Promises (A LOTR/Legolas Love Story) *Completed*

Chapter 25: For Arwen

Estelwen (Alastegiel) POV

“The woman of this country learned long ago: Those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain." I hear Éowyn say as I walk down a hall. I look around a corner seeing Éowyn sheathing her sword and talking to Aragorn.

“What do you fear, my lady?" Aragorn asks her.

“A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of Valor has gone beyond recall or desire." Éowyn answers him.

Aragorn shakes his head, “You are a daughter of kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that would be your fate." After he says this, I can tell by the look that Éowyn gives Aragorn that she loves him. But his heart already belongs to another, Arwen. Aragorn bows to her and leaves.

                                                  ***

The next day we take off for Helm's Deep. I am riding next to Aragorn. Gimli is in front of us and his horse is being lead by Éowyn. Legolas is up in the front being a lookout.

Gimli starts to speak to Éowyn, “It's true, you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they are often mistaken for Dwarf men."

Éowyn turns around to look at Aragorn. “It's the beards." Aragorn whispers then makes a motion with his hand as a beard.

Éowyn says, “Shh."

“This, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf woman and that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground which is, of course ridiculous." Gimli continues, Éowyn and I start to laugh. Then Gimli's horse starts to gallop and Gimli falls off his horse. “It's all right. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate." He says as Éowyn helps him up.

“I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time. She was a girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then she was left alone, to tent her King in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who should have loved her as a father." King Thèoden says to Aragorn and I. Éowyn turns to look at Aragorn and smiles.

We stop to rest and Éowyn has made soup. She goes up to Gimli and shows him the stew, “Gimli?"

“No, I couldn't. I really couldn't." he says to her.

She then walks up to Aragorn. “I made some stew. It isn't much, but it's hot."

Aragorn takes the bowl, “Thank you." He says then takes a bite. I can tell by the look on his face the stew tastes bad. He nods his head. “It's good." He manages to say.

“Really?" Éowyn asks, happy that he likes her stew. I smile.

She starts to walk away and Aragorn goes to pour the stew out. But then she turns back around and says, “My uncle told me a strange thing. He said that you rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather. But he must be mistaken. "

“King Thèoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time." Aragorn says.

“Then you must be at least 60." Aragorn shakes his head. “Seventy? But you cannot be 80!"

“Eighty-seven." Aragorn admits.

“You are one of the Dúnedain. A descendant of Númenor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race had passed into legend." Éowyn says shocked.

“There are few of us left. The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago." Aragorn says.

“I'm sorry." Éowyn apologies, “Please, eat." She watches as he takes another bite.