Hello there and welcome to my second last chapter. There will only be one more. :)

I hope you enjoy it!

Your FMC

Of headaches and heartaches

The first thing she saw the next day was bright light and she instantly closed her eyes with a groan. Why was it so damn bright? Couldn't the sun be considerate? Her head was aching and she tried to hide her face under the heavy blanket.

"You were asking me if I am afraid of the dark and here you sit hiding from the sunlight.", an amused voice sounded next to her right ear. Opening one eye she looked at the smiling face of Eaoden. He didn't look tired or like he was having a hangover but looks can be deceiving. Perhaps he was just good in hiding that stuff.

"Why are you up so early in the morning?", the shield maiden grumbled while diving back under the covers. But she was soon swept in two strong arms and pulled to a warm body.

"Well firstly it's not morning anymore; I think afternoon would fit better. Secondly, I was up to tell our dear friends that we would skip breakfast as you were still in bed and thirdly…"

He stopped in his speech to give her a fond smile.

"I have to admit that I like to wake up by your side.", he whispered and gave her a sweet kiss on her forehead. Her headache was slowly disappearing as she closed her eyes with a content smile. Although she knew that this would surely be the first and the last time, she wanted to cherish that feeling a little bit longer. Berethor could wait and the others too… THE OTHERS!

"What did you say to those two?"

He was no idiot and knew right away whom she was talking about. Giving her a soothing look he caressed her head.

"Don't worry. I said you were staying in a different room and they should not dare to wake you in your sleep if they want to live. Does that sound good to you?"

She mustered his smiling face in the sunlight and even though her head was still hammering, she did not care and leant closer to him. How could she not fall for him? They were making a good team and although she could not remember everything from the night before, she felt warm and at ease while laying in his arms. This was where she belonged, if only for the last hours.

"It sounds perfect."

And her lips crashed on his in a passionate kiss.

"So, did you sleep well last night?"

Elegost had an innocent look on his face but everyone knew he was again trying to get on her nerves. Hadhod did not bother to say he should shut up as he was currently fighting his hangover. Normally Morwen would have taken the bait and threatened him with numerous ways to kill him slowly and painfully, but right now, she was content and nothing could dull her mood. Riding alongside Eaoden she decided to ignore the Ranger and concentrate on her last few minutes with the Rohirim. He seemed dead serious but she could see a small flicker of pain in his eyes as they finally reached the sixth Ring and the residence of Berethor. It was a huge white building and had a few beautiful constructions that seemed new. They must have been built after the war.

A young man, maybe just around eighteen years old came up to them to take the horses to the stable. Eaoden looked reluctant to let go of his mount because he always wanted to see the stables for himself. It was easy to steal a horse or worse. But the boy did not seem harmful and looked highly impressed by the appearance of the small group. Another man, an older one, was the next to approach them. He wore the typical gondorian armour without a helmet which he had under his arm. He bowed deeply in front of them. They did the same when he broke the silence.

"Welcome to the Captain's residence. I believe you are Lady Morwen? The Captain is awaiting all of you in the conference room. Please follow me."

The small group nodded without saying a word and followed after the soldier. Morwen was slightly irritated by the formal salutation and her hammering head. Her eyes wandered to the Rohirim next to her. Eaoden held his spear in his left hand and somehow he had sensed that she was looking at him and he gave her a small smile. Morwen felt her heart jump in joy and her cheeks were heating up. Turning her face away to hide her embarrassment she tried to distract herself with the ornaments and the archways, all hewed in the white stone. Everything glowed pure and cold. Although it was truly beautiful with the few little wells and the flowers, Morwen missed the dirt under her feet. Now there was only white stone where her footsteps resounded awfully loud in the huge building complex.

Elegost and Hadhod as well as Eaoden did not look impressed. They knew the place and did not look around in awe as her. Suddenly she felt stupid for her behaviour.

They were finally in what seemed to be the conference room, the soldier had mentioned before. It was huge and as everything else, all in white. It looked cold to her. Looking around she did not find Berethor. The soldier seemed as confused as them and hurried up with an answer when he saw Morwen growling angrily. Her head was still aching and she wanted to sleep. Playing hide and seek was not on her to-do-list today. The soldier bowed deeply in front of them.

"I am sorry. I will look for the Captain. Please have a seat."

He gestured towards the empty seats at the massive table but the friends only shook their head. Whatever it was that they wanted to discuss, it would either be very short or they would reschedule their talk in a tavern or something. This place did not fit the friends.

The soldier had long gone when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Eaoden was standing behind her, a finger at his lips. She stayed silent with a short look over her shoulder. Elegost and Hadhod had found a few drinks on the table and were debating what it could be. The thought of alcohol made her stomach flip but she remained quiet as she followed the Rohirim behind a pillar that would hide them. Raising a brow in confusion she wanted to ask him what was going on. Berethor could appear any time soon. She opened her mouth to say something when he kissed her. Morwen was more than surprised by his behaviour and wanted to pull away from his grasp, but either she was too weak because of her headache and lack of sleep or she simply did not want to break free. They stood like this for a while until they heard footsteps in the distance.

Breathing heavily she lent on him and looked him deeply in his eyes. Motioning him to bent down to her, he complied without a second thought and was rewarded when he felt her lips on his forehead, like he had done it before.

"Thank you for everything, Eaoden."

Her voice was a husky whisper after the bruising kiss a few seconds ago. Eaoden smiled at her until he heard the footsteps coming closer.

He wanted to say something. It seemed urgent and important. Did he want to tell her about the secrets?

Either way, they had to leave their hiding place to get back to Elegost and Hadhod who exchanged a big grin but didn't say anything about it. Morwen felt the Rohirim take her hand behind her and squeezed it. Whatever he wanted to tell her, there was still time. She would not marry the gondorian soldier so soon and she had finally made up her mind that she would not marry Berethor. Even though it had been the last wish of her parents, she could not bring herself to marry someone just because it had been arranged long ago.

Yes, this was the right choice.

Two doors opened at the same time to let a tiny girl and the gondorian soldier in. The solider looked exhausted as if he had crossed Middle Earth in the last ten minutes while the little girl was not tired in the least. She was smiling brightly and her blond hair was swaying from side to side as she twirled around. She really was a cute little thing. Morwen had a smile on her lips when the girl turned to them. There was no mistake. She was elvish. The shield maiden did not think twice on who the mother could be. It was instantly clear that this was Idrial's daughter.

Morwen opened her mouth to ask her companions if they knew her when the girl beamed at them.

"Father!", she squeaked and ran towards Morwen and Eaoden. The woman froze in shock and as if she had burnt herself, let go of the hand of the Rohirim. The little girl hurried past her and Morwen did not dare to look behind her. She could have sworn that she had heard glass breaking but it could also have been her heart that had shattered in million pieces.

She had been right after all. Why…?

So what do you think? I hope you stay tuned for the last chapter to come. :)

Your FMC