Regarding Gríma and Éowyn

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Remember that Grima was a Man of Rohan, not a cartoon gnome like movie-Grima. Anyway, Grima was extremely sly. He apparently poisoned Theoden remember? I'm sure he would resort to such devilry if he wanted to do the deed with Eowyn.

I don't think he'd ever pluck up the courage to do it though.

[Imladris]

As I recall, in both book and movie, Eowyn was the promised prize to Grima when Saruman killed Rohan. Therefore, maybe he was not expecting to overpower her himself but that grief would do it for him.

As Evisse pointed out, she was almost on the point of giving in (at least that's the impression I get) and that was when she was in grief.

Cheers,
Imladris

[Encaitare]

You think it was just lust? You could be right, but I, ever the hopeless romantic, think it was a bit more than that, even if Grima's sense of love is extremely twisted. He actually understands her, more so than anyone else and I personally think he loves her spirit as much as her body.

[Lalaith]

I found the 'almost giving in' scene in the film extremely distasteful and I think Tolkien would have hated it.
As for being offered to Grima as a prize when Rohan had been destroyed, BookEowyn would, I feel fairly confident, have fallen on her own sword before being dishonoured in such a way. And may well, of course, have finished Grima off while she was at it.

[The Only Real Estel]

Are you kidding? Eowyn is Bad @$$! I have full confidence she'd kick Grima back to Isengard. Let's not forget she killed (half-killed) the witchking!

But she didn't beat the Witch-King in an arm-wrestling tournament. No doubt Grima could've killed the Witch-King if he fell right in front of him (if not for the prophecy).
If Eowyn had ready access to a sword, no doubt she'd have Grima's head on the floor quicker than you can say 'nice try', but if she had no sword it could well be a different story. I'll agree that she is 'Bad @$$', I'm not taking that away from her, I just find it hard to believe that she could've bested Grima through brute strength. Again, I'm not trying to take anything away from Eowyn.

I found the 'almost giving in' scene in the film extremely distasteful and I think Tolkien would have hated it

Same here. Eowyn (as Tolkien intended her) would never have even almost given in to Grima no matter how much she 'thought he understood her', & would've seen through his petty masks. Mostly thanks to what she'd already seen him do to Theoden.

BookEowyn would, I feel fairly confident, have fallen on her own sword before being dishonoured in such a way. And may well, of course, have finished Grima off while she was at it.

No doubt about it!

[Encaitare]

I don't know what Tolkien would have thought of the "almost giving in" scene, but it's my favorite of TTT

You're probably right that he wouldn't have liked it just because there's so much sexual tension and all that (something the books are quite devoid of).

However, I think that if Eowyn's despair were to grow great enough, she would have given in. Maybe. Who knows? All I know is it's fun to write about in AU fanfiction!

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I hope I never stumble upon those fanfics.

Congratulations to Estel for pointing out the difference between brute strength and circumstantial swordsmanship. It had to be done.