| | During the ''War of the Ring'' she was given temporary leadership of her people while the King and his warriors went to war at [[Helm's Deep]].<ref>'But to some one I must now entrust my people that I leave behind, to rule them in my place.' [...] 'She is fearless and high-hearted. All love her. Let her be as lord to the Eorlingas, while we are gone.' 'It shall be so,' said Theoden. 'Let the heralds announce to the folk that the Lady Éowyn will lead them!' - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book III, Chapter 6 "The King of the Golden Hall".</ref> | | During the ''War of the Ring'' she was given temporary leadership of her people while the King and his warriors went to war at [[Helm's Deep]].<ref>'But to some one I must now entrust my people that I leave behind, to rule them in my place.' [...] 'She is fearless and high-hearted. All love her. Let her be as lord to the Eorlingas, while we are gone.' 'It shall be so,' said Theoden. 'Let the heralds announce to the folk that the Lady Éowyn will lead them!' - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book III, Chapter 6 "The King of the Golden Hall".</ref> |
| | Hopeless as to the outcome of the War<ref>"He caught the glint of clear grey eyes; and then he shivered, for it came suddenly to him that it was the face of one without hope who goes in search of death." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 3 "The Muster of Rohan".</ref><ref>"For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he saw at the riding from Dunharrow: the face of one that goes seeking death, having no hope." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 6 "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields".</ref>, Éowyn went with the Rohirrim under the guise of '''Dernhelm'''. | | Hopeless as to the outcome of the War<ref>"He caught the glint of clear grey eyes; and then he shivered, for it came suddenly to him that it was the face of one without hope who goes in search of death." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 3 "The Muster of Rohan".</ref><ref>"For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he saw at the riding from Dunharrow: the face of one that goes seeking death, having no hope." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 6 "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields".</ref>, Éowyn went with the Rohirrim under the guise of '''Dernhelm'''. |
| | She offered to let [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] to ride with her, and he accepted although he did not recognize her.<ref name = "elfhelmunderstanding">"There seemed to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm, the Marshal who commanded the ''éored'' in which they were riding. He and all his men ignored Merry and pretended not to hear if he spoke. He might have been just another bag that Dernhelm was carrying. Dernhelm was no comfort: he never spoke to anyone." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 5 "The Ride of the Rohirrim".</ref> As such she fought at the ''Battle of the [[Pelennor Fields]]''. There she confronted the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], leader of the Nazgûl. With Merry's help, she managed to kill the Witch-king. Merry struck the Witch-king with his [[Arnor|Dúnedain]] blade forged for use against the forces of Angmar, which enabled Éowyn to make the fatal stroke. This fit with a thousand year old foretelling, that the Witch-king would not be killed "by the hand of man"<ref name = "glorfindelprophecy">'...the Witch-king turned to flight and passed into the shadows. [...] but Glorfindel, looking into the gathering dark, said: "Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall."' - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix A, I, iv Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion</ref>: Éowyn was a woman, and Merry a [[Hobbit]]. During the fight her arm was broken, earning her the title ''Lady of the Shield-arm''. | | She offered to let [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] to ride with her, and he accepted although he did not recognize her.<ref name = "elfhelmunderstanding">"There seemed to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm, the Marshal who commanded the ''éored'' in which they were riding. He and all his men ignored Merry and pretended not to hear if he spoke. He might have been just another bag that Dernhelm was carrying. Dernhelm was no comfort: he never spoke to anyone." - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book V, Chapter 5 "The Ride of the Rohirrim".</ref> As such she fought at the ''Battle of the [[Pelennor Fields]]''. There she confronted the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], leader of the Nazgûl. With Merry's help, she managed to kill the Witch-king. Merry struck the Witch-king with his [[Arnor|Dúnedain]] blade forged for use against the forces of Angmar, which enabled Éowyn to make the fatal stroke. This fit with a thousand year old foretelling, that the Witch-king would not be killed "by the hand of man"<ref name = "glorfindelprophecy">'...the Witch-king turned to flight and passed into the shadows. [...] but Glorfindel, looking into the gathering dark, said: "Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall."' - J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix A, I, iv Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion</ref>: Éowyn was a woman, and Merry a [[Hobbit]]. During the fight her arm was broken, earning her the title ''Lady of the Shield-arm''. |