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way to bring tidings to éowyn； and to speak with her in her exile。'
'Indeed no man would count such a journey wasted；' said Aragorn； 'and yet； lady； I could not
have e hither； if it were not that the road which I must take leads me to Dunharrow。'
And she answered as one that likes not what is said： 〃Then； lord； you are astray； for out of
Harrowdale no road runs east or south； and you had best return as you came。'
'Nay； lady；' said he； 'I am not astray； for I walked in this land ere you were born to grace it。
There is a road out of this valley； and that road I shall take。 Tomorrow I shall ride by the Paths of
the Dead。'
Then she stared at him as one that is stricken； and her face blanched； and for long she spoke no
more； while all sat silent。 'But； Aragorn；' she said at last； 'is it then your errand to seek death？ For
that is all that you will find on that road。 They do not suffer the living to pass。'
'They may suffer me to pass；' said Aragorn； 'but at the least I will adventure it。 No other road
will serve。'
'But this is madness；' she said。 'For here are men of renown and prowess； whom you should not
take into the shadows； but should lead to war； where men are needed。 I beg you to remain and ride
with my brother； for then all our hearts will be gladdened； and our hope be the brighter。'
'It is not madness； lady；' he answered； 'for I go on a path appointed。 But those who follow me do
so of their free will； and if they wish now to remain and ride with the Rohirrim； they may do so。
But I shall take the Paths of the Dead； alone； if needs be。'
Then they said no more； and they ate in silence； but her eyes were ever upon Aragorn； and the
others saw that she was in great torment of mind。 At length they arose； and took their leave of the
Lady； and thanked her for her care； and went to their rest。
But as Aragorn came to the booth where he was to lodge with Legolas and Gimli； and his
panions had gone in。 there came the Lady éowyn after him and called to him。 He turned and
saw her as a glimmer in the night； for she was clad in white； but her eyes were on fire。
'Aragorn；' she said； 'why will you go on this deadly road？'
'Because I must；' he said。 'Only so can I see any hope of doing my part in the war against Sauron。
I do not choose paths of peril； éowyn。 Were I to go where my heart dwells； far in the North I would
now be wandering in the fair valley of Rivendell。'
For a while she was silent； as if pondering what this might mean。 Then suddenly she laid her
hand on his arm。 'You are a stern lord and resolute；' she said； 'and thus do men win renown。' She
paused。 'Lord。' she said； 'if you must go； then let me ride in your following。 For I am weary of
skulking in the hills； and wish to face peril and battle。'
'Your duty is with your people；' he answered。
'Too often have I heard of duty；' she cried。 'But am I not of the House of Eorl； a shieldmaiden
and not a dry…nurse？ I have waited on faltering feet long enough。 Since they falter no longer； it
seems； may I not now spend my life as I will？'
'Few may do that with honour；' he answered。 'But as for you； lady： did you not accept the charge
to govern the people until their lord's return？ If you had not been chosen； then some marshal or
captain would have been set in the same place； and he could not ride away from his charge； were he
weary of it or no。'
'Shall I always be chosen？' she said bitterly。 'Shall I always be left behind when the Riders
depart； to mind the house while they win renown； and find food and beds when they return？'
'A time may e soon；' said he； 'when none will return。 Then there will be need of valour
without renown； for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes。
Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised。'
And she answered： 'All your words are but to say： you are a woman； and your part is in the
house。 But when the men have died in battle and honour； you have leave to be burned in the house；
for the men will need it no more。 But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving…woman。 I can ride
and wield blade； and I do not fear either pain or death。'
'What do you fear； lady？' he asked。
'A cage；' she said。 'To stay behind bars； until use and old age accept them； and all chance of
doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire。'
'And yet you counselled me not to adventure on the road that I had chosen； because it is
perilous？'
'So may one counsel another；' she said。 'Yet I do not bid you flee from peril； but to ride to battle
where your sword may win renown and victory。 I would not see a thing that is high and excellent
cast away needlessly。'
'Nor would I；' he said。 'Therefore I say to you； lady： Stay！ For you have no errand to the South。'
'Neither have those others who go with thee。 They go only because they would not be parted
from thee – because they love thee。' Then she turned and vanished into the night。
When the light of day was e into the sky but the sun was not yet risen above the high ridges
in the East； Aragorn made ready to depart。 His pany was all mounted； and he was about to leap
into the saddle； when the Lady éowyn came to bid them farewell。 She was clad as a Rider and girt
with a sword。 In her hand she bore a cup； and she set it to her lips and drank a little； wishing them
good speed； and then she gave the cup to Aragorn； and he drank； and he said： 'Farewell； Lady of
Rohan！ I drink to the fortunes of your House； and of you； and of all your people。 Say to your
brother： beyond the shadows we may meet again！'
Then it seemed to Gimli and Legolas who were nearby that she wept； and in one so stern and
proud that seemed the more grievous。 But she said： 'Aragorn； wilt thou go？'
'I will；' he said。
'Then wilt thou not let me ride with this pany； as I have asked？'
'I will not； lady；' he said。 'For that I could not grant without leave of the king and of your brother；
and they will not return until tomorrow。 But I count now every hour； indeed every minute。
Fa