Semi Charmed Life

Author: Dingue

Summary: Two women of Rohan stumble upon the Shire after embarking on a rebellious rescue mission. Merry/OC Eowyn/Faramir AU

Author's Note: omg.. this is going so slow. It's really about Merry I swear.. haha. I should have mixed this chapter with the first. Oh well. I promise Merry will show up in chapter 3. Oh and if you like Phantom of the Opera, I highly recommend that you read Demons by Wandering Child. It will blow your m i n d.

Thanks so much to Harper's Pixie for my review!

"Aerin, Aerin! You must wake up" Aerin's mother shook her daughter gently. After several moments, a faint moan escaped her lips as she was jolted from her dreams. "Aerin" She repeated once Aerin had propped herself up on one elbow and was blinking and rubbing her eyes.

"Whasgoingon"

"A boy is here, he has a message for you." She replied a bit anxiously. Upon hearing this, Aerin sprang from her bed as if a spring were attached from her back.

"A message" She exclaimed excitedly. "From who" Her mother shrugged.

"I do not know. The boy is waiting outside."

"What is it" Aerin inquired once she was outside. The boy blushed upon seeing a woman in her mere bedclothes (Aerin sighed impatiently) and handed her the note. Then he took of running in the direction of the King's hall. "It must be from Eowyn." She concluded as she unfolded the letter. "But why would she.." She faded out as her eyes scanned the shakily written words. Tears stained parts of the letter.

Aerin

Something of the most disturbing nature has occurred. Please come to the hall as soon as you can.

Eowyn

"What is it, child" Aerin's mother questioned at Aerin's confused face as she reentered the house. Aerin dropped the letter on the table.

"Something has happened to Eowyn, or someone she knows. She said it was 'most disturbing'. She requested my presence. May I go now"

"Now? Why you have chores and.." Seeing the pleading and worried look plastered on her daughter's face, she consented. "Be back before nightfall." Aerin nodded and hurriedly changed into a clean dress. She quickly left and as soon as her house was out of sight, broke into a run and sprinted all the way to the King's hall.

xXxXxXx

"Oh you're here, thank goodness." As soon as Aerin entered the front of the King's hall, Eowyn's tear streaked face appeared before her.

"What's happened? Why are you crying" Eowyn grabbed her hand and led her to a corridor on the side of the hall. With Eowyn's slight sniffling and Aerin's questions, they hurried through the halls until they reached Eowyn's door. Slamming it shut behind them, Eowyn sank down onto her bed, fresh tears pouring from her eyes. "Eowyn" Aerin exclaimed and sat beside her.

"I-it's F-f-faram-mir" She wailed.

"Farawho"

"Faramir! The man I met in Gondor"

"Oh. Well has death befallen him? Is he alright"

"Of course he's not alright" Eowyn shrieked. Aerin rubbed her back softly and grasped her hand.

"Shh, shh, what happened." After taking a few shaky breaths, Eowyn managed to hold back sevaral sobs and began to tell the story.

"He, he left Gondor to come visit me."

"Visit you" Aerin interrupted, bewildered. "You hardly knew him! Didn't you only know his name" Aerin sighed at Eowyn's awkward pause. "Oh, 'I learnt his name and nothing more', please." She rolled her eyes. "Tell me everything."

"When I was there we spent almost the whole time together. We became such good friends, he and I. The time passed so quickly, I, I somehow began to feel something for him and then suddenly, I had to leave. He told me that he would come see me one day. Well he did. He left last week."

"Wait- how do you know this"

"Eomer. He was in Gondor when they told him of the young captain's disappearance. They found, oh Aerin, they found one of the soldiers that was travelling with him. He was dead" Eowyn buried her face in her hands again.

"And what of Farame"

"Faramir"

"Yes, him. What of him? How did the other man die"

"Orcs, Aerin. Orcs. Faramir was travelling with two other men. They have only found one but they think Faramir has been killed, they just haven't found him yet, and, and oh Aerin" She collapsed on Aerin's shoulder in fresh tears. Aerin was still trying to process the fact that her best friend had had a secret love story with a man she didn't even know and had not told her!

"Eowyn, it will be alright." She soothed. "They think he was captured. Think. Not know. Yes, there is a chance that he won't be seen again" Eowyn let out a sob. "But there is also an equal chance that he is perfectly fine! Eowyn, you cannot let yourself fall apart for something like this. If he is the Captain of Gondor, I am sure he can manage to get along by himself. Besides, you said there was another with him. It is highly unlikely that a band of Orcs could kill three soldiers of Gondor." Eowyn seemed to be very much comforted by these words. She had finally stopped crying.

"Thank you, Aerin." She said hoarsely. "Well, I suspect you have not had breakfast yet as I am sure I woke you quite early." It was true, the message had arrived about an hour before Aerin's usual rising hour and she was hungry. "Let's go to the kitchens and have something. It will get my mind off all this."

xXxXxXx

The two girls sat silently eating their food when Eomer walked briskly by donning his armor and sword.

"And where might you be going looking so handsome today" Eowyn cast a sly glance in Aerin's direction. Aerin rolled her eyes but was relieved to see that Eowyn had returned to her normal state. Apparently her words of comfort had done some good.

"Search party. We are going to look for Faramir." Aerin groaned inwardly knowing very well this would upset Eowyn. She was right. Eowyn's face went white.

"You, you mean the men of Gondor haven't found him" Eomer shook his head. "They requested some from Rohan look too as he was probably near here when he disappeared." Eowyn was shaking now.

"But i'm coming with you." Fear filled her pleading eyes. To her horror, Eomer shook his head.

"No, Eowyn. It is much to dangerous." He started to turn but his sister exploded in her seat.

"It's always too dangerous! Isn't it" She shouted, standing up. Eomer looked appalled. "You never let me go with you whenever you go on these missions. This time it's different. This time it is not about me. It's about him. I will be going with you." Eomer shook his head at Eowyn's furious words.

"I am sorry, Eowyn. You cannot come." He sighed resentfully. "I never should have let you befriend him. I should have known you would have pledged your undying love to him or some nonsense. And now, you want to get yourself killed for him"

"You are not my keeper nor my guardian! You are my brother! You have no authority over me! I would rather die a thousand deaths than remain here while he suffers. If you do not let me go, I might as well kill myself." She spat and turned to leave, most likely to prepare to leave.

"Do not speak like that, Eowyn. You will not be coming so you best not try to follow." Eomer turned and walked out of the room. Aerin hurried from her seat to her retreating friend.

"Eowyn, I" She sighed seeing fresh tears spilling down her friends cheeks. "You must remember what I told you before. These men are skilled and brave and Eowyn, they know what they are doing. It is better for them to go than for you to risk your life. Besides, imagine what would happen in he turned up here? You would still be out in danger looking for him. Then he would leave to look for you and oh, it would be one big circle. Please, Eowyn, stay." Eowyn was shaking with anger and frustration. She walked silently to her room with Aerin trailing behind her. Much to Aerin's dismay, Eowyn shut the door in her face. "Open this door immediately" Aerin demanded into the dark wood frame. "What are you doing! Eowyn! Let me in" She pounded fruitlessly. The sound of something

breaking made Aerin's blood run cold. What was happening in there?

xXxXxXx

"Oof!" A young servant tripped over some form in the shadows of one of the corridors. The blankets she was carrying went flying. Whatever she had tripped on groaned in pain. The servant's eyes widened. "Who's there?" She squeaked into the dark.

"Watch where you're going.." A very disgruntled female voice answered. The servant hurriedly gathered the blankets and ran off, quite careful not to run into any more people sleeping in the hallways. Aerin rubbed a red spot on her head where the servant had accidentally kicked her. She pushed herself up and stood.

"Ohh.." She moaned as her forehead throbbed. Blood rushed quickly to her head and her vision blurred like it does when you stand up too quickly. "Why am I out here?" She mumbled, feeling around for the wall. The hall was very dark since no one had bothered to come and light candles. "Why hasn't mum put any lights on in this confounded house?" She muttered and ran into a door. "And why am I in the hallway in the first place?" She turned the handle and walked right into a bedroom. Eowyn looked up from the writing she was doing at a very disheveled Aerin.

"Can I help you?" She stared at Aerin's dirty dress and sleep filled eyes. "What's wrong with your forehead?" Aerin realized she was still clutching it and lowered her hand revealing a red spot. "Are you alright?" Eowyn pushed her chair back and went to her friend.

"What, what happened? Why am I here?" Her eyes fell on the handle of a sword carelessly half hidden under a dark colored cloak. Everything rushed back to her. "Eowyn! You're thinking of leaving, aren't you! Well I won't have it!" She exploded. Eowyn smiled slyly.

"What did you do, sleep outside my door?" Aerin paused, trying to recall the past events.

Something was wrong with Eowyn. She hadn't made a sound for several minutes after the breaking noise. Aerin pushed on the door but something heavy was blocking it. A body? Had Eowyn taken her life? Aerin shook herself. Of course not. Eowyn was not stupid.

She turned to alert someone of her friend's odd behavior when she realized exactly how much trouble Eowyn would be in if she confessed to a secret romance with the captain of Gondor. It was almost humorous, the situation they were in.

Aerin slumped down on the floor outside Eowyn's door. She decided not to compromise Eowyn's position and would wait for her to emerge and catch her off guard. Eowyn had to come out at one point or another.

Soon her eyelids became too heavy to lift and with the setting sun and the darkness settling in around her, sleep seemed all too rewarding..

"Why yes, I think I did." Eowyn smirked.

"That's very kind. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a letter to deliver." Aerin blocked the door.

"This isn't funny, Eowyn. You can't leave. Please, listen to me!" Eowyn shook her head and easily sidestepped her short friend.

"I cannot simply stay and imagine what ends he has befallen. Aerin, I have to go. It is something I must do. You must understand that." Aerin sighed. Eowyn was always impossibly stubborn.

"Tell me what you plan to do and I'll think about it."

"Right, I'll tell you and you'll tell uncle. I'm sorry, but I can tell no one." Eowyn folded the letter and disappeared into the dark. Aerin felt as if she were torn in two. She knew it was wrong to leave and that two women, nay, two inexperienced women would never stand a chance against the forces of Mordor or whatever evils lay out there. But there was a part of her that yearned to go, it yearned for adventure. It was screaming in her heart that this was her chance to have that adventure.

"Eowyn!" Her voice reverberated off the bare walls. "You're not going anywhere without me." Eowyn grinned as her friend caught up with her.

"Ok, listen. This is what we are going to do.."

A/N: The next chapter will probably be long since I am determined to squeeze some Merry action in. This is a fic about him after all. Where the heck is he?

Please review! You make me sad when you don't:3