Their rides often end up like this. Windfola, like his mistress, hates to be restrained; though he will be more calm once allowed to run wild for a time. They lead Faramir and Mithlun a merry chase for a time before slowing down near the further fields and choosing slower paces--and Eowyn demonstrates that there is at least a little joy in the catching, for she gives Faramir a kiss once he has managed it, though they stay on horseback for it.

The further fields, of course, require only a cursory glance to determine that they are in fine shape for the plowing months ahead. And once that is determined they are free to change their course towards the nearby woodlands. By now Eowyn knows the area around Eryn Arnen nearly as well as Faramir himself does, and they ride (much more slowly, with trees now surrounding them, to Windfola's disgust) through the forest until they find a small creek, then turn to follow it upstream.

They make idle talk as they ride, and from some unspoken agreement keep only to easy topics: the care of the house, word from mutual friends, nothing urgent. Eowyn passes on the details of her latest letter from Merry, including his confirmation that he is officially the tallest hobbit to ever have been measured, a fact of which he is extremely pleased, not least because he is now also on record as being slightly taller than Pippin. "Though Pippin, of course, protests this," she concludes, smiling a little. Without her even realizing, the hand not holding Windfola's reins is resting on her abdomen again, despite their not having been speaking about the baby.