This is more of a filler chapter than anything. But there are more good heart feeling things comin your way!
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Lady of Sign : I'm glad you liked it!
WhiteRoseQueen : Aw, I'm sorry Eomer was upsetting you, but let's face it, he's a bit of a stubborn ass. lol
With lazy fingers, Annalynn drew circles in the water. She watched as the small actions caused ripples on the surface. With a sigh of contentment, she leaned her head against Eomer's shoulder. His arms wrapping around her, laying delicately on her stomach. His fingers tracing over the light scars, almost as if was trying to remember each bump and curve. "How did you get this?"
Annalynn moved her hand beneath his, lacing her fingers with his own. "Training accident."
"And this one?" His free hand went to a larger scar on hip. "That I received from an Orc. The night Geoff and his family escaped." That night still fresh in her mind. How she was near death, knowing that she was never going to see her family and friends again. Never going to see him again.
With a kiss to her temple, his hand traveled up her arm and onto her shoulder. The tips of his fingers grazing over the fresher scars. "These are recent." Annalynn nodded her head as she tenderly raked her nails over his thigh. "Orcs again." The water sloshed around them as she sat up, exposing her back to him completely. "After I escaped the Uruk's that took us captive, I followed after Merry and Pippin into Fangorn. I lost sight of them and got lost myself. Saruman's Orcs found me not far from Isengard." Crossing her arm over her chest, she felt the welts on her neck and shoulder. "He held me captive, letting his monsters do what they wanted."
"Ever so nicely we'll play."
Shuddering at the memory, Annalynn wrapped both arms around her. Trying to shield herself from the memory. His warm hands felt each and every scar. His lips pecked at each one, leaving behind a sense of security rather than the terrible memory. She felt Eomer move under her. His knees bent as he sat up behind her. Pulling her closer, he placed kisses across her shoulders and at the nape of her neck. "Nothing will ever hurt you again, I promise Annalynn."
She reveled in the moment, but the poking she felt against her back caused her to laugh. "You're ruining a perfect moment." Eomer chuckled deeply, pulling her even closer. "If anything, I am making it better." Annalynn quivered as his tongue ran the length of her neck. "Stop that. We have to leave this room sometime."
"But not at this moment." With a moaning giggle, Annalynn wanted to swat away his hand, but his fingers moved so expertly that she was lost in the sensation. Leaning further back against him, her hand found its way into his hair as the other gripped the edge of the tub tightly.
Knock.
"Lord Eomer? Lord Aragorn and Mithrandir are requesting your presence in the throne room."
Annalynn giggled into hand on her hand when Eomer let out a low aggravated growl. Removing herself from his clutches, she stepped out of the hot bath. The cold air caused her hair to stand one end, but she paid no mind as she wrapped herself in a robe. Peeking over her shoulder, she saw him take one look at her then at his waist. "Come on. You know that whatever Aragorn and Gandalf want you for is important." Turning back to the bed, she grabbed her dirty clothes. Even though she was perfectly clean, she had no other clothes to change into.
As Eomer wrapped a fresh towel around his waist, there was another knock at the door. Annalynn moved to the other side of the bed that would not be visible from the doorway and waited. Eomer opened the door, exchanging a few words with whomever was behind it. She watched as he took a parcel from them and closed the door. "Who was that?"
His cheeks went a light pink as he handed her the parcel. "That Elf friend of yours. He sent this for you." Now she understood why Eomer was blushing at the thought. Legolas knew she was here. In Eomer's room. "Oh my.." She wanted to laugh at the look on Eomer's face. "Worry not my dear. Legolas is not a man….Elf…of many words."
Undoing the wrapping, she spotted a light blue material inside the brown parchment. 'Oh thank you Legolas.'. Pulling the fabric from its hold, she held the dress out. It was simple enough. Long billowing sleeves with subtle silver linings. Removing the robe, she slid into the dress. It wasn't grand by any means, but it was clean. If anyone knew her particular compulsion with being clean, it was Legolas.
Unfortunately, he never understood her distaste with the wide opening sleeves of dresses. Honestly, she didn't quite know herself, but they were a bother nonetheless. "Eomer…would you be a dear?" She grabbed the dagger from his armor and walked over to him. While Legolas knew how much she loved to be clean, Eomer knew of her hatred for the overbearing sleeves. He chuckled as he grabbed the dagger from her. In swift movements, he cut from the shoulder to wrist. A long slit appeared on the sleeves of the dress, freeing her arms from the suffocating fabric. "Thank you dear."
When he finished his own dressings, they headed from the throne room. Arms locked together.
When Annalynn caught sight of the blonde Elf in the throne room, she let go of Eomer and raced for him. "I'm glad you are safe brother." Legolas wrapped his hands around her forearms and pushed back lightly. He glanced over her shoulder and let a smirk grace his face. "That is a lovely color on you." She sensed the second meaning behind his words and smacked his shoulder playfully. "You needn't be so rude."
"I guess everyone else matters not."
Annalynn laughed at Gimli as he grinned widely through his beard. "Of course you do Master Dwarf." She placed a light kiss on his cheek from his seat. He sputtered, waving her off. "I just finished one fight lassie, I would rather not start another one." He pointed his pipe over in Eomer's general direction. "However, it would seem you've had a scuffle of your own." His eyes pointing towards her neck.
"I'm afraid I must apologize for that." A new voice entered the hall and Annalynn took in the forms the four new comers. "My guards acted too hastily. I am sorry for that." The oldest of the four gave her a low bow. "Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth. Pleased to make your acquaintance ma'am."
Annalynn gave the man a similar curtsy. "There is no need to apologize sir. These are stressful times for all. Anyone could have made a similar mistake."
"May I introduce my sons. My eldest, Elphir. Erchirion and Amrothos." The three dark haired males stepped forward at their names and gave her similar bows as their father had done. "Pleased to meet all of you. I am Annalynn."
"Now that we've gotten the pleasantries out of the way." The deep boomin voice that could belong only to Gandalf echoed through the halls. He entered with Aragorn behind him with two others. Annalynn sent a weary look to Legolas. "What on this good earth are they doing here."
"Do you hear that brother, and here I thought she'd be pleased to see us."
"I do indeed brother. Not very kindly of her."
The twin brothers grinned at her like foxes. Mischief laced in their smiles, that caused Annalynn to move behind Legolas. Using him as a shield against their antics. "We haven't the time for this." Legolas raised his brow at the twins, then at Annalynn, "There are far more important matters at hand."
"But brother!.." Annalynn hid further behind Legolas as his stare bore into her.
"If you've had enough." The exasperated look Gandalf gave the four of them, told them that their reunion would have to wait a little longer. Annalynn straightened herself out and moved from behind Legolas. "I am sorry Gandalf. Please, continue."
He gave her a light nod, heading into his speech, but was interrupted by Amrothos. "Forgive me for intruding, but why is she still here?" He gave his brother a confused look when Elphir glared at him. "Forgive my ignorance, but I assumed that this was a meeting to decide our next course of action. I fail to see how a woman can have any place in this counsel."
Annalynn felt snubbed by his comment, but he was right. She had no place at this meeting. "Stay put my dear." Annalynn looked over to the old wizard, as if he read her mind and knew she was going to leave. Imrahil shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Again, I offer my apologies milady."
"Lady Annalynn will be acting in place as a representative for Dale. This decision that we make today affects all. Not just the Men of the West, but also our brothers in the North." Aragorn stared down the younger man. "Is that a problem?"
Amrothos looked at the glaring faces of his father and eldest brother, then slightly nodded his head. "Forgive me milday." Annalynn shook her hand at him, letting him know all was forgiven.
"Now then. How to proceed." Gandalf stood with both hands behind his back as he paced by them all. Everyone stayed quite, all unsure of how to push on. While everyone thought of strategy and attack plans, Annalynn could only think of Frodo and Sam. Last she heard, they had headed East on their own.
Sitting down on the steps of the throne, she tried to find someway to know if they were okay. If they were alive. She was not blessed with foresight like Elrond and Galadriel. She did not have the long vision of Elves. But, she did have her connection with the Earth. If anything that Galadriel had told her was true, she would be able to feel them somehow. Yet, nothing came. All she saw a darkness. The deepening darkness.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight."
"If Sauron had the Ring, we would know."
"It's only a matter of time." Annalynn whispered. "Frodo and Sam were not made for this. They are not battle hardened warriors."
"And behind the walls of Mordor our enemies are regrouping." Gandalf finished her thought for her. Frodo and Sam weighing heavily on his heart as well.
"Let him stay there and rot. Why should be care?"
Annalynn wanted nothing more than to take the pipe from his hands and beat him senseless. "Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." The old wizard verbally berating Gimli where Annalynn could not do so physically.
"They're going to die if we don't do something." Annalynn looked over at Eomer first, then to each person standing in the room. No one seemed to have a solution to give her. Gandalf's mumblings caught her attention. "Perhaps not." Aragorn told him. "There's still hope for Frodo and Sam."
"How?" Gimli seemed uneasy at Aragorn's declaration.
"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. We gather our full strength and we march on the Black Gate."
"There can be no victory through strength of arms." Annalynn hopped to her feet when Eomer began to move.
"Not for ourselves. If we can keep Sauron's eyes fixed upon us, we can keep him blind to all else that moves."
"A diversion!" Annalynn glared lazily at the twins and Legolas as they stated the obvious.
"Certainty of death. Small chance of success." Gimli huffed on his pipe, shrugging his shoulders. "What are we waiting for?" Annalynn tried to stifle a giggle, doing a far better job than the two younger sons of Imrahil. Gandalf and Aragorn turned off into their own discussion while the others began to talk strategy. "You have the full support of the armies of Dol Amroth. I am sure there will be no hesitation of Gondor, nor Rohan." Eomer nodded his head at the Prince. "What of Dale?"
Annalynn let out a low sigh. "Even if they could make it here in time, I doubt they could."
"Your King would abandon us in a moment of need?" Erchirion challenged her with a quirked brow.
"I've known Brand for many years, he would not do such a thing without reason." Imrahil berated his son.
"You are right My Lord. My cousin offers aid to any and all in need. I am afraid to say that they are having a battle of their own. Last I was aware, Easterlings had plans to attack Dale with full force. It is without a doubt in my mind that both the armies of Erebor and Eryn Galen have offered their aid." She saw Legolas and Gimli put their heads down for a moment from her peripheral view. "I am sorry to say that the Men of the West are on their own in this quest."
"And we do it without hesitation." Eomer put his hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze.
"First we must attended to our wounded and gather our strength. Rest first my friends. Grieve for your losses. We march in one weeks time." Aragorn left the throne room with Gandalf by his side.
In all the hustle of the meeting, Annalynn failed to notice one thing.
"Eomer….Where is Theoden?"
Annalynn found herself staring at the sleeping body of the young woman who almost gave her life for a man that Annalynn once called King. Of a man she once called family. When Eomer finally gave her the answer she sought, she almost could not believe it. Parts of her hated Theoden. Hated him for being so weak and letting Saruman take control. If only he had been stronger, than she would not have had to leave Eomer's side. Perhaps if he had been stronger, he would have seen the lies Grima told. Her sister and Theodred would still be alive.
"Do not think ill of the dead Annalynn." She whispered to herself.
Despite his flaws, Theoden was a good man. He cared for his nephew and niece as if they were his own children. There were even times where she felt as if she were his own daughter. She never understood the relationship between Theoden and her father, but never once did she feel like she was a burden on him. Never once did he make her feel as though she did not belong in his tiny dwindling family.
Eomer told her how it happened. That Eowyn had been close to death for defending her uncle against the Witch King. Annalynn stared at the white wrapping around Eowyn's arm. Black Breathe.
She had heard of the illness before, from Thranduil. He found her one day in the library, it was shortly after her coming to Mirkwood and most of the inhabitants found her dwelling there uneasy. So, she took to either staying in her room or in the library. The years of collecting Thranduil had done created a vast variety of books. All which Annalynn found intriguing. When she came across an old medicinal tome, it was in a form of Elvish she did not yet understand, and that's how Thranduil found her. Trying to translate the passages so she could read them.
He simply read it to her, it spoke of Black Breathe and the effects it had on those who had come into contact with it. It caused a person to sleep, and as they sleep they were plagued by nightmares, and that was a mild form of the illness. In cases, such as Eowyn's, it was fatal. They were forced to endure hallucinations as they succomb to the weariness. Dreaming of their worst nightmares until eventually they passed into the afterlife.
Wiping the tear from her, Annalynn took Eowyn's hand into hers. As she had done so often these last few months, she prayed. "You need to get well little one. I do not think your brother could stand another loss."
"I thought I had."
Annalynn looked over her shoulder as Eomer walked into the room. "When I saw her lying there, on the battle field, I feared the worst." He took a seat beside his sister on the bed. "Her body was cold and she was unresponsive. I tried to wake her, but her eyes would not open." With her free hand, Annalynn gripped tightly to his knee, her thumb rubbing soft circles over the fabric of his trousers. "How….how did you know to come here?"
Shaking her head, Annalynn offered her best explanation. "I don't know Eomer. We were packing up to return to Edoras and suddenly my chest began to ache." She moved her hand from his knee and placed it between her breasts. "I've only ever felt pain like that once before." She halted in her tellings. The only time she ever hurt like that was when Arryn died. When she saw Eomer's unmoving eyes stare back at her, cold and lifeless.
That's when she felt Eowyn shift underneath her palm. Her head moved towards the side as her eyes slit open. "Momma? Papa?" Her eyes darted between her and Eomer. Annalynn took her cold hand into hers. "No my sweet girl. It's Annalynn and Eomer."
When Eowyn tried to sit up, Eomer gently pushed her back down. "Lie still Eowyn." Annalynn kissed the back of her hand and stood from her seat. "I'll go fetch the healer." Placing a kiss to her forehead, Eowyn smiled up at Annalynn. "I'm glad you two made up." Her eyes closed for a moment as she fell back asleep.
Eomer chuckled from his spot. "Getting her to go to sleep was not that easy years ago." Annalynn laughed at the comment. When Eowyn was younger, getting her to sleep was almost near impossible. It took several stories before she would even hint at being tired. "I remember." Taking Eomer's chin in her hand, Annalynn pulled his face towards her. "She's awake now, she's going to be fine." With a light kiss, she left him there with his sister. "I'm going to find a healer, then I'll check on Merry and Pippin." Eomer waved her off as he took her seat next to his sister.
She left the two alone. They would need the next week to themselves before Eomer marched off for Mordor. Before their fates were all decided.