A/N

Ugh, what can I say. I think I've said sorry too many times for not updating :( Don't hate me ok? lol

I am going to try and manage my time better and get writing again properly this week. I have another story I've been messing with on and off lately and I think I work best with two stories on the go so lets see if this helps any after I begin uploading that too.

Thank you so much for the reviews. I tend to save reading them to just before I start writing a new chapter so I can take on board any suggestions or ideas, so they really do help me in writing, again thank you. Please keep telling me what you want to see or don't want, what you you feel or notice... anything at all, it all sparks my mind into thinking.

To The Lauderdale. Thanks so much for all that info. I would love to have a discuss about Orcs and their ways. I am a little dim on them and I admit mainly use what I know from the LOTR books and movies. My idea with the voice was to have these Orcs be lower rank, the lowest in fact. The cannon fodder in battles. So I thought their use of any man tongue would be... well, butchered. I should have perhaps explained that a little but was unsure how to do that as Aedre wouldn't know... hmm. I can always go back at a later point and try and add that when it's all done. Right now I'm going to put all my effort into actually publishing chapters. I'm going to aim for once a month but I am hoping for something a little more frequent.

Here we go.

"""""

Aedre lay within the king's bed, wrapped in furs and comforted by the heat radiating from the man now slumbering beside her. She had tried many times to close her eyes, to allow sleep to whisk her away from this situation, but it would not come and as the dark hours slipped by, her thoughts lingered upon unpleasant things.

The deed she had just endured had seemed brief in the aftermath, but during, it had been an eternity of trying to contain her own emotions. She had wanted to lash out, to cry, beg or scream for him to stop but she had forced herself to bear it. The small cut she now bore upon her lip was sore and tender and her fingernails had left indentations within the skin of her palms, but she bore them with a strange pride. She had done what needed to be done and now her heart felt a little easier, that all would be well. She shifted her position as the place between her legs throbbed uncomfortably and tried to dwell upon better thoughts.

After the act was completed Éomer had shuddered, his whole body bearing a hint of trembling and he'd rested his brow against her shoulder, regaining himself from pleasure before turning his attention to her. His lips pressing softly against her cheeks and brow, the contact reassuring and much needed. He'd slowly and gently lifted his weight from her body and come to rest beside her, his fingers busying themselves with removing stray strands of hair from her face. It seemed that a strange awkwardness had arisen in the air around them and for a long time the king was silent.

"Are you in pain?" He finally voiced a question.

Aedre glanced at him and saw no reason to lie; one untruth seemed more than enough for this night. She nodded, feeling the hot discomfort between her thighs.

Éomer frowned. "I did not mean to hurt you."

She smiled awkwardly up at him, giving the reply that she knew that only too well.

He seemed to hesitate before he again spoke. "I know I cannot expect you to suddenly feel what I will you to feel in what we shared, but can I at least hope you did not feel punished?" His tone held a shaky hint of hope.

Aedre averted her gaze, it seemed she would once again have to lie; it was a foolish wish to think otherwise. She shook her head and smiled, but it seemed her expression and will were not enough to fool him completely.

"I understand this was... difficult, that it will take time, but we have much time laid out before us. I wish for us to be comfortable with each other... if that be talking or... this." His determination in discussing this subject seemed to be wavering. "I would not have you feel you must do this for me, it must be something we share in equal meeting, do you understand?"

Aedre cocked her head slightly, listening to his words and finding a vague comprehension within them. She gave a slow nod and Éomer returned it with a smile, wrapping his arm about her waist.

"The hour is late, let us sleep and we can think upon this more in the morn."

Aedre gave a small noise of agreement and felt him settle into the pillows.

When morning light finally entered the room Aedre awoke from the fitful stupor she had fallen into just before dawn. Her whole body felt tired and her eyes ached from lack of sleep, she squinted in the brightness, blissfully ignorant in that small moment of waking, when the mind has not yet remembered memories best left forgotten.

But this lasted only but a fleeting amount of time as her senses came crashing down around her, reminding her just what this light signalled. She pulled the furs up to her chin, suddenly wishing she could stay wrapped in their warmth, but she felt the man beside her stirring and she knew soon she would have to rise and face whatever would come on this day. Silently she stilled the unpleasant fluttering within her breast.

They both rose, Éomer looking tired, groggy and bedraggled from his evening of drink, but a small satisfied smirk pulled at his mouth, making the ache within his temples seem little to worry over. They ate and drank, a little bread and sweet berry juice that was left over from the king's supper. The air still seemed thick between them to Aedre's senses despite their conversation the night before and as they dined Aedre's convictions and strength began to waver. Had she done the right thing? Had she been foolish to think all would change from one bed chamber meeting? Was all yet still at stake?

"You seem far from me this morn." Éomer's voice broke the stagnant silence and startled her back to the present.

Aedre offered him a small smile as she continued to chew nervously upon a piece of bread.

"Your lip." Éomer's brows rose in surprise and he reached across the small wooden table they dined at, his hand skimming her chin in a gentle caress as his fingertips gently touched the cut upon her bottom lip.

Aedre quickly put her own hand to her mouth, hoping to hide the wound but knowing it was a fruitless task. Instead she took Éomer's hand and pushed it away with a small shake of her head, telling him silently that it did not trouble her, nor was it of importance.

Sensing her sudden reluctance Éomer gave an uncertain smile and nod before returning to his own meal.

They dressed leisurely in the warm sunlight that bathed the room and tended to their appearances until both felt fit to face the many eyes of The Golden Hall. Éomer turned to her and wrapped his hands about Aedre's waist before pulling her close into an embrace.

"Winter is coming to an end" he mumbled softly into her hair. "So will these troubled times, and then all will be well."

Aedre pressed her cheek against his chest, taking more from those words than he could ever know.

He glanced at the window. "It is still early; you will not have been missed yet."

Aedre nodded and pulled herself away from his comfort.

"We shall meet again soon, I will try and make our parting brief."

She offered him a smile and touched his arm in reassurance of his words before leaving the king's chambers.

"""""

Sunniva was bustling around the kitchens when Aedre reached them. She offered the young girl a warm greeting and bid her to sit at the table while she prepared a good meal for them to begin the day. Although Aedre had already eaten a little it suddenly seemed like the thought of food caused her stomach to bubble and protest as a bowl of hot fresh oats and milk was placed before her. Knowing Sunniva would only begin to worry if she showed reluctance to eat, Aedre spooned the meal quickly into her mouth, giving her tongue little chance to taste anything.

"Goodness." Sunniva said with a grin. "You are hungry today, did the feast tire you?"

Aedre gave half a smile and a weak nod in return.

"I will take the king his meal, he is busy today planning a new meeting with the council, it is best his mind is focused." She patted Aedre tenderly upon her shoulder before picking up a tray of food and leaving the kitchens.

Aedre's eyes stayed focused upon Sunniva until the older woman was out of sight and then her gaze snapped to the drawer she had hidden her apron in the night before. Slowly she rose from her seat, her body and mind protesting violently at her willed actions. If only she stayed sat here as she did most mornings before her work would begin, perhaps she could forget what had happened and that apron would stay hidden... Her thoughts raced as she stood as if frozen, alone in the dim kitchens. What if it had all been some strange dream and she had never gone to the stables at all, her eyes leadenly moved to the doorway once again. What if soon Guene would come merrily into the room, alive and well...?

For a small moment the delusion seemed to be working and Aedre felt a heaviness lift from her, but her mind would not let her be and she finally turned her attention back to the drawer and took uncertain heavy steps towards it. She knew what she'd find before she even reached out for the handle, before the linen blood-smeared apron was held within her own grasp... She knew... It was all fact, and no wishing or deluded imaginings would make that not so.

Her eyes darted to the doorway as she clutched the evidence of her sin. Footsteps across stone echoed down the passageway and she quickly shoved the garment back into its hiding place before hurrying back to her place at the table, her heartbeat hammering hard within her ears. She cursed herself inwardly as a few serving women entered the kitchen for their own morning meal; she could have tossed it on the roaring fire and had done with it, if only she hadn't hesitated, if only she hadn't been so afraid. But the moment had passed and she could do nothing but pretend to listen as the women about her made ready for their own day and Aedre tried vainly to ignore the cold feeling that crept across her.

The morning dragged as Aedre accomplished her tasks one by one, finding comfort in each thing she was bidden to do. The work, it seemed, prevented her mind from dwelling upon things that she did not wish to, or was not ready to confront.

It was a good few hours past dawn when one of the women came hurrying into the kitchen, a slight glisten of sweat upon her brow. Sunniva quickly looked up from her task of skinning a wild hare and the other women soon followed suit, abandoning their chores as they waited for the woman to catch her breath and speak of why her entrance had held a note of urgency to it.

"It's Guene." The woman finally managed, wiping the damp from her face with one distracted hand movement. "They say before dawn the guards found her dead."

Aedre's eyes widened, her breath catching like a stone within her throat, preventing her from drawing air into her lungs. She'd known this would come, but she had childishly hoped, willed that it would not.

"Dead." The murmured word spread across the kitchen as some repeated it in surprise.

Aedre glanced around the room; perspiration began to bead across her skin making her feel uncomfortable, the palms of her hands hot and slick. She took in each face that listened and felt some small relief to find all bore expressions of shock and upset that could not be too different from her own.

Sunniva rose from her seat, setting the hare upon a table nearby and Aedre's eyes followed the steps she took, her heart beating fast at the thought of the older woman's eyes suddenly falling upon her and discovering her wickedness with one glance. She felt exposed and vulnerable, but instead Sunniva began to speak. "Where did you hear this Mildryth? Who says such things?" Her voice bore a stern warning that a mere rumour or gossip would be dealt with harshly.

All eyes turned to Sunniva for reassurance and authority.

Mildryth hesitated. "One of the stable boys, Aesc, I heard it from him not but a few moments ago. He said that none were allowed into the stables to do their work because a woman had been found in there, dead. He managed to get a look inside from one of the side holes and he swore it was Guene he saw lying there."

Sunniva's face still held sternness to it but her eyes betrayed her concern. "I'm not trusting upon a stable boy's word and nor should you Mildryth! You should know better than to come in here with no more than a gossip's promise." She turned to the other women who were now exchanging nervous glances. "Get back to work now; the whole of Meduseld can't stop for want of one boy's loose lips." She gave them all a steely look and they picked up their work and half-heartedly began once again. "Go on back out Mildryth; if you stay you'll just brag more folly."

The woman took heed and left the room to return to her own chores. Sunniva glanced around the room, making sure all were focusing before she too left the room as casually as she could manage. But as soon as she was past hearing, the women began to talk in hushed whispers of whether there was indeed any truth in the tale.

""""

Sunniva walked briskly down the many stone corridors, greeting many people politely as she went until finally she reached her destination. It was unusual for her to seek advice in the higher ranks, her dealings with Éomer were due merely to her presence as his nursemaid when he was a babe, and her place within Edoras was firmly imprinted upon her mind. She was but a servant but being close to Éomer had meant she had easily found small bonds with his own comrades. Although her first wish was to go to Éomer king, she felt she could not seek out his reassurance upon what could be a trivial matter of rumours, but the man she now sought was one she knew well and felt she could ask aid from if she should need it.

She knocked quickly upon the door before her, as her mind crackled with annoyance. She knew all too well that if such gossip wasn't quickly put to rest it could cause unrest and slow work. It was a few moments before the door opened and Gamling's solemn expression took in his new visitor.

"Forgive me for disturbing you Lord Gamling but I have an urgent matter I must discuss with you."

Gamling gave a certain nod. "You've come because of the death in the stables" he said, matter-of-factly. "I had thought of coming to seek you out also, but I have yet to find a moment to leave my rooms."

Sunniva's mind jolted. "Then it's true" she whispered. "I thought it but useless gossip." Sunniva's hand covered her mouth as she tried to take in the news.

"It would be best if you came inside, I know this will cause grief to those you oversee."

Sunniva gave a small nod and Gamling stood aside allowing her to enter. He showed her to a small seat near a crackling fire.

"It seems a stable boy came across her, she was already cold." He took a larger chair opposite her as he spoke.

Sunniva's eyes were wide as he talked. "Was it Guene?"

Gamling gave a nod in response. "I went to see for myself after the guards summoned me, as foul play is suspected." He paused for a long moment. "I'd have known Guene anywhere, we spent many a merry feast together."

"Foul play?" Sunniva repeated. "You mean she was killed?" Sunniva shook her head. "How can this be, how can this be... this cannot happen in the Golden Hall."

Again Gamling paused and rubbed at the large whiskers upon his chin. "Yes, killed" he said, ignoring her desperate words.

"How? Why?" Sunniva blurted out the questions. It seemed he was reluctant to go any further and Sunniva felt her patience wavering. "I am not unknown to such unpleasant things my lord, I have been through many wars. You know this only too well."

He gave a nod and relented. "It seems she was killed by a heavy blow to her chest, it crushed a few of her bones... she would not have survived it ... but it was not that which brought her death."

Sunniva waited for him to continue as Gamling took a long swig of a drink. "Someone crushed her head with a rock... if I hadn't known Guene so well from the way she wore her clothing... the violence was fierce..." He stopped for a moment as he took in a breath. "It curdled my stomach."

Sunniva took in a swift breath of surprise. "She... poor girl... poor lass" Sunniva said, shaking her head. "No one should die in such a heated and violent way, the Valar will surely frown upon us."

Gamling seemed to take little notice of her lament and prayers to the Valar. "I'm sure no one planned to kill her, it was too rushed... too clumsy." He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe a jilted boy... she had many... But whoever did the deed will not have been thorough and there will be something to tie them to the death of Guene..." He again paused, seeming to be lost in his own musings. "They'll let something slip sooner or later." Gamling let out a low sigh as he took another long drink from his cup. "It has been many a year since murder haunted Edoras, many a winter since Rohirrim turned against Rohirrim... I hope it does not foretell dark days to come."