Thoughts of Grima always drew her mind into darker paths, and Eowyn was glad of Hild's hand to return her to the present. She turned her hand to squeeze Hild's in thanks for comfort and understanding.

"I could not have endured it, but for my love of my uncle and my people. If I had left the court, as I often longed to do, he would have been alone and the kingdom would have fallen. And so I stayed, in hopes that he would someday be released from his early dotage and become the strong king he should have been the entire time. Now that he has been so released, Grima is banished back to his master and there he will stay. I hope that the thoughts of him will fade from my mind as his influence fades from our realm, but I do not know that any man would have the patience to endure so slow a pace such I might need."

She was startled into a laugh even in the midst of her worry by Hild's matter-of-fact statement that she would kill Grima.

"In that, I think you would have competition, for I wish to have a chance at him as well."