Hey y'all! I'm back! Sorry, sorry. I got busy with life (and also got acrylic nails put on which seriously hindered my ability to type... obviously those didn't last very long lol). Here's a new chapter for y'all tho. Sorry it's shorter; kinda gotta get back into the swing of things. Thank you so much to those who have reviewed and followed. It means the world to me considering I only write as a hobby and never really thought anyone else would enjoy my random 'what if' stories. You guys are the best!
Dispelling Wormtongue was a pretty simple matter that happened almost verbatim to the movies. In fact, Anna was kinda disappointed nothing more exciting came from the encounter. Eowyn was a stunning woman though and as the tall, blonde haired, blue eyed beauty led her through the halls of the palace, Anna discovered she had a heart of gold as well.
"This will be your room for the time that you are with us."
It wasn't a large room, but it had a bed and a cozy fireplace.
"This is wonderful. Thank you."
Eowyn smiled and dipped her head, "I will send a maid in with new clothes to help you bath and then you will have time to rest before the evening meal."
"Oh a bath sounds lovely! Thank you again."
"Of course my lady."
She turned to leave and Anna not knowing when the next time she'd get a chance to speak with the woman alone said quickly, "My lady?"
As Eowyn turned, Anna pulled the chain and horse pendant from beneath her shirt and over her head. Eowyn's eyes had widened and her mouth opened to a little 'O'.
"Your brother Eomer gave this to me. He found me, out in the plains where I'd been abandoned, and took me under his protection. When he discovered the opportunity to send me here he did so, giving me this to show you. He said you'd know what it meant. He said that I would have a home here since I am too far away from my own to return." Anna carefully placed the pendant in the other woman's hands.
Eowyn looked from the pendant to her to the pendant and back again. Finally she seemed to shake herself and said, "Oh my… well then, this changes things. Come sister, you shall stay in his rooms."
"Oh I don't want to impose…"
"No." Eowyn looked over her shoulder at Anna with a rather mischievous twinkle in her eyes and said, "He would want nothing less than for you to have everything that is his."
Baffled, Anna followed Eowyn back through the halls, across the mead hall and down a completely different hallway before she could even think of anything to say. They finally came to a stop before some very beautifully carved doors that Eowyn opened and swept through.
"These are your rooms now. Please make yourself welcome here."
This room was much larger than the last. It was also much more extravagant in its décor and furnishings. The bed was larger, the fabrics and furs looked richer and warmer. The fireplace was huge, taking up nearly a whole wall with bookcases on either side of it and a large fur rug laying in front of it. This room also had a small window whereas the other room had had none.
"I will have the seamstress come for your measurements and begin making you a wardrobe. In the meantime, I will find someone of your stature to borrow a dress from them. I am assuming that the horse you arrived on was given to you by my brother as well?" upon Anna's nod Eowyn continued, "I will send word to the stable master that it is yours now. You may go to ride her whenever you wish. As it is," Eowyn came forward and replaced the necklace back around Anna's neck and cupped her cheek with a gentle smile, "You may go wherever you wish in this palace and city. It is your home now."
Anna smiled tentatively and asked, "Is there something I should be made aware of by Eomer giving me this necklace?"
"It is our family crest. By giving you this crest, he has declared you to be his. You are family now, my sister in all but blood."
Anna reached up and reverently touched the horse pendant. "I will do my best to bring honor to this family." Smiling she added, "I hope that we can be good friends Eowyn. Eomer spoke so highly of you."
The tall woman smiled and gently squeezed her hand, "My brother would never have given you his crest unless you were the best of character. I have no doubt that we will grow to be great friends." With an airy laugh she added, "I look forward to learning of the woman who has finally stolen my brothers so widely sot after affections."
Anna blushed but couldn't help but chuckle along with Eowyn.
"I will send in the maids to draw you a bath. Rest for now sister. I will come fetch you for the evening meal."
That bath had been the most heavenly experience of Anna's life. Washing off the weeks of travel and dirt and sweat felt like a rebirth of her soul. The maid helped her out of the tub and into a light, airy nightgown and gestured to the bed.
"Rest now my Lady. I will return before supper with a new dress for you."
"Thank you."
Once the door had closed behind the maid, Anna turned to climb into the bed. It was heavenly. The blankets and furs were warm and cozy, and the feather pillows felt like clouds against her head. They smelled good too. Masculine and smoky. Anna wondered if this was what Eomer usually smelled like and the thought made her smile and snuggle into the bed further. The maids had lite a fire in the hearth and the room was comfortably warm as she dozed off to sleep.
It felt like she'd only closed her eyes for a minute before the maid was gently shaking her awake, bustling her out of bed and into a new gown before Anna had even fully gathered her bearings. Now she sat beside Eowyn in a light blue dress with silver threaded designs along the hem and sleeves. It was simple compared to Eowyn's, but Anna found she liked it better and made a mental note to ask the seamstress who would be coming for her measurements in the morning to design most of her dresses in this one's simple elegance.
Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn were across the table from her and there was a lot of subdued chatter around the hall. The King had discovered that his only son had died while he'd been under Saruman's curse and it was clear he was grieving. The meal was a simple beef stew with veggies and bread, yet it was still the most extravagant thing she'd eaten since arriving here. Anna had to consciously keep the totally inappropriate moan of appreciation from escaping her lips as she took the first bite of the hot, delicious stew. She about died when she saw that there was butter for the rolls. Two bowls and three hot buttered rolls later and Anna was ready for bed again.
Upon seeing her empty plate, Eowyn smiled and leaned over to murmur, "You do not need to feel as if you must linger here. I can see you are still tired. Go sleep. I will come for you in the morning when it is time to break the fast."
"Thank you Eowyn." Turning to her companions she said, "I think I shall retire for the night. I shall see you in the morning."
"Aye. Good night lass."
Legolas dipped his head and Aragorn gave her a smile.
Anna managed to find her way back to Eomer's rooms, or rather she supposed she should be thinking of them as her rooms now, and collapsed into bed after shimmying out of the barrowed dress. Snuggling under the covers in nothing but her sheer cotton under slip, she quickly fell asleep where a certain blonde haired blue eyed man haunted her dreams.