Stop talking, Jack, Éowyn thinks, resisting the urge to groan. She understands what he's trying to do, why he feels the need to plead his case, but from the moment he called the King of Gondor good sir, she's struggling not to tell him to shut up. Of course, it probably helps that she's been privy to the discussions earlier, and that she knows Aragorn well enough to get a better read on him than Jack, but empathy never was her strongest suit.

"It might not," Aragorn says, and frowns. "Yet it did. And we have only the Lady Éowyn's word to judge your character." He nods to her. "I trust her word, do not mistake me. But not every word she spoke of you was favourable." Before Jack can respond to that, he raises his hand, wordlessly demanding silence. "We spoke much on this, on what should be done with you. She has claimed custody of you, to be under her watch until such time as we can be sure in releasing you."