elfwines:

imagine an incredibly awkward and gangly teenager Éomer, kind of an ugly duckling all elbows and knees, always on bruises because he can’t quite manage his long legs and arms yet. always giving bruises to other boys as well, not because he means to, but because he doesn’t remember how and when he got so strong. among the girls of his age it is agreed he’s a giant dork, which is also in part because of his quiet aloofness. when he grows his first downy beard, it makes Éowyn giggle at him and tell him he looks really weird and funny. he tries to shave — as a result, there are several small cuts on his cheeks. Théodred takes pity on him and shows how it’s properly done.

but Éomer doesn’t stop growing where other lads do — suddenly he’s taller than even some grown men, even his uncle and cousin. his voice stops breaking in the middle of a sentence and becomes a steady baritone, strong enough for shouting commands on battlefield. becoming an active rider and a warrior, he gets some muscle on his bones and learns to control his body and his strength. and the gawky boy is gone. instead, there is this tall young rider, fair as the rising sun. 

and the ladies of Aldburg and Edoras look at this giant dork and think: oh no he’s hot.