Eowyn sits and listens to this monologue patiently, easily picturing the described events. Oh, she can well imagine the delight of the Riders, at having a vision of loveliness and laughter such as this girl visit them where they lay wounded and afraid. To them she would have seemed the embodiment of Vana herself, lady of spring, lady of flowers...small wonder they welcomed it.

Small wonder it made such an impression on her brother, as she now sees it must have.

"I do not doubt it," Eowyn says, her voice serious but her eyes much amused. She searches for words, trying to be more tactful with a maid of Gondor than she would with one of Rohan. "My brother has...much experience of the world, but he would not be less than noble, whether you were a lady or the lowest servant. And if you made him laugh as much as you say, then he must have liked you very well. The more so if you took good care of his men, for he values them highly."