I want a man with steel to be my lord
So offer not just flowers or soft words
Show me instead what strength you can impart
And I will offer you my willing heart
And be the supple sheath that guards your sword
I want a man with steel

So blend your song with mine, a perfect chord
and you will find love is its own reward
and I am quite accomplished in the art…
I want a man with steel

Have you the strength to make me feel adored?
I am no quiet dream be ignored
I long for nights entwined, not days apart
To run in forest glen like hind and hart
Give me strong sons to be my treasure hoard
I want a man with steel

This is a Rondeau to Denethor of Gondor from his soon-to-be wife Finduilas - meant to be from the time when they were courting. It was written for the How Do I Love Thee challenge at Henneth Annun where you can find my work under the name fileg.

This is a very very speculative piece, written to explore alternate views. I could find no real information about Finduilas, except that she was young. But she was the daughter of Knights, and I imagine she may have had some very specific desires of her own. I do not mean it to deal only with the physical - when she says she is accomplished in the art, she means the art of Love - in all it's guises.

Did Faramir put that robe of Dol Amroth blue on Eowyn because he could see his mother’s reflection in the white lady? Perhaps young Finduilas was the Shieldmaiden of Dol Amroth… perhaps she was in every way a match for Denethor’s desires when he was still at his best.

This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for private enjoyment, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.