Eowyn of Rohan

At the stables

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:16:04 GMT

Those who visited the stables seemed in Eowyn's mind to be of two types: those who did not consider horses to be essential and those who did consider them to be essential. Neither was better or worse, but she did find that those who had known of horses before their arrival here tended to treat the horses slightly differently. They were not just a hobby to be considered once a week or month, nor were they a pet -- they were companions, and their lives were as important or more so than the humans around them. Truly the Eorlingas would not have survived without their horses, and not merely for battle. They carried goods and people, helped plow fields, and performed many other tasks.

Lord Villiers was certainly of the type that knew horses to be essential and respected them for all their skills. He was at the stables as often as he could be and had largely claimed Bramble as his own mount. Bramble was a spirited gelding and most unsuited to beginners, but Lord Villiers seemed to work well with him. It was possible it was because they were both fast and slightly vain and so they understood each other.

She was brushing Branwen the small grey pony after she and Branwen had had a lesson with a small child when she glanced up and saw him enter the stableyard.

"Well met, my lord. How is Bramble today?"

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SOTP: September 2023

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 18:41:07 GMT

Why do I always do the SOTPs in Eowyn's journal? Dunno. I just do.

Nikita: She works a shift or two a week as an EMT and manages Bondurant's the rest of the time. She's maybe actually becoming friends with Joel, as much as Joel wants to have friends, and I am amused at her penchant for trying to befriend Certified Grumps. She just likes them, and somehow they tend to like her snarky self too. She and Daisy have established a very casual friends with benefits situation, mostly consisting of them sparring while taunting each other, going for a drink after, and then going back to one of their respective flats.

Future plans: Possibly a minor fire at Bondurant's so it has to close for repair and renovation for awhile. It would reopen, of course. She might adopt a senior cat, as well. She talked to Regan about it and I just didn't do anything with that, but I like the idea of her having a little companion who didn't mind that she wasn't home much.

Eowyn: Still living in the country, working at the stables, and avoiding the city except when needed. She does like modern conveniences like hot water and plumbing, but she'll never be modern or want to live in a modern city.

Future: I'm not sure. She's a bit stagnant. She still has a few good friends, but there hasn't been any real plot for her recently and I don't know what to do about that. Maybe I need to rewatch LOTR.

Daniel: Daniel has had plenty of plot in the last year! Work-wise, he got a promotion, so he has a small team of NPCs now. He's also had quite a lot of personal plot. He realized he wasn't straight and that he was attracted to Tom, thought about it for six months, then told Tom about it last October and they started a relationship. He and Tom moved in together in June, right before Daniel went to his first ever Pride. I haven't posted either of those threads, but I should. He's really happy and I am delighted for him.

Future: I think he's going to get injured again. Just a little bit. I've been trying to decide if he should do more with the Darrow Dirty Cops plot that's been sort of floating in the background for a couple of years and would welcome input from any of the other cops or players of cops.

Me: I've been traveling a lot, mostly for work, and have been busy with work when I've been home. I'm going on vacation this month and may or may not be willing to pay for international internet charges, so we'll see how much tagging I do.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

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For Maedhros

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 02:34:51 GMT

Eowyn's dwelling had been built by the Lady Galadriel for Aragorn. The Lady had built the cabin so that Aragorn might dwell not far from her, and for herself she had built a house in the trees. Eowyn had never entered the house in the trees, for it was not built for her. She did not think the Lady nor Aragorn would mind that she lived in his cabin, and that she had expanded it so that also there was a paddock and a stable for Bleod, but she would not enter the house in the trees.

She had decided, though, that she would tell Maedhros of the Lady's treehouse, in case he might wish to dwell there. And so it was that she had invited him to accompany her on a ride from the stables, and thus brought him into the clearing that contained the treehouse, her home, and the paddock.

Their conversation on the ride had been light and casual, but she fell silent as she gently instructed Bleod to halt so that he might look upon the thing she wished him to see.

[Description of the treehouse here: https://thecityneversleeps.dreamwidth.org/1412387.html]

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Teaching Luke to ride

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 02:43:48 GMT

Since she had known him, Luke had wished to learn to ride. She had asked him several times if he were sure, and if his guardians were sure. Always had he said he was, and she had believed him, but he was too small by the standards of the stables. She had been placed on a horse afore she was able to walk, but she knew that this was not common in other lands.

Now, though, he had grown some, and so he was able to be taught. She had selected the most gentle of ponies and had brought it out to the fence with the saddle and the bridle and the blanket for the pony's back. She would teach him all aspects of riding and care, for it was not merely the sitting atop the horse that was important. She smoothed her hand over the pony's back soothingly as she waited for her lytling to arrive.

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For Sansa

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 01:39:36 GMT

The days grew colder and they reminded Eowyn more and more of her own land as they shortened and darkened. She was still alone in this place, even with the friends that she had, and she missed her people. She missed the weather, the smell of fires to keep warm as the harvest was brought in, and the way the horses' fur grew more shaggy to keep them warm. Bleod was, in Eowyn's mind, best seen with a full winter coat, even though it also meant much grooming in the spring as the mare lost the now-unneeded coat.

Today she was grooming her mare in the shelter of the practice yards at the stables and speaking to her mare quietly in Rohirric. One of the other horses had been nippy today, and Bleod's fur was ruffled in multiple ways. Eowyn was wearing garments more suited to Rohan than to here, since it was cold, and knew that she was an interesting sight, with her horse and her attire and the way she spoke. She did not care. She was of the Mark, and so she would always be.

When another person came closer, she looked up and smiled at the young woman.

"Well-met, Lady."

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SOTP, May/June

Fri, 25 May 2018 02:08:29 GMT

Nikita: Just sort of going along. She lost a few friends, but that happens and she's used to it, so she's okay. She's still working two jobs and probably not sleeping enough, but she's also used to that. No real plans for her, although I'm always willing for her to be involved in others' plans. I hope there's another fight club soon. She likes those.

Daniel: Engaged! I need to have him talk to Wanda about being his Best Woman. The wedding will probably happen by the end of the year, depending on how much fuss they decide they want to have. He'd sort of like to establish an SSR branch here or at least develop a liaison type thing between the various little groups, but there are so many others working in the same direction I don't know if that's useful.

Sam: Also going along. He's probably going to help out Biffy and Lyall with their agency, at least unofficially. He hears things. No plots planned for him either. He would still like to be dating someone, but I just don't like to do NPC relationships if I can help it.

Eowyn: Eowyn worries me. I've only tagged her to one thread this month and I don't think she made reqs last month either. She's just lost so many people that it's hard to find her voice and get her out there. She's on the bubble. If this doesn't improve, she's a drop.

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Walking on the Beach

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 23:12:31 GMT

Her nightmares had increased in intensity and number until she slept no more than a few hours a night. When she woke, she knew she would not sleep again that night, even had she wanted to close her eyes and once more see those images of pain, loss, blood, and suffering.

She did not wish to see them even once more. She wished to never see them again, but some small part of her wondered whether she must see them because they were her fate and her people's fate. Aragorn spoke of their progress to defeat the shadow and she had discerned that she had a part to play in it, though he respected her wishes not to know more. Still, though, she wondered if these nightmares were true dreams and if the progress he knew would fade in comparison to the death that came after it.

This night had been particularly bad and she could not stay within her chambers any longer, with the walls seeming to close in on her as Grima had once taunted her. She slipped a long, comfortable dress on and then covered it with a cloak that would not have been out of place in the Mark. She had had the cloak specially made and it gave her comfort to wear it and to be reminded of her people and her land.

As she walked slowly along the beach, she breathed deeply of the clean salt air. She did not know the meaning of her dreams, but she prayed to all the gods there were that they were not true dreams. She was not certain she could bear it if they were.

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For Serena - August 23

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 03:50:29 GMT

The strange blizzard had passed and Eowyn was glad of it. The horses had been unsettled by the sudden change in the weather and had been difficult to calm for some time after. She had spent far more time than usual soothing them all with treats and care, though she did not truly mind doing so. It did mean that her time at the stables was more extensive than usual, but she had no pets nor others at home to worry for her, so she might spend as much time as needed here.

She placed a saddle over its stand and went to look at the list of tasks still to be done this day. There was a woman nearby that Eowyn had seen at the stables, but had never conversed with. The woman clearly cared for horses, and so Eowyn smiled at her.

"If you would wish to give a treat, the bag is in that cabinet there," she offered kindly.

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SOTP, July/August

Sat, 29 Jul 2017 15:25:05 GMT

Nikita: Fully fledged EMT and thus working two jobs, but generally happy about it. I almost gave her an item last month but it seemed like there were a lot of item posts, so that will probably wait until September. I have an abundance of terrible items to give her, so I picked one that should allow a lot of interaction with anyone who tags it. She will eventually need to decide if she can or should continue to work two jobs, but since she doesn't have much of a personal life (by choice!), she isn't as worried about not having time to do things.

Eowyn: Might get an Aragorn or an Eomer at some point, which would be fantastic. Other than that, she avoided being in a fairytale and has just been working at the stable and getting to know people. She's pretty content, but her voice is strong, so I'm happy to let the plot come to her. She transitioned from wanting to date someone and being a little lonely to deciding that perhaps she is not meant to do that. I have opinions about the way her story was wrapped up in canon, but I'm trying not to push too far away from that lest I be set upon by Tolkien scholars.

Sam: Sam just spent about a month stuck in Dean's shape, although he is now human-shaped again. He did not enjoy being dog-shaped for that long and is trying to now clean up the literal and figurative messes from that. I will probably do something with his magic again during the Unmaker plot. This time, he's not going to change at the full moon during the plot, so he'll be out and about during three nights when he usually isn't. Personal-life wise, he doesn't have one, but he's got a bit of a pack in Biffy and Lyall and that's a good thing for him. He feels somewhat older-brotherly towards Daine, too.

Daniel: Daniel is pretty sure he won the lottery about three months ago and has continued to be in a general state of bemused bliss. He's getting an item in August right before his six month anniversary in the city, but it's a goodish item. He's continuing to make friends with people from Marvel and not, and I think he and Hawkeye Pierce are someday going to get a little drunk about how terrible war is. I have an idea about a Hydra/HYDRA (which of those is correct? Do I just pick one?) plot this fall, jumping off from the Drembleydrop plot, and there will be some Action there if I do it.

Future: None.

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SOTP, April

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 00:04:06 GMT

Nikita: Is going to finish her classes to be an EMT this summer, so I'll have to decide at that point how much she'll be at Bondurant's and how much she'll be working as an EMT. She has a few friends, or at least friend-like people, and largely she's fairly content. She's always easy to tag in to things, even if she's not friendly in them, so I think she'll just keep going along.

Eowyn: I am a little concerned about Eowyn. Her voice is strong, but she keeps losing people she cares about, and she's not making connections quite fast enough to make up for that. I need to try to make more connections for her, or deeper ones, at least, so that she doesn't feel quite so much like she's standing on the steps at Edoras alone.

Sam: Sam is just Sam. He got his item and he is tickled pink about it. He doesn't live in the city anymore, so he has his space now, and he can go for a run any time he needs to. I'm interested to see how Sam reacts to some of the potential Were pups for the future, since he's not pack and is pretty proud of not being pack. He'd still like to be dating a little more, and maybe eventually dating a PC, but for now I'm having him occasionally see NPCs.

Daniel: Still settling in, but he has a job, and he's gone on a date. With Peggy, obviously, which short-circuited him starting to develop some leanings in the direction of another character. His arc for the next little while will be seeing how he fits into Darrow and into the lives and fortunes of some of the people here. I still want him to meet as many people as possible, because he's another one I can tag to a lot of things.

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A winter ride

Sat, 14 Jan 2017 19:04:24 GMT

The weather was cold and snowy, which suited Eowyn well. She had warm garments and a warm place to sleep, as did Bleod. The heat of the summer here was one that did not suit her nearly as much, and certainly did not suit Bleod. A winter coat could be grown, but in the summer Eowyn had to be sure not to allow Bleod to overheat.

Such it was that she was able to take long, leisurely rides in the countryside, stepping with Bleod through new-fallen snow and untrod paths while the horse's breath steamed gently in the air. They rode only as long as Bleod wished to, of course, for the mare's Mearas blood meant that even one of the line of Eorl could not and would not force her to do what she did not wish to do unless the circumstances be grave indeed.

Fortunately for both of them, the circumstances were not grave, and so Eowyn paused when Bleod indicated that she wished them to. The stream they were near flowed freely even in the winter and Eowyn thought it must be fed by some underground spring. The water was thus not too cold to drink and Bleod took her time in doing it.

Yes, this weather suited Eowyn well, though she turned in sudden attention to a noise behind her.

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SOTP, December/January

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 01:15:33 GMT

Nikita: Just finished her first semester at Darrow Community College, though her grades were not all that good since she kind of went on lockdown mode and stopped attending classes for awhile. She didn't get kicked out, but she definitely didn't make the Dean's List and she might have to work a little harder to be allowed to stay beyond next semester. She's continued to run Bondurant's and probably always will do that, though if/when she finishes school she'll have to rebalance her schedule again. In terms of people, she should interact with the usual suspects because she probably ghosted them for awhile. She won't explain that, but the usual suspects wouldn't expect her to either.

Future: She might get an item post sometime in the spring, although I already gave her the worst one, so whatever it is won't be quite that traumatic. Maybe.

Eowyn: Enjoying the winter. It feels like Rohan, and she's generally found in layers that are a bit more reminiscent of her Rohirric garments during the winter. She is still thinking about dating, but she's terrible at finding someone to date, so if anyone wants to volunteer their pup, let me know.

Future: Canon update? If I do, it would be to the Houses of Healing. I'd like her to know that she did defend her people and did fight, but the downside is she'll be post-Witch King and that might take awhile for her to recover from both physically and emotionally. She'll need her friends very much during that time.

Sam: I'm a little worried about Sam, although not as much as I have been. Sam's kind of a loner, but for awhile he was a little too much of a loner. He's tagged a few people lately that might end up being good for him, so his drop possibility has gone down.

Future: Still need to do the puppy play date. Life got away from me.

Future pups: I have an app ready to go, but as is usual, I'm not telling who it is because that'll jinx it.

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SOTP, August/September

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 23:23:43 GMT

None of mine are going to be alted for Darrow 2 because I'll be traveling for two weeks in the middle of the plot. I'm happy to play with alts, but I decided that travel plus major plot would end up equaling me dropping threads like I drop my phone (twice today!).

NIkita: Nikita will be starting classes at DCC this fall. She'll start out slow, mostly trying to catch up with the fact that her secondary school experience is pretty much nonexistent. Fortunately for her, she's intelligent and will pick up and possibly eventually test out of most of the really remedial classes. But it's Developmental Math and Developmental English for now.

Future: John Reese interests her, and I would like to see where that goes. I'm interested to play her as a student. It'll be a whole different kind of stress for her, and it'll mean she'll possibly have to give up some of her defensiveness about her lack of education.

Eowyn: There are several new horses at the stable, which Eowyn is quite pleased to know. She's met a few new people recently and I think she's developing a friendship with Arry Pottah. That tickles me to pieces, for obvious reasons.

Future: Please to be bringing me an Eomer, someone? Or a Faramir or Aragorn or Legolas, or really, anyone from LOTR. She tends to be sort of perpetually noisy and wanting to be played, but her blind date EP has gone over like a lead balloon, so I guess I'll just keep tagging her around.

Sam: Sam is also not good for EPs, I think. He's much more of a tag-around person. He's getting to know all the two-natured, though he hasn't met Luke yet, which we should fix.

Future: Puppy Play Date. It has to happen.

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SoTP, June/July 2016

Sat, 25 Jun 2016 15:41:16 GMT

Nikita: Moseying along. Being involved with the Kirin plot a few months ago was a good thing for her, because she reached some mental closure about being in Section. She realized the skills she has are less important than how she uses them, though she's still not particularly willing to use them. It has to be a really really good reason. She's going to be thinking about going back to school this summer and may have an EP this month where she's studying a college coursebook. She doesn't have a GED or anything beyond about an eighth-grade education, consistently, so she'll likely have to take about a zillion catch up classes, and she won't really want to admit that to too many people. The ultimate goal of going back to school is that she has decided she might want to be an EMT. This would mean a lot of change for her, including whether she could continue to run Bondurant's, but first let's get her into school consistently for the first time in ten years!

Future: That EP, but nothing much else. Plot finds Nikita.

Eowyn: Has her horse, and she is SO HAPPY about it. There are very few things that she could have gotten that she would want more, leaving aside Eomer. She will continue to work at the stables and tag various people. I really can tag her to anyone, and so I have.

Future: I still want her to go on a date.

Sam: Running the bar, but getting a bit restless. In some ways Darrow is better than Bon Temps because he doesn't have to hide who he is as much. He's made some twoey friends and some non-twoey friends, and he is definitely a fan of Adaline (not in love, though). But at the same time, he worries about how things are going back home. Specifically, he worries about Sookie. He's very quietly in love with her, which I don't think is a spoiler for the series!

Future: Maybe this month there will be a puppy play date, if anyone would like that?

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For Fili: A Commission.

Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:31:42 GMT

The holidays here were of course not those that would be celebrated at home, but there was still a harvest festival as well as a midwinter feast, it seemed. It was called "Christmas" here and was centered around both a religious observance and a non-religious one. She had not determined how the small child related to the aged man, but one thing she had noticed was that gifts were exchanged.

She was thankful and grateful for her friends and she wished them to have gifts. Some were simple and could be purchased from the merchants here, but Hild was different. Hild was the closest Eowyn had ever had to a sister, one who understood the challenges and the joys of a unique position in her society. Eowyn wished her to have something of Rohan, and hoped that even if Hild was sent back to her own time, the memories and the gift might follow.

After some thought, Eowyn decided a small piece of jewelry with a Rohirric motif might suit, and there was only one craftsman who would make it to her standards, she knew. She made her way to Fili's store and pushed the door open, hoping he was not so busy for a consultation.

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SOTP: October 2015

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 23:44:00 GMT

Eowyn: Settling in nicely. She has friends (Hild, Krem, Tolkienites, Jamie) and she has a job and she really sort of likes Darrow some days. She desperately wants to go home, though, and she worries about her friends and family at home. Who knows what Eomer will get up to if she's not there to watch out for him?
Silent Darrow: Yes. I think she'll be seeing Dead Eomer, Dead Theoden, and Unfortunately Alive Grima and Orcs, since those are her big fears. The Orcs represent Rohan being overrun by the shadow. Taking care of the Orcs and Grima is easy, but I haven't quite figured out how she'll defeat Dead Eomer and Dead Theoden. I may have just Orcs and Grima appear.
Future Plans: None, really. I'd like her to get to know more people and despite her words to Krem about dating, I kinda want her to find someone and go on a date. I am hopeful that defeating Grima in Silent Darrow will help her feel less self-conscious and panicky when men touch her.

Nikita: Might have actual friends? That she has told actual details about her life to? I know, it's weird. She does not want to go home, but she'd really like Walter to arrive. Or Birkoff, she could be happy with Birkoff. And because of that ... she's getting an item post. Maybe this month, possibly even next week. It will be traumatic. She'll want friends around, if they can deal with learning more about her past.
Silent Darrow: No way. You don't even want to deal with how Nikita's fears would manifest. Nikita doesn't either. She'll stay in Darrow and make endless pots of coffee for the people who are still here.
Future Plans: I really need to find someone for her to casually sleep with. She needs it.

Future pups: I am superstitious and never put anything here. It's a guaranteed app-rejection if I do.

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Voicemail

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 22:41:46 GMT

Standard electronic voicemail greeting

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Mailbox

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 22:41:00 GMT

All mail can be left here.

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A ride with Robb [AU]

Sat, 05 Jul 2014 16:30:24 GMT

Riding with Robb had begun as a way to exercise two of the horses at once, as well as a way for him to acquaint her with the island's farther reaches. At first it had occurred infrequently and accidentally, merely because both were in the stable at the same time. Recently, however, she had begun arranging to be in the stables at the same time each day to provide the horses with more structure, which some seemed to appreciate. She had noticed that Robb had also begun to appear at that time more often than not. While she did not presume to believe that he was arranging his visits to coincide with hers, she would not object. Conversation with Robb was always enjoyable and two pairs of hands were often helpful if the horses declined to do as they were asked to do.

When she walked into the stables today, she was mostly unsurprised to note that he was there was well.

"Good morrow to you, Robb," she said warmly.

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A Bow for Bran

Sat, 24 May 2014 23:50:38 GMT

Finding an active young one was not simple, but Eowyn was determined. Kili had completed the bow and presented it to Eowyn a few days earlier. It was well-made, as she had known it would be, with a good draw and carefully carved Cirth on the nocks. She had asked Kili what the symbols meant somewhat hesitantly, for she knew well how dwarrows guarded their language, but he had told her willingly. It was, apparently, a traditional phrase for swift arrows and good aim. Since Bran was a child, it also had a few words for growing up strong and brave.

She had wrapped the bow in cloth together with its arrows and quiver and gone to Summerfell first. If Bran was not there, someone might be able to tell her in which direction he had gone.

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Finding a Bowyer

Sat, 29 Mar 2014 00:33:17 GMT

She had spoken to Robb. He had agreed that Bran was old enough and responsible enough to have a bow of his own, especially given his age. Eowyn had not quite realized that Bran was ten and scolded herself mentally for presuming that size and age had anything to do with ability. Not having the use of his legs did not mean that Bran was any less able to become a warrior in his own way.

Kili was the only bowyer she knew and the only bowyer she would use even had she known another. She had grown to like these dwarrows as well during her time on the island, especially Kili and Fili. Lord Thorin reminded her quite firmly of Theoden King in his most regal mannerisms, which tended to make her revert to the stiffness and protocol required by the royal court. It was not so with Fili and Kili.

She did not know exactly where the dwarrows resided, other than that it was within one of the mountains, but she had nothing else to do with her day. She would walk around and near the entrances to the various caves and perhaps at some point she would find one of the dwarrows. Even if she did not find Kili, Fili or Lord Thorin would perhaps be willing to send a message to Kili for her.

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Of horses and swords

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 03:35:02 GMT

Eowyn felt that she was almost settled into the island now, though she still felt alien most of the time. She did not speak nor dress like most of the residents and she did not choose to spend her days as most did.

She always spent at least some time each day exercising and caring for one of the horses in the stables at Summerfell. Sometimes it was the same horse but often she rotated so that each horse had attention and care, though she was always careful not to ride those horses that had regular riders.

Training took her time as well, since she did not wish to lose any skills while she was out of her own world. If what others had said was true and she did return unexpectedly, she would not disgrace herself and her people by being unready for it. Unfortunately, she was forced to train with a wooden stick for a sword, which made her feel as if she were a half-trained child rather than a true shieldmaiden.

On this day, she was returning to the stables after training with her horse of the day, which was one of the horses she most often rode. The mare's name was Lorica, but privately Eowyn called her Arod since she looked so much like Lord Legolas' horse.

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Debut

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 01:15:44 GMT

It had been a pleasant day, for all that it had been spent moving as quickly as possible towards Helm’s Deep. The weather was good, the caravan traveled well, and she’d had another conversation with Gimli about his people. He was far friendlier than any of the other dwarves she’d met as they moved through Rohan, but then most of those Dwarves had been traveling smiths. It was a hard life for anyone, even without the legendary unfriendliness of Dwarves. Gimli was more like the Rohirrim. He was certainly no horseman, but he was good-natured, fierce, and steadfast. She would be pleased to fight alongside him, if given the chance. She would be pleased to fight alongside any of the four riders, if given the chance. She had secret hopes for standing alongside Aragorn in other ways as well, though she spoke of it to no one.

Of course pleasant times could not last, not with the Riddermark in danger from all sides, and she started as the sounds of fighting came over the hill where the outriders had gone ahead. The next few moments were a blur as the Rohirrim separated from the caravan and she felt her heart beating faster. Perhaps now she would be permitted to fight. Everyone able to hold a sword would be needed to keep the caravan safe. Surely Theoden King would see that, and she looked up as he whirled Snowmane back towards her.

“You must lead the people to Helm’s Deep and make haste,” Theoden ordered her.

“I can fight,” she argued, feeling the cage close around her again. Once more she was not permitted to serve in the way she had trained.

“No!” he said. “You must do this. For me.”

She could not countermand a direct order from her king, nor from her uncle, and she turned away so he would not see the anger on her face. She would lead her people. She would take them to Helm’s Deep.

“Make for the lower road!” she called to the caravan. “Stay together!”

The caravan started moving even more quickly, urged along by the caravan-guards, and she glanced up to see Aragorn whirling away on Hasufel. Some fear entered her heart, some fear that she could not name, and she stared at him until he was gone over the ridge.

When she turned back to the caravan, it was not there. She was not there. She didn’t recognize the trees or the mountains, nor the sounds of the animals around her. What had happened? What magic was this? What wizardry? Where were her people?

She might have stood there forever, trying to understand what had happened, if she had not heard a terrible sound, a low growling that filled her with dread and then with steel. There was a Warg somewhere near, and she had no sword. She had her boot-knife, though, and she would fight it as a shieldmaiden of Rohan should. She stripped her surcoat off, dropped her hair under her dress, then pulled out her knife. One boot-knife against a Warg would do almost nothing, but she would at least slow the Warg down and give the caravan more of a chance. She would keep her people safe.

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