Arwen had been more than half expecting Aragorn to
suggest she remain behind in Dunharrow with the
Rohirrim Women and children but he didn't. Perhaps he
was learning.

   "You are one of the Dunedain of the North now,
Wife." he warned. "I expect you to obey your Chieftain
as my other folk do."

   She made innocent eyes at him. "Of course,
Dunadan."

   He shook his head. "No. Seriously, Arwen."

   "Seriously." she said turning grave as he. "I have
been taught Ranger discipline by your own Grandmother,
Aragorn. I will obey any order you give me as my
captain."

   He studied her face, smiled. "I believe you." Held
out his hand. "Time to go."

   The Grey Company had assembled behind Aragorn's
tent in the dark hour just before dawn but was not yet
mounted when a fair haired Rohirrim Woman erupted
among them, arrowing straight to Aragorn. She was
young, lovely and distraught.

   Her voice was not loud but clearly audible to
Elvish and Dunedain ears. "You cannot mean to leave
now, on the eve of battle!"

   Aragorn's answer they could not hear, for it was
pitched Ranger fashion to reach no further than the
ear of his listener. 

   "We need you here! You are our captain and our
hope, you cannot abandon us!"

   Again he answered, and again she was not satisfied.
"Then let me ride with you!"

   By now Arwen had worked her way close enough to
catch Aragorn's reply. "You know I cannot do that
Eowyn, why do you ask?"

   "Do you not know?" she asked, with a simple
poignancy that cut Arwen to the heart.

   Aragorn seemed to brace himself. "You love but a
shadow and a thought." he said, hard words gently
spoken. "A dream of glory and great deeds and lands
far from Rohan." with real pain. "I cannot give you
what you want."

   Arwen had heard enough, too much, she started to
back away but the other woman caught the motion out of
the corner of her eye and turned. Their eyes met.

   Arwen saw a bedazzled child, worshipping a hero out
of legend with all the fervor of an innocent heart. A
heart that was breaking right before their eyes. She
took an impulsive step towards her, stopped at
Aragorn's sharp gesture.

   "This is Arwen." he said quietly. "I was mistaken,
Eowyn, when I told you she had gone oversea. She has
chosen to cleave to me and renounced the Blessed
Land."

   Eowyn said nothing. Just stood there, white and
cold, like a frost blighted lily. Arwen wished
desperately she'd cry. This kind of frozen shock was
dangerous. She looked at Aragorn. He shook his head.

   "Farewell, Lady of Rohan. May fortune bless you."

   He mounted and Arwen had no choice but to follow
suit. Her last glimpse of  Eowyn was that pale,
stricken face looking after them, still without a
tear. *Maybe when she's alone she'll cry.*

   She looked at Aragorn. He seemed in almost as bad a
case. "Estel?"

   "I have been a fool." he said bitterly, sighed.
"She is very young, and brave and high spirited." a
pale smile touched his face. "Very like my White
Flower."

   Arwen nodded understanding. "But she is neither a
child nor your daughter." (1)

   "No." he agreed grimly.

  They wended their way between the tents towards the
gap in the cliff face at the rear of the shelf. Passed
the Dwarf Gimli sitting beside his pavillion, pipe in
hand.

   "And where do you think you're going?" he asked, a
dangerous glint in his eye.

   "Not this time, Gimli." Aragorn told him.

   "Have you learned nothing about the stubborness of
Dwarves?" a clear, Elven voice asked. And there was
Legolas, smiling and leading a white horse.

   "We're going with you, laddie." Gimli said, moving
to stand, thick and immoveable, beside his companion.
"To whatever end. Accept it."

   "It seems I have no choice." Aragorn conceeded. Elf
and Dwarf exchanged triumphant grins.

   The camp of the Rohirrim seemed strangely wakeful
for such an hour, many eyes watched as the Grey
Company filed through the narrow gap of the Dimholt
gate.

   Gimli rode pillion behind Legolas. Elf, Dwarf and
horse all seemingly well accustomed to the
arrangement. Clearly Legolas' guarded relationship
with this member of the Fellowship had changed greatly
since they'd left Rivendell.

   Arwen looked at Aragorn. He was frowning broodingly
into the darkness ahead, still troubled about the
girl. She reached over to take his hand. "Eowyn will
be all right." she said gently, drawing on her own
vast experience with infatuated young Men. "Time and
distance are the best medicines." glanced sidelong at
Halbarad, riding alongside. "Indeed some of my
admirers have forgotten me with almost insulting speed
after meeting a few eligible young ladies of their own
kind!"

   Halbarad smiled. "I have never stopped loving you,
my sweet Arwen. Those girls simply helped me put that
feeling into its proper perspective." looked past her
at his nephew. "Hopefully there will be some gallant
Rider to do the same for Eowyn."

   But Aragorn shook his head. "I would it were that
simple. Eowyn has suffered deeply this past year or
more. Watched her uncle sink into dotage, her country
fall under the shadow of Saruman, lost a cousin who
was as a brother to her - and now this."

   Arwen bit her lip. Aragorn was right. There had
been more than simple heartbreak in Eowyn's white
face, something very close to true despair.

   "I fear for her." he said quietly, adding grimly.
"I should never have paid her such attention."

   Come, Aragorn, we all did." Legolas argued from
behind them. "Gimli here flirted shamelessly." to
Arwen. "I had no idea Dwarves were such expert squires
of ladies!"

   "A sweet child with a lovely laugh." Gimli said
quietly. "It lifted my heart to hear it."

   "Mine too." Legolas agreed softly. Then: "She is
young and brave, she will recover Aragorn."

   "I hope so." he answered
***********************************

1. Aragorn and Arwen are refering to Aranel, also
called Niphredil, who is Aragorn's cousin and foster
daughter. See 'The Road to Rivendell', 'Rangers of the
North' and 'The King's Folk' by this author (adv.)