Blurb: Éowyn, shieldmaiden of Rohan, has kept her uncle, the king, and the kingdom from the hands of his evil advisor, Gríma Wormtongue, but her hope begins to fade. She has watched him become weaker, she has seen her brother, Éomer leave her to fight what is left of the Uruk-hai and she has watched her cousin Théodred slip away from the living. The arrival Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli is a burst of hope for the people and Éowyn. But Saruman is plotting to attack Rohan with what is left of his forces, after the assault on Isengard by the Ents, in an effort to stop his huge army from marching on Edoras and Helm's Deep. Éomer and Théoden forbid Éowyn to fight in the battle of Helm's Deep although she has the skill to. She begins to see that she will always be the one left behind, until the time when no one will return. The War of the Ring has begun and she knows that she may never see Aragorn again. Will Éowyn defy the king's orders? Will she risk everything to fight beside Aragorn? Can she prove to all of them that she has the skill to make a difference? Will she return alive? Is there hope in the darkness for her?

Note: In this adaptation of 'The Lord of the Rings', the story is quite different, however, you may recognise a few lines from both the movie and the book, particularly in the Battle of Helm's Deep. Arwen is not in this version as if she was there would be no romance between Éowyn and Aragorn (meaning that she is so pretty that Aragorn would not even think of betraying her). Frodo has taken the ring with Sam, Merry, Pippin and Gandalf the White, to Minas Tirith to assist Denethor and Faramir in their struggle against Mordor. Meanwhile, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli have proceeded to Rohan's capital, Edoras, to ask help of Théoden, king of Rohan.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Lord of the Rings; they are the property of J.R.R. Tolkien.

A/N: Ok, this chapter has finally been edited, just like I promised. Now with updated scenes and Sindarin.

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Chapter 1: Uneasy Feelings

            Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli had been riding for days. Hasufel and Arod were tired, so Aragorn called the company to a halt. The sun was setting slowly behind the snow-capped peaks in the distance. The shadows were falling over the rustic landscape that was Rohan. Darkness was falling and they needed to set up camp.

Aragorn stared out over the plains from their position. Legolas dismounted and walked over to his friend, followed by a rather sore Gimli. He laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Man na han? Delu na?" (What is it? Is there trouble?) he asked.

"Law, ta na ú-nad," (No, it is nothing,) he replied as his blue-grey eyes surveyed the green valley below, gleaming in the fast falling light.

Legolas turned his bright blue eyes upward, scouring the skies thoroughly. Aragorn went on to unpack the horses and set up camp. Gimli set off to look for something for them all to eat that evening while Legolas went looking for firewood. When the fire was made and Gimli had returned with a few rabbits and some herbs, they sat around the fire and, as they ate, discussed the following day's journey.

Aragorn seemed on-edge and troubled throughout the night. He sat in silence, sharpening his sword, staring vaguely at the ground. Legolas rose from his place beside and seated himself beside Aragorn.

"Man le trasta? (What troubles you?) I sense no danger here and yet you seem ill-at-ease."

Aragorn sighed and lifted his eyes to the stars.

"Something troubles me but I am unsure of what it is. It is hidden from my sight and yet it causes me concern."

"Losto, mellon nîn, losto," (Rest, my friend, rest) suggested Legolas. "You are weary from our travels. You have barely slept."

 Legolas and Gimli welcomed a good night's sleep, but Aragorn could not sleep; he sat on a rock, overlooking the valley, pipe in mouth, staring into the endless night. The stars glittered above his head in the dark skies.

            Far away, in Edoras, at the Hall of Meduseld, Éowyn also struggled to find rest. Outside, the night was pitch-black darkness, clouds concealed the stars in the sky, but it was not so dark as that which had engulfed the Golden Hall of Meduseld. The evil that had consumed them, sending all into a spiral of despair from which they could not escape. Théodred was slipping further away from the land of the living after he was attacked by orcs, Gríma was tightening his grip on the kingdom of Rohan and Éowyn knew that it was only a matter of time before Théoden fell into darkness.

She paced up and down the main hall in a nervous fashion, her white gown trailing on the stone floor. Her footsteps echoed around the massive room and off the stone walls. How she wanted Éomer to return and comfort her; how she hoped that Théoden would be rid of Gríma. As she returned to her room, she saw a shadow cast itself on the stone floor. She knew to whom it belonged.

"Fair lady, Éowyn," said a silky voice behind her.

"Do no address me so, Gríma," she retorted, as the footsteps grew nearer.

She felt Gríma's bony hand reached for her slender one, felt the ice cold of his lips against her soft skin. It made her blood run cold. She withdrew her hand sharply, glaring at him.

"How dare you," she breathed. "You have no right to touch me."

"But for a lady so beautiful as yourself, it seems fitting," he answered slyly.

"I do not wish for such compliments from you, Gríma," she said icily, turning away; but he caught her wrist.

"Do not turn away the king's advisor so casually, my lady," he growled. "How can you be sure that anyone will take you, you are so headstrong, not an admired quality."

He stalked towards her, expending a hand to her face, so close to her skin.

"You are alone, Éowyn," he said. "No one will save you from this misery. All I can offer is myself."

It seemed to her then, that all hope had deserted her. She was alone, unable to escape this darkness that had begun to consume her home, her loved ones, and herself. Doubt gnawed at her mind, but she refused to yield. She pushed him away.

"What makes you think that I would ever choose you?" she spat. "Your evil is clear to me, even if you veil it from other eyes. Your words are poison. Leave me."

"I am the king's advisor, and I demand respect from all," he replied, his face filled with rage, seizing her wrist again.

"And I am a lady, sister-daughter to the King, and I too demand respect," commanded Éowyn. "I insist that you release me or I shall call the guards and we can take this matter to the king."

She glared at him, slowly, she felt the grip loosen slowly, and watched him recoil.

"This is not the end," he hissed. "You cannot escape the darkness that falls now. Things have been set in motion that cannot be undone."

He swept out of the room, his robes swishing behind him, as he left.

Éowyn stood silently in the massive hall for some time before she left, lost in confusion and bewilderment. As she made her way to her room, she pondered Gríma's words. Was he right? Would, could anyone save her from this misery?

She sank onto her bed and lay still for some time, the conversation still flying around in her head. The all-consuming shadow that had settled over Edoras, the shadow she felt no one else could see or feel. The despair that had crept into her home and was now destroying her uncle. Perhaps she was alone. Perhaps no one would save them. No, she could not let herself think in this way.  She would not abandon hope, nor would she give Gríma the pleasure of seeing her so distressed. She must remain strong, for her people, for her family, for herself.

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A/N: So, what do you think of the redone Chapter 1? Longer? More detailed? I thought it was a bit rushed when I first wrote it. Now was the time to rewrite parts of it, AND correct my Sindarin! Yay! To those who pointed that out, thank you. I have spent the past six months correcting it, and teaching myself how to form verb and noun endings, the rules, etc. from about 5 different sites. And now, COMPLETED! I'm so proud. *Beams*

Ok, then, on to the next rewritten chapter!

Mousie2