I agree Thorin. On such a site you should perhaps see many little contributions of prose . And I enjoyed very much all of yours here. I could feel the despair and bravery in the face of futility, noble hearts that decided to leave something, a emotional 'print' that could be seen in the eyes of those that followed somehow.

                                        The Girl from Rohan

"Bravery is an act of moving forward in the face of abject fear" The tall blue eyed twenty year old maiden pulled nervously on the waist long moon blonde braid that hung over her shoulder.

 She was afraid. So very afraid, she who had longed all her life since the age of seven to do something great and lay worthy , something talked about by the greatest of Elves, Men and other free people of an evening before a blazing fire and good things to eat and drink.

 When she was just falling asleep on her ornately carved bed the day after she turned seven the girl had been startled back into wakefulness by the sound of the heavy oak door slamming shut followed by cries of joy and laughter. Someone unexpected had arrived , the child could tell by the overwhelming joy in her mother's voice and that of her usually silent father Captain of the Guards . And then came into the air the sound of a higher voice, a beautiful melodic voice though well modulated and a little sedate and cool even. The child sat up, heart pounding and listened with all her might. She was forbidden to arise from her bed once tucked in unless her life was threatened or someone was hurt and needed assistance. She longed to disobey just this one time but honor prevented her. Her friends thought her a little icy, a little high minded even if she was of pedigree and often the child found herself playing alone.

 After the expected bustle to provide food, drink and beds for the at least two downstairs voices dropped and the child realized it was probably for her sake. For at least an hour after the little girl tried hard to glean some of the conversation but it was hopeless and sleep overtook her at last.

It was in the light of the followng morning that the child , dressed , hair groomed, jewels arranged artistically upon the sleeves of her blue gown and now down stairs stopped short when she saw who the visitors were.

There, in real flesh and blood, royally dressed and eating quietly while her father read from a scroll was the stuff legends were made of in the Riddermark. For there sat her great aunt Aeowyn, still remarkably beautiful and regal and beside her was two soldiers she had brought back with her from her visit to Rivendell.

 At the child's gasp of wonder and awe, all faces turned toward her. 'Come little Aeowyn, come and meet your great aunt , her Elven companions and eat with us. There is your place reserved across from your great aunt." Mother was bringing a tray of freshly baked pastries to the table. Aeowyn smiled down at her little name sake. 'You know you look remarkably like I remember my brother looking at your age. And such silken hair. How are you little one?
"I, I do well great auntie. I , did you really and truly kill the evil Witch King with a sword, did that truly happen?' The words burst forth like a small catapult from the girl's ruby lips and the table of friends exploded into happy laughter. "Yes that is true, though my dear friend Merriadoc the Hobbit, or Halfling did his share else I would have followed my uncle King Theoden to the halls of our forefathers that very day for the power and evil of that wraith was beyond comprehention.'

 For two hours the child asked questions and her great aunt answered quietly and little Aeowyn's parents exchanged proud smiles and the elves beamed on the beautiful child in their midst.

 "I wish I could do a mighty exploit like you, it fills my mind nearly day and night, it torments me' concluded the child as the table began to be cleared of the morning meal.

 There has been peace a great while now child and only pockets of resistance to the rule of the Kings has been felt in the more eastern parts of the lands. But do not wish for such an evil thing Aeowyn, just living , just getting through all the ordinary trials of life takes enough courage. i would not wish back those days of fighting and weariness and grief for anything.'

 But long after her great aunt had departed the child could not shake the things she had heard. And as the years passed something in her heart resisted marriage and a home of her own. She stayed mostly with the beautiful fine horses that filled the stables of the soldiers, always being tried and tested to be war ready in case such a thing was needed at any time. Grooming the horses, riding them alongside the men who had long given up trying to disuade her,Aoewyn grew in beauty and skill and any of the men would have been proud to take her for wife, well at least any of those more highly born, for it was the rule no one who was not of kin stature or at least a proven man of valor and courage could even ask.

Although one soldier and a kinsman Thedamer the Tall had become a good friend and tugged at the heart strings of the now young woman,the longing to prover herself kept her demenor like hoarfrost so that he said little of his feelings.

And now, at the age of twenty here was Aeowyn the second lost from her kinsmen under the mountain and rumours of orcs banding in small groups along the west side of the mountain had come to the Riddermark and alarmed the people. Against every argument the maiden had gotten her way and dressed like a boy accompanied the sixty men and horses on the hunt to destroy the lairs and the orcs too if possible. Lost in thought the young woman had taken a wrong turn and before anyone noticed and could turn back they were assailed by about eighty roaring orcs who had cunningly followed behind and gave no warning but just ripped the men from their horses and killed with joy.

 The maiden had heard the din and dismayed to find herself alone had turned back, but her horse, well trained though he was shied and cried out when an orc came into site. He tried backing away to protect his mistress but he was felled by an orc blade hurled at him. He landed screaming, nostrils flaring on his side and before the orc could harm the steed further Aeowyn , terrified , whispered, good bye dear friend and killed him quickly, then leapt from him.

Orc and maiden stood still staring at one another. Aeowyn had never seen anything so hideous, filthy and evil and her legs buckled and she felt it hard to take a breath. This was the thing she had longed for all her life since seven and now that the moment had come home was all she cried out for in her numbed mind.

 The orc smiled and lifting his hideous head let out a scream so blood thirsty the girl brought her short knife to her own throat , she would not let this thing have the satisfaction of slow torture and worse.

Then the words of great aunt Aeowyn came slowly as if in slow motion across the still frozen senses of her name sake.
"Bravery is an act of moving forward in the face of abject fear.' And with those words  the maiden moved toward the orc. She felt in a dream but a tiny voice somewhere said' if I must die let me die in a way that will give me honor and be worthy of a song.

The orc reached out and swiftly cut the woman's arm and she cried out. And then she stared at his eyes and while he still laughed and screamed she aimed between them and let her knife fly. The creature stared at her for several seconds and with a whimper fell backwards and made no more sounds.

Then Aeowyn remembered her comrades and ran swiftly through the woods to where the battle was raging. Only half of the soldiers remained alive and with wisdom and great skill they fought the enemy. She joined in and after a while only three orcs were left and they turned and fled, two without weapons. Horses once proud and beautiful and free now lay all across the ground , some with still horrified expressions in their noble eyes.

The rest of that day and into the night bodies were buried and marked that the people could come back and do right by their kin, and the proud horses dragged into a clearing and burned with their costly trappings amidst bowed heads. Thedamer said words of great beauty over the fallen men and steeds and it was then that Aeowyn looked up , her eyes dry, her face white from shock and as she listened the tears finally fell and a sudden longing for home and her own house and for this man burned in her usually cool breast. After the all was done and those on horseback each took another with them , leaving only a few soldiers alone the sad procession made careful way, always looking out for the enemy and at least on the third day came home. Much wailing and sorrow filled the air as the people saw the few come back and Aewynn's parents wept with sorrow and joy that their only child came home.

 The months following saw the nearly entire army of those mighty proud people , joined with those from Gondor and other places routing the enemies until once more in the winter of that year peace came again. Aeowynn and her new husband talked of many things, but to the maiden talk of mighty exploits held no golden aura. She was busy readying   her home for the first heir that would come into the world.

ta;, that is very kind. I admit I have no time really so I just write down what I write, end of story. when i get some real time, in the fall maybe i shall do a great deal of research and then write a proper story.

Turin, your story evokes a great sadness that our professor was so apt at. thankyou.