TITLE: Spirit  
AUTHOR: Aeneus (aeneus111@hotmail.com)  
RATING: R  
PAIRING: Éowyn/Galadriel  
SUMMARY: Éowyn and Galadriel meet in Edoras before 
Theoden's funeral.  
DISTRIBUTION: Please ask first.  
DISCLAIMER: All of these characters are Tolkien's, not 
mine. This is written purely for my own entertainment and 
hopefully that of others.  
FEEDBACK: Highly appreciated  
NOTE: In response to the Library of Moria femslash 
challenge. Set during RotK (small liberties are taken with 
the timeline). 
 
---  
 
The halls of Meduseld felt cold. Not just the air, also the 
whole atmosphere. Rohan was in mourning for its lost king. 
Éomer had left weeks before to bring Theoden's body back 
from Minis Tirith and was expected back tomorrow. Until 
that time Éowyn walked the halls alone.  
 
The chill made the hairs on her arms stand up. The waiting 
was making her uneasy, but still she found no rest sitting 
with the other women, preparing for the funeral. She had 
felt healed when she had taken her leave of Faramir to go 
back to her own city. But now that seemed so far away.  
 
When she left Edoras, she had been prepared to die with 
honour in battle for her country. Now she had made a pledge 
to lay down her arms and become a healer. All done in love 
for the steward who had been so kind to her and who had 
made her forget her disappointment and longing for the 
great glory of king Aragorn for a while.  
 
Her feelings may have been forgotten for a brief time, but 
they had not gone. She could still feel them. Especially 
now that she was back among her kindred. Although her 
betrothal to the lord Faramir was yet to be made official, 
word had spread of all that had happened in Gondor during 
and after the war of the Ring. Instead of the respect that 
she had wanted so hard to gain, they looked upon her with 
relieve and pity. Like she had gone temporarily mad, but 
had now luckily come to her senses.  
 
It pained her to remember when she had first told Éomer of 
her words to Faramir. He had responded with gladness, but 
also with reserve. He had asked if she was sure, maybe 
thinking her still unstable from her injury, and confided 
in her the words Aragorn and Gandalf had spoken to him in 
the house of healing. How they had perceived her 
unhappiness, but also her spirit and her courage. Was she 
truly ready to become a healer and a wife? She had assured 
him of her love for Faramir, but Éomer's tone had shaken 
her. Her own brother, who would soon be declared king of 
the Mark, feared her to freeze once more.  
 
So with a shiver she made for her sleeping quarter to 
retire for the night. But doubt and unrest now plagued her 
and it was long before she finally fell asleep.  
 
***  
 
The great number in their company made progress slow. They 
had left the capital of Gondor fourteen days ago and it 
would take another day before they would reach Edoras. A 
camp was made for the night and a guard was set up around 
the wain of the fallen king.  
 
Galadriel took the opportunity to seek out her son-in-law 
Elrond. They had spoken often before but there was still 
more that needed to be said. Many preparations had to be 
made before they would take the final ship West. She could 
clearly feel Elrond's reluctance to leave his only daughter 
behind.  
 
She found him quietly observing the men of Rohan tending to 
Theoden's wain. He sighed as she stood beside him. "So much 
care for the dead."  
 
"He gave his live in honour, he deserves no less."  
 
"Still, what will that mean in the end? Middle-earth may be 
at peace now, but it won't last. You know that." Elrond 
looked sideways at Galadriel. She nodded that she knew this 
too. "What will happen then?"  
 
"That will not be our concern anymore. That is for Men to 
determine."  
 
"Men will die. Everyone here will die regardless." Elrond 
gestured towards the tents the men had set up, somewhat 
away from the elven tents. "It will all come to nothing. 
How can I leave Arwen to face this doom?"  
 
It saddened her to hear the bitterness in his voice. "You 
underestimate the potential of Men. There's great strength 
in the people of Rohan and Gondor. I can feel it. The race 
of Men has a lot to offer Middle-earth and Arwen would be 
proud to join with its faith."  
 
Indeed she had felt strength not only in the men of Rohan, 
but especially in one of their women. The Lady Éowyn had 
caught her mind when she had first seen her in Minas 
Tirith, even though they had not had the opportunity to 
meet then. As the company approached closer to Edoras, she 
sensed again that powerful will trying to restrain an even 
more powerful urge for freedom. It intrigued her to find 
such force in a mortal.  
 
"We should not linger on the future, but embrace the time 
our races still have together."  
 
Galadriel left Elrond deep in thought as she went back to 
join Celeborn for the night. Her own thoughts dwelling on 
their conversation and the mortal woman she was finally 
about to meet.  
 
***  
 
Every man, woman and child lined the streets to pay tribute 
to Theoden and to wonder at the strange assembly of people 
and races who accompanied the procession through Edoras to 
the great hall of Meduseld. From the terrace Éowyn watched 
them approach. As she tried to spot her brother Éomer and 
her future husband Faramir, her eyes fell on a tall and 
radiant she-elf. She was dressed in a long flowing white 
gown and her golden hair seemed to catch the rays of the 
sun and reflect them like light on water. She rode proudly 
on a magnificent white horse that would impress many of 
Rohan's experienced horsemen.  
 
Éowyn recognised the elfwoman as the queen of Lothlorien. 
She had seen her before in Minas Tirith. The Lady of the 
Wood was a legendary figure in Rohan's history and even as 
a child Éowyn was fascinated by the stories and folk tales 
about this powerful and magical woman.  
 
//Lady of Rohan//  
 
The voice in her head startled Éowyn. She looked and saw 
the elven queen's eyes fixed on her from afar. Seeing this 
figure for the first time in real life had made her shiver 
with excitement and now she felt that same kind of 
anticipation rise up in her again.  
 
//I feel your struggle//  
 
The alien voice was hypnotising and felt strange in her 
head. She didn't know how to respond.  
 
//Do not fear me. I am Galadriel//  
 
Not knowing what else to do, Éowyn bowed her head in 
greeting. She could see Galadriel repeat the gesture in the 
distance.  
 
While the king's body was laid down in one of the halls, 
Éomer immediately came to look for his sister. Éowyn was 
busy overseeing the housemaids who were making last minute 
preparations for dinner that night. At the sight of her 
brother she smiled relieved. "All has been made ready for 
your return. I've seen to it that everything is in order."  
 
"And what of you. Have you seen Faramir yet?" Éomer was 
loath to press his sister again after their difficult 
conversation in Minas Tirith, but he felt it had to be 
done.  
 
Éowyn tried to hide her unease at his question. "No, he has 
been busy."  
 
"I will announce you betrothal after Theoden's funeral. Can 
I still say you give your hand freely?"  
 
"I will not change my word."  
 
"How about your mind?"  
 
She did not respond and before her brother could press 
further, the Lothlorien queen approached. Immediately Éomer 
stood up straight to welcome her.  
 
"I would like to introduce my sister Éowyn."  
 
Éowyn bowed her head again.  
 
"I've heard of your great deeds in slaying the Nazgul king. 
I'm glad to see you have fully recovered."  
 
The complement made Éowyn stand up straight again. 
Galadriel looked at her with keen interest. "Indeed I have, 
my Lady."  
 
"I have a gift for you. I would have given it to you in 
Minas Tirith, but it was not quite ready then."  
 
"I'm honoured."  
 
"Then I will see you later." With that, Galadriel moved 
away to join her kinsmen, leaving Éowyn stunned.  
 
***  
 
It wasn't until the day before the funeral that they met 
together once more. Galadriel found Éowyn alone on the 
terrace watching the stars. She looked down when she heard 
the elfwoman speak.  
 
"Lady Éowyn, I've brought you the gift I spoke of."  
 
Éowyn saw that Galadriel carried a long packet wrapped in 
cloth. "There's no need."  
 
"On the contrary, your courage earned no less. Take it."  
 
Éowyn took the packet and slowly unwrapped it. She could 
hardly believe her eyes as her own sword lay there before 
her. "How is this possible?"  
 
"The shards were saved and I commanded it to be reforged. 
Such a great sword deserves not to be broken."  
 
//Like its wielder//  
 
Éowyn handled the sword for a while, before responding. "It 
did not break me." She brought the blade to a standstill a 
little bit too close to Galadriel's front.  
 
Galadriel however remained unfazed by this action. "You 
fear you are." She saw Éowyn begin to lower the sword, 
showing in her eyes her internal struggle. The elf saw her 
opening. She suddenly stepped closer and with one hand 
grabbed the wrist of Éowyn's sword-arm. With the other she 
held on to Éowyn's shoulder to hold her tight. "I've lived 
through the ages and I know the power of a sword. But there 
is greater power still."  
 
Éowyn's pupils had grown large. She pushed against her 
restrains, but Galadriel just increased the pressure on her 
wrist, making her drop the sword. The hand on her shoulder 
moved up to her head and pulled her in closer.  
 
Galadriel's voice had dropped to a whisper. "Willpower." 
She then bend down and to Éowyn's surprise kissed her 
softly on her lips. "I feel it in you and that can never be 
taken away."  
 
Éowyn however wasn't taken aback for long. She manoeuvred 
her free arm in between their bodies for leverage and with 
one strong push freed herself. "You underestimate me like 
the rest of them."  
 
The two women eyed each other for a moment.  
 
"No, you underestimate yourself. You think because others 
might see in you nothing more but a nurse and a wife, that 
that is all you will be." Galadriel spoke calmly.  
 
Éowyn forced her lips together, not willing to show how 
accurate the elfwoman's words were.  
 
Galadriel stepped closer, making Éowyn immediately stand on 
guard. But this time she moved slow and openly. Éowyn still 
remained tense, ready for any more unexpected moves, but 
Galadriel only laid her hand gently on the woman's arm. 
"You don't need to lose your freedom in this marriage.....I 
never did in mine."  
 
She kissed Éowyn again, this time letting it last longer 
before pulling back slightly. "Your will is yours alone. 
Let that give you strength."  
 
Éowyn was still speechless when the other woman kissed her 
lightly on the side of her neck. She hadn't felt these 
kinds of powerful emotions since she rode off from Edoras 
as Dernhelm. Her hands felt along Galadriel's shoulders and 
arms, feeling both the soft skin and the strong muscles 
underneath.  
 
"You're beautiful." She had said the words before she could 
think about them, but she knew them to be true.  
 
Galadriel laid her hand against Éowyn's cheek. "So are you 
Lady of the Mark.....Slayer of evil.....Warrior of Rohan." 
Her other hand came to rest on Éowyn's waist. "Let me show 
you how beautiful you are."  
 
She could barely nod, so wrapped up was Éowyn in her 
feelings. Side by side they left the terrace.  
 
***  
 
Éowyn's bedroom was modest, but comfortable. Once inside 
Éowyn desperately wanted to feel more of Galadriel's mouth 
on her own, but when she reached up, the elfwoman grabbed 
her arm and twisted it behind her back.  
 
"Show me more of that will of yours."  
 
She didn't need to hear those words twice. Éowyn twisted 
round, pulling the taller woman with her. Galadriel now had 
to hold on to her to keep from falling. Éowyn took instant 
advantage of the elf's vulnerability by kissing her 
strongly.  
 
Galadriel soon regained her balance and returned the kiss 
with like force. Their tongues explored each other's mouth 
mercilessly. All the while Galadriel slowly manoeuvred 
Éowyn round so she had her back to a wooden writing table. 
With one swift motion Galadriel lifted her onto the desk.  
 
After taking a second to realise what had happened, Éowyn 
hiked up her dress and wrapped her legs around the elf to 
pull her in. Galadriel took hold of the fringe of the 
dress, but waited before pulling it up even further. 
"You've already shown me strength, now will you let me show 
you beauty?"  
 
Éowyn's mind tumbled through the events of the past month, 
from Aragorn, Dernhelm, Theoden and Faramir, till the woman 
before her. There was no more doubt in her mind. "We have 
this night."  
 
***  
 
Galadriel left the mortal woman sleeping soundly as she 
refastened her dress and quietly left the room. There were 
few people about at this early hour, so none noticed the 
tall elfwoman walk back to the guesthouse.  
 
When she entered her own room, she wasn't surprised to see 
her husband already awake. Celeborn set by the window 
staring far into the distance while the stars faded in the 
coming daylight. He didn't even turn when Galadriel entered 
the room. "After al these countless years, this land still 
holds so much beauty."  
 
Even though she herself had lived in Valinor at the height 
of its splendour, she still had to agree with him. "Indeed 
it does."  
 
Celeborn looked at her. "Are we really ready to leave?"  
 
Galadriel crossed the room to stand by him and gave him a 
soft kiss on his forehead. "I am."  
 
END