Eowyn stays in Rohan - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

deal_with_it · 03-30-2006, 10:43 AM

What if Eowyn listen to the King and stayed home?
The Witch King is not killed until the Ring is destroyed. Very likely Merry does not go to Pellenor Fields and waits out the war in Rohan or arrives after the fact. Eowyn possibly never meets Faramir.

Mänwe · 05-22-2006, 01:12 PM

The plot for Book IV may indeed be different. However a question of this type is complete supposition, the list of inevitabilities a long one. However I think your trust in Merry remaining is misplaced. His was a strong will, and I doubt that he would have remained, but would have found some way to the Pellanor fields.

"‘I offered you my sword. I do not want to be parted from you like this, Théoden King. And as all my friends have gone to the battle, I should be ashamed to stay behind.’" - Chapter 3 The Muster of Rohan, Book IV

I think he sufficiently stong willed to not be left behind. This was a battle he was determined to face, for he felt that he had not contributed to the war at all. From the same chapter,

"‘I won’t be left behind, to be called for on return!’ said Merry. ‘I won’t be left, I won’t.’ And repeating this over and over again to himself he fell asleep at last in his tent."

Lalwendë · 05-22-2006, 01:26 PM

I also think Eowyn would have met Faramir, if the War had been successful. An alliance between the first Lady of Rohan and the Steward of Minas Tirith would have been seen as something very beneficial to fostering good links between the countries. Eowyn would certainly have been paraded among the men of Minas Tirith by her brother - who would have done it out of love, a wish to find her a good husband...before anyone gets outraged and tells me Eomer would not be so rotten.

The question is would Eowyn wish to hand over the Stewardship of Edoras as quickly as Faramir was willing to hand over the keys of Minas Tirith to Aragorn? Methinks Eomer might not have had an entirely easy time of it.

Mänwe · 05-22-2006, 01:57 PM

Quite, I think the only thought that comes out of this as a possibility is the survival of the Witch King, however even that I would say was tenuous. The prophecy spoken by Glorfindel was that he would not be killed by a 'man', the obvious point therefore is the meaning of 'man' in the sense of the gender or race?

Indeed I could suggest that Pippin is not a 'man' and his part in the death of the Witch King could be far greater that he is credited. For it was his blow first struck the Witch King so doing him damage....

As I have said before a veritable feast of suppositions.

03-30-2006, 10:43 AM	#1
deal_with_it Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 42	Eowyn stays in Rohan What if Eowyn listen to the King and stayed home? The Witch King is not killed until the Ring is destroyed. Very likely Merry does not go to Pellenor Fields and waits out the war in Rohan or arrives after the fact. Eowyn possibly never meets Faramir.

05-22-2006, 01:12 PM	#2
Mänwe Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: May as well be the Arctic Circle Posts: 283	The plot for Book IV may indeed be different. However a question of this type is complete supposition, the list of inevitabilities a long one. However I think your trust in Merry remaining is misplaced. His was a strong will, and I doubt that he would have remained, but would have found some way to the Pellanor fields. "‘I offered you my sword. I do not want to be parted from you like this, Théoden King. And as all my friends have gone to the battle, I should be ashamed to stay behind.’" - Chapter 3 The Muster of Rohan, Book IV I think he sufficiently stong willed to not be left behind. This was a battle he was determined to face, for he felt that he had not contributed to the war at all. From the same chapter, "‘I won’t be left behind, to be called for on return!’ said Merry. ‘I won’t be left, I won’t.’ And repeating this over and over again to himself he fell asleep at last in his tent." __________________ "I am, I fear, a most unsatisfactory person." - (Letter #124 To Sir Stanley Unwin)

05-22-2006, 01:26 PM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I also think Eowyn would have met Faramir, if the War had been successful. An alliance between the first Lady of Rohan and the Steward of Minas Tirith would have been seen as something very beneficial to fostering good links between the countries. Eowyn would certainly have been paraded among the men of Minas Tirith by her brother - who would have done it out of love, a wish to find her a good husband...before anyone gets outraged and tells me Eomer would not be so rotten. The question is would Eowyn wish to hand over the Stewardship of Edoras as quickly as Faramir was willing to hand over the keys of Minas Tirith to Aragorn? Methinks Eomer might not have had an entirely easy time of it. __________________ Gordon's alive!

05-22-2006, 01:57 PM	#4
Mänwe Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: May as well be the Arctic Circle Posts: 283	Quite, I think the only thought that comes out of this as a possibility is the survival of the Witch King, however even that I would say was tenuous. The prophecy spoken by Glorfindel was that he would not be killed by a 'man', the obvious point therefore is the meaning of 'man' in the sense of the gender or race? Indeed I could suggest that Pippin is not a 'man' and his part in the death of the Witch King could be far greater that he is credited. For it was his blow first struck the Witch King so doing him damage.... As I have said before a veritable feast of suppositions. __________________ "I am, I fear, a most unsatisfactory person." - (Letter #124 To Sir Stanley Unwin)