Replies:

Asia: No nekkid action yet. Patience. The sappyness also will come later.

Silindro: Yup, much tension. And Asia's mind will be joining yours soon, I believe.

Lurker: Three chapters, all for you. ::grins::

Alex: You caught that. meep. Sorry.

Artemis-chan: Here's Faramir acting like a git. You're psychic!

Sophy: Yes, they're stupid. ::grins::

A/N: EEE! One hundred reviews! Are you all aware that this is my most popular fic? ::is amazed:: In celebration of one hundred reviews, you guys are getting three, yes, you read that right, THREE chapters at once, so we can get to the fluff. ::grins::

Chapter 13: Explaining

Éomer had the courtesy to wait until we got inside before he began to yell at me.

I tuned him out, only catching the occasional word, like 'terrified,' 'Wormtongue,' and 'idiot.' When he started to turn purple, I interrupted him gently. "Éomer, if you keep on like that you're going to have an attack of apoplexy. Now explain quietly and in short sentances what I did wrong."

He breathed audibly for a few minutes, then said, "I was so worried! For all I knew, you'd been captured again."

"Whisper was gone and you'd doubled the guards," I said, staying calm. "It was unlikely."

"It was Wormtongue!"

"Who is dead." Éomer shut up, staring at me. I half-smiled. "You heard me right. He's dead. I killed him." I didn't elaborate on why.

"All right. So some good did come of this. But why did you go running off to rescue Lord Faramir? He was being idiotic."

"I know," I said, softly. I could hardly tell Éomer that love makes you an idiot, because I didn't know if Faramir loved me. I also couldn't tell my brother how the idea of him being so worried about me gave me a strange and exuberant joy, nor could I tell him why I'd really gone after the Steward. "I...he went to rescue me, so I felt it was only honorable to go after him and repay the debt."

Éomer gave me an odd look, almost as if he'd read my mind. I took a deep breath, and waited until my brother finally said, "I wonder if there was more to it then that."

"No," I lied.

He recognized the 'drop-it' tone in my voice and changed the subject. "Do you like my lord's brother? I do, very much."

"I...like him," I said, thinking hard. "He irritates me, though. If he'd stop treating me like a delicate courtly maiden I might like him more."

Éomer grinned. "So a Rider of the Mark cannot control her own emotions?"

That stopped me dead. I turned, my mouth hanging open. "What did you say?"

"I'm officially making you a Rider, for that daring escape and managing to rescue my lord Faramir. The added bonus of killing Wormtongue is icing on the cake." He extended a hand: in it lay a silver pin in the shape of a cantering horse. The pin that every Rider owned, the one I'd always wanted.

I took it, stunned. "I...I don't know what to say..."

"Then how about, 'Thank you, Éomer, dearest brother. I shall worship you forever?'"

I gave him a Look that made my feelings about that very clear.

"Or not. Speaking of the Riders, have you ever thought about getting married?"

This was such a non sequitur I responded truthfully. "Yes...but what has that to do with the Riders?"

"You know the rules: they can't get married until they've served a certain number of years in the ranks, to make sure any children they have aren't left fatherless. I'm going to waive those rules for you, since you already have plenty of experience without having to serve for years." He laughed, then suddenly looked serious. "Now who were you thinking about marrying?"

"No one in particular," I said hastily.