"It does not," Faramir admits. "Which is perhaps a failing on our part. There are exceptions; my uncle Imrahil has, I believe, allowed my cousin to learn some of the basics of self-defense, though that may simply be so she can defend herself against three older brothers. But it is not so commonly done as in Rohan, from what you tell me of it.

"Still, you have more than proven your own point, by your own demonstration. No one can deny you that! And even without your example, I cannot think women less capable. Less strong, perhaps, but that could be amended with proper tactics. As for whether they should or should not..."

He sighs and looks back down towards the city. "I am conflicted on that point. The scholar in me can name other examples of women like yourself, and honors them. But the Captain is all too aware of the difficulties a mixed company would present on the field. Not during a battle itself, no, but during the times of waiting in between battles--and those times are many and prolonged. So I fear the answer is not so simple as we would wish it to be. Perhaps that is why shieldmaidens were solitary wanderers, rather than part of the military in an official capacity."