~Chapter 29~

By noon Eomer had things under control. He had several soldiers use their own horses to bring the wagon to the forest clearing. He'd dispatched four riders with gold back to their last stop to purchase four more horses to pull the wagon. It was emptied of anything non essential. The food and water was returned to the wagon as Eomer sought to make room in the wagon for all the former captives.

He dispatched a pair of riders to take the news to Edoras with all haste that Erienne was safe. The message was to be delivered in person to Eowyn and only Eowyn. That Erienne had been found safe and sound and that Aragorn had married them. It was then up to Eowyn to make arrangements for all that needed to be done upon his return.

It was decided that the party would split up for there was still the matter of Theoden's burial awaiting Eomer's attention back in Edoras. Legolas and Gimli would remain with four of the Rohirrim, and when the other four returned with horses they would set out with the women and boys in the wagon.

The remaining riders, Aragorn, Eomer and Erienne, would depart at first light in the morning and it would probably take them a week to get back for Eomer would not hazard any risk to Erienne's pregnancy, so it had been decided that they would travel more slowly, with more frequent rest stops. The rest of them would follow on back when possible and would probably arrive a week or so later, their traveling speed probably half even with them riding instead of walking.

Every moment Erienne was at his side, he would not let her out of his sight, and he constantly seemed to need to touch her. To reassure both him and her that this was real, that they were together, that they were married. There was so much to say to each other, so much to discuss, and he ached to make love to her, but there were decisions to be made and duties to perform.

He wanted to tell her how proud he was of the way she'd handled this latest dilemma. How proud he was of the way she'd taken charge, of the way she'd handled herself; thinking of the others first, making sure all were accounted for; that all were taken care of to the best of her ability. Qualities truly befitting her new station as his wife, his queen.

By early afternoon everything else had been arranged, Aragorn using his abilities as a healer to tend the two women who'd been abused. Legolas talking to them, reassuring them, using his mind to help heal the mental scars from the abuse they'd suffered. The rest of the captives had pitched in with the soldiers making things ready for a brighter life than what they'd imagined just two days ago.

Gimli and the soldiers took the young lads in hand, finding tasks to keep them busy and out of trouble.

All morning as often as he could, Eomer would pull Erienne to the side; or behind a tree and kiss her. They simply had not managed any time completely alone and it was Aragorn who noticed tension between the frustrated lovers, "Eomer, you two go for a walk, I have everything in hand here."

Eomer cast him a doubtful look, and Aragorn laughed, "I am newly married too Eomer, I understand fully, you two need some time alone."

Eomer smiled, and Erienne flushed red, embarrassed by Aragorn's comment. Then his remark about being married hit her, "Aragorn, m'lord? You are married? To whom?"

She wondered what Eowyn thought of this. She knew how her sister-in-law felt about this man.

Eomer spoke before Aragorn could answer, "C'mon love, let's take him up on his kind offer before he changes his mind."

He went to his saddle, pulling a couple of items from the pack. He took her by the hand and led her back up the mountain face to the small cave where he'd proposed. "Tis not what I'd like or where I'd like us to be on our wedding day but it will do for now. What matters my love is that we are together and you are mine forever. My sweet beautiful wife."

WIFE. Erienne cherished the word. She was HIS wife, and by the same token he belonged to HER. If they were in Edoras she'd shout it out loud from the rooftops, or at least from the steps of the Golden Hall.

Eomer—King of Rohan—was hers, her husband.

Eomer spread the blanket on the ground, then stood, taking her face in his hands as he kissed her again, soft, gentle, tender, steadily increasing the pressure of his mouth against hers. His tongue teased her lips, tempting them to part and then he taunted her tongue with his.

She moaned into his oral assault her arms clinging to his, her body melding into his. As always their passion grew strong, demanding. But this time it was different. Maybe it was the vows, maybe the child she carried, but it was a time they would never forget.

Maybe it was the knowledge that the council could rant, rave, and demand otherwise, but the deed was done and Eomer would never back down on this. He would proclaim their union, and demand recognition of all children from that union as his heirs.

He was King not the council. Erienne would be his queen or they would find themselves without a king. He had the backing of the King of Gondor and the Prince of Mirkwood.

He undressed her like she was a precious gift, peeling the layers off one at time, exploring her treasures, noting the physical changes, the increased fullness of her body and breasts. She'd never been more beautiful. She stood naked before him as he skimmed his fingers across her skin.

He hurried to remove his clothes, then pulled her down onto the blanket. Laying her on her back as he lay down beside her. His hand returned to the exploration of her new curves, and his hand grazed her belly above her mound. He looked up at her face as he stroked her belly in a tender caress.

"The child Erienne? Do you know when?"

"Aye my love," she replied her fingers stroking his cheek. "The first night at the abandoned village, I think, maybe even the very first time. It has been over three months since…well you know." She turned her gaze from his.

He laughed at her embarrassment. Three months, it seemed fate had destined this from the very start. He would not tease her right now. Now was the time for loving and he loved her with everything he had in him. He couldn't bear to wait any longer and he moved over her, sliding deep into her wet warm depths.

He began to move within her, thrusting gently at first, she was so tight again, like the first time, it had been so long. He didn't want to hurt her and he wasn't sure how careful he had to be of the child. Erienne went by instinct wrapping her legs around him, pulling him deeper, Eomer tried to remain cautious and she laughed beneath him. "I won't break, my love."

He took her words to heart and let go driving into her with all his love and passion. She met him enthusiastically and soon they both shattered, replete with joy, sated by love and passions spent. Ereinne snuggled her lithe body against his. He curled his arms around her and just enjoyed the feel of her body in his arms. The sunlight fell through the opening and they napped naked in warmth of the afternoon sun…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Two Days Later....

Eowyn received the message from her brother, gladdened by the news that Erienne and the baby were safe, but stunned that her brother had been so impulsive as to marry. Still she was glad, she knew Erienne made him happy and that was all that mattered. And as far as the baby was concerned, for far too long children had been absent in the hall.

She shared the glad news with Arwen, who was also glad for Eomer. Eowyn also imparted her concern about the marriage, especially without consent from the council. Arwen merely smiled, it appeared that there was more than one king who let his heart be his guide. Arwen was impressed, Eomer would be a good king.

Eowyn made a personal trip to see Kyla and Tyna, to ease their worry over Erienne. She did not however reveal the news of the marriage, that would come in time.

Once word had come to Eowyn that Erienne was safe, she had taken it upon herself to check on Reyna. Before that she'd been too worried for both Erienne and her brother to think about the cause of everyone's misery.

Reyna's condition was foul to say the least. As a woman she'd been personally disgusted by what she'd found, but she supposed that Reyna deserved what she'd gotten. Reyna was still naked in shackles, weak, battered, and bruised but seven days of it was enough. So despited his intense protests otherwise, Eowyn had pulled rank on Daiken.

She'd insisted that Reyna be given her clothes, some water to bathe with and made a point of relieving Daiken of the key. She returned the key to the warden with instructions that she or her brother were the only visitors allowed to see Reyna from this point on.

When Reyna saw who had come to her aid, she was surprised, thinking maybe this was all over and she sounded most grateful, "Thank you m'lady."

Eowyn did not for a moment doubt Reyna's sincerity, but she wasn't about to give the whore that much hope. "Don't thank me Reyna, this isn't over."

Eowyn nodded to the warden, who stepped forward to replace just Reyna's ankle shackles. "But I wouldn't treat a mad animal the way you have been treated. I don't want my brother to come back and find you like this. I will not have him come back and feel guilty because he let someone who was just as angry as he was, to have control over how you were treated. If he'd thought twice about what the possibilities he was allowing to happen down here, you would still be here, rest assured of that. But he would never under normal circumstances condone the abuse you have been subjected to, no one has every driven him to such fury before.

"He's a good man, and in the end it is not he who will control your fate anyway. You will most likely be at Erienne's mercy and I don't know how merciful she is likely to be. You jeopardized her life and that of my brother's unborn child. She's not likely to be too forgiving."

Reyna couldn't believe what she was hearing, apparently having not learned anything at all since she began to run at the mouth. She gave an incredulous laugh, "Even if he finds her, she cannot judge me, that little witch is no more than a common village slut."

Reyna was completely unprepared when Eowyn slapped her so hard she was on the floor.

"Eomer has found her and watch what you say about "the witch" Reyna, my brother will not take insults to his wife lightly."

"His…. Wife…!!" Reyna stammered.

She looked up to meet Eowyn's angry glare, her own eyes growing wide as she allowed it to sink in. Eomer had actually done it. He'd married her and that… that made her….that made her..

Reyna swallowed hard, trying to grasp that Erienne was now queen of Rohan. Erienne now had more that Reyna had ever dared dream of. In her twisted mind, Reyna considered the injustice of it as she saw it.

It was not fair, Reyna had manipulated, plotted, schemed and slept with probably half the Rohirrim army only to lose everything she'd been working for. Erienne did nothing, demanded nothing and everyone fell all over themselves to give her everything.

Eowyn seemed pleased by Reyna's sudden look of distress. "What's the matter Reyna? Suddenly not feeling well? Things not to your liking? "

Clinging to whatever thread she found logical, Reyna continued to deny the obvious. "The council will not let the marriage stand."

"You are living in the past Reyna. The old ways are gone, and we face a new world. It is a political matter now, they will have no choice—Erienne and Eomer have the approval from the royal house of Gondor and the Prince of Mirkwood. In fact the king of Gondor performed the ceremony himself."

Eowyn had said her piece, turning her back and leaving the damp cell in the dungeon behind and she had left Reyna reeling with information, very little hope, and knowledge of a not so certain future. Any thing could happen now.

Eowyn in her hasty departure also missed the look on Reyna's face as realization finally dawned on her, and she was left with much to contemplate and no one to blame but herself.