A/N
Sooo... hi everyone, anyone still there in the void of time lost? It's me, Kirachi, 7 years too late :(
I'm so sorry I abandoned this story for so long. I stopped writing to focus on my own original fiction and my poor fanfic account was a victim of my lack of time. I dabbled in writing chapters for this story for a few years and I got up to chapter 47. But I never found time to beta them or give them more than a casual re-read. So these next chapters are the original format. They may contain mistakes, errors, plot holes and shoddy writing more than usual. But I wanted to put these up and not allow them to languish in my old computer files. If anyone is still there, I hope you enjoy reading it.
I'm unsure if I will find time or even the will to finish this story. But I will be uploading chapters regularly until all I have is published. Once that happens I will either try and finish it (this is unlikely but not impossible) or I will post a final chapter explaining what my thoughts for the end of the story had been and where I had wanted it to go. Either way this story will be completed.
I will try and update at least once a week. Here we go...
Since the meeting with Lady Éowyn, Aedre had found no time to be alone with Éomer. Days once again merged into weeks and she lost track as time turned painfully slowly and hours crawled by feeling ageless. So many reasons seemed to keep them apart; the hallways were watched more frequently by guards brought with the current party, seeming to fill the hall with never-ending movement.
Éomer was busy catering to the needs of his current guests and Aedre saw him only fleetingly, their glances secretive and shameful to the vigilant gazes of all about them. The parting felt like a dull ache that could not be eased. To know she could not speak with him, hear his voice say her name or gain any small comfort from a passing touch was a new torture she had never experienced. The want of companionship was too much to convey into her own understanding. While Lady Éowyn had been kind, smiling and nodding politely whenever their paths crossed, Aedre could not help feeling as though the lady avoided her gaze when she could, her courteous bows a formality rather than a genuine gesture of goodwill. These thoughts nestled uneasily in her mind.
The only modest consolation she had was still seeing Éomer in her daily duties. Although her chores and the king's business kept her from his personal chambers, she could glimpse him in the great hall at supper and sometimes outside near the stables. But glances were all they had, he was never alone and Aedre kept her distance, watching from the side-lines as he showed his sister and guests his maps and knowledge of the plains, the pride he had in horses and his éored. It seemed the beautiful elegant princess was never far from his arm during these tours. Her face lit up in enjoyment of the king's company and Aedre was no fool, she knew that look well.
It was late evening and the great hall was blessedly quiet, only a few ate their suppers at this unusual hour at the high table with the king. The corridors were dark and quiet; most of the workers had finished their chores and retired. A few guards were scattered here and there but an easiness had covered the tense atmosphere that had so often enveloped the Golden Hall of late.
Aedre was able to linger in her duties of clearing used plates and mugs, her eyes watching as everyone enjoyed their merriment, even at this distance her time with him felt precious. The Lady Éowyn, her husband Faramir and the dark haired princess all laughed gaily as Éomer told another one of his stories animatedly, nearby a few warriors and nobles dozed lazily after too much ale and mead.
Observing this group of people who seemed so similar, so complete and comfortable within each other's company made a strange emotion rise within Aedre's insides, creeping tendrils that curled around her stomach and pulled disquietingly there, leaving her with a feeling of oppression that she could not fully shake. She knew if she could just be within the quiet and warmth of Éomer's chambers, in the solace of his embrace these dispiriting emotions would be left behind, but it was a wish that could not be granted and so she had no choice but to carry on with the heavy burden upon her breast.
She paused in cleaning a spill of ale as another rumble of laughter peeled across the empty hall and suddenly feeling the weight of loneliness, Aedre sat down with a small puff of a sigh. Her gaze was drawn back up to the high table and she wanly smiled at Éomer's glowing face, his cheeks reddened from the exertion of his conversation. But Aedre's smile didn't last as a small, long delicate milky white hand touched his weather beaten knuckles softly and the gaze of king and princess met, blue eyes laughing prettily. It was a smile Aedre knew so well and had seen so often, tender and kind, and now, directed at another. Aedre felt painful pricks of tears and within that moment she could bear no more, she rushed from the hall, unaware of the concerned eyes that followed her, that had always been watching despite the company.
Aedre wiped at her face as she walked, dispelling the streaks of tears with rough and angry hands, leaving red marks across her cheeks. She knew she was being foolish but jealousy was rife even within her own heart it seemed. She darted into a quiet store room, and took a little time to gather her emotions in the darkness. She gasped little breaths as the tears streamed from her eyes, but with the tears came a release of the bottled emotions she had held so tightly inside for many days. As her torrent of feelings ebbed she was left feeling sheepish and absurd for her over reaction. If had been one touch, one glance. She shook her head knowing Éomer would never leave her while he still had strength and she felt shamed for even questioning his loyalty. Yet a growing disquieting enmity bloomed within her over this princess with long silken hair and slim pale unmarred hands. She bitterly desired that the princess would leave, that her welcome would be revoked by the king, that Éomer would no longer have to give his time and energy at the expense of their own meetings.
It was in this moment of her unpleasant musings that the door opened and a figured slipped into the shadows with her, closing the door with a soft and careful click. Aedre backed away, surprised and a little fearful until a gruff yet boyish low laugh filled the tense silence. Aedre did not hesitate but launched herself with a small noise of glee into the arms that already waited for her. Lips met lips with passionate force, tongues twined as whispered words of longing met with responses of roaming hands upon bared skin, breathes mingled with more words of regret and declarations of fervent desires that were quickly cut short with a forceful kiss.
Clothing was discarded in a haze of movement. The need for him was like a burning want Aedre could not deny, his attention, his lips, his voice all seemed to climb into a crescendo of moans, whispers and random breathless words until it was happening. The truth of it didn't dawn on her for what seemed an age, she arched her body into his hips as he moved within her, gentle yet brutal, an unrelenting trembling sweetness that washed over her mind, blocking out all but him and the burning feeling from deep within.
Her legs dangled at his waist, her weight supported by the cool wooden wall behind her and one of his warm, rough hands at her hip, he lifted her to him as if she weighed no more than a feather pillow. Her hands came to his neck, her fingers entwining with the long strands of golden waved hair that rested against his bare shoulders. Éomer's free hand curled around her breast in a warm and tender hold that made a small gasp of pleasure escape her lips.
Time stood still for them as their bodies joined and healed the bereavement their parting had caused, clinging to each other as the pressure and emotion mounted, fingers softly clawed and jaws clenched, within this small moment it seemed nothing mattered but this act, a tale that needed it's end and so they moved urging each other in the telling until they had no further choice than to grasp each other tightly, bitterly afraid of what the end would bring them. Finally they were still in the silent dark save for their own laboured breath. Skin slick with beads of sweat they held each other, limbs shivering in the aftermath as shaky breathes tried to pull air into lungs that felt spent from exhaustion.
Aedre pressed her chest to his, feeling the warmth of him shielding her from the cold draught that glanced across her back, chilling the feverish tremor within her skin. She nuzzled into his shoulder as she realised what they had done, what she had done... not understanding what it had meant or what it could mean, only knowing that the moment of joy had passed as a shadow melts in to the sunlight. With the musty scent of his flesh within her senses, Aedre could do no more than weep, the sobs shaking her small frame as the king held her within the dimness.
/
Éowyn sipped stoically at her goblet of mead. Her meeting with Sunniva had been nearly a moon turn past and still she felt her courage and conviction was not strong enough for the task she had set herself. Soon, she would have to return to her own home, slip back into her routine and her family life and then there would be no time left to talk to her brother, life would flow ever onwards and she would regret her silence until she lay upon her own deathbed. She flinched inwardly at the unpleasant thought this brought and she knew it was within this moment she had to act or she would have to hold her peace on the matter and forever be burdened by the consequences.
She took a bigger gulp of the sweet fiery liquid than intended and choked a little as it burned the back of her tongue. She let out a hoarse cough before turning to her brother, who sat beside her, to tell him she wished for a private audience in his chambers, tonight if possible.
Éowyn was stopped in her mission as she quickly realised Éomer's attention was not with the table, but upon the figure of a young women fleeing the great hall, into the dim corridors beyond. Before she could utter a word he was upon his feet, making polite but hurried goodnights to the party, before making his way quickly from the hall. Éowyn furrowed her brow in thought as the conversation continued about her.
She stood then, and made her own excuses of being tired; Faramir reached out and squeezed her hand in a gesture of understanding. She gave a last light hearted smile to the company before following the path her brother had taken. The hallways were empty of life and the few torches burning in wall mounts revealed nothing of Éomer's whereabouts. She stood for a moment, thinking upon her next actions before deciding that she couldn't very well begin a search of all the rooms in Meduseld. She sighed before turning to make her way back to her own chambers, here she knew she could see clearly what was to be done. Éowyn knew that her brother would be in the company of Aedre and she had some time to prepare herself for the battle to come.
Once within her bower she paused by the fire, chewing her lip distractedly. Éomer was acting as if he were a youth with deep ardour, careless with his secretive trysts when he knew unfriendly eyes may be watching his every move. Éowyn knew with a firm certainty that it had to be tonight. Perhaps, she morbidly mused, by the morrow she would find herself banished from Edoras and her people, a king's anger could indeed be great and Éomer was quick to temper.
But now she had no time to dwell on any sorrows to come, only upon doing what she knew to be right. She glanced at the bronze mirror hung nearby and tidied wisps of hair with deft and delicate fingers, making sure she looked like a Shieldmaiden and not a little sister. She tipped her chin upwards slightly giving herself a refined but defiant look and with once last convincing glance into her own eyes, she nodded firmly once and turned for the door.