4. Day 4: Mettle (Eowyn)
When she was young, she wanted to be just like her mother. Theodwyn sang, and danced, and laughed, and made everyone happy. She could not sing--for she did not have the patience to learn words to any song, and she did not make everyone happy: Eomer always groaned whenever she caught him being disobedient.
As she grew, she wanted to be like her brother, for Eomer was brave and kind to her--he held her hand all through the funeral and did not even cry--and did not tell anybody that she slept with her papa's old shirt for a pillow, and did not make her wash it. She was not brave, nor kind: she cried a lot and got upset when others caught her at it.
Later, she wanted to be like her Uncle. Theoden was strong and wise and ruled his people with kindness. She would like to be as kind, but could not help herself--the boys were all leaving to train with the eored and teasing her because she could not go with them. It was enough to make one lose one's temper!
Then she wanted to be like her cousin. Theodred was fearless and keen in defending the Riddermark every day. She wanted so badly to find something in which to pour her passion. Alas, that she was only a girl.
And when the Wormtongue came into court, she wanted nothing more than to be a sparrow so she could say whatever she wanted and fly away.
And when things came to the brink, she did not feel happy, nor brave, nor kind, nor wise, nor strong, nor bold, nor fearless. But she had had to try her best.
And had lived through it.
These days, she just likes to be Eowyn. Faramir told her that he loves her just as she is, and that is good enough for her.
As she grew, she wanted to be like her brother, for Eomer was brave and kind to her--he held her hand all through the funeral and did not even cry--and did not tell anybody that she slept with her papa's old shirt for a pillow, and did not make her wash it. She was not brave, nor kind: she cried a lot and got upset when others caught her at it.
Later, she wanted to be like her Uncle. Theoden was strong and wise and ruled his people with kindness. She would like to be as kind, but could not help herself--the boys were all leaving to train with the eored and teasing her because she could not go with them. It was enough to make one lose one's temper!
Then she wanted to be like her cousin. Theodred was fearless and keen in defending the Riddermark every day. She wanted so badly to find something in which to pour her passion. Alas, that she was only a girl.
And when the Wormtongue came into court, she wanted nothing more than to be a sparrow so she could say whatever she wanted and fly away.
And when things came to the brink, she did not feel happy, nor brave, nor kind, nor wise, nor strong, nor bold, nor fearless. But she had had to try her best.
And had lived through it.
These days, she just likes to be Eowyn. Faramir told her that he loves her just as she is, and that is good enough for her.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
