Éomer had always been a large child, taking after her mother's side in that respect, growing tall early and staying tall her whole life, but starting to train as a shield maiden in early adolescence has left her with a strong build that is very unlike most of the other women he might see in the hall. She has large, calloused hands, and strong, muscled arms, and her shoulders are nearly as broad as a man's might be. Still, there are some things even a lifetime of manual labor cannot strip from her, and although she is broad and muscular in a very unfashionable way, she is also endowed with all the pleasing curves a woman should have, much to her continued irritation. Binding her breasts as flat as she can so she can fight without them in the way is painful and annoying, but wearing dresses that emphasize her better qualities feels restrictive and pointless. It seems she cannot win either way.

And to think, this entire life of hers might have been forestalled had her mother not starved herself after her father's passing, had their love been just a little bit weaker so that she could convince herself to live for her daughters' sake, if nothing else. Without parents, and left all-too aware of how quickly a life can be stolen, Éomer had decided on a trajectory that few other women would even entertain choosing.

If he were to pay attention, Steve would quickly come to realize that she is the only shield maiden in all of Edoras.

"You seem to have overcome your weakness well enough," she points out mildly, glancing at his biceps as they strain against the cloth enclosing them.