A/N: Happy (one day late) Christmas! I hope you enjoyed your day yesterday! This is my gift to you guys! One of my longest chapters I have ever written for this story. Also, along with not owning Lord of the Rings, I also, for this chapter, do not own The Little Mermaid. The Broadway version, though. Also, this is going to be the last time for a while, but please check out my profile and vote in the poll! I really would love to hear all of your opinions! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Wynter's thoughts...


I turned over, feeling much more awake than I had in a while. Everyone else was still asleep. My side was aching as I sat up. The fire was out and I decided to attempt to help. I went over to the edge of Fangorn, gathering wood, trying to find the driest logs that I could. When I had three logs that I thought were good, I put them in the same place where the fire was last night. Quietly, I went over to where Aragorn's bag was and found the stones that I've seen him use to start fires before.

I sat by the pile of logs and readjusted my hold on the stones. Quickly, I struck the rocks together. A spark flew out and I jumped slightly.

"Come on. You decided to do this, take a big girl pill and do it."

I struck the stones harshly together a couple more times before frowning. Why wasn't it catching on fire?

"You need tinder, little one."

I turned and saw Théoden standing nearby, "Good morning."

He smiled, "Good morning."

Silently he went to sit on one of the logs while I went to go get some small sticks and leaves. Heading back, I placed the twigs somewhat under the logs as I started striking the rocks again. The sparks flew and finally the twigs caught on fire. I smiled, punching the air with my unhurt side.

"You seem very proud to have made a fire."

I looked towards the King, "Well, it's just everyone has done a lot for me and I haven't really been able to do anything, so I'm glad that I was able to help out a bit. Even if it might not seem like a whole lot."

Théoden nodded and silence followed. My eyes strayed over to the elf that was lying down only a couple feet away. His head was resting on his arm. The sun made his hair look like a golden halo around him and his face looked calm. A part of me wanted to go over to the elf prince and just look at him till he woke up.

Images of running my fingers through his hair filled my mind. Slowly his eyes would open, showing his sky blue orbs. He would smile sweetly, sending my heart in a flurry. Then I would bend down and-

Théoden broke my thoughts, "Are you feeling well?"

"Yes, for the most part," I said, tearing my eyes away from the sight. My stomach was doing flips and I began to focus on the conversation the Rohirrim king was trying to start, "My side aches, but that's it."

"That is good," He hesitated slightly before carrying on, "If you knew that you were hurt so much, though, why did you come along? Surely, you must have some concern over your well-being."

"I do have concern over my well-being. It's just-"

"Ugghh Haru get your foot out of my face…"

"Then get your face out of my foot, doofus…"

I looked back to see Edmund and Haru waking up, Haru's foot by my brother's face. Haru slowly sat up and stretched.

"God, I miss coffee," Edmund mumbled from his position on the dirt.

"Come on. We gotta get up. Even Wyn's awake early, and that never happens."

"Oh shut up," I said, glaring at the Asian. He smiled cheekily back at me before helping Ed up. The two boys took a spot on either side of me. My brown-haired brother laid his head down on my shoulder. Deciding to tease him a little bit, I started it pat his head.

"It's okay, puppy."

"Wyn, not so early. I'm tired."

"Then wake up."

Edmund pinched me. I yelped and rubbed my wounded arm as he sat up.

"That wasn't nice."

"Then don't be a smart-ass first thing in the morning."

"So," Haru cut in, trying to settle things, "Who shall you be riding with today, Wynter?"

"What do you mean? And why should we worry about it now? Can't we worry about it, I don't know, when we leave?"

"Well, I'm just saying that Ed's riding with me. So I was just wondering if you were going to ride with Prince Éomer again."

"Or if you'd ride with Legolas," Edmund quickly interjected, taking a drink of water from a skin canteen.

"Okay, 1) Éomer and Legolas are probably mad at me. For lying. Again… 2) Shouldn't I ride with the healer in the pack? Cause of said thing that I lied about… 3) Why are you two being so specific about names?"

"The gir- I mean, Wynter holds a point. I would prefer her to ride with Gandalf just in case something like yesterday happens again," Théoden said, looking harshly at Haru.

"Hey, wasn't my fault her stitches broke."

"When are we having breakfast," Edmund said, trying to stay awake.

"Soon. Wynter, can you wake the others up," Théoden asked me.

"Yes sir."

I went to wake Gandalf up first. His back was facing the group and I quietly tapped him on his shoulder. He rolled over and his eyes were wide open.

"If you were awake you should have said so."

Gandalf didn't reply. I pushed his shoulder slightly and then a bit more harshly when he didn't respond.

"Oh my god, please don't let him be dead, please don't let him be de-"

Gandalf slowly blinked his eyes, "Oh. Good morning Wynter."

"Y-You sleep with your eyes open?"

The old wizard nodded. I shook my head, laughing at myself a bit, "Now I feel bad for thinking you were dead."

Gandalf smiled at me before he noticed the fire. He stood, wishing me a good morning again before he went to go by the heat. Next I went to Merry and Pippin. The two of them were close together and I slowly shook them.

"Hey guys. Wake up. It's morning and we're going to have breakfast soon."

"Breakfast," Pippin asked looking up at me. I nodded, hoping that the thought of food would keep their attention. Pip sat up, stretching, before going to the fire to help out with food preparations.

"Merry," I shook him a little bit harder, "Come on. Wake up please?"

He opened his eyes and looked at me. Without a word, he stood and made his way to his cousin. Quietly, I sighed, "Guess he's really not happy about me lying to him. He won't even talk to me…"

I went over to Gimli next, hoping that the idea of food would work on him as it did on the Hobbits. I softly shook the dwarf before he rolled over and slowly opened his eyes. Suddenly he jumped and reached out to his axe before calming down.

"Aye, lassie, be careful. I could've killed you if you had been an enemy."

I smiled at the dwarf. Even though I felt as though I didn't really deserve it, it felt as though Gimli still treated me the same, "Good morning Gimli. Food will be ready soon."

He nodded and went to go to the fire. Next I went to Aragorn, carefully putting the stones back where they were before touching him. He easily got up and moved to the fire after thanking me. Éomer was the next closest to the ex-ranger, so I went to him next. The Rohirrim prince didn't look as mad while he was sleeping than when he was awake.

Slowly, I began shaking him, "Éomer. Prince Éomer. It's time to wake up."

He shoo-ed my hand away. I laughed, understanding exactly how he felt.

"Éomer, I understand how you feel, but there is food that is calling out for someone to eat them. Shall you deny the food people of their wish?"

The prince chuckled as he began sitting up, "That is the oddest thing I have ever heard. But no, I shall not deny the food people of their wish, Wynter."

I smiled as I began to stand. A little ways up, I tripped and fell until Éomer grabbed me by the arms.

"Careful now. Your stitches will rip again if you're not," he said as he helped me up.

"Th-Thanks," I said, hurrying over to Legolas. I sat on my knees looking at him, almost reluctant to wake him up. I stared at him for a little bit before deciding to give into one of my urges. Slowly, I began running my fingers through his hair, taking possibly the only chance I would get to do it.

"Legolas," I softly whispered, "It's time to get up now. Food is waiting."

His hand suddenly grabbed my wrist as I finished running my hand through the length of his hair. He opened his eyes, looking up at me. Without breaking eye contact his hand traveled up to mine before closing his fingers around my fingers. My face began to feel extremely hot and I almost felt like I was going to be sick from the way my stomach was moving.

"Good morning, Wynter," the elf said quietly, smiling as his tired eyes became more alert.

"Good m-morning…? Legolas," I quickly added, trying to cover up the question in my voice. The fact that he wasn't mad made me feel a little bit on edge.

He sat up and I finally became aware that I was still staring at him. Clearing my throat and taking my hand from his, I went back to the fire. Pippin handed me a plate and I took it, thanking him before sitting and covering my face with my hair. Without paying attention to anything else, I quickly ate my food, trying to focus on the taste of the food and chewing instead of my wildly beating heart. Once I finished, my heart slowed and I started to stare into the dirt again. I felt someone sit next to me.

"Here. Take a small drink of this," I heard Gandalf tell me as he handed me a cup. I took a small drink like he told me to.

"These are the herbs from last night, right? Won't they make me tired," I asked looking up at him.

"A little bit, but it will at least keep the pain down to bearable."

"Thank you."

As breakfast was finished, I was once again side saddle on a horse. Gandalf mounted Shadowfax, sitting in front of me. We began travelling, expecting to reach Edoras before nightfall. Gandalf rode mostly in front and it was hard to start any sort of conversation with just us two and Théoden. I looked around and decided to take a risk. Taking my leg farthest from Gandalf, I moved it so it was straddling Shadowfax. I scoot myself back so that my back was resting on Gandalf's.

"What are you doing," Ed asked me with a smile on his face.

"Well, I figured that if I was facing you guys, I'd have things to occupy me instead of going to sleep. So here I am. Taking advantage of my pants."

"But those aren't pants," Merry said looking baffled.

"Oh! So then… trousers? Is that right? Are they called trousers here?"

Merry nodded and everything clicked. They had British terminology, not American. Edmund started shaking his head, smiling a little bit. Silence carried on through the conversation. My eyes were beginning to droop until Edmund suggested we play a game.

"What kind of game," I asked, hoping to stay awake a little longer.

"How about like… 20 questions?"

"You can play that with this many people?"

"Not sure, but there's a first time for everything, right?"

"How do you play," Pippin asked from his position in front of Aragorn.

"Pretty much what you do is that you ask someone 20 questions about themselves," Haru answered, looking at the hobbit.

"That sounds fun!"

"I'll go first then," Edmund said, "Alright then, let's start out easy. Pippin, what's your favorite food?"

"All food," the hobbit said happily.

I started laughing, "All food is better than no food."

"Says the girl who eats nothing," My brother said from his place behind Haru.

I rolled my eyes, waiting for Pippin to ask his question.

"Well… how about Adi- Wynter?"

"What about me?"

"What do you like to do?"

"I like to feel very real emotions over fictional characters," at the look of confusion on everyone's face, I decided to make it a bit easier for them to understand, "In short, I like to read."

"And, you know, watch TV shows while complaining about how all the actors are insanely older than her but she still loves them," Haru said, snickering.

"TV shows? What are those?"

"They're like plays," I said, deciding to keep it at that. Explaining a television isn't my forte and the idea of colored people trapped in a box might become mind-boggling to them. I looked around our group, trying to decide who to question next. My eyes landed on Haru and I had an idea.

"I can ask anything right Ed?"

My brother nodded and I smiled.

"Haru," I called out in the sweetest voice I could, "can you sing for me?"

"No."

"But it's for me! Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"Uh-uh."

"Pretty pretty please?"

"Nope."

I sighed leaning back, "Well, it was worth a shot."

And the game continued on until we reached Edoras. I found out that Éomer began sword training at the age of seven, Legolas was over 2,000 years old, Gimli used to get in a lot of trouble with Fili and Kili, and Merry wanted to travel and make his own maps. As we stopped in the village, Éowyn came to meet us. After greeting her Uncle and brother, she stood in front of me. Quietly she whispered, "How is your wound? Are you okay?"

I shifted between my feet, "Well they kinda broke…"

"How are you still standing? We should get you to a heal-"

"Gandalf already fixed them though."

Éowyn looked at me hard and then sighed, pulling me into a hug, "We'll go get you ready for tonight's celebration. I'm just glad you are safe."

"Thanks Éowyn," I said, wrapping my arms around her. She pulled me along until we reached a guest room, a bath already drawn.

~Third Person POV~

Haru and Edmund walked into the Hall of Edoras, trailing behind the group. Edmund pulled at Haru's sleeve, stopping the man and making them trail behind even more.

"So when did you figure out that Éomer like Wyn?"

"He ended telling me himself… without knowing that I knew her, but still. He's also getting the same look in his eye like that one kid we had to deal with. Josh, right?"

Edmund nodded as he sat up against the wall, "Yeah, and that guy Nate, too. Are we gonna try to stop it like we did with them?"

"I don't think we should. He seems to really like her."

"Well that's great and all, but Legolas seems to care about her a lot, too."

"Then we'll just move him out of the way."

"But… he sounds good with her. I mean, you saw the way he acted when she was hurt and this morning too."

"Yeah, but are we really going to let Mr. Perfect who, oh by the way, lives forever get with her? Won't that just hurt them both?"

"Maybe, but why screw up the happiness that they could have for the time being?"

"I still think she should be with Éomer."

"I ship her with Legolas."

Edmund's best friend looked at him, shocked, "Did you just use your sister's language?"

"I honestly think I just did."

The black-haired man laughed as he rubbed his neck, "Well, looks like for once, we don't agree on something."

"May the best brother win."

The two smiled at each other as they went to find the group again. They navigated their way through the castle, finally finding the group they lost in the King's chambers, discussing what was to happen next. Just before the sun fell over the horizon, Théoden dismissed the men, allowing them time to get rested and changed.

~Wynter's POV~

Éowyn was right behind me as we rushed down the stairs. We were running late from making sure my bandages kept in place and the dress didn't make them noticeable. Once we reached the hall, my eyes immediately landed on Legolas and I hurried over to him. He held a metal tankard in one hand. When he spotted me, he motioned me over to him and Gimli. I quickly walked to the elf, trying not to attract too much attention. From our position off to the side, Éowyn went to her uncle, handing him a similar tankard to the one Legolas was holding.

"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead."

"Hail," was chorused through-out the room as everyone who had tankards took a drink. One by one, the group began to break apart and music was starting. Gimli took the elf over to where Éomer was leaning against a wooden barrel. Edmund and Haru were sitting on a table in front of him, drinking and talking. I sat on a bench, facing Ed and Haru while having Legolas at my back.

Eomer handed a tankard to Gimli and another to Legolas, "No pauses. No spills."

"And no regurgitation," Gimli grumbled from the end, leaving me confused.

"So… it's a drinking game?"

"Aye," was shouted out around the elf prince.

"Last one standing wins," Gimli said as he began to down his drink. I looked back at Legolas who hesitated before following in suit. My head turned back towards Éomer, looking at him confused.

"What are they doing," I asked.

"Well, after my sister took you away, we started a conversation of drinking. Long story short, Gimli challenged the elf after a lengthy argument about which race could tolerate more alcohol."

Gimli was finishing off his third tankard as Legolas was starting his fourth, "Well that isn't fair. Legolas is obviously going to win."

"What make you say that," Edmund asked from across the table.

"Because of elf-wine at Lothlórien and the reason why everyone was against me trying some. It has a higher alcohol… percent? Anyway, no one else could drink the stuff except for the elves and the Hobbits."

Both Gimli and Legolas were well past their tenth tankards when Gimli was beginning to look worse for wear. He farted from his place at the end of the table and began to drunkenly laugh. Unsteadily, he motioned for another tankard.

"Raar, it's the dwarves that go swimming… with little hairy women."

Legolas's hand holding the tankard pulled back from his face. He stared down at the liquid, shocked. Slowly he lifted his fingers and moved them slightly, "I feel something… A slight tingle in my fingers... I think it's affecting me."

"Obviously not as bad as Gimli," I said, looking over at the dwarf who started going cross-eyed after talking about how Legolas couldn't hold his liquor. Suddenly, the dwarf fell back from his chair, causing the table to vibrate. I gasped, standing to look down at the unconscious dwarf.

"Game over," I looked back to see Legolas smirking slightly before finishing up his drink.

"What do we do with him?"

"Nothing. He'll stay there until morning, most likely," Éomer said, taking a quick drink.

"Is that safe?"

"By the time that the celebration is over, everyone will be too drunk to cause harm to him."

I looked back at the dwarf one last time before sitting back down. If they weren't too worried about it, I guess I shouldn't be either. Edmund pushed a tankard toward me and I looked down to see a golden colored liquid filling it.

"What is it?"

"It's ale. Try some."

I looked up skeptically at my brother before taking the cup in my hands. I sloshed the drink around a bit before taking a gulp. The amber liquid tasted like wheat against my tongue as I swallowed it.

"It isn't that bad I guess…"

"Do you like it," Haru asked.

I shrugged, not really knowing what to say, "It's good, I suppose. Not something I would drink often though."

The boys nodded, as I took another drink. Then Haru surprised me, "What do you want me to sing?"

"What?"

He smiled, "I said, 'What do you want me to sing?'"

I smiled back at him, "Whatever you're willing to sing Haru."

"Now you make this difficult…," the Asian sat, thinking for a bit before a smirk appeared.

"There you see her," he started out, not faking a Jamaican accent like he usually did when he decided to sing this song. Still, my voice rang out in giggles as his smooth voice continued, "Sitting there across the way. She don't got a lot to say, but there's something about her. And you don't know why, but you're dying to try, you wanna kiss the girl."

"Yes you want her," Ed came into the song, singing along with Haru, "Look at her you know you do. It's possible she want you too, there is one way to ask her. It don't take a word, not a single word, go on and kiss the girl."

"Since you're singing with me now, come on," Haru said, laughing, "Sha-la-la-la-la-la my, oh, my look like the boy too shy, ain't gonna kiss the girl. Sha-la-la-la-la-la, ain't that sad? Ain't that a shame, too bad, you gonna miss the girl."

"Now's your moment, floating in a blue lagoon. Boy, you better do it soon, no time would be better," Ed looked up behind me while Haru looked to his side and winked at Éomer. I brushed off their actions, thinking they were just playing their part in the song.

"She don't say a word and she won't say a word until you kiss the girl! Sha-la-la-la-la-la don't be scared, you got the mood prepared go on and kiss the girl. Sha-la-la-la-la-la don't stop now, don't try to hide it now, you want to kiss the girl.

"Sha-la-la-la-la-la float along and listen to the song. The song say, kiss the girl," the next part, Ed kept the melody and rhythm as Haru let his voice get louder and strengthen on, "Sha-la-la-la-la-la the music play, do what the music say! Go on and kiss the girl!"

"You got to kiss the girl. You've got to kiss the girl. You wanna kiss the girl. You've gotta kiss the girl. Go on and kiss the girl."

I laughed as the two finished their song of the hour, "What made you decide to do that song?"

Haru took a pause and then swooned slightly, "The musical genius just came to me."

I shook my head, "Hell, even Ed was able to keep tune. You two must be drunk."

The two looked at me, smirking as I rolled my eyes. Even though the hall was large, with the amount of people inside, I was getting hot. I nodded my head, excusing myself as I went outside. The moon was high in the sky and all the stars were twinkling. Looking across the darkened landscape, I stared at the stars until something familiar caught my eyes.

"Isn't that Orion's Belt?"

The familiar sight of three stars in a line threw me in for a loop. Weren't we in an entirely different universe? Then why was there a constellation from-

I felt someone tap my shoulder as I looked behind me to see Éomer. I smiled, feeling butterflies in my stomach as he stood beside me.

"The stars a very bright tonight, aren't they?"

I nodded, looking back at the constellation, "They're beginning to remind me of home…"

"What is your home like? I have some idea what it is like, but how is life for you there?"

"Well, for one thing, I go to school. I hang out with my friend Millie. Her real name is Emilia, but I prefer to call her Millie. At school I have about six different classes I attend in a day."

I continued to talk to Éomer about my life back at home until the moon began to appear to be setting, finally convincing me to head to bed.

"Thank you for telling me about your home," Éomer said, sitting next to me on the steps.

"Thank you for letting me ramble on," I said beginning to stand. Before I could stand up all the way, I felt Éomer's hand on mine. His eyes locked with mine. The beautiful, chocolate eyes stared into me, expressing a raw feeling that I couldn't put a name to. Lightly, he kissed my hand.

"Good night Wynter."

I nodded, flushing and slightly confused, "Good night, Éomer."

I hurried back into the hall, noticing that most everyone else was still asleep and covered with blankets. Even Gimli. As I walked into the hallway off to the side, I felt someone grab my arm. Looking back I saw Legolas.

"Oh. Hello. What's up Legolas?"

The blonde elf in front of me seemed torn on what to say. Taking a deep breath, his squeezed my arm, "I just… I wanted to say that… I wish you a good night."

I smiled at him, feeling oddly flattered, "You didn't have to stay up for me, but thank you."

I went and gave him a hug, wrapping my arms securely around his waist. Slowly, I inhaled his scent of rain and pine. The familiarity calmed my senses and the warmth from his arms felt comfortable. I pulled back, reluctant to go.

"I really need to sleep if I'm have a hard time leaving his arms."

"Good night Legolas. I'll see you in the morning."

He nodded at me as I went off to the room Éowyn had taken me to before. I saw a nightgown lying on a chair by the vanity. Quickly, I unlaced my dress and pulled the white dress over me, pulling my hair out of the collar. As I laid down to bed, I thought back to the unreadable eyes of Éomer while scenes of a rainstorm filled my mind.


A/N: I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Just because I don't think I'll be able to update before the cause I have my dad's birthday and then my birthday after that. I hope you enjoyed and THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT! The reviews you guys leave me really get me through the day and motivate me to try and make each chapter better than the previous one. For those of you reading the Author's Note, thank you. REVIEW!