Chapter 10- Portals and Pasts

It was still several days before Doc actually arrived at Maggie's farm. When he finally did, he was met by the same retinue of animals as was Eomer. Maggie gave him a huge hug and Eomer gave him a firm handshake. After Doc had unpacked in the guest room, Eomer was temporarily reduced to sleeping on the couch an experience he was not looking forward to, Doc suggested that they all take a walk to the nearby cliffs. Maggie said she would stay behind to cook dinner and so Eomer and Doc headed off.

"So, how are things going for you Eomer?" Doc asked.

"Not as well as I would like," Eomer replied. "I am not regaining my strength as quickly as I would like to. Also, I am worried about Rohan. I have been here more than a month . How do they fare without me?"

"Well," said Doc "I can not say how Rohan fares without her king, but I can tell you why you're still weak. Since we hail from a different world, the time it would normally take for something to occur, like completely healing your wound, is longer for us."

"Why?" asked Eomer.

"I haven't been able to find that out yet," admitted Doc. By this point they had reached the edge of the cliffs. The sea crashed onto the small beach below and black gulls circled overhead.

"Why are we here?" asked Eomer.

"Because in three nights time, this is where the portal to our world will re-appear."

"Three days!" exclaimed Eomer. "So soon! I thought I would have a longer time period then that." Doc looked at him in surprise.

"Why Eomer you sound almost disappointed! I would think that you would be thrilled to be able to return home."

"Aye, I thought so to." said Eomer. "It's just I believe that I have come to care for….."

"For what?" asked Doc.

"Oh.. Er.. For this world."

"Son, you are about the worst liar I have ever seen! At least try to add a little imagination to your lies. I know very well that it's not the land you care for… it's Maggie." Eomer looked shocked at first and then slowly nodded his head.

"You're right. I do care for her…. deeply."

"Well, if you're serious about her at all, then there's something's you should know about her past. She was engaged to a man called Dale Pieford for about a year. They were planning on getting married in the fall when Maggie found out she was pregnant. Soon, Dale just disappeared. No one could find out where he went or why, not even his family. The police declared him dead three weeks later. The stress ended up causing Maggie to miscarry her child. She was left with nothing and was completely alone, or so she thought. In desperation one night she tried to take her own life. Luckily, Lilly reached her in enough time to stop her. That's why I am always so protective of Maggie." Eomer looked in shock at the older man.

"I had no idea," he finally said. "I had heard her mention Dale before, but…. How could he ever leave her?"

"I don't know Eomer. But, I do know that you had better never hurt Maggie. She means a lot to me."

"I would never hurt her. She means everything to me. I'm just scared that I would hurt her if I had to leave her."

"Well, what you do is up to you," said Doc. "Just remember what I said."

Well, now you know some more about Maggie's past. What do you think? Does Maggie love Eomer too? (=^.^=)