A/N: Sorry for the delay I'm really falling down on the job! I hope ya'll like this chapter! Remember A/U and Mary Sue!
Welsh-Dragoon: Trust me there will be some corrupting. That is how it normally works, everything good happens to others and you get the short end of the stick. At least you still got the day off!
JadeGoddess: I hope that more Eomer fics will pop up and he will be added to the list. Please check out Everlong's fic "Sunset on the Plain". An excellent Eomer fic!
SailorGurl: Yea! Another new reader! I hope you keep liking the story!!
Lana: Already replied to you in E-mail so I won't bother here. Though maybe I should change the A/U to S/U. Shelby Universe! That way I can do whatever I want!
Arwen: I thought that Wormtongue would be as sneaky as possible. I figure Saruman would try anything to cause trouble in Rohan. I too wonder how they kept in touch. I guess we will never know. Here is more!
Everlong: I'm glad you still love it! I liked making the two women hate each other, but I knew that they had to get along since Eomer and Eowyn are so close. I'm glad their friendship didn't seem rushed.
Disclaimer: I only own Leiawyn and my stupid plot twists!
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Leiawyn and Eowyn stayed up most of the night talking. Leiawyn learned much more about Eomer then she could have imagined. Eowyn shared tales of their childhood, and of the many suitors of hers Eomer scared away. Leiawyn returned the favor by telling Eowyn all she wanted to know about Aragorn. Leiawyn had to admit, that the Lady of Rohan seemed like a good match for Aragorn. They both had fierce, defiant personalities and Eowyn was human, but something told Leiawyn that Arwen would be back.
"My brother seems to love you very much." Eowyn observed as the two women were laying down in the dark, trying to get to sleep. Sleeping seemed to be an impossible task to accomplish.
"He loves me enough to leave me behind." Leiawyn's voice was bitter. "He and the other Riders will go to Gondor, my home, and fight. Aragorn will be in Gondor with Legolas, Gimli, Pippin, and Gandalf. I, on the other hand, will be here alone waiting to see if I will have any family left once all this is over."
Eowyn waited a minute then decided to share the plan she was forming in her head. Leiawyn listened carefully as Eowyn told her how she was going to war no matter what. As the Riders were to leave for Gondor she was going to join them dressed as a man.
"Will it work? Won't they be able to tell it is you?" Leiawyn doubted the plan.
"Hopefully not. I will dress in full battle gear and hide my hair. I will not stay behind and do nothing." Eowyn sat up and Leiawyn saw the outline of her figure turn to face her. "I go for battle, but I also go to see the one my heart lies with. If you feel even half as much for my brother as I do for Aragorn, then I think you should come with me."
Leiawyn was quiet as she thought it over. She did not want to be separated from everyone she loves, but she was not a fighter, that much she knew. Then she remembered where the battle was to take place, in Minas Tirith, her home. Leiawyn decided that she could not stay in Rohan while the place she grew-up was attacked. She would defend her land or die trying.
"I will go."
"Good. We will get everything we need now." Eowyn's voice was determined.
The two women rose and left the tent, grasping hands as not to lose each other in the dark. Luckily, few guards were on watch where they were headed. Once they reached the Arms Keep, the slipped silently into the entrance.
"They will have the armor in our size towards the back ." Eowyn stated as the two women navigated the room carefully, as not to knock anything down.
Once they reached their destination they quietly gathered what they needed.
"This stuff weighs a ton!" Leiawyn managed to say under the strain of the gear she was carrying.
"I know, but once it is all on, you kind of go numb."
"that is encouraging. Ok, I think we have everything. Let's get back to the tent before we're caught." They headed for the door carrying their gear.
They were half way to their tent when two guards appeared before them.
"Ladies Eowyn and Leiawyn. What are you doing out this late and with armor?" One guard asked raising an eyebrow.
Leiawyn froze in fear. She knew that the guards would discover what they up to and turn them into Eomer. Eowyn spoke up not missing a beat.
"We are helping to arm some of the new Riders that are just arriving." She smiled at the guards as she continued. "This armor is rather heavy."
Leiawyn had to hold in a laugh as the guards tripped over themselves to take the armor from her and Eowyn. The guards walked a head of them and listened to each order Eowyn gave. They dropped the armor off in Eowyn's tent and bowed as they left. Once they were far enough away both women burst out laughing.
"I thought they were going to kill themselves trying to get the armor." Leiawyn laid down on her cot, grabbing her stomach.
"Well, I never flirt with anyone, so I think that through them off." Eowyn laid down on her cot also. She hadn't laughed this hard in a long time. "We better get some rest we have a big day a head of us." Slowly they drifted off to sleep.
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A trumpet rang through the air and Leiawyn jumped, falling off the cot onto the hard floor.
"Ow! That hurt." Leiawyn heard the figure still under the covers on the other cot laughing. "It's not funny Eowyn."
"Yes it is." Eowyn sat up and laughed harder as she saw Leiawyn sprawled out on the floor.
"Are you two decent?" Eomer's voice was heard at the entrance to the tent.
Leiawyn scrambled to her feet quickly, straightening out her dress. She saw the pile of armor still sitting on the ground.
"Just a minute!" Leiawyn yelled. She grabbed her blanket and threw it on the armor, Eowyn did the same with hers. "Come in!"
Eomer entered the tent with a grim expression. He saw both women he loved, in different ways, standing before him with their clothes wrinkled and their hair sticking up. The sight made his heart ache, since he had come to say good bye.
"I don't have much time for we are leaving right now. I just came to say good bye." He walked over and gave each of them a hug. Then he kissed Eowyn on the forehead and Leiawyn on the lips. "Behave while I am gone. I love both of you very much. Theodred wants to see you in the hold Eowyn."
The girls told him they loved him and then he left. Eowyn went to the King and when she returned her eyes were red. They helped each other get in the gear talking as they went.
"Do you think he suspected anything?" Leiawyn asked as Eowyn helped tighten her chest plate.
"I don't know. We weren't very emotional, hopefully he didn't notice." Eowyn had finished putting on the last of her gear and the two women were set.
They twisted their long hair up and put their helmets on. They faced each other and smiled.
"We make pretty good boys, don't you think?" Eowyn laughed.
They left the tent and found their horses tied up to the same spot they left them last night. Together they mounted and followed the riders as the set out. They stayed in the back and didn't talk to anyone, hoping no one would notice two extra Riders in a sea of thousands.
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By noon they reached Edoras and rested for a short while, and more Riders joined the vast army. The two women were keeping each other company, avoiding all other Riders, when Eowyn said she had something to do. Leiawyn watched her walk over to Merry and whisper in his ear. When Eowyn returned, Merry with her. Leiawyn said nothing for fear that Merry would recognize her voice, but did not understand what was going on. They mounted their horses to set out again and Eowyn placed Merry in front of her. Leiawyn smiled finally understanding, no one was going to be left behind.
They traveled for four days with no problems, it was rather boring. The darkness was weighing on everyone's spirit and hope almost seemed lost. Leiawyn and Eowyn spoke to no one but each other, and only when they were alone. Since they were surrounded by Riders constantly they didn't get to speak much. Some sort of understanding was set up, and no one paid attention to Merry and pretended he wasn't there.
They were resting on the fourth night, both Leiawyn and Eowyn were asleep, when the company was given orders to leave. This was the hard part, getting past all the orcs that were guarding the roads, unnoticed. Leiawyn noticed that a short fat man, dressed in a grass skirt, was now leading her company of Riders. They were traveling down a narrow over grown road in lines of four of five riders. It was obvious that the road was forgotten and rarely used, and the orcs did not know about it. The protection of the road provided little comfort, for every Rider knew what was at the end of it. Leiawyn was getting more scared the closer the battle came.
"You will do fine." Eowyn whispered reading her mind. "I know you have a fighter hiding in you. Don't have fear, everything will work out."
They reached then end of the road and stopped in a wide set of plains. All the wild men that were leading the companies had left and Eomer decided to rest until dark. Leiawyn had no idea how much more she could take. All this resting was just dragging everything out, and Leiawyn was ready for it to be over with already.
Once night fell the went silently over the fields. Slowly Eowyn and Leiawyn moved to the head of the flanks. Closer to Eomer and the King. Finally the King spoke.
*"Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark, sons of Eorl! Foes and fires are before you, and your homes far behind. Yet, though you fight upon an alien field, the glory that you reap there shall be your own for ever. Oaths ye have taken: now fulfill them all, to lord an land and league of friendship!"
The Riders clashed their spears on their shields. Leiawyn was not afraid anymore, for she knew her home was burning and she would not stand idle while it was destroyed. At once the Riders set out and when they reached to walls a small battle erupted, but it was quickly ended for only a few orcs were at the wall.
They were traveling quietly through the same fields that Leiawyn had played in as a child. Before her she saw her home burning and a rage she had never felt before boiled within her. They were closer to the main wall now but Theodred gave no order to charge. Then it happened, the wind changed. The clouds broke and the sun came through. Horns were blown and all of Rohan charged the city slewing the foe. Leiawyn drew her sword and removed any head she came too. She did not fear battle any more, for she was a Ranger's daughter, and she would not fail.
Leiawyn rode with Eowyn and the Kings trusted knights seeking new foes to kill. All would pay who harmed her city. She was fighting orcs when she saw, a little ways a head of her, King Theodred. Leiawyn watched as Snowmane reared up and a black dart pierced his chest, the King fell under the horse. He was all alone as the black creature that killed Snowmane landed near him.
She was still slaying orcs when she saw Eowyn, hair blowing in the wind, facing off with the Black Lord. An orc slashed Leiawyn's right arm drawing blood, and she turned back to the task at hand. Jumping off her horse she killed three more orcs, then a screech was heard through the air. Leiawyn looked back where Eowyn stood and saw her on the ground her arm in an odd angle. Merry had his sword in the creatures back and Eowyn used the last of her energy to stab it between the crown and mantle. The creature fell and never rose again.
Leiawyn ran the best she could to where the King and Eowyn laid, with Merry by their side. She was tending to Eowyn when Eomer came to the King. She heard not what was said for her heart was breaking at the thought of losing her newest friend, and her heartbeat pounded in her ears. It was then that Eomer's eyes fell on his sister, he came to her side distraught but paid no attention to Leiawyn. His expression was one of true pain and in a split second he was leading another assault this time full of despair for two of those he loved were dead.
Leiawyn left the sight once the King's men came to bare the bodies. She ran through the gates and saw nothing remained of her home. She removed her helmet allowing her hair to flow free.
"Leia? Is it really you?" Leiawyn saw Lou standing in front of her.
"Lou? Oh Lou!" She walked to her friend and they embraced. Tears slid down Leiawyn's cheeks and her body shook with sobs.
"You are hurt! Let's go to my house. I have been tending to the wounded there." The two friends walked in silence and came to Lou's house.
All inside laid the sick and wounded on every surface, and it smelled of blood. Leiawyn sat on a table while Lou tended to her cut. As it was being cleaned, a Rider came in wounded but not seriously. Leiawyn had to know what was going on.
"Rider please tell me what news you have of Eomer." The rider did not look at her as he spoke.
"Dead my lady. All of the house of Theodred lay dead."
"No, you must be wrong." Leiawyn's mind raced and the room tilted. How could Eomer be dead? She stood, her knees gave out, and she fell to ground. All who dwelled in the city heard the piercing cry of a young lover heart broken, and then silence.
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A/N: Please review. I had a lot to describe and I think it may have sucked let me know what ya'll think!
Welsh-Dragoon: Trust me there will be some corrupting. That is how it normally works, everything good happens to others and you get the short end of the stick. At least you still got the day off!
JadeGoddess: I hope that more Eomer fics will pop up and he will be added to the list. Please check out Everlong's fic "Sunset on the Plain". An excellent Eomer fic!
SailorGurl: Yea! Another new reader! I hope you keep liking the story!!
Lana: Already replied to you in E-mail so I won't bother here. Though maybe I should change the A/U to S/U. Shelby Universe! That way I can do whatever I want!
Arwen: I thought that Wormtongue would be as sneaky as possible. I figure Saruman would try anything to cause trouble in Rohan. I too wonder how they kept in touch. I guess we will never know. Here is more!
Everlong: I'm glad you still love it! I liked making the two women hate each other, but I knew that they had to get along since Eomer and Eowyn are so close. I'm glad their friendship didn't seem rushed.
Disclaimer: I only own Leiawyn and my stupid plot twists!
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Leiawyn and Eowyn stayed up most of the night talking. Leiawyn learned much more about Eomer then she could have imagined. Eowyn shared tales of their childhood, and of the many suitors of hers Eomer scared away. Leiawyn returned the favor by telling Eowyn all she wanted to know about Aragorn. Leiawyn had to admit, that the Lady of Rohan seemed like a good match for Aragorn. They both had fierce, defiant personalities and Eowyn was human, but something told Leiawyn that Arwen would be back.
"My brother seems to love you very much." Eowyn observed as the two women were laying down in the dark, trying to get to sleep. Sleeping seemed to be an impossible task to accomplish.
"He loves me enough to leave me behind." Leiawyn's voice was bitter. "He and the other Riders will go to Gondor, my home, and fight. Aragorn will be in Gondor with Legolas, Gimli, Pippin, and Gandalf. I, on the other hand, will be here alone waiting to see if I will have any family left once all this is over."
Eowyn waited a minute then decided to share the plan she was forming in her head. Leiawyn listened carefully as Eowyn told her how she was going to war no matter what. As the Riders were to leave for Gondor she was going to join them dressed as a man.
"Will it work? Won't they be able to tell it is you?" Leiawyn doubted the plan.
"Hopefully not. I will dress in full battle gear and hide my hair. I will not stay behind and do nothing." Eowyn sat up and Leiawyn saw the outline of her figure turn to face her. "I go for battle, but I also go to see the one my heart lies with. If you feel even half as much for my brother as I do for Aragorn, then I think you should come with me."
Leiawyn was quiet as she thought it over. She did not want to be separated from everyone she loves, but she was not a fighter, that much she knew. Then she remembered where the battle was to take place, in Minas Tirith, her home. Leiawyn decided that she could not stay in Rohan while the place she grew-up was attacked. She would defend her land or die trying.
"I will go."
"Good. We will get everything we need now." Eowyn's voice was determined.
The two women rose and left the tent, grasping hands as not to lose each other in the dark. Luckily, few guards were on watch where they were headed. Once they reached the Arms Keep, the slipped silently into the entrance.
"They will have the armor in our size towards the back ." Eowyn stated as the two women navigated the room carefully, as not to knock anything down.
Once they reached their destination they quietly gathered what they needed.
"This stuff weighs a ton!" Leiawyn managed to say under the strain of the gear she was carrying.
"I know, but once it is all on, you kind of go numb."
"that is encouraging. Ok, I think we have everything. Let's get back to the tent before we're caught." They headed for the door carrying their gear.
They were half way to their tent when two guards appeared before them.
"Ladies Eowyn and Leiawyn. What are you doing out this late and with armor?" One guard asked raising an eyebrow.
Leiawyn froze in fear. She knew that the guards would discover what they up to and turn them into Eomer. Eowyn spoke up not missing a beat.
"We are helping to arm some of the new Riders that are just arriving." She smiled at the guards as she continued. "This armor is rather heavy."
Leiawyn had to hold in a laugh as the guards tripped over themselves to take the armor from her and Eowyn. The guards walked a head of them and listened to each order Eowyn gave. They dropped the armor off in Eowyn's tent and bowed as they left. Once they were far enough away both women burst out laughing.
"I thought they were going to kill themselves trying to get the armor." Leiawyn laid down on her cot, grabbing her stomach.
"Well, I never flirt with anyone, so I think that through them off." Eowyn laid down on her cot also. She hadn't laughed this hard in a long time. "We better get some rest we have a big day a head of us." Slowly they drifted off to sleep.
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A trumpet rang through the air and Leiawyn jumped, falling off the cot onto the hard floor.
"Ow! That hurt." Leiawyn heard the figure still under the covers on the other cot laughing. "It's not funny Eowyn."
"Yes it is." Eowyn sat up and laughed harder as she saw Leiawyn sprawled out on the floor.
"Are you two decent?" Eomer's voice was heard at the entrance to the tent.
Leiawyn scrambled to her feet quickly, straightening out her dress. She saw the pile of armor still sitting on the ground.
"Just a minute!" Leiawyn yelled. She grabbed her blanket and threw it on the armor, Eowyn did the same with hers. "Come in!"
Eomer entered the tent with a grim expression. He saw both women he loved, in different ways, standing before him with their clothes wrinkled and their hair sticking up. The sight made his heart ache, since he had come to say good bye.
"I don't have much time for we are leaving right now. I just came to say good bye." He walked over and gave each of them a hug. Then he kissed Eowyn on the forehead and Leiawyn on the lips. "Behave while I am gone. I love both of you very much. Theodred wants to see you in the hold Eowyn."
The girls told him they loved him and then he left. Eowyn went to the King and when she returned her eyes were red. They helped each other get in the gear talking as they went.
"Do you think he suspected anything?" Leiawyn asked as Eowyn helped tighten her chest plate.
"I don't know. We weren't very emotional, hopefully he didn't notice." Eowyn had finished putting on the last of her gear and the two women were set.
They twisted their long hair up and put their helmets on. They faced each other and smiled.
"We make pretty good boys, don't you think?" Eowyn laughed.
They left the tent and found their horses tied up to the same spot they left them last night. Together they mounted and followed the riders as the set out. They stayed in the back and didn't talk to anyone, hoping no one would notice two extra Riders in a sea of thousands.
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By noon they reached Edoras and rested for a short while, and more Riders joined the vast army. The two women were keeping each other company, avoiding all other Riders, when Eowyn said she had something to do. Leiawyn watched her walk over to Merry and whisper in his ear. When Eowyn returned, Merry with her. Leiawyn said nothing for fear that Merry would recognize her voice, but did not understand what was going on. They mounted their horses to set out again and Eowyn placed Merry in front of her. Leiawyn smiled finally understanding, no one was going to be left behind.
They traveled for four days with no problems, it was rather boring. The darkness was weighing on everyone's spirit and hope almost seemed lost. Leiawyn and Eowyn spoke to no one but each other, and only when they were alone. Since they were surrounded by Riders constantly they didn't get to speak much. Some sort of understanding was set up, and no one paid attention to Merry and pretended he wasn't there.
They were resting on the fourth night, both Leiawyn and Eowyn were asleep, when the company was given orders to leave. This was the hard part, getting past all the orcs that were guarding the roads, unnoticed. Leiawyn noticed that a short fat man, dressed in a grass skirt, was now leading her company of Riders. They were traveling down a narrow over grown road in lines of four of five riders. It was obvious that the road was forgotten and rarely used, and the orcs did not know about it. The protection of the road provided little comfort, for every Rider knew what was at the end of it. Leiawyn was getting more scared the closer the battle came.
"You will do fine." Eowyn whispered reading her mind. "I know you have a fighter hiding in you. Don't have fear, everything will work out."
They reached then end of the road and stopped in a wide set of plains. All the wild men that were leading the companies had left and Eomer decided to rest until dark. Leiawyn had no idea how much more she could take. All this resting was just dragging everything out, and Leiawyn was ready for it to be over with already.
Once night fell the went silently over the fields. Slowly Eowyn and Leiawyn moved to the head of the flanks. Closer to Eomer and the King. Finally the King spoke.
*"Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark, sons of Eorl! Foes and fires are before you, and your homes far behind. Yet, though you fight upon an alien field, the glory that you reap there shall be your own for ever. Oaths ye have taken: now fulfill them all, to lord an land and league of friendship!"
The Riders clashed their spears on their shields. Leiawyn was not afraid anymore, for she knew her home was burning and she would not stand idle while it was destroyed. At once the Riders set out and when they reached to walls a small battle erupted, but it was quickly ended for only a few orcs were at the wall.
They were traveling quietly through the same fields that Leiawyn had played in as a child. Before her she saw her home burning and a rage she had never felt before boiled within her. They were closer to the main wall now but Theodred gave no order to charge. Then it happened, the wind changed. The clouds broke and the sun came through. Horns were blown and all of Rohan charged the city slewing the foe. Leiawyn drew her sword and removed any head she came too. She did not fear battle any more, for she was a Ranger's daughter, and she would not fail.
Leiawyn rode with Eowyn and the Kings trusted knights seeking new foes to kill. All would pay who harmed her city. She was fighting orcs when she saw, a little ways a head of her, King Theodred. Leiawyn watched as Snowmane reared up and a black dart pierced his chest, the King fell under the horse. He was all alone as the black creature that killed Snowmane landed near him.
She was still slaying orcs when she saw Eowyn, hair blowing in the wind, facing off with the Black Lord. An orc slashed Leiawyn's right arm drawing blood, and she turned back to the task at hand. Jumping off her horse she killed three more orcs, then a screech was heard through the air. Leiawyn looked back where Eowyn stood and saw her on the ground her arm in an odd angle. Merry had his sword in the creatures back and Eowyn used the last of her energy to stab it between the crown and mantle. The creature fell and never rose again.
Leiawyn ran the best she could to where the King and Eowyn laid, with Merry by their side. She was tending to Eowyn when Eomer came to the King. She heard not what was said for her heart was breaking at the thought of losing her newest friend, and her heartbeat pounded in her ears. It was then that Eomer's eyes fell on his sister, he came to her side distraught but paid no attention to Leiawyn. His expression was one of true pain and in a split second he was leading another assault this time full of despair for two of those he loved were dead.
Leiawyn left the sight once the King's men came to bare the bodies. She ran through the gates and saw nothing remained of her home. She removed her helmet allowing her hair to flow free.
"Leia? Is it really you?" Leiawyn saw Lou standing in front of her.
"Lou? Oh Lou!" She walked to her friend and they embraced. Tears slid down Leiawyn's cheeks and her body shook with sobs.
"You are hurt! Let's go to my house. I have been tending to the wounded there." The two friends walked in silence and came to Lou's house.
All inside laid the sick and wounded on every surface, and it smelled of blood. Leiawyn sat on a table while Lou tended to her cut. As it was being cleaned, a Rider came in wounded but not seriously. Leiawyn had to know what was going on.
"Rider please tell me what news you have of Eomer." The rider did not look at her as he spoke.
"Dead my lady. All of the house of Theodred lay dead."
"No, you must be wrong." Leiawyn's mind raced and the room tilted. How could Eomer be dead? She stood, her knees gave out, and she fell to ground. All who dwelled in the city heard the piercing cry of a young lover heart broken, and then silence.
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A/N: Please review. I had a lot to describe and I think it may have sucked let me know what ya'll think!