He's wrong. Many things Éowyn may lack, but forthrightness has never been one of them - if she minded, she would say so, without hesitation. Of course, he has no way to know that.

She leans towards him a little, looking at the plant he's indicating. Looking for a very long time, in fact, as she memorises every line of it, makes sure she has the image of it in her head. Then she pulls away, nodding in apparent satisfaction.

"I have seen something like this," she says. "Back the way I came, and off the path. I noted it only in passing, I fear, and I may be mistaken, but the flowers were similar. I took it for lavender."