A/N: new chappie! enjoy!

Chapter 4: Ambush

"My lady-"

"Go, quickly!" Eowyn coughed as she lay in her bed, her face flush, her eyes glassy as she clutched the covers under her chin before pointing to a basket sitting on her vanity chair. "Don't forget the meal I packed for us. Eomer was insistent on it."

"But, my lady, I cannot leave you at such a time," Isolde argued, meekly.

"I am commanding it, Isolde," Eowyn replied in a raw voice before coughing again. "All I need is rest, nothing more. I shall sleep the entire time you are gone. Tell Eomer I truly am sorry for this. Now go, please."

Isolde looked at her lady skeptically, but sighed in defeat and nodded before turning and taking the basket from the chair to head out of the chamber. She watched Eowyn roll over in the bed with a cough, closing the door behind her and heading down the hall as she wrung her hands in nervousness. Eowyn had mysteriously fallen ill overnight, and Isolde hoped this wasn't a test in her loyalty, because if it was, she had probably failed.

She headed toward the stables to meet Eomer, only to find that he wasn't there yet. She sighed in slight relief before stepping toward one of the stalls where a white horse caught her eye. It was saddled, bridled and stomping a hoof on the ground, impatiently. Isolde glanced around before placing the basket down next to the stall and slowly lifting a hand to the animal's neck to stroke it.

"Hello, beauty," she murmured with a warm smile and soothing tone. "You're ready to be ridden, aren't you? I can tell you want to gallop all the way to Rivendell and back if you could."

The horse jerked its head up quickly as if to nod, making Isolde giggle lightly as she still stroked its neck. Another hand accompanied hers in petting the horse and she gave a small gasp as she looked over her shoulder with wide eyes at Eomer's warm smile.

"E-Eomer!" she breathed, unable to move away as he only smiled down at her, a blush staining her cheeks.

"She is a beauty, isn't she?" he murmured and Isolde swallowed before nodding and turning back to stroking the animal's neck, Eomer's hand lowering to his side but he still stood behind the blonde.

"What is her name?" Isolde wondered, not looking back at the king.

"Leosi," he smiled. "She will be yours for the day…unless you would prefer another."

"Oh, no," Isolde quickly objected. "She is magnificent. I'm sure I could not ask for better."

"Where is Eowyn?" he asked, and Isolde bowed her head with a sigh as she lowered her hand and turned to him, her gaze cast down.

"My lady Eowyn has fallen ill, I'm afraid," she murmured, and Eomer's eyes grew wide in disbelief. "She told me to assure you that it is nothing serious, and has told me also, that we should not feel obligated to cancel the arrangements for today." She knelt down to lift the basket and held it toward him, her gaze still cast down. "She said you were most insistent that I bring the picnic she had planned to bring herself."

"Picnic?" Eomer frowned in wonder, causing Isolde to look up at him with wide eyes. "I hadn't insisted on a picnic."

They were both silent for a moment before Eomer sighed, and lifted a hand to his forehead, rubbing his temples with his eyes shut. Isolde frowned at the action before he lifted his head again with a scoff.

"My sister believes she must play match-maker, Isolde," he smirked at the blonde, making her cast her gaze down again so he wouldn't see her blush starting to return. "My guess is, she is not truly ill. She is pretending to be so that you and I might have some time alone together. What is your theory?"

"My lady seemed genuinely ill, my lord," Isolde murmured, still not looking at him.

"She has had much practice in appearing ill," Eomer reported through his smirk then sighed, "But perhaps we should not dwell on it?"

"What will we do then?" Isolde wondered and Eomer stepped close enough to slip his fingers beneath her chin and lift her face to his warm gaze.

"We shall start our ride, little one," he replied. "There is a place I wish to take you. I think you may like it there. Eowyn and I would ride there often when we were children."

"Excuse me, my lord, but why would you take me to such a special place?" Isolde wondered, meekly and Eomer only smiled as he lowered his hand from her chin.

"I may tell you when we reach our destination, little one," he smiled. "Let us be on our way."

He turned and whistled, making Isolde frown before she noticed another white horse, saddled and bridled slowly walking toward them. Eomer only held a hand toward it and it stepped up to him, letting him grasp the reins and pull the animal up next to him.

"Leosi will come if you call her," he explained as Isolde's wide eyes stared at him in awe before she cast her eyes down and fiddled with the handle of the basket.

"I…I cannot whistle," she muttered, and Eomer gave a small chuckle.

"She will come if you call her name," he advised. "Try it."

Isolde swallowed before turning, still clutching the basket as she lifted her gaze enough to see the horse in its stall. That was when she realized the stall door had been open, yet the animal did not try to escape. Shaking the thought away for the moment she hesitantly lifted a hand toward the horse's direction, as she had seen Eomer do.

"Leosi," she called, and to her surprise, the horse merely stepped from its stall and straight to her, as Eomer's horse had for him. Her eyes widened as Leosi stopped right in front of her and Isolde took the reins in one hand before turning to the King with a surprised and bright smile. "It worked! She came to me!"

"As I said it would," Eomer smiled, and Isolde giggled as the horse stepped a little closer to the blonde's side.

He only looked at her for a moment as she continued smiling when she turned to the horse. Her smile lit up her entire face and she was even more beautiful than before. He hadn't failed to notice that his heart was thumping in his chest and he could hear it in his ears as he felt his mouth go dry. The reins were slipping in his hand from sudden sweaty palms but he somehow held onto them.

"Eomer?"

The King of Rohan was jolting from his trance by her timid call and he looked to her wide, sea-green gaze of wonder.

"Are you well, my lord?" she hoped as Leosi nudged her arm with her nose and Eomer gave her a warm smile.

"I was just thinking about how lovely you look when you smile," he replied, honestly and Isolde cast her gaze down to hide her blush.

"You flatter me, my lord," she mumbled and Eomer stepped closer to take her chin in his hand again and turn her gaze to his again.

"Yes, I do," he murmured. "But not without cause, little one."

"With all due respect, I have done nothing to warrant such praise, my lord," she murmured, gently.

"You warrant it by living, Isolde," he smiled, lowering his hand as her eyes widened at him. "Now come. We should go now."

He clicked his tongue as he turned his horse to lead it out of the stable and Isolde stood for a moment in shock before shaking it away and following him, pulling Leosi with her. Once outside, Eomer stopped his horse, and Isolde stopped next to him as he walked around the animal and stood next to the blonde.

"My lord-?"

"Give me the basket," he ordered, gently and took it from her when she lifted it toward him. "I'm assuming you know how to ride, yes?"

Isolde nodded and turned to mount the horse, only to find she didn't have the proper strength to pull herself onto the side-saddle. She made a second attempt, and this time, she almost gasped when she felt a pair of hands grip her waist to help her up and into the saddle. As she turned to sit properly, she saw Eomer's arms lowering to his sides before he started adjusting the saddle a bit for her.

"Lift your foot a bit," he ordered again, and she did as he told her, but couldn't resist looking down at him.

He concentrated on the task in front of him as Isolde swallowed, still staring at him a moment before he finished and looked up at her. She quickly looked ahead and he smirked, lifting an arm to rest it on the back of her saddle, tempted to wrap the arm around her waist, but he somehow resisted himself. She slowly turned her gaze to him before shooting it ahead again when she noticed he was still staring at her.

"Nervous, little one?" he wondered, still smirking and she instantly shook her head, not looking at him. He continued smiling as he stepped back and patted Leosi's shoulder and knelt down to pick up the basket at his feet. Lifting it he asked Isolde, "Think you can ride and hold this at the same time?"

Isolde looked to him and nodded before he lifted the basket toward her. It was small enough to allow her to loop the handle over her arm and let it hang so she could hold onto the reins.

"If you like, I can tie a rope from my horse's bridle to yours and lead you," Eomer suggested, but Isolde shook her head and he nodded. "Very well."

He smiled as his hands slipped from the basket, and one of his hands stroked hers, the back of his fingers running across the back of her hand. She straightened in the saddle, causing Leosi to give a small whiny and jerk her head up. Eomer chuckled at the animal as he patted her neck once more before heading toward his own horse again and mounting.

"Follow closely, little one," he smiled, turning his horse to face her and kicking him to walk up next to her. "I wouldn't want to lose you on the way."

Isolde gave a small, shy smile as she nudged Leosi to step closer to Eomer as he smirked at her.

"You stole the words straight from my mouth, my lord," she murmured before swiftly urging Leosi ahead, and the horse galloped toward the open gate.

Eomer's eyes widened as he turned to look over his shoulder, watching Isolde and Leosi getting smaller and smaller down the hill.

Well, she is certainly full of surprises, isn't she? he thought to himself before pulling his horse around and urging it after her.

Noon...

"I've never been this far away before," Isolde sighed, still sitting atop her horse as Eomer stood next to her on his own, both staring out at the countryside from an exceptionally tall hill. "It's so peaceful and beautiful."

"Eowyn and I would ride out here when we were younger," Eomer began, not looking away from the scenery. "We would sit here for hours before heading back to the manor."

"Is this the place you wished to show me?" Isolde wondered but Eomer shook his head.

"No," he admitted. "But actually, we are not far away from it. We could have our picnic there."

He pulled his horse from the scene and slowly stepped down the hill as Isolde followed, frowning when she realized they were heading toward a forest she hadn't remembered passing.

"Eomer?" she called, cautiously.

"It's alright," he assured her, stopping to let her catch up and he looked to her with a small smile. "We used to come here all the time as well. Nothing here will hurt you."

Isolde nodded, but didn't feel at ease, even as he smiled that winning smile of his.

"A river runs through these woods," he explained, starting to head through the trees and Isolde urged Leosi to catch up. "It cuts straight through the middle. There is a perfect spot on the bank where we can rest our horses."

"Thank goodness," Isolde sighed, leaning over to pat Leosi's neck. "She needs a rest, and so do I."

"We have been riding for some time, haven't we?" Eomer chuckled moving some brush from his path. "I don't really think about it too much."

"That is understandable when you are Master of the Rohirrim," Isolde replied. "You must have ridden for days at a time without stopping on occasion."

"Precisely," he laughed, turning down the path and Isolde hurried after him. "Eowyn would say I was simply too insensitive to notice."

"I would not go as far as my Lady Eowyn to say such a thing," Isolde assured him.

"Thank heavens for that," Eomer smirked moving more brush from his path and looking ahead. "Ah, here we are."

Isolde moved the same piece of brush he'd moved and smiled when she saw a small river running a few feet in front of them. Eomer urged his horse toward a tree, stopping next to it to dismount and quickly slip the reins over a branch as Isolde guided Leosi next to him. He quickly marched around the other horse and took the basket from Isolde to set it down, making her frown in wonder before he lifted his arms toward her.

"Eomer?"

"I shall help you dismount," he assured her then gently ordered, "Jump."

Isolde swallowed before adjusting herself, situating her dress so it wouldn't catch on the saddle. She pushed off the saddle and instantly reached for Eomer's shoulders as his hands gripped her waist and he slowly pulled her toward him, placing her on her feet. Wide, sea-green eyes met warm, green-hazels in panic as a blush crept over Isolde's pale cheeks as she realized that his arms were now around her waist and she couldn't keep her hands from slipping down his arms, caressing them unintentionally.

"Th-Thank-" she choked before clearing her throat and trying again. "Thank you."

"Of course," he nodded, his hands slipping back to settle on her waist as they had been before. "I'm starving. Shall we see what my sister packed for us?"

Isolde could only nod as her heart pounded in her ears. She'd just barely heard what he said.

"Wonderful," he smiled warmly before stepping away from her to pick up the basket then took one of her hands in his as he stood. "This way, little one."

Isolde's blush deepened when she glanced at their hands as they walked side by side along the river, her heart still pounding in her ears. They were silent as he led her toward a small outcropping that started a small waterfall that served as a trail across the river. Eomer tugged her hand a bit to pull her closer as they stopped on the bank and set the basket down.

"Have a seat, my dear," he smiled, still holding her hand to help her as she adjusted her skirt to sit, and he let go of her hand to sit next to her. He began digging into the basket and pulling out the food Eowyn had packed into it. She watched him a bit before saying, "I have done some research on my own."

"On what subject, little one?" he asked, and Isolde swallowed before replying.

"You," she answered, hesitantly and Eomer stopped to turn a frown to her.

"I doubt that is an interesting subject," he smirked, handing her piece of bread before asking, "But what have you learned so far?"

Isolde blushed and turned her attention to picking at the bread in her hands before admitting, "Nothing too informative. Whenever I ask Lady Eowyn something of you she tells me to ask you myself." Eomer chuckled but said nothing, and Isolde took that as a sign to continue. "However, I did do a bit of researching on the meaning of your name, as…as you did with mine."

"Did you?" he smiled, pulling out an apple from the basket for himself and sitting back on one of his hands to face the blonde as she nodded, still gazing down at the bread in her lap. "Well, come now, little one. Do not leave me in suspense. What does it mean?"

Isolde swallowed again before taking a nibble at her bread as Eomer smiled at her shyness, taking a bite of the apple in his hand. She was definitely a bit more comfortable with him, but her shy nature still dominated her. He hoped he wouldn't break her of that completely.

"Literally it means 'Horse-famous,'" she mumbled, and when Eomer said nothing she continued, "But I think it would mean something more like, 'Famous horseman.' It fits you perfectly."

"Does it now, little one?" he smirked, shifting to sit closer to her as she stared at him with wide eyes filled with wonder. "And what else fits me, pray tell?"

Isolde's gaze moved from his eyes to his lips before she dropped her gaze from his face completely to sputter, "I-I don't know you well enough to say."

"There must be something," he murmured, lifting a hand and placing it on one of hers, making her jump and shift her gaze to the contact. She straightened when she felt his hand move her hair from her ear but she didn't move, even when she realized his face was now right next to hers and he whispered, "You for example."

"M-Me?" she squeaked, making him chuckle as she cleared her throat.

"Yes," he murmured. "You cannot hide the truth from me, little one. Your eyes always tell me the truth."

Isolde swallowed and turned to him with that stunning sea-green gaze of hers as she breathed, "What truth?"

Eomer felt his throat close for a moment and cleared it, knowing that her gaze would be the death of him one day, but he managed to reply, "That you, and your lips, fit me perfectly."

"M-My lord-?"

She squeaked in surprise when Eomer's lips pressed against hers firmly but gently, his eyes closed and she stared at him for a moment before allowing herself to melt into the kiss. Eomer shifted closer to her, his lips still against hers as he blindly set his apple down and her bread tumbled from her hand as well. One hand instantly went to her waist as he pushed her back and she surprised him when she complied with the movement. His tongue snuck out of his mouth and into hers, making her squeak in surprise again, but she didn't stop him or object.

He tasted like apple and she moaned when she felt him press her into the grass, his hands gripping her waist as her hands hesitantly slipped up his arms to grip the back of his neck. Isolde couldn't remember the last time she was so willing to let a man kiss and touch her, but right now, she didn't care. She only wanted to make this man, this King, happy. And she wouldn't dare refuse him anything.

Finally needing to breathe, Eomer slowly pulled away from her lips and looked down at her, half of his long hair hanging from one shoulder, just barely brushing Isolde's cheek as he hovered above her. Isolde swallowed as he only gazed down at her, lifting one hand from her waist to gently stroke her cheek, making her sigh in contentment as she closed her eyes to savor the caress.

"If I didn't know better, I'd swear this was a dream," he whispered, causing Isolde to open her eyes and stare up at him in wonder. "But I could never dream up a beauty such as you."

Their horses gave snorts, and seemed spooked by something, causing the couple to freeze and look toward them in wonder. They both sat up and Eomer quickly stood, grasping his sword, but didn't draw it as he sensed something was wrong. The horses were still jumpy.

"My lord?"

"On your feet, little one," he ordered gently, to which she scrambled to her feet. "Stand behind me."

Isolde darted behind him, careful not to fall off the bank and into the river as Eomer's gaze shifted around the thick trees around them.

"What is it?" she dared to whisper, her hands placing themselves gently on his arms, not wanting to hinder him if he had to draw his sword, but feeling protected through the simple touch.

"I'm not sure yet," he replied, not looking at her. "It may be-"

His theory was cut off when a rasped roar came from the bushes and an ugly creature with black skin and sickly eyes came charging from the brush, making Isolde scream as she saw it and the weapon it was wielding. A clang sounded as the Orc's weapon was blocked from striking a blow to by Eomer's sword, which he'd quickly drawn. He had to take a slight step back to steady himself and the Orc tried pushing him even farther back off the bank, but he managed to shove the thing away.

Eomer marched toward thing Orc as it stood from being knocked onto the ground and spun its strange sword around. Angry at being interrupted and attacked, Eomer only glared at the thing as it came charging again and took a slight step to the side before grasping his sword with both hands, dodging the creature and slicing his sword up, into its gut as it passed. The Orc wailed in pain before falling to the ground, dead and Eomer glanced around, making sure he hadn't come with company before sheathing his sword and turning to Isolde…but she wasn't there.

"Isolde?" he frowned in wonder, looking around again as his heart skipped a beat in panic.

He froze when he heard a faint cry of distress and looked to his right down the river. Clinging to a huge rock above water was a wet blonde woman, and she was hanging on for her life. Realization hit him and he bolted down the bank, thankful that she was on his side of the river and not the other.

"Eomer-!" she choked and coughed as he slid to a sitting stop where she still clung to the rock and he thrust his hand toward her.

"Take my hand!" he called, but she only shook her head.

"I can't!" she coughed. "I'll lose my grip!"

Eomer was about to call to her to take his hand again when he felt a nudge on his arm and looked up to see Leosi standing next to him, throwing her head up and down, making her long reins slap his arm. He quickly gripped the reins and unclipped one side from the horse's bridle and turned back to Isolde, tossing the unclipped side toward her.

"Grab a hold of it!" he instructed, but she still shook her head, clinging to the rock in more fear than she could express and he could see her trembling. Eomer stood and looked to the horse, ordering gently, "Stay."

He jumped into the waist deep water himself, still holding onto the rein as he trudged toward her, fighting the somehow strong current. She didn't notice him coming toward her as she still clung to the rock, shivering in cold and fright. She gasped when she felt Eomer's arm wrap around her waist to pull her close to him as he clicked his tongue at Leosi. She threw her arms around Eomer's neck as the horse began backing up and pulling them toward the bank and when they came close enough, Eomer climbed up, one handed as one hand remained wrapped around Isolde. She still clung to him as they stood on the bank and he wrapped his other arm around her, letting go of Leosi's rein.

"Alright, little one," he murmured, patting the back of her head as he felt her sob against him. "It's alright now. You're safe."

"I didn't think I was that close to the edge," she shuddered. "When you stepped back to gain footing I moved to allow it and I fell into the water."

"That's enough, Isolde," he whispered, still holding her close. "We'll eat the rest of our food on the way back to Edoras."

He moved to lead her toward the horses, but when she didn't move, still clinging to him he bent down to sweep her off of her feet and carry her toward the horses. She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment before he lifted her and sat her on the saddle of his horse as she finally detached herself from him. He hurried toward their picnic and gathered it up to give it to her, then fixed the reins on Leosi before heading back to his horse and mounting behind Isolde.

Eomer turned his horse to head out of the forest, Leosi following without instruction. The two were silent for the rest of the ride back to Edoras. What could they say? She was still too frightened to speak and he didn't feel that there was any need for an explanation on what she'd just seen. Everyone knew that Orcs still terrorized the people of Middle Earth without rhyme or reason. Sauron and Sarumon may have been gone, but they made their own rules and bands of raiding parties now. They were as troublesome as ever.

He glanced down at Isolde as they emerged from the forest to see her shakily eating the piece of bread she'd started and sighed in relief as he looked ahead again. At least she wasn't too frightened to eat now. He was sure he would get an earful from his sister when they returned, though. He would just have to avoid her like the plague when they reached the manor.

A/N: my fingers took off on their own again. reviews?