Certain Lords and Ladies of Gondor are lucky that in the Movie version of LOTR all of the unwounded Riders of Rohan had marched on the Black Gate in the Book version Marshal Elfhelm was left with almost 3000 riders to protect the city and reopen the road to Rohan.

In that Book Version Elfhelm and probably some of the other leading Captains of Rohan would certainly have been invited to the Formal party at the Steward's palace and they wouldn't have been nearly as polite a Eowyn was; in fact I would not have been surprised if those sneering insults to Eowyn White Lady of Rohan, Slayer of the Witch King, Sister-daughter to Theoden King, Sister of Eomer King didn't provoke the men of Rohan into instant bloodshed or at least challenging the Lords of Gondor to duels.

Clearly this story is set in the movie canon rather than in the book. In the movie Denethor's growing madness left Minas Tirith ill prepared for siege. In the book the men of Gondor had assembled vast amounts of provisions, arms, and other supplies before Sauron's armies marched on the city; they had also sent away all the non-combatants both to protect them and to preserve all the supplies in the city for the fighting men. Also in the book Aragorn and the other Captains agreed not to take every man they could raise (since their march on the Black Gate was strictly a diversion) instead they took only 7000 men and left many more to hold the city.

I enjoy and admire your writing but I couldn't help making this comment.

Thanks for this lovely look into the romance of Faramir and Eowyn, who are my favourite LOTR couple. I have no problem with them being intimate before marriage. I have a feeling it was more common then we think in the medieval time period. Oh, and I've read Chaucer's Cantenbury Tales and so I agree that he is certainly not shy about sexuality.

I've read your story a few times from start to finish already and I'm just now leaving a review, ahhh I'm sorry. This was the first EowynxFaramir fanfic I read after reading the Return of the King, and I have to say I'm SUPER happy that I chose to read your story first. No doubt there are other well-written EowynxFaramir stories on this site, but after sifting through most of them, I really find that none can top your story. It's very true to the books (and movies), and the characters and their personalities themselves. It was so easy to picture in my head as I read along, as if I were watching them in the movie. Thank you for writing such an amazing, well-written story :) (one of my favorites on the site)

Lovely story. I loved your description of the dancing and just the general atmosphere you've created around their new home.

Things are going to be difficult for Eomer and Lothiriel. Sigh. I'm glad that Eowyn and Lothiriel made amends (at least somewhat). I'm also very happy that she forgot about all the politics and enjoyed her (second) wedding.

Very funny strategy of putting two enemies to guard Rustwen. I was glad that she wasn't forgotten. Loved Eowyn and Eomer's talk, esp. when she recognized that his insecurity came from Wormtongue's words. I'm a Lothiriel/Eomer fan so I hope he gets over it. I wish Eowyn would see more of the good of Gondor. She seems only to see the negative lately. Glad to see the two of them together again.

Now it is time for the lawyer in me to be thrilled. (I am a lawyer by license, although it is a trade which I now practice infrequently.) I loved their discussion - both the recognition of the issues of who can be a witness, hearsay, dying declaration, etc. and how well Eowyn framed things. I can't imagine how many different areas of disarray need to be addressed and how overlapping they would be, i.e. getting the bandits under control is now endangered by the useless laws about women as witnesses. Any chance they could get them tried in Rohan for crimes committed there?

Tense situation. What did happen with Rustwen? I like Faramir's cool handling of things, but it seems like he is in a trap. Is Elfhelm gone or nearby to back him up?

Horrible to think about the many ways people can be trapped in awful situations. I do appreciate the efforts that Faramir and Eowyn, et al, are making to figure out what is going on and what can be proven. Glad they were able to save Rustwen.

So this really is a bunch of scum buckets. And we're back to Castamir. What a nest of hornets. Liked Eowyn's retort, although it does reinforce the impression that they are in bed with the Rohirrim.

That was quite dramatic and amazingly inventive. I just hate wargs. The frightened horses in the water were terrifying. I love how familiar you seem to be with horses. Glad Eowyn and Cynefrid have reconciled, even if it was wordless. Faramir's letter was wonderful.

I love Eowyn's tortured musings over why she fights. Her letter was lovely. Again - I adore the historical detail.

The hardest fights are when you are really fighting against reality, against the universe and neither of you has the answers. I am glad that they had "a row" and handled it reasonably well. So many interesting issues - about the micro v. the macro, about choice - how much anyone really has, how much, if any, any of us are due. I like that Faramir had a temper here too. I loved/hated it when he said he would stay with his troops. Glad he changed his mind.

Nice that they run into each other. Looks like she has the same temper as Eomund and Eomer. I hope this experience tempers it, although part of me understands why she was so angry.