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The dawn brought a new day and with it the sun breaking through the sky brought new fears and anxieties rushing through the bodies of the Rohirrim. Many were already suited up and preparing for war. Getting their effects in order as they readied their horses.

Annalynn watched from the cliff as the sun drifted higher into the sky. She watched on, knowing full well that despite all her prayers, many of them would not be returning home. Back to their families, back to their loved ones. She knew that cost of war, she only wished the price was not so demanding. She already said her farewells to both Geoff and Garreth, expressing heavily that both she and Odette would be waiting for their return.

"I am surprised to see that you did not leave with the Elf."

Annalynn paid no heed to the voice behind her, she kept watch over the heavily burdened soldiers. Sending courage their way. She prayed that no more lives would spent in the name of war, even though she was aware that would not be the case. Some would return home with missing limbs or scarred souls, but many of the men would not return.

"Annalynn. Go to him."

Sighing heavily, she wrapped her hands over her arms. "Why? He surely does not want to see me."

"While I agree, you still need to go to him." He walked beside her, staring down at the quarry below. "As much as I disagree with what you did, I understand. You should also understand that he has been through much since you left."

"I didn't leave. I was banished, or has your hatred for me blinded you of that?

"He thought you were dead."

She could feel her anger slowly dissipating. "When that family showed up, told him what you had done, how you sacrificed yourself for them, he thought you were gone from him forever. Then, by the grace of Bema, you show up in Edoras. Alive and well. It was the first time I saw him happy in years. For years I watched him waste away. Over the lose of his parents, Theodred, training others for a war that we were never sure would happen, preparing to become King. It was more than just conviction that saw him through those times. It was you."

Eothain turned towards her, grabbing the pendant that laid across her chest. "When he was given this, I knew he was beginning to break. With the weight of keeping the kingdom safe from Grima and the Orcs roaming the borders, hearing that you were dead was the final crack." He let the jewel fall back to her skin. "Before we joined up with Erkenbrand, he wanted to see you. We went the place where Geoff said that he lived. If we hadn't assumed that the dead Elf we came across was you, it might have saved him further heartbreak."

Annalynn let his words soak in. She didn't know how she would have reacted if she was Eomer. Losing Arryn was terrible in and of itself, but losing Eomer like she lost him, she could not even begin to bear the thought.

"He feels betrayed and he has a right to do so, but you should still see him off."

"If I've caused him such heartache, why should I further torment him?"

"Because he still loves you.

If she was conflicted before about her situation with Eomer, Eothain only worsened it. If the words he spoke had any truth to them, seeing the one person who caused such pain would be the furthest thing that should be done.

"Only Iluvatar knows why, but he does."

Eothain left her standing on the edge of the cliff. The sun had fully broke above the horizon and was glaring at her. Perhaps he was right. Eothain had known Eomer longer than she had; far longer. He has been with his friend through it all. From childish fights to battles as men.

Shaking her head, Annalynn straightened her dress out and sought him out. It wasn't as if he was going to be hard to find. Others were beginning their descent down the mountain towards the valley below. Only those who were not participating in the battle remained. Packing up a majority of the camp. She and the others were not set to leave back for Edoras until the next morning. Many were squires or councilmen who had no need to be in a war zone.

She found him next to one of Theoden's high advisors, speaking in hushed tones. When she approached, the councilman was the first to take notice of her appearance. "Lady Annalynn." He gave her a light bow before doing the same to Eomer and taking his leave.

She could see him physically prepare himself for this conversation. His shoulders slouching for a moment, but returning to their normal rigidness. "I'm here at the request of a friend. He thinks that I should see you off, even though I have no right to do so."

"Eothain sent you."

"He did." He still had yet to turn and face her, yet she still held his full attention which she planned to use wisely. "Just come back Eomer. Broken, battered, or beaten, come back. There are people in Edoras who will be waiting for your return." The gorgeous blonde with love filled eyes was the first to enter her mind, but Annalynn knew better than to mention her at this moment. "Eowyn still needs her brother. Despite how much she has grown into a fine woman, she still needs you."

"I suppose I should thank you for that. If it had not been for you, I do not think she would be as strong as she is."

"Nonsense. She has always been a fighter at heart."

Memories of them with a much younger Eowyn flashed across her eyes. Long ago, she knew that their time raising Eowyn would have been much like raising their own child. Distracted by her musing, she never took notice of his turning towards her. When she felt his gloved hand on her face, she internally flinched. The sun has cast a glow over his skin, making it shine like gold and create a heavenly look about him. It pained her to know that when he did return to Edoras, it would not be to her.

"Annalynn, I…. Have safe travels."

If the disappointment was evident on her face, Eomer paid no mind to it. Reaching around her neck, she undid the clasp of her necklace. Annalynn placed the jewel that held a greater meaning to the both of them into his palm, it was her last goodbye. She prayed that it did not come true, but if he should fall perhaps having the necklace with him would make him think of her. If he made it out alive, then it would be a reminder of them. She felt guilty doing so, but by giving it back to him then maybe, just maybe, he would return home to her. Not back into the arms of the other woman that she paled in comparison to.

"Trust in your strength and wit Eomer, they have not failed you yet." Taking a chance, she stood on her toes, lightly pecking his cheek. She savored the smell that was uniquely his own and the feel of his skin beneath her lips. Dropping back to her heels, she gave him a smile and walked away.

She didn't hear the words that left his lips, nor did she see the pained expression on his face.

As she reached the edge she previously stood, she heard him shout out for the rest of their company. The sounds of the company moving out reached her eyes. Looking at the slope, she watched as he and Theoden rode down. His eyes glanced up at her for a moment, but in that moment it felt like eternity.

Watching on as the rest of the army filed out for Minas Tirith, Annalynn sent one last prayer to the Valar. This was the final moments. These next few days would determine the fate of them all. She hoped Eomer and the others would make it home. That her Brand and the others were safe from all harm, that her father made it there in time to protect her mother. She hoped that, wherever they were, Frodo and Sam were safe. Her heart told her that all would be well in the end, but the future was far beyond her sight.

When the riders were far from sight, Annalynn wiped away her tears. Walking back into the encampment, she paid no much attention to the stragglers beginning to pack up what they would not need for the night. When the morning came again, she and the others would be traveling back for Edoras. Awaiting news of the outcome. Awaiting for the return of their King and his valiant men.

Pushing back the flap of her tent, Annalynn flopped down onto her cot. It was still early morning, yet she was already exhausted. She found little sleep last night, and with all the emotional distress from this morning, she was utterly drained. Shoving her face into her pillow, she let out a loud sigh. The last few weeks were finally catching up with her. It was all leading up to the next few days.

The fate of their world.

In her heart, Annalynn knew that they would be victorious. That somewhere out in the wild and darkest corners of the world, Frodo and Sam were on their way to defeating this Evil for good. The only thing weighing on her heart was whether or not they would return. Any of them.

Closing her eyes for a moment and letting out a long sigh, she said prayers for all those nearest her heart and even for those who were not. War plagued and terrorized all, none were guarded from its abuse.

She didn't dare, but sleep began to take over her body. Heaviness sunk in and the warmth her cloak and blanket brought, it lulled her into a deep sleep.

Eomer lazily stared at the gem in his hand. The low hanging light made it shine and glimmer in his gloved palm. The day was near gone and they made their first stop. If they kept at this pace, they would reach Minas Tirith by dawn. At dawn they would be met with the hordes of Mordor, ready to defend the Kingdom of Gondor with all their might.

In those moments as he continued to stare into the jewel, war seemed worlds away. The only thing that occupied his mind was the woman that the necklace belonged to. Her kiss still burned against his cheek, the softness of her hair still tickled his chin, her hand still weighed on his own.

His fears when she first returned were correct. There was something wrong, she wasn't in love with him anymore. It was clear as day when she put the chain in his palm. Was she only being kind to him? Out of courtesy to not break his heart?

Years he waited. Waited for the moment that she would be back in his arms. If it had not been for Theodred's slow descent into madness or Grima whispering lies into his Uncle's ears, he would have gone to her.

"What was I supposed to do? Was I just supposed to wait forever?"

He should have gone to her.

Was it wrong to place all the blame on her?

"What about Celdeth?"

He was not also to blame?

He never had any intention of making Celdeth his bride. She merely offered him comforts that none could provide. She was a fiction, a lie. Every moment with her was a fantasy. Celdeth was Annalynn. He never loved her, he never could, not in the way he loved Annalynn. But it was gone now. Any hope he ever had of her returning his love was gone. She had married, she had found another.

Stowing the gem back into his pocket, he rose from the ground. There was much that still needed to be planned. Tomorrow may not decide the fate of the world, but it could most certainly decide his fate.

"Broken, battered, or beaten, come back."

It was a silent promise, a kept vow, but it was one he intended to keep.