Editing Éowyn (section)

==Narrative==

In ''[[The Two Towers]]'', Éowyn, a daughter of the House of Eorl and the niece of King [[Théoden]] of [[Rohan (Middle-earth)|Rohan]], is introduced in Meduseld, the King's hall at Edoras. She is the daughter of Éomund and Théodwyn (Théoden's sister), and the sister of [[Éomer]]. When she is only seven years old, her father is killed fighting [[Orc (Middle-earth)|orcs]], and her mother dies of grief. Éowyn and Éomer are raised in her uncle's household as his own children.<ref name="King of the Golden Hall" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, book 3, ch. 6 "The King of the Golden Hall"</ref><ref name="Eorl" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"</ref>

She longs to win renown in battle—especially since she is royal—but being female, her duties are reckoned to be at Edoras.<ref name="healing" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 8 "The Houses of Healing"</ref> When Théoden's mind is poisoned by his corrupt adviser [[Gríma Wormtongue]], Éowyn is obliged to care for her uncle, and his deterioration pains her deeply. To make matters worse, she is constantly harassed by Gríma, who lusts after her. When [[Gandalf]] arrives, he frees Théoden from Wormtongue's influence.<ref name="King of the Golden Hall" group=T/>
Éowyn falls in love with [[Aragorn]], but though he respects her, he does not return her feelings, as he is betrothed to the elf [[Arwen]].<ref name="Shippey 2005 p410"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Kocher |first=Paul |author-link=Paul H. Kocher |title=Master of Middle-earth: The Achievement of J.R.R. Tolkien |title-link=Master of Middle-earth |date=1974 |orig-year=1972 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |isbn=0140038779 |pages=136–139}}</ref> 
As Aragorn points out,<ref name="Passing of the Grey Company" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 2 "The Passing of the Grey Company"</ref> her duty is with her people; she has to shoulder the responsibility of ruling Rohan in Théoden's stead when the war-host of Rohan go to war.<ref name="King of the Golden Hall" group=T/>

{{blockquote| I am weary of skulking in halls, and wish to face peril and battle. … am I not of the House of Eorl, a shieldmaiden … may I not now spend my life as I will? … 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. …[I fear] A cage, To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall  or desire.<ref name="Passing of the Grey Company" group=T/>}}

Éowyn disguises herself as a man and, under the alias of ''Dernhelm'' (from [[Old English]] ''dern'' meaning "secret, concealed"<ref name="jrch 2002">{{cite book |last=Clark Hall |first=J. R. |author-link=John Richard Clark Hall |title=A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary |date=2002 |orig-year=1894 |publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]] |edition=4th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufdQAQAAMAAJ |at=p. 85: ''dierne'', "hidden, secret"; p. 177: ''helm'', "defence, helmet"}}</ref>), travels with the Riders of Rohan to the battle outside [[Minas Tirith]] in [[Gondor]] on her horse Windfola, carrying with her the hobbit [[Merry Brandybuck]], who had also been ordered to remain behind.<ref name="Muster of Rohan" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 3 "The Muster of Rohan"</ref>

In the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], she confronts the Witch-King of Angmar, Lord of the [[Nazgûl]], after Théoden is mortally injured. The Witch-King threatens that he will "bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the [[Lidless Eye]]". He boasts "No living man may hinder me",<ref name="Battle of the Pelennor Fields" group=T/> whereupon Éowyn removes her helmet and declares:<ref name="Battle of the Pelennor Fields" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 6 "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"</ref>

{{blockquote|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.<ref name="Battle of the Pelennor Fields" group=T/>}}

The Nazgûl leader's flying steed attacks Éowyn, but she kills it, cutting off its head with her sword. The Nazgûl then shatters her shield and breaks her shield-arm with his [[Mace (bludgeon)|mace]], but is distracted by Merry, who stabs him behind the knee with a [[barrow-blade]]. Éowyn seizes the opportunity to strike the Nazgûl with a killing thrust "between crown and mantle". Then, as her sword shatters, his withering form collapses and he vanishes with a final cry of anguish.<ref name="Battle of the Pelennor Fields" group=T/> Éowyn passes out from the pain in her arm, and is believed dead until Prince Imrahil realizes she still lives.<ref name="Battle of the Pelennor Fields" group=T/> Éowyn is brought to the Houses of Healing, hovering near death from the effects of having struck the Nazgûl.<ref name="healing" group=T/> There Éowyn meets [[Faramir]], with whom she soon falls in love. Her outlook on life also changes: "Then the heart of Éowyn changed, or else at last she understood it. ... I will be a [[Shield-maiden|shieldmaiden]] no longer, nor vie with the great Riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren."<ref name="steward" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 6, ch. 5 "The Steward and the King"</ref>

After the demise of [[Sauron]], Éowyn and Faramir marry and settle in [[Ithilien]], of which Faramir is made the ruling Prince by Aragorn.<ref name="partings" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 6, ch. 6 "Many Partings"</ref> Faramir and Éowyn have a son, Elboron.<ref name="heirs" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1996}}, ch. 7 "The Heirs of Elendil"</ref>