Epilogue

Life flowed on and Éowyn found herself caught up in its swift current. Many wondrous things came to pass, many of which she could never have foreseen.

Aragorn, King of Gondor, at last wed his beloved Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond, and amongst the many events occurring in Éowyn's life, one of the most surprising was the relationship formed between Éowyn, herself, and the King and Queen of Gondor.

In Aragorn, she discovered another brother; but yet utterly unforeseen was the love that grew between Éowyn and the Queen, for in Arwen, Éowyn found a true friend and confidant. In time, the Lady of the Shield-arm would become chief among the Queen's Ladies.

Borne home to Edoras, Théoden King was laid to rest amongst his fathers. Éomer was crowned and though he gained a kingdom, he lost his heart to the Princess of Dol Amroth. It was at King Elessar's wedding that Éomer met Lothiriel, daughter of Imrahil, and fell in love. And so it came to pass that in the last year of the Third Age, Éomer and Lothiriel announced a date upon which they would marry, and Éowyn found herself blessed with a sister, who she loved with all her fierce heart.

After Théoden was laid to rest, many those Éowyn held dear took their leave. Meriadoc Brandybuck and his cousins returned to their home in the Shire, although he was still sworn to serve the King of the Mark and vowed to return to visit as soon as may be.

Legolas returned to his home in Lasgalen, taking with him Gimli, for the two were now quite inseparable. Sad was that parting but Aragorn assured her that the two would return, for Gimli had promised to bring Dwarves from the Mountain to repair the stonework of Minas Tirith, and Legolas had pledged to return with Elves of the Wood to create gardens such as the White City had never seen. Legolas had also a greater task charged him by Aragorn for the King had granted him the woodlands of Southern Ithilien. Long had those lands lain under Shadow but by the grace and skill of the Elves they would be healed to flourish again.

All around her, folk got on with the business of living, and Éowyn too, was far from idle. After Théoden King's death, Aragorn and his new Queen departed for Minas Tirith, taking Faramir, Prince of Ithilien with them.

If Éowyn thought to have time for herself to settle back into a quiet routine, she was sorely mistaken. Éomer, newly crowned, had decided to wed, and wed swiftly for he found much to his dismay, that he could not bear to be parted from the Princess of Dol Amroth and so set a date for a Yule wedding. Éowyn threw herself body and soul, into preparing Meduseld for her brother's nuptials.

During the busy months that followed, Faramir wrote often and Éowyn waited expectantly for messengers out of Minas Tirith. She found she sorely missed their long talks and was always swift with a reply. Soon, a steady stream of messengers traversed the leagues between Rohan and the White City. Yet letters alone were a poor substitute. More and more often, Éowyn would catch herself turning expectantly at the sound of a voice similar in timbre to Faramir's, only to be disappointed.

As excited, as Éowyn was about Éomer's approaching nuptials, the true reason for the tripping of her heart was due to one thing alone Faramir was coming to the wedding.

And so it was that love came at last to the White Lady of Rohan. It did not come as a thunderbolt from the skies, nor did it come as any startling revelation. Rather it came softly, silently, on cat's paws, curling around her heart and warming her soul.

At twilight on Yule Eve, King Elessar, Queen Arwen and their entourage arrived at Edoras for Éomer King's nuptials. Leaping from his horse, Faramir swept Éowyn into his arms and kissed her before all.

"Now wilt thou love me, Lady of the Shield-arm, and be my Princess of Ithilien?"

"Aye," Éowyn laughed, glad tears falling, "I will love thee, my Prince, now and forever."

A cry went up and Aragorn clapped Éomer on the back. "Now shall it be your task to plan a wedding, my friend."

Faramir held Éowyn close as if he would never release her. "Are you sure about this, my love?" he whispered for her ears alone.

"Never have I been more sure of anything," she laughed, "though loath am I to admit the Elf was right."

"Then forever shall I sing praises to Elven foresight!" Faramir said before again kissing his bride to be.

The End