Post by Hanasian on Jan 9, 2022 6:42:25 GMT
This is something I had lingering on my old Shadows of Arnor site for a long time. Since I shared the fansite about Éowyn in the other forum, I thought I would start a character thread focused on Éowyn.
Of Éowyn
Éowyn was the niece of King Théoden of Rohan (Théoden Ednew) and sister to King Eomer. She was born in 2995 of the Third Age, in Rohan.
(Other names and titles: Dernhelm, Lady of Rohan, White Lady of Rohan, Lady of the Shield-arm)
Éowyn's parents were Éomund, a Marshal of the Mark of Rohan, and Théodwyn, sister of King Théoden. Éomund was killed in 3002, pursuing a band of Orcs to the borders of the Emyn Muil, where a larger force waited in ambush. Théodwyn took sick and died not long afterwards, to the grief of her brother the king, who took her children into his own household. Here are a few pertinent quotes about Éowyn and descriptions of her from the books.
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Mostly from Aragorn's pov:
Grave and thoughtful was her glance, as she looked on the king with cool pity in her eyes. Very fair was her face, and her long hair was like a river of gold. Slender and tall she was in her white robe girt with silver; but strong she seemed and stern as steel, a daughter of kings. Thus Aragorn for the first time in the full light of day beheld Éowyn, Lady of Rohan, and thought her fair, fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring that is not yet come to womanhood. And she now was suddenly aware of him; tall heir of kings, wise with many winters, grey-cloaked, hiding a power that yet she felt.--Two Towers: The King of the Golden Hall
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From Merry's pov:
... a woman with long braided hair gleaming in the twilight, yet she wore a helm and was clad to the waist like a warrior and girded with a sword.--RotK: The Muster of Rohan
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed , and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you if you touch him."--RotK: The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
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Aragorn again:
"For she is a fair maiden, fairest lady of a house of queens. And yet I know not how I should speak of her. When I first looked on her and perceived her unhappiness, it seemed to me that I saw a white flower standing straight and proud, shapely as a lily, and yet knew that it was hard, as if wrought by elf-wrights out of steel."--RotK: The Houses of Healing
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Gandalf:
"My friend," said Gandalf, "you had horses, and deeds of arms, and the free fields; but she, born in the body of a maid, had a spirit and courage at least the match of yours. Yet she was doomed to wait upon an old man , whom she loved as a father, and watch him falling into a mean, dishonoured dotage, and her part seemed to her more ignoble than that of the staff he leaned on."-- RotK: The Houses of Healing
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HoME
Of Éowyn
Éowyn was the niece of King Théoden of Rohan (Théoden Ednew) and sister to King Eomer. She was born in 2995 of the Third Age, in Rohan.
(Other names and titles: Dernhelm, Lady of Rohan, White Lady of Rohan, Lady of the Shield-arm)
Éowyn's parents were Éomund, a Marshal of the Mark of Rohan, and Théodwyn, sister of King Théoden. Éomund was killed in 3002, pursuing a band of Orcs to the borders of the Emyn Muil, where a larger force waited in ambush. Théodwyn took sick and died not long afterwards, to the grief of her brother the king, who took her children into his own household. Here are a few pertinent quotes about Éowyn and descriptions of her from the books.
====================================
Mostly from Aragorn's pov:
Grave and thoughtful was her glance, as she looked on the king with cool pity in her eyes. Very fair was her face, and her long hair was like a river of gold. Slender and tall she was in her white robe girt with silver; but strong she seemed and stern as steel, a daughter of kings. Thus Aragorn for the first time in the full light of day beheld Éowyn, Lady of Rohan, and thought her fair, fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring that is not yet come to womanhood. And she now was suddenly aware of him; tall heir of kings, wise with many winters, grey-cloaked, hiding a power that yet she felt.
====================================
From Merry's pov:
... a woman with long braided hair gleaming in the twilight, yet she wore a helm and was clad to the waist like a warrior and girded with a sword.
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed , and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you if you touch him."
=====================================
Aragorn again:
"For she is a fair maiden, fairest lady of a house of queens. And yet I know not how I should speak of her. When I first looked on her and perceived her unhappiness, it seemed to me that I saw a white flower standing straight and proud, shapely as a lily, and yet knew that it was hard, as if wrought by elf-wrights out of steel."
=====================================
Gandalf:
"My friend," said Gandalf, "you had horses, and deeds of arms, and the free fields; but she, born in the body of a maid, had a spirit and courage at least the match of yours. Yet she was doomed to wait upon an old man , whom she loved as a father, and watch him falling into a mean, dishonoured dotage, and her part seemed to her more ignoble than that of the staff he leaned on."
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The greatest deed of that day was the deed of Éowyn Éomund's daughter. She for love of the King rode in disguise with the Rohirrim and was with him when he fell. By her hand the Black Captain, the Lord of the Ringwraiths, the Witch-king of Angmar, was destroyed.