! It was what he had wanted all his life. To be king and marry his Elven Queen! The thought pireced her heart. Arwen, his elven princess, would be coming here. I will have to face her and the humiliation of the Coronation and their wedding. Éowyn wanted all the best for Aragorn, but she knew that she could never bear the sight of them together.
He will be friendly to me, even help me to heal, but then I will become an uneasy part of his past that he will, above everything else, want to forget. I am destined to have to grow old with my frozen heart, always pretending that I do not care, when inside I will slowly wither away from my heartache. It is better to perish, for I have served my purpose. I cannot stay here. I have to go somewhere where I can be alone for the last few days of my being. I can feel death approaching, and in my mind, it cannot come too soon, for I cannot bear this pain and sorrow any longer.
She could feel the bitter tears in her eyes, but she did not allow them to give her solace. Instead she thought out a plan.
---
The cool of the night air felt refreshing on her face as she walked out of the Houses of Healing. The sky was clear, and the moon aided her sight as she walked into a beautiful garden.
She could see a figure of a tall man standing not far from her. He was looking over the splendid view from the balcony, and he seemed so alone and mournful. The war had obviously taken its toll on more souls than herself. She felt for this stanger but knew she had to leave unseen, so she hurried to the stairs, trying to walk as quietly as was possible. She breathed easier when the man was out of sight.
It took her some time to find her way to the gates, but first she would have to find a horse. She found the stables more with her nose than with any other sense. The smell and the presence of these noble animals were so dear to her. She quickly mounted one that seemed up for the journey, and then she sped off into the night.
She traveled speedily, not feeling the need to rest or nourish, only stopping occasionally to let the horse rest and eat. It was no concern of hers whether the winds blew or the sun shone or the rain fell. Her aim was to reach her destination before she would succumb to the pain in her heart.
Finally, on the eve of the third day, she reached the icy cave. It was as if the spirits of the valley were aiding her, for in her terrible state, she had no trouble finding the valley. It was like she did not have to think. She just went forward effortlessly.
As she came out of the cave and looked over her beloved valley, she found peace. The forces of nature were already beginning to hide the evidence of their stay. The grass had grown over the stones that had marked their fire, and a fierce wind had opened the door and blown leaves all over the room.
When she had thrown herself on the bed, she gave way to the exhaustion that overtook her mind and body. She knew she was ready to give up her life now. No one could ever find her withered bones. She would become one of the spirits that roamed here, feeling free at last.
---
The malicious spirit of the Witch-king would not leave her be, and his torment was even more haunting to her after his death. She felt like she was yet again standing in front of him, and his terrible presence filled her heart with anguish. This time nobody came to her aid, and she felt her life wither away as he stabbed her. The pain was so excruciating that her whole being was washed away, and she felt her soul leave her body. Her spirit floated up into the air, and she saw her uncle lying there, his face stiffened in a frown of death. So many had been killed, and she looked upon the destruction with sorrow.
Then she felt her spirit float over the mark and over the high mountains, and finally she could see her valley in the sunlight. She saw the dwelling, and when she entered the room, she saw her lifeless body lying on the bed, her face white as a ghost. She looked at herself for some time, but then she saw Aragorn enter the dwelling. He rushed to her bed, and she saw the sorrow in his posture, his shoulders shaking, as he tried to wake her. She almost physically felt his touch as she watched him pick up her body, and she felt a floating sensation when he carried her outside.
Was this death coming to grant her her last wish? Did this mean that Aragorn had been killed as well, and thus he was coming for her now to escort her to the spirit world? Her spirit followed him as he carried her body through the woods. After some time, they reached the serene pond where she had been bathing that day when he had come to her. She watched as he waded in, and then he dipped her gently into the water, holding her carefully above it so she would not drown.
Suddenly, her spirit rushed with immense speed towards her body, and then slowly she began to feel a soft and cool sensation, as every cell in her body seemed to devour the healing power of the water. She also felt the fire-like heat that came from Aragorn's hands. It took her some time to completely wake up from her daze, but eventually she had the strength to open her eyes.
The strong rays of the sun hurt her sight but finally she was able to look around and then she saw his face. She felt the heat from his body, and she witnessed the amazement in his eyes. How could this be? How could he be here? Was this a cruel trick of her imagination? She discovered the truth when she looked into his eyes and saw the love that they expressed.
"My love, you live," he whispered, as if he had to convince himself of the fact.
It physically hurt when her frozen heart began to pump the blood again so fiercly after hearing his wonderful words. She reached out and touched his face, and feeling the warmth of his skin under the palm of her hand made her realize that she was alive and that he was indeed with her.
Aragorn let go of her feet, so they floated in the water as he lifted her into his arms and embraced her.
"I was petrified at the idea that I might have lost you," he whispered in her ear.
Éowyn held him closer. It was still so unreal to her to have him so near and to hear his words. At last he released his embrace a little and looked into her eyes.
"My dear Éowyn, can you find it in your heart to forgive my foolishness? I loved you more and more with each passing day, but it took me far too long to confess it to myself. I was blinded by a young man's fascination with something that I realised, with your help, is not real. You are real. You are the most wonderful being I have ever encountered, and I cannot imagine how my life will be if I am to be parted from you again."
Éowyn felt a sudden heat rush through her whole body at hearing his lovely confession. When she saw his sincerity, she whispered, "I loved you beyond the grave, and now that you have saved me from that destiny, I cannot but love you even more." And then she gave him a big smile.
Aragorn's eyes lit up as he gazed into hers, and then he bent down and kissed her lips gently. Finally, he could let go of his feelings and show her all the love he had been denying himself all this time. They kissed passionately for a long time, their embrace filled with tenderness and passion.
The sun was beginning to fade, and when it went behind the mountains, Éowyn began to shiver in his arms, for the breeze chilled her soaked gown.
When Aragorn realized this, he said joyfully, "First I heal you back to health, and then I try my best to let you catch a cold."
They laughed, and then he picked her up and waded to shore. He put her down and took his mantle off to wrap her in it. The gesture took her back to that fateful night when she had first heard of the Elven princess. He had done the same thing then with his mantle, but now she was not afraid to reach for his lips and kiss him like she had wanted to do that night. The feeling was so good and she felt so impossibly happy.
---
When they reached the dwelling, they were welcomed by Ylve the wolf, who had obviously missed them terribly, so the reunion was indeed joyous.
Aragorn started the fire, and then he helped her to some lembas bread he had brought with him. Suddenly, she felt so hungry, and then she realized she had not eaten for days. She did not need much to feel fulfilled, but she could instantly feel her body strengthen from the nourishment.
She could not stop shivering, for her body was suffering from the anticlimax of her strange experience. She was still wearing her wet gown and felt really cold. When Aragorn busied himself making the bed with fur and blankets, Éowyn went into the other room, took off her dress, and put on an extra shirt Aragorn had brought with him. It looked like a short dress on her, but she loved wearing his garment. It was like she was wrapped in his presence. When she was busy combing through her hair with her fingers, she realized that she was unable to wash the smile off her face. When she was finished, she wrapped his mantle around her and went back inside.
Aragorn looked at her in admiration when she entered the room. Her hair glistened in the light of the fire, but her face was lit up by the fire that was shining in her eyes. He put down the firewood he was carrying and grabbed her by the waist as he bent down and kissed her. Éowyn raised her hands and wrapped them around his neck. They laughed when they broke off the kiss and looked at each other.
Then Éowyn noticed that the Evenstar pendant was gone. She had become accustomed to seeing him with it, and she now realized seeing it had always caused her pain, for it reminded her of his commitment to another. Without thinking, she reached for the spot on his neck where it used to lie, and touched it lightly. Aragorn immediately understood what she was thinking, and he reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.
"There is much I need to explain," he whispered as he looked into her eyes. "But now is not the time, for above all else, you need to rest, my love," he said, and then he led her to the bed.
He kissed her and stroked her face gently before he bade her good night, as he planned to leave her to her sleep. Éowyn grabbed his arm to stop him from going.
"Do not leave," she pleaded. "I fear that if I am to wake alone, I will certainly believe that this was all but a dream."
He did not know what to do, but when he saw the serenity on her face, he looked at her lovingly before he took off his boots and his shirt and joined her under the blankets. It felt so good being near to her. How often had he laid in the other room, dreaming about being as near to her as he was now?
Éowyn felt the same and enjoyed feeling the heat from his body warm her cold limbs. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. The kiss, which was supposed to be innocent, ended up being very passionate. Éowyn knew that she was going to have to calm down her emotions somehow so that she would not lose control of her body, so she slowly moved away. To distract her mind, she asked him about what had befallen him on his journey since they parted. She felt that she needed to know so much more about the war.
"You cannot believe how relieved I was when we found you on the battlefield at Pelennor," he said as he looked lovingly into her eyes. "I brought you to the Houses of Healing, but you did not return to consciousness before we had to ride out to meet Sauron's army at Mordor."
"How did you manage to conquer him and his army?" she asked with anticipation.
When he had told her about Frodo and the ring and how when the ring was unmade at the last hour, Sauron was at last defeated, he told her about his perilous journey through the mountains of the dead.
"What had always kept me going in the past was the idea of succeeding at this task so that I could marry Arwen, and maybe some day become king of Gondor. But when I came face to face with death, the only thing I could think of was you. I could not bear the thought of never seeing you again, and never being able to tell you my true feelings. It was that thought that gave me the courage to stand up to the dead and fulfill my quest. When I returned from Mordor, all I could think of was seeing you again, so it broke my heart when I saw that you were gone. Nobody knew where you were, but I could not think of any other place than this one. I knew you had to be here, so I could not wait to be on my way. When I was preparing to leave, Arwen came to Gondor."
Éowyn's heart skipped a beat at hearing him say the elf's name.
"She had come to fare me well," he said. "She shared with me a premonition she had seen. For some time, she had had this dream about me playing with a child. The dream had convinced her that she would have to stay with me in Middle-earth because she had seen this future for us. She was never able to see the child's face until resently, and then she realized that the child could not be hers and mine. The child had golden hair, and there was nothing elven in its appearance, and it did not resemble her at all. Then she told me that the next night she had a dream that showed me, riding in the mark, along with a fair woman with long, golden hair."
Aragorn paused and added with tenderness as he rolled her to her side and stroked her face, "My lovely, fair shieldmaiden from the Mark," and then he gave her a gentle kiss before he continued. "She said that she finally understood her destiny, and a sense of contentment filled her heart. For underneath, she had always known, as well as I did, that our relationship was nothing but a dream. Her father had woken her up from her childish fantasy when he told her what he had seen in her future if she was to stay. He told her that she could be quite happy for some years as my queen, but eventually I would depart to another world that was not for her to enter into because of her immortality. Then there would be no soothing her, and she would be sentenced to roam for all eternity in an ever-changing world, forever missing her loved ones that were long gone and out of reach forever."
Éowyn was amazed at hearing his speech. She had disliked this woman on the account of her holding Aragorn's heart, but now she could sense nothing but respect and gratitude towards her. It was also very heartwarming to hear that she would one day become the mother of his child.
At last, he chose to tell her wonderful news he had been waiting to share with her the whole day.
"Gandalf approached me before I departed! He was the one that told me of the healing powers of the water here. He also told me another thing about that mysterious place."
"What is that?" Éowyn asked, and he could clearly see the curiosity on her face.
"He smiled at me and gave me the look I have become quite familiar with, for he always puts it up before he speaks something that usually puzzles you more than it tells you. To my surprise, he did not speak in riddles this time. He simply said, 'The water from the pond also has the power to lengthen the lives of those who continue to imbibe it.'"
Éowyn looked at him and it took her some time to understand what he meant. Aragorn smiled at her expression, for she was so astonished when she realized. Aragorn gave her a smile before he continued.
"I still have many years before me, being a descendant of Númenor. As I hoped to have you in my life, I was already fearing to lose you much too soon to death from old age, as is destined for your kin. Now we do not have to fear that. We can grow old toghether and see our kingdom blossom for centuries to come."
Éowyn's eyes were filled with joyous tears. Only a few hours before, her world was shattered, and she was lying here dead in mind and body. But now everything had turned out so unbelievably well that it was really beyond all her wildest dreams.
The prospect of her long future was now so bright, for all evil had been diminished from the world, and nothing waited for them but peace, serenity, and of course, undying love. They gave way to their passion as they enjoyed each other's embrace as if they were already wedded, for they both knew that no ceremony would do their relationship more justice than what they already had been blessed with in this magical place.