DISCLAIMER: I still don't own LOTR or SM.
Chapter 53
Serenity smiled at Boromir as they waited with Ami, Aragorn, Arwen, and various other dignitaries for the arriving party from Rohan. Éomer led them into the hall, escorted by a small contingent of guards, who broke off and stationed themselves at either side of the room. The Gondorian party sobered quickly at the harsh look on Éomer's face. His sharp eyes darted about the room, seeking out one face.
Remembering where he was, he almost imperceptibly exhaled, straightening his shoulders as he approached Aragorn. Smiling lightly at his friend, he and Aragorn granted each other the slightest of bows. Official and diplomatic procedures followed, during which Éomer had been rocking slowly back and forth on the heels of his feet. Aragorn, noticing his friend's distraction and how it was clearly angering the dignitaries of both nations, wrapped up the talks as quickly as he could, leading Éomer and the group to a small, private meeting room. As they settled in, Boromir was the first to break the silence. "So, Éomer King, what is it that has you so on edge?"
Immediately, Éomer's eyes went to Serenity. "Is she…" he trailed off.
Her brow wrinkled in confusion as she studied him. "Umm…is who what now?"
Ami brushed his arm to catch his attention. "I'm afraid she's already gone."
His mouth was pulled to a taught line. His body seemed frozen, apart from the tiniest movement of his mouth to allow a single sound to escape: "Gone?"
"Who's gone?" Serenity asked, turning now to Ami.
Arwen's sweetly sympathetic voice answered him. "Indeed, she left us six days ago. Her time had come. She waited as long as she could."
"Not patiently, either," Ami added, remembering the dark cloud that had stalked around the highest level of Minas Tirith, snapping and shouting without reason.
Éomer slowly cleared his throat and stiffly settled into his chair, ignoring the quiet whispers of Serenity, who was still confused.
Aragorn broke the silence. "Come now, Éomer. You, Boromir, and I shall adjourn to my study. I have there some of the best Gondorian ale, and I believe you could use some."
Rolling her eyes, Arwen stood and gestured to the other women to do the same. "I believe they now expect us to retire to some sewing or something equally frivolous, but I'm sure we can find an activity more entertaining to pass the time with." The females smiled and followed Arwen out the door to the left as the men followed Aragorn out the door to the right.
Soon...
Aragorn sighed. "Éomer…dear friend," he turned from where he was standing at the fireplace to face the seated king of Rohan and prince of Earth. The late afternoon light did nothing to light the room through the single small window. This was not Elessar the King. Here he was Aragorn, friend and companion. "It is not good for you to continue in this manner. Your lands will suffer. Your people will suffer. You are most certainly suffering."
"I will survive." He opened his throat to another goblet of ale.
Boromir leaned forward in his chair, leaning his elbows on his knees. "Surviving is one thing. Moving on is another."
"Moving on?" Éomer nearly spat at him. Boromir straightened and leaned back into his chair, eyes darkening. He grew tired of this.
Aragorn strode quickly to stand before them. "We are not asking you to forget her." At this he shot Boromir a sharp look. "We are only suggesting that you have a decision to make. Either Rei's love is worth waiting until after the freeze to pursue–"
Here Boromir took the pause as an opportunity to interrupt. "And once that happens, she will be obstinate. She is certainly one to put up a fight." He lightly shrugged his shoulders. "She cares for you, but…" His sigh concluded his sentence for him.
Annoyed, Aragorn continued. "So either she is worth the fight, or she was a passing fancy, and your life will go on without her."
Éomer's harsh glare was on him before he could finish the phrase. He jumped up, forcing Aragorn back a step. "She will not manipulate me this way."
"She is not manipulating you, Éomer," Aragorn reasoned. "She is hurting, just as you are. It is only that she has different ways of dealing with such emotions. She is a passionate woman."
Deflated, Éomer turned his face away from his friend. His gaze caught the dancing flames, licking at the bounds of the stone hearth. "Yes," he breathed. "She is." He raised his head to look steadily at them both. "Thank you . . . friends." His voice came soft yet strong. "I must return to Rohan as soon as these political discussions have ended. I am needed there. But . . . I will see you both again once the freeze is over."
Despite Éowyn's best efforts, Éomer did not speak of these events or the emotions involved until the encasing crystal dissolved and the planets were revived.
AN: I know. I know. Terrible person. Working on it, though. Also, I did some editing a while ago and my chapters are a bit off now, but I'll fix that later.
