This is the sequel to "Winter's Hold Cannot Last Forever". These events takes place after the last battle. People are gathered in Minas Tirith where King Elessar and his elven queen has very recently been wed and the funeral escort of Théoden King is about to take place..

While the events in Minas Tirith has been playing out, Aema and Éomer has gone to Edoras and again returned to Minas Tirith for the royal funeral escort. In the meanwhile their people have been seen to via their trusted stewards. Aema has not yet been back to her own lands, neither has her people. The Romen people are staying in a permanent camp on the fields just outside of Edoras still.

Whereas the last story was written mainly from Aema's perspective, we will follow Éomer to a greater extent this time around. And since I myself was curious as to what would happen next I took to scrabble it down.

As I see it this will be the second part out of three. This will contain mostly fluff, some feel-good to balance it up a little.

CHAPTER 1

The arrival of peace

The aftermath of battle was evident still in both Gondor and Rohan. It would take some time to restore the lands to their previous glory, yet people and lands alike rejoiced in the peace. It was the dawn of a new era. The rightful king of Gondor had returned. A new house had risen and reigned in Rohan. The Romen Queen still lived and breathed but above all, Mordor had fallen. The darkness of winter had now given way to summer. It was a beautiful time indeed.

Aema stirred in his arms. Her whimpering had awoken him. Dark dreams haunted her. They had since the war and he could do nothing to ease them. He could only hold her and hush her back to sleep. Soon the sun would ignite the white city and Éomer must leave her bed to make it back to his own chambers. Though they were betrothed, sharing bed before marriage was frowned upon in these lands. In most lands more or less, and where Éomer was from maybe less so, but they were not in Rohan and they both wanted to honor tradition of King Elessar's land. At least they wanted people to believe they did. After dozing off for a short time he once more awoke. Pulling the cover off himself he sat up. Aema's arm was soon around his waist.

'Must you go already? Stay here with me for just a little while.' she said while trying to pull him back to bed. He smiled, her tiny little arms could not move him even had she put all her might into it. He stroke the white skin of her arm and turned around to meet her. She was a beautiful mess where she lay. Her long golden hair spread out around her, her shift twisted around her body. Eyes slightly swollen from the night. But she was radiant, and she was his. Her gray eyes resting on him, sweeping over his body as if she thought he wouldn't notice. He kissed her and she slowly let her hand wander down his back.

'Oh no you.. I must go. I will have none of that.'

'Of what?' she said with feigned innocence. He chuckled.

'I am indeed a blessed man to wake up next to you each morning. But you are a dangerous thing. You will cause destruction and shame to my reputation with your temptation, not to mention what it would do to you.'

Aema turned her face downward into the pillow and let out a muffled growl. He bent down and kissed the back of her tousled head.

'Try to sleep some more, love. I shall see you soon enough.' and he pulled his tunic over his head and started the adventure of getting out of her bower unnoticed.