**Authors Notes:
Reminder - This story is a mutual endeavor. My friend Liam and I are writing it together. I write the female parts and him the male. It then gives you a look into their thoughts from both points of view. You get the 'he said she said' type of story. To write this we get into a private chat room and just go at it, tossing things back and forth. Therefore a lot of it goes from one paragraph being what she said and thought to the other paragraph behing what he said and thought. Kind of like watching a fantasy role play. I am warning you now of this so that you know why some of the tenses are different then the others (though that is being worked on) and you don't go into it thinking that it is all from one point of view and therefore 'smooth'er in the end result. I am mentioning this again because even though I put it on the first page, I keep getting bad reviews about what I already mentioned would be happening.... Just another reminder...**


***************Chapter 6***************


It is many hours later when they once again stop, this time for the night. Choosing a spot well away from the large fire Eomer's men build, he sets his things down. It would be a cold night but he was not going anywhere near that fire. It was too much like the ones in his dreams. When finally he is settled, he sits on the ground and leans back against his saddle, having removed it from his horse, like the others, so that the horses could rest comfortably. He makes sure he has his bow and arrows close, just in case and then pulls something to eat from his saddlebags. He was looking forward to a good sleep, as he was very tired. He wasn't quite at full health yet, and the ride had taken a lot of energy out of him. With a sigh he watches Eowyn with her brother. He could tell she wished to spend time with him but her brother kept her from him. He smiles though, as four little hobbits come to sit by him with their food. Asking why he was so far away from the fire he answers honestly. "I do not like the fire. No no. It is fine. I've had to sleep away from a nice fire before. No need to change it." He then starts to ask the hobbits about the Shire, trying to steer the conversation away from him. When the conversation is turned to his brother, Pippin had asked and gotten a smack from Sam for that one, he smiles and shakes his head, then begins to tell them stories about Boromir.

Eomer calls a stop to the group when the sun begins to set, glad they had made it to the spot he had chose for them to sleep in. With a sigh he climbs off his horse and prepares his own bed for the night, much the same way as Faramir and the other men are. Before Eowyn is able to he pulls her aside, out of earshot of the men and speaks to her. "I do not think he needs you tonight, Eowyn. Perhaps you need to spend it with your people? Come have some of the food the men are making. And you can tell me just what you told him so far." He was not going to let his sister spend time with Faramir tonight, so it is with relief that the four hobbits move over to the man. Good. Maybe Eowyn would stay away from him tonight.

She didn't like that he was pulling her away from Faramir and she frowns at Eomer. "I will do it only because you insist, but only on one condition. I promised to share my lunch with him tonight since he shared his lunch with me at noon. You have to take that over to him and get him to come closer to the fire." As her brother starts to protest she straightens her back. "I mean it, Eomer. I will stay here and spend time with the men, if you do that. If you don't, then I will have to. You KNOW that he can't sleep out of the protection of the light of the fire. He has to come within its circle. If you can't get him to do it, then I will have to." She turns back to her horse, pulling some things from her sack and shoving them into Eomer's hands. "There, the promised meal. Maybe you should share it with him since I am not being allowed." She turns her back on him and starts unpacking her things from her horse, ignoring him. She smiles as one of the men come over and offers to help her. She thanks him and with his help she gets her horse unpacked, her things close to the fire and her bedding all laid out. She looks back to see if her brother was still standing there with the dumb look on his face or if he had finally taken the things to Faramir.

He takes the food from her and snorts. Then he gets a bowl and puts some of the stew the men made in it before he heads over to Faramir. "Excuse me, mind if I sit down." He sees Faramir's stunned look and then his nod and he sits down. Holding out the bowl of stew and the food to Faramir he nods. "From my sister. And she insists you move closer to the fire." He looks over at Pippin as he speaks up, saying Faramir wouldn't move closer to the fire. Eomer raises an eyebrow and looks back at Faramir. "May I ask why?"

He laughs as Merry and Pippin speak of their time with Boromir, glad to know his brother wasn't always tempted by the ring. He looks up as Eomer comes over and nods when he asks it he could sit down. He takes the food from him, having already been eating a little so he wasn't very hungry but he would at least eat the stew. When Pippin says he wouldn't move closer to the fire he smiles. He was very glad to have met these hobbits. They were extraordinary creatures. If all hobbits were like them, he could see why Gandalf loved them. With a sigh he looks over at Eomer as he asks why he wouldn't go near the fire. Looking at the man he shrugs. "I do not care for fires. We learned to live without them while living in the woods of Ithilien." Although he wasn't tell the whole truth he wasn't lying either. His group of rangers had lived with little or no fire when they were patrolling in the woods. It never was safe enough. So he knew, no matter how cold the night, he would be ok. Just as long as he stayed away from the fire. "Now may I ask you something, Eomer King?" He waits for the nod and then continues. "Why is it you are so threatened by me?"

She sees that her brother had indeed moved away from her and over to Faramir and that brings a smile to her face.

Gandalf notices the smile and walks over to the Lady, leaning in to speak softly so only she can hear. "The look of love becomes you, Lady Eowyn. You seem to glow with it these days. Maybe I ask whom it is that keeps your heart these days? Or should I merely ask if you keep his?" He chuckles at her shocked look, sucking on his pipe and straightening. "I see his looks too you know. I think it would be best if you admitted to each other, rather then pining away in loneliness. Do not you agree?"

She looks at the old wizard in shock when he asks his question, not sure if she was more shocked at the question or that he knew the answer. "Wise Gandalf, you have a great talent indeed. You can see into a person's soul it would seem." She turns away from the edge of the camp, but not before she catches Faramir's eye and gives him a warm smile.

"It does not take a wizard, old or otherwise to see what you are about. Now tell me, fair Lady. What burdens your brother in the matter?"

She sighs, moving back towards the fire, still unhappy that Eomer hadn't picked up Faramir's things and brought them closer to the fire without even asking. "I think that my brother believes I should marry one of my own kind. He would probably be more agreeable if it was Aragorn sitting there. But alas, there is nothing between Aragorn and I. Not any more." She glances up at Gandalf. "When one love dies you sometimes believe you will not find another. But I believe that I have. The problem is not just my brother. It is everyone. They don't think about how it will unite the two kingdoms, but rather how he will take away their White Lady." She shakes her head and takes a seat near the fire on a log, looking at the men as they finish putting up her tent. It was close to the fire where they would all stay, and though she had argued with her brother earlier when he had packed the tent, she had relented finally because of who she was. She was to stay in the tent with the handmaidens that were returning home with her. But just now she wanted to feel the fire before she had to retire for the night. That and she hoped to see Faramir again before she had to retire. She motions to the tent. "My brother's way of making sure that I do not soil our family name in any way. Not just because of Faramir, but to keep my standing in the eyes of the men, of our people. It is for them that I agreed. They need something to believe in, bringing home the bad news of all the dead. So for my brother I will remain upstanding. No matter how much I want to spend my evening with Faramir, I may not get to if Eomer keeps him talking too long." She looks back over her shoulder, once more taking the two in.

He again gets a slightly shocked look on his face. But it is gone as soon as it appears. He forgets about the hobbits and his new position and shows how quick he is to anger. "Threatened by you? I am no more threatened by you than you are of me, Lord Faramir. I merely am weary of your intentions with my sister. You can not blame me for trying to protect her virtue."

He looks at Eomer and snorts, looking slightly offended and upset something very rare for him. It was like his father all over again, except this time it was his love's brother. "I do not intend to harm your sister or force her into something she may not be ready for, Eomer King. I would prefer to keep her happy with me, as that is what makes me happy. You see too much into a situation. And you do not give your sister the credit she deserves. She would not allow me to harm her anyway." He looks at Eowyn standing with Gandalf and smiles fondly at her. "She would break my nose before allowing that. And I do not intend to cause her to strike me in anger." He looks back at Eomer, seeing something strange on his face. An amused smile. "What?"

She sees that they seemed to be in a heated discussion and frowns. "It may be worse then I thought," she whispers, looking back at the wizard. "Gandalf, could you please invite Lord Faramir to bring his book over to the fire? I was to get the pleasure of reading it tonight. Maybe since it was a past promise he will come and it will defuse the situation with my brother." She looks at him with hopeful eyes.

Gandalf stands and places a hand on her shoulder. "Fair Lady, do not worry so. I will go send your request. I am sure your brother will not argue the point if you were going to read it to the group?"

It was more a question as a statement and the idea brightens her face. "Yes! Indeed! Since I was planning on reading to ALL the men." She stands and hugs the old wizard. "Thank you." She watches him go back to her brother, waiting with baited breath to see if both the men would buy it.

Eomer listens to Faramir and can't help but smile at the man. When asked what he shakes his head. "Perhaps I have misjudged you, Faramir, as you know my sister well. She would indeed physically harm you if you hurt her. She wishes you to come closer to the fire, Faramir. Will you not at her request?"

Faramir smiles at Eomer, nodding. "I do not fear your sister, but then again, I will know better than to hurt her." He looks up as Gandalf comes back, he gives the old wizard a smile. Gandalf have been more a father to him than his own. He looks at Eomer as he asks about the fire. He glances at it and then at Pippin and Gandalf and then finally back at Eomer. He didn't want to, he was scared of the fire. His eyes land on Eowyn, who was watching him and he finally nods. "Yes. All right. But only for a little while." Getting up he takes his food over to the fire and sits down again, the hobbits, Gandalf, and Eomer sitting around him, though Eomer leaves the spot between him and Faramir open for Eowyn to sit. He looks at Gandalf as he hands him a book, his book. He looks at it, then smiles as Eowyn sits beside him and asks him to read it. He suddenly realizes that everyone is silent and watching him. With a smile he sets down his empty stew bowl and then opens the book and sets it on his lap. He couldn't help wondering why he felt so happy at the moment. Maybe it was because he was surrounded by friends. He smiles and opens the book to the beginning and begins reading from there, not wanting to start where he had left off with Eowyn since the others would not understand it if he did.

She is glad when he finally relents, and gets up to move closer to the fire. She smiles at him brightly and tries to seem very nonchalant as possible when she goes to sit next to him, smiling at her brother when she does. She lays a hand on Eomer's knee, leaning slightly against him in a sisterly way as Faramir agrees to read to them. She loved to hear his voice and it was as if she hadn't heard this part again, the way he read it drew her in. When Eomer puts his arm around her, she settles her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes, letting Faramir's voice carry her off to that other time. To all the world she might look asleep, but she wasn't, she was merely enjoying the story and her love's voice. Now if only she could get her brother to her way of thinking, she could then concentrate on just Faramir and their new love.

He smiles at his sister and puts his arm around her as she leans against him and listens to Faramir read. He too takes notice of how soothing Faramir's voice was. And he was bright. Very bright. No wonder he had been made a Captain so quickly. His men trusted him. Hell even Eomer's men sitting around the fire were silent and listening. It isn't until one of the hobbits falls over asleep that he finally notices just how late it is. "Well, I think it is time we all get some sleep." He lets go of his sister and stands up, holding his hand out to her, then he looks at the hobbits and Faramir. "There is room in the tents if you wish to sleep in one?" He sees Faramir shake his head and then the hobbits follow suit. Smiling he chuckles and looks at Eowyn. "I will escort you to your tent. Come along, Eowyn."

He closes the book, smiling at Pippin who had fallen asleep and off the log. He shakes his head and reaches down, shaking the little hobbit awake enough so that he could get up and over to his bed. He shakes his head at Eomer. "No thank you. My bed is fine." He gets up, smiling at Gandalf's concerned look. "I am fine. Just a little tired." He wanders over to his bed, glad to be away from the fire, and lays down on the bedroll he had. He listens as the men all move to their own beds and smiles as he hears the snores of the four hobbits. He stares up at the stares, glad he was far enough from the fire that he could see them. When all his silent he softly whispers a prayer in his own language, hoping he wouldn't have any nightmares tonight. He tugs his blanket around him more, not so much for the cold but because it was always how he slept now. Yawning again he goes back to watching the stars, dreading sleep but also waiting for it to overtake him.

When they get up, she is about ready to say something to Faramir when her brother insists on walking her back to her tent. She frowns, not liking his high handedness in the very least. She does turn for a moment to smile at him however. "Good night, Lord Faramir. Tis was a lovely story, I can hardly wait until next you can read it to me. Or perhaps I will get a chance to return the favor. She feels a persistent tug on her arm and to save herself from a fight there in public, she does as her brother says and goes with him, letting him escort her to her tent. She turns in the open flap and hugs him. "Good night, Brother. Sleep well. And keep one eye open." She kisses his cheek, smiling tenderly as she sees Faramir looking her way for a brief moment. Then she pulls back and looks fully at Eomer, the saying having been one of old, meaning to be watchful in the night for attack. She sees his look and grins playfully at him, knowing he will watch her more then she would want it. "And no sleeping in front of my tent opening. If I wanted I could easily step over you. But fear not, I will not do anything, as promised, to bring shame to Rohan." She turns and enters the tent, hearing his grunt as she does she lets the handmaidens help her out of her clothes and into a night dress. She thought it sill to be traveling like this. Her running around in her robes as if she were on the palace grounds. Though she had relented to Eomer once again, for the sake of the men. Soon enough she is ready for bed and lays there, on top of the bedroll, unable to sleep and wanting so bad to talk to him.

She gets up and goes to the opening, trying to be especially careful as to not waken anyone in the tent. She opens the flap just a little, though enough to see that her brother was indeed sleeping not a breath from the opening to her room. But that wasn't the thing that bothered her. What bothered her so was the fact that Faramir had not moved closer to the fire. Indeed if she didn't know better she would have said he moved back. She can feel her blood boiling and she turns from the opening and returns to her bedrolls, lying down once more to look up at the ceiling. She wished she could see the stars, at least then she would have a better shot at talking to Faramir.

She turns over in a huff, whispering a no in response to one of the maiden's questions as to if she needed something. She wanted to say yes, she needed Faramir to tell her more stories so that she could fall asleep, but of course she did not. Nor did she even dare think of it. She merely says she is fine and settles in again from then on trying to think of anything else until she finally falls into a fitful sleep. A sleep that was broken by images of Orcs, blades, Hobbits and wizards. And a knight in shining armor that looked distinctly like Faramir. A knight who stole her heart in the dream as well.