He was the nephew of the King of Rohan. She was a maid in the home of the King. Their love was never to be allowed but yet they loved each other. In dark corners when no one was looking, they would share passionate kisses. In the stables, when no one was around they would try to feel each other as best as they could. In the night, she would steal herself out of her room and quietly would make her way to his chambers. And he would wait for her to come. He always did. He would stare awhile at her. Stunned by her beauty, take her hands and kiss them. They eventually would make love or just held each other in the arms, glad to be together and sleep. And in the morning, when everyone was still sleeping, she would get up careful not to wake him, kiss him goodbye on the forehead. At the door she would turn around one last time, watch his form sleeping peacefully.

I know the side of him that hardly anyone does. He is mostly harsh, concerned and has a grim look. Many of the other maids try to avoid to meet him alone in the corridors. Just because he scares them. But then there are some who find him attractive and clearly show him their interests. But I do not need to worry. He is not interested in them. He tells me every time. He says I am the only one he loves and ever will. Indeed he does not tell me that he loves me. He never did. But he must not. I know it. I can feel it. And he shows me. When one of his man tries to court me he gets angry and quickly charges the poor fella with a lots of duties so that he would forget about me.

A little smile would always crawl up her face and she would leave the room. Cautiously, that no one sees her and would sneak back in her room. Back in her room she would get ready for work. And prepare with the other maids the breakfast for the King and his family.

For 2 years they had been secret lovers. No one knew, even though it sometimes was close that they had been discovered. But they always managed that it would not look like as they were lovers.

But then after the war. After King Theoden was dead, Eomer became King. And she knew, before he could talk to her that it was over. But unlike she thought he would want to stop their little romance, he wanted to marry her. Now that he was King, he said, it would not matter what everyone else said. But he was wrong. She couldn't. His counsels tried to convince him to marry the Princess of Dol Amroth. His sister talked many times with him. And he told her. This was how it has to be. He had to marry the Princess. She knew. And he knew it, too.

I have to leave for his sake. He is King now. And he deserves a woman of a high rank way more than just a simple maid. I have to talk tell him that he has to marry the Princess for his land and his people. And for himself.

One night, she came again to his chambers. But this time there was no love making or embracing.
They had to talk. She told him to marry the Princess. It was his fate. The folk of Rohan would never tolerate a former maid as queen. No one would. She kissed him one last time. It was as if their both would die. And then she left his room quickly without looking back. It was the last time he saw her.

4 months later was the wedding of King Eomer and Princess Lothiriel. It was a beautiful wedding. The groom tried to make a happy face and succeeded the most time. But he couldn't but think that this wedding would even be more beautiful if he would wed the woman he loved. He never told her that he loved her. And he regretted it deeply. But it was too late. He had his bride standing sitting next to him. He would try to be good husband.

And he had been a good husband. He kind of began to love her. They even got a child. A son. And he was proud.