Notes: The main story starts after the breaking of the Fellowship; the chapter that equals my first chapter is "The King of the Golden Hall" in The Two Towers. All that has happened before this chapter has happened similar to both the book and the movie. Frodo and Sam are on their way to Mordor, Merry and Pippin are stuck in Fangorn and Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas have met Gandalf, the White. The four are now on their way to Edoras, capital of Rohan.

Chapter 1 - Edoras

Finally they reached Edoras. It lay on the slopes of a hill in front of the Snowy Mountains, on top of which stood the Golden Hall Meduseld, home to Théoden, king of the Riddermark. They left their horses at the gates and made their way up through the streets of the city. Some who saw them trembled with fear, some shouted at Gandalf: "Be gone, Stormcrow", but most people seemed glad to see the four companions.

When they reached the doors of the King's Hall, they were stopped by three men-at-arms. "Who wishes to see the Lord of the Hall?" It was evident that they recognised Gandalf, still he introduced himself to them again. "This is Aragorn, Ranger of the North. Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, and Gimli of the Lonely Mountain." - "You are not welcome here, I'm afraid. But if you leave your weapons with us, we will let you in, no matter what Gríma thinks of it." - "So he's still here?" Gandalf asked. "Yes, still poisoning the King's mind. He hardly recognises anyone anymore. This is especially hard on his niece, Éowyn, for she loves her uncle dearly."

Gandalf frowned. So nothing had changed since his last visit. "And Éomer, the King's nephew?" - "He's roaming far and wide, killing orcs wherever he goes. But they have become to many ... and the King knows nothing of this. He's only trusting Gríma, not even his family can reach through to him anymore. If Éomer didn't have the army behind him, I hardly dare to think of what Gríma then would do, to both Éomer and his sister."

The men-at-arms now let them pass and they entered Meduseld and were led before the King. Théoden sat on his throne, and old man, barely alive. On his left stood a small man who kept whispering into the king's ear. On his right sat a young maiden, who was rising when she behold the companions.

"Hail, Théoden King," Gandalf exclaimed. The eyes of the king fixed upon the wizard. His voice was barely more than a whisper when he said, "I bid you welcome, Master Gandalf. You are the bringer of bad news, you've always been, Stormcrow." Aragorn saw that the man next to the king kept muttering to his lord and wondered whose words they'd just heard. "I see that you still have your 'loyal' advisor with you, Gríma..." - "You heard the King's words, you are not welcome here, old wizard. Go home, and take your friends with you."

Gandalf came closer to the throne and Gríma beheld the wizard's staff. "Guards, why didn't you do as I ordered you, why did you leave him his stick!" And, turning to the King he added, "He only wishes to ensnare you with his foul craft, do not be fooled by him, my Lord. He is no friend of Rohan." - "Nay, I do not have to use my powers here, unlike you, Wormtongue!" Gríma shrieked at being addressed like this. "He wants to attack me, my Lord. Attack us!"

"I do not have to bring war here, for war is already upon you." -"He's lying my lord." - "Saruman will attack Rohan, for he is no longer the wise and good wizard he once was..." - "Don't believe him, Saruman is our friend." The king nodded slightly, "Yes, our friend".

Gandalf now stood before the throne and glanced at the king's advisor. "I see that you are still a loyal servant of your true master. Yet for how long you've been following this pass, I do not know." - "Guards, arrest them!" But none of the guards moved as much as a finger to come to Gríma's rescue, for no one liked Wormtongue.

"Be gone!" Gandalf cried throwing back is cloak. And behold, the room was bathed in light and Wormtongue fell on his needs, shielding his eyes. Théoden however seemed to see everyone around him at last again. He looked down at Gríma and saw him for what he was. "Gandalf is right, be gone." - "But my lord, have I not served you well. Don't be fooled by the wizard's powers. He wishes no good." - "Enough, I have let you control me for too long already. Be gone, and serve the one you served always."

"But that is..." the fire in the King's eyes forbid him to go on. Seeing that he was outmanoeuvred, Wormtongue quickly ran to the doors and out of the hall. "Was is wise to let him go?" Gandalf smiled coldly. "He will give Saruman quite a surprise. For now he has an opponent again in the King of Rohan." He bowed to Théoden.

The King slowly raised himself from his throne, leaving both weariness and poison behind him. The man that stood face to face with Gandalf was no longer the old man that they had found when entering the hall, when he was closer to death than to life. Now a strong warrior he was again, anger in his eyes and the will to fight back. He turned to the maid who was beside him. "Éowyn, sister-daughter. Forgive me for not heeding your words." Tears were on her cheeks. "Please, go and fetch my generals. If Gandalf is right, we will have to strike back soon, or all will be in vain." Silently Éowyn made her way out of the hall. Before she left, she turned once more. The doors were open behind her, and she was bathed in sunlight. Thus Aragorn first beheld the fair Lady of Rohan and he felt that she would be of great importance in the days to come.

She also saw him, suddenly aware of everything around her. She saw the greatness of kings in his face and felt that her life had only now really begun.

---

An hour later, the King and his generals were talking about the situation behind closed doors. They were accompanied by Gandalf and his three companions. Éomer was with them, too. Only Éowyn was left behind, as always. But this time she did not bear any grudge, she was too happy to see her uncle restored to his true self. Forever she would be indebted to Gandalf for it.

Gríma had disappeared. Some had seen him run to the stables and ride out of Edoras as if the devil was behind him. By now he could have reached the Ford of the river Isen. And then it would not be long until Saruman would find out that the King of the Riddermark had found himself again. So war was at hand. But strangely she was not worried at the prospect. Théoden had fought many battles and had always been victorious. Her brother was a good leader as well. And then, they had aid now.

Gandalf had always been a friend of Rohan. The elf, Legolas was his name, must be an excellent archer, they all were. Gimli the dwarf, though small, seemed very strong and the mere mentioning of orcs and battle made his eyes shine with anticipation. And there was the man, Aragorn...

Before she left the hall she had felt someone's eyes upon her, and she turned. They're eyes met, only for a second and still she could see his face. The beard darkening his features and yet ... she dared not think of him. Only feeling his eyes upon her had caused her heart to beat faster, her mind suddenly blank, longing for this moment to remain thus forever. But then she remembered her uncle and fled from Meduseld.

But now there was nothing she could do, helpless was she, unable to think of anything but him. Never before had she felt anything like that when she was with the men of the Mark. But this one, she knew nothing of him but his name. 'No, this is folly', she said to herself. 'He might have not even looked at me. Why should he?'

She could not remember how long she sat lost in thought, but suddenly she was stirred by the sound of trumpets. The people were summoned to the Golden Hall. And then they emerged, Théoden surrounded by those he had spoken with. On his right stood Éomer, his eyes now searching the faces of the crowd until they found Éowyn's. A gentle smile appeared on his face, his eyes gleaming. Next to him were the other generals, their faces long and weary, yet still set. One the Kings left stood Gandalf, now once again cloaked in grey. Next to him Éowyn could Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn. Éowyn's eyes wandered from her brother to the ranger who was still discussing something with the elf.

Éowyn did not see it, but her brother followed her eyes and saw the longing in her eyes when she looked upon the ranger. He frowned for he had watched Aragorn over the past hours, his hand moving to a beautiful pendant around his neck every time he felt unobserved. This could only be a gift of a lady, the lady of his heart. 'Oh sister, what madness has befallen you?'

"People of Rohan, war is upon us. Our old friend Saruman has turned against us, claiming Rohan for himself. This we cannot accept. The army will ride against Isengard tonight, while those too young or old and all women will seek refuge at Dunharrow." The King went on explaining in detail the plans for the coming battle, but Éowyn did not pay heed to his words. All women he had said. Would that include her? She longed to go with the army, if only to be near ... 'Stop this, foolish girl', she said to herself. Slowly she forced her way towards the hall. When she reached the steps the King had finished and made his way back into the hall. Éomer came striding down the stairs and met her at their bottom.

"He wishes you to lead those that cannot fight to Dunharrow." She had feared something like that. Yes, she would command, but was forbidden to fight. "I wish to join with you, Éomer, brother, please..." she couldn't continue and began to weep. It broke Éomer's heart to see his sister's pleading eyes. But if he had a doubt before he had seen her look upon Aragorn, now he was sure that it was for her best to be left behind.

"The King wishes it, sister, he could not bear the thought of you going into battle. And neither could I." He took her into his arms, wishing he could stay to console her. "Then promise to send a messenger as often as you can." A long time ago she had learned that she could never win an argument with her uncle, and now her brother supported him. "As often as one can be spared, I promise." She looked up and smiled weakly. "I have not the strength to fight you, and neither have you the time to fight with me. There are more important things that your sister's heart you've to think of now."

Slowly she drew away from him looking heartbroken. 'All she ever wanted was to be like me, to be able to prove herself. Oh sister, if only I could grant you that wish.' Aloud he Éomer asked, "Will you join us in the Hall? The King wishes to bid you farewell, and so does Gandalf." - "Remember the tales he would tell us when we were small? Of tall elven warriors, and the dwarves, and the Kings of Númenor. Brother, the Lord Aragorn, he seems to be of their kin."

'Aragorn, can you think of no more than him since you saw him?' "He is a ranger, a fighter. If he's a king I don't know. He might have a noble air about him ... But more than he does that elf, Legolas. Well, he is a prince, Gandalf says. Prince of Mirkwood, would you believe it?" He saw the eyes of his sister widen in astonishment. "Yes, don't you remember Gandalf's story of his adventure with the dwarves, and the, what did he say, halfling. He mentioned the elves of Mirkwood. But never did I think that they would be so..." - "Fair?" Éomer grinned. This had been one of their favourite games when they were children. One had said something and the other finished the sentence.

He chuckled still when they reached the wooden doors of the Hall and entered. A fire had been lit in the centre; it was getting dark outside. Without realizing it, Éowyn's eyes searched the room for the ranger. He stood next to her uncle, talking to him. Yet now, when he saw her, Théoden raised a hand to stop the man of the north. Aragorn looked up and once again saw Éowyn who almost stumbled against her brother when she beheld his gaze.

The King had joined his niece and nephew and looked worried at Éowyn. "Are you alright, sister-daughter?" Éowyn forced herself to look her uncle in the eye. "Why, why do you force me to stay behind? Always I'm the one who's left alone..." - "The people love you, they trust you. You have taken care of them when I was, when I could ... Oh curse that Snake! I trusted him and almost brought down our realm." Théoden's eyes were filled with fire when he remembered the foul deeds of Gríma, but softened immediately again when he looked at the woman before him.

"You have to be the one, please Éowyn, will you do it for me?" Her heart screamed No! but her mind once again submitted. "I shall do as you will uncle." She turned and slowly left the room. Once again she had been caged, only this time her cage had another name, Dunharrow.

---

The army was moving out of Edoras. Aragorn rode in silence next to Legolas and Gimli. The dwarf had grown a hatred for riding a long time before they had reached Edoras, and now he looked as sour as can be. The King stopped before them and turned to look upon his city again, perhaps for the last time. The companions joined him and Aragorn saw a figure clad in white just outside of Meduseld. Éowyn! She looked both strong and forlorn, cold as a statue and yet burning with so much passion. She had almost cried when the King made her stay behind. And this had touched his heart, more than the first time he had looked upon her.

She had been bathed in light, a cold beauty, eyes filled with so much sadness. It made his heart miss a beat. And then she had left the threshold in such a hurry, had she fled? During the discussion he had not been able to concentrate on what was being said, he could not get his mind of he King's niece. Often his hand clenched around the Evenstar, yes, it was still there. And so was Arwen, his beloved. And here he was thinking of another woman. How could he? She was prepared to give up her immortality - for him. 'No', he said to himself, 'I love her, more than my life.' But why then did his heart feel as if an iron fist was closing around it as they were leaving Edoras behind?