Love Is In The Wind

by Tiea Culger

This is a love story between Lord Faramir and his love, Lady Eowyn. What was it that drew them together? What was the spark that ignited their love? Read further to find out....It is rated R because of some sexual content, but not a lot.

18. Horse Back Riding

She glances over at Eomer and smiles when he notices her looking at him. She smile extra sweetly, though at the moment she wanted nothing more then to wring his fat neck, before looking to the beautiful lady riding along by Eomer. "So, you only just met last night, did you?" She smiles at Lothiriel, her eyes sliding to Faramir. She apparently was a cousin of Faramir and had arrived sometime during the party, having come from Gondor to give Faramir an important message from Aragorn as well as deliver Faramir his personal guards. Now that he was the Steward of Gondor, he had 6 personal guards for his own protection. She herself hadn't learned of the new lady, or the message, till that morning over breakfast. That was when she had found herself sitting across from the young lady, nibbling on toast, and hearing about what a lovely time she had had with Eomer last night. Eowyn couldn't help it and had kept giving her brother tellling looks from time to time, only to eventually get a kick in the shin. At that she had finally given up and gone off to get ready for her ride with Eowyn. Well she thought it was her ride, and infact she had picked her clothing out herself, making sure that her dress came off as easy as it came on. Just in case. It was that thought that had brought a flush to her cheeks when she heard a knock on her door, expecting it to be her Faramir. But it wasn't. It was her brother and Lothiriel and for some reason she knew something was up and her ride had gone from the two of them to the four of them. She had plastered a smile on and said she would love to have them on her ride, though she hadn't gotten a choice in the matter, then had lead them both down to the stables where Faramir was waiting. She had smiled and gotten the stable hand to help mount up two more horses while she went down to the kitchens to oversea the extra lunches being made, quickly returning as get on their way.

Now, hours later, she smiles at her brother, no longer angry because he hadn't known what he was breaking up, yet still a bit miffed because on the other hand he had known exactly what he was doing.

"King Aragorn wanted to make sure that Lord Faramir received the message prior to leaving here or he wouldn't receive it at all we feared," Lothiriel says with a returning smile for Eowyn. "Plus that gave me a few more days here to get to visit. I am afraid that I will have to return with Faramir." She smiles tenderly at her cousin. They were close, her father being his mother's brother. They had gotten to play a lot as kids, and there was a bond there that many didn't know about because of his father. She knew what his father had been like and Boromir and her had both tried to make up for it with Faramir. She wasn't that much younger then him ad she would admit it now, a long time ago there had been a short crush. But that was over now, it had been for sometime. Right now all she could think about was Eomer and how it had felt to be in his arms last night on the dance floor. She gets a dreamy look on her face as she looks out over the clearing they were coming to. They had been supposed to have lunch somewhere around here and she moves her horse around to be closer to Eomer for when she speaks. "King Eomer, did you wish to stop here? Maybe by the tree?" She was having a hard time talking to him, so her voice comes out soft, almost a caresses as she tries to speak up loud enough for him to hear.

Faramir had eaten his breakfast quickly, wanting to get done and out to the stables as quickly as possible. So when he had finished his meal he had excused himself from the table and returned to his room for his cloak and weapons and saddle bags, missing the conversation about Eomer and Lothiriel coming with him and Eowyn. Taking all that, he had gone down to the stables and gotten his horse ready. It had been a sight for everyone working in the stable that day to see the horse as Faramir entered and walked towards the stall he was in. The horse, which had been silent and quite easy to handle, had suddenly perked up and started stamping in his stall, as if impatient to be on his way. He had even started whinnying and snorting. And much to some of the people's surprise, Faramir had just laughed and said something in Elvish to the horse, which got a neigh and a snort from the horse in response. When Faramir had gotten close enough to the horse he had been shoved back by the horse butting him in the chest. Once again that brought a laugh from Faramir.

By the time Eowyn arrived with Eomer and Lothiriel, Faramir was already to go, as was Eowyn's horse. He gives Eowyn a quick questioning look when he sees his cousin and Eomer. But he doesn't show his frustration, having learned long ago how to school his features and clear his eyes. He nods to the two of them and then sets out with the group.

Hours later he is riding along beside Eowyn, silent except for when he is asked a question or a question is asked of him. Looking over at Lothiriel as she speaks he waits for Eomer to say something before he looks at Eowyn, wondering if she wanted to stop or go on.

Eomer was glad his sister had allowed Lothiriel and himself to join her and Faramir on the ride. Not only because it gave him a chance at spending time with Faramir's lovely cousin, but also because he had a sneaking suspicion that Faramir and Eowyn were not to be trusted by themselves. He had seen a few of the looks that had passed between the two the night before. And catching them outside in each others arms didn't ease his mind any either. But he couldn't help thinking that he himself wouldn't mind some alone time with the lovely Lothiriel. Since meeting her last night he had been taken with her from the start. She was quite beautiful, and intelligent too. A perfect lady for a king. He blinks at that thought but smiles all the same. It wasn't an unpleasant idea.

He looks over at the lady in question when she moves her horse closer to his and asks her question. He looks around and then nods, smiling. "Ah yes. This is a nice spot. Eowyn and I used to come here a lot on picnics when we were younger." He looks over at his sister. "You remember, Eowyn. This was where father would teach us to use a sword." He smiles fondly at the memory. "We brought Uncle Theoden and Theodred here a few times." He shakes his head at the memories and then nods. "Here is fine." He moves his horse over by the tree and gets off. Then he ties the reigns loosely around the horn on his saddle and lets his horse go. He looks back at the others, catching a look between Faramir and Eowyn and can't help but smirk just a little.

Eowyn nods, indeed she did remember. They had had such fun times here as kids. She pulls her horse up and slides easily from it's back. It is then she loosely lets the reins hit the ground so her horse could graze if she wanted. She rubs Crystal's neck as she leans in and kisses the bridge of her nose. "You did good today, Crystal. Mommy has a treat for you." She reaches into the folds of her dress, pulling out a carrot, offering it to the horse who greedily takes it. Then she starts untying her bag from the saddle horn, sliding looks at Faramir as she does it, wondering if he was done.

Faramir walks over to where Eowyn was with her horse, letting his horse graze beside hers. He looks over at Eomer and Lothiriel and smiles, shaking his head as he leans in close and whispers to Eowyn, "I do believe your brother is taken with my cousin." He smiles and takes the small bag that held some fruit from her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Did I tell you this morning how beautiful you look, Love?"

Lothiriel loved the ride but was glad when he agrees and they stop for lunch. Pausing her horse by his, she fidgets a little, looking around for a way to get off her horse in a lady like fashion. She normally road side saddle as was the custom for a lady, but in those cases there was a stool or other device to help her down. Without one out here and she suddenly feeling a bit at a loss, watching how Eowyn gets out of her saddle. There was no way she could do that and she starts to get a little worried.

Then as if just noticing her plight, Eomer comes over and helps her from her seat, Lothiriel resting both hands on his shoulders so that she might get the best leverage so she could help herself as well. "Well," she says with a laugh, her hands still on his shoulders as she looks up at. "Thanks are in order. I am sorry, I must look the fool." She blushes but doesn't take her eyes off him. "I am not used to riding out in the forests so much. My mother never let me ride like this." Indeed she hadn't, not in mixed company anyway. She finally goes to pull away from him. ''Thank you," she says shyly.

Eomer sees the slight panicked look on Lothiriel's face and smiles. He walks over and reaches up, helping her down off her horse. He smiles at what she says, shaking his head. "No. You would never look a fool to me." He takes one of her hands and kisses it lightly, smiling at her again before he leads her over to where Faramir and Eowyn were setting up the blanket for the four of them to sit on while they eat their lunch. He sees the look on Eowyn's face and raises an eyebrow at it. "What is that look for, Eowyn?"

Lothiriel blushes slightly when he kisses her hand. She had never been this close to a King, not on a more.. personal manner like she was now. She lets him lead her to the blanket and help her down on it before she speaks again. "Thank you, King Eomer." She takes the glass of wine that Eowyn hands her. "Is there anything I can help with?"

With Faramir's help Eowyn gets her bag finally off the saddle horn, handing it to him as she grabs an extra blanket. At his questions she pauses and gives it come serious though. "No," she says, still with a very serious look. "I don't think that you have." Her face splits into a grin and she leans in and kisses him softly. "So tell me, do I look beautiful?" She moves away from him and lays the blanket down. Getting things settled for their meal, she notices Eomer and his attention to their guest and smiles knowingly at him. He was falling in love. She knew that look. It was the same one that came across Faramir's face sometimes when she would catch him looking at her. She shakes her head, trying to look all innocent. "Nothing. Nothing at all." She hands Faramir a sandwich before handing one to her brother and the young lady.

Faramir smiles and looks at Eowyn as he helps her spread the blanket on the ground under the tree. "You look more beautiful than a sunset in Gondor. You also look more beautiful than the flowers in Ithilien. Which I know are very beautiful. I will have to show you them someday when I take you to Ithilien. I've lived in Ithilien since becoming a ranger. It was the happiest years of my life." He sits down close to Eowyn and takes the sandwich she hands him. He then looks over at his cousin and smiles. "I did not know you were going to come to Gondor, Lothiriel. Did Uncle Imrahil come with you as well?" He waits and smiles at the nod of her head. "I am sure he is discussing much with King Elessar." He catches a look on his cousin's face and is confused by it. It was the look she always got when she was trying not to tell him something. "There is more to it isn't there?" He pouts only slightly when his cousin informs him that she did not know what he was talking about and clams up. That was what she always said when she couldn't be persuaded to give up what she was keeping from him. Though knowing his Uncle, if it was about him it was probably something good. His Uncle always had loved his nephews. It had hurt Imrahil just as much as Faramir when word of Boromir's death had reached him. He takes a drink from his glass of wine and almost chokes on it when Lothiriel starts telling a story about the two of them and Boromir when they were younger. It wouldn't have shocked him so much if he didn't know how embarrassing this story was. "Lothiriel....." He gives her a pleading look and then sighs and smiles sheepishly as she insists on telling about the time when he had told his Uncle he wanted to be a dog when he grew up. He hears the laughter and blushes. "Well I was 3. And Uncle's rathounds were what I wanted to be." He sees Eowyn's amused look and smiles, shaking his head. "Yes yes. Laugh all you want. SHE wanted to be a fish! So she could swim out to sea and live in the ocean." He groans and holds his head when Lothiriel replies with a 'well at least she didn't want to eat out of a bowl on the floor'. "Yes yes. It is all true. Now that you have thoroughly embarrassed me, dear Cousin, might I do the same to you and ask why you seem so....interested in my future brother-in-law? OW!" He rubs his arm where Eowyn had punched him and gives her a cute, hurt, but innocent look. "What was that for?"

Eomer smiles at Lothiriel and then takes a seat on the blanket near her. He takes the offered glass of wine and sandwich from his sister and then looks back at Lothiriel. "We're all family here, you may call me Eomer if you'd like." He hadn't smiled this much since finding out his sister was not dead in the House of Healing back in Minas Tirith. But he couldn't help himself. He liked this woman way too much. He starts to eat and then grins when Lothiriel starts to tell them a story about Faramir. This he had to hear. He drinks some of his wine as he listens, then laughs at what he hears, shaking his head. He had never wanted to be an animal when he grew up. He had wanted to be just what he had become. A king. Though until Theodred's death, he didn't really think his dream would come true. He is about to take a bite of his sandwich when Faramir asks his question. He can't help but grin when Eowyn punches Faramir in the arm for that one. "Ah you deserved it, Faramir. Did I not warn you about my sister?" He sees Eowyn's look and puts on an innocent smile. "It was nothing bad, Eowyn. Just that he should realize you are not a ordinary woman." Which she wasn't. She was a shieldmaiden.

Eowyn shoots a look at her brother at his comment, she starts blushing, shaking her head. "You are incorrigible, Eomer. Warning him about me? As if not being ordinary is a bad thing. Personally I think it is an accent, don't you Lothiriel?" She smiles at the slightly younger woman as she starts in on the food before her.

Lothiriel wasn't about ready to tell her cousin what else he wanted to know. Yes there was more, but he would hear about it in depth when the time was right and not a moment sooner. At Eowyn's question, she can't help but laugh. "Well I should hope to think that indeed was good thing."

Realizing she hadn't answered Faramir's question, Eowyn laughs and shakes her head. "You know why, Faramir, her eyes going to Lothiriel. "It is good that you agree. My brother needs a strong woman. One that won't back down to him when up against the wall. That is the only thing that will keep him happy, a woman as strong willed as him."

Faramir snorts slightly as he fights back a laugh at what Lothiriel says. When the three of them look at him he just smiles and feigns innocence. He also busies himself with drinking his wine and eating his lunch. No no. He wasn't going to tell them just how funny he thought this conversation. No he could see it now. Already Eomer was falling to Lothiriel's charm. It was quite funny to watch really.

"You could never be ordinary, Eowyn." He then hears Faramir make a sound and he looks at him, wondering what that was about. He sees the look on Faramir's face and can't help wondering what was so funny. "I think Faramir's not telling us something."

Eowyn smiles at Faramir. "You have more to say, Darling?" She puts her sandwich down and reaches out to touch his arm lightly. "Go ahead, if you have more to say I am sure that I would like to hear it." She smiles at him, unable to keep her eyes off him.

Lothiriel tilts her head to the side at Eowyn's comment. "Are you sure that Faramir had something more to say? Maybe he just thinks that others here have more to say. He may just be letting you see what he wants you to."

Faramir smiles and shakes his head. "No no. I have nothing more to say. I have an idea. Eowyn, dear, you recall the time I told you I would enjoy sparing with you? Well I have my sword with me and I noticed you have yours so.....when you are finished your lunch, would you like to spar with me?"

Eomer is glad when they turn the conversation to a subject that wasn't about Lothiriel or himself. "Can we bet? If so I will put all my money on Eowyn. I do not see a ranger being able to defeat a Shieldmaiden of Rohan."

Eowyn looks at him skeptically. She noticed how he had changed the subject off him so easily. "Okay, I will take you up on that." She shakes her head at her brother, "There will be no bets like that , though trust me, I won't loose." She laughs at the look that comes over Faramir's face.

Glad that the subject was firmly off of them, Lothiriel starts to work back on her lunch. "I don't know, I have heard that Faramir can rival anyone but his brother." She felt the need to stick up for her favorite cousin.

Faramir smiles at his cousin, glad that she had confidence in him. Though he himself didn't think what she said was true. He was much better with the bow. He finishes his sandwich and wine and then wipes his mouth with his napkin before he gets up and walks over to his horse. He smiles and takes his sword from where it was stashed by his saddle and then walks over to a good open space. He then waits for his beloved to get her sword and join him.

Eomer smiles, liking how Lothiriel seemed so devoted to Faramir. When Faramir gets up to get his sword he leans close and whispers to Lothiriel. "You seem close to him. As close as I am with my sister."

Eowyn watches him go over and get his sword, shaking her head at the lot of them. She doesn't hurry, she finishes her sandwich and wine, finally standing and walking over to her horse to retrieve her sword. "I guess I am lucky that I always bring it with me. Or you wouldn't be getting this little match," she says quietly to Faramir, smiling tenderly at him.

Lothiriel waits until the two are over in the clearing before she answers Eomer. "I suppose so, we saw a lot of each other as children. And since he was always treated so bad by his father, his brother and I made sure he knew he was special. We never wanted him to believe the terrible things that his father said he was. I suppose that made it so that in the end, we were closer then some cousins might be. I became a little sister to both of them."

Faramir gives her one of his cute pouts and then shrugs, wincing a little at the pain there. He was getting used to it. He draws his sword and tests his arm while turning the sword over in his hand. When satisfied he could hold the sword he looks back at Eowyn and smiles. His sword was not as nicely decorated as hers, no design was on his sword hilt. This was because his father had not cared much to give him a special sword, like he had to Boromir. But Faramir didn't mind. This sword fit him well and had saved his life many times. Not so many times as his bow but it was still a welcome weight at his side. It was a heavy sword but well balanced.

Eomer looks at her, frowning just a little. "I do not understand as much as I probably should. I mean I have heard that his father was quite strict with his sons and his wife. Theoden did not much like how Denethor treated Faramir. Maybe that was the reason Uncle did not think much of Gondor. Even if his mother was from Gondor." He drinks some more of his wine, looking at Faramir and Eowyn as they start circling each other. Then he looks back at Lothiriel. "He doesn't speak of his father much. And the one time I spoke of him....well it was like he was defeated by mere words. It makes me feel happy I had the parents I did."

"I should refuse to fight you, Faramir. You are not ready to fight. I saw the wince. You should be babying that arm, not fighting me and making it worse." She shakes her head, moving away from the horses to do a few practice swings. "Yes, indeed, I will have to take it easy on you." She grins at him playfully.

Lothiriel leans in closer to him, speaking softly. "His father wasn't so strict to his brother as he was to Faramir. Faramir could do nothing right. He would try twice as hard as Boromir, yet his father didn't give him half the credit. He didn't push his talents, like his talent with the bow, rather he put down that he wasn't as good with the sword as his brother was. But he isn't a swordsman, he is a archer. It comes a lot more natural to him then a sword. Since his father wouldn't encourage him, Boromir and I did our best to encourage him. He is talented in the things he is talented in and he never was told that by his father. His father was cruel to him, meaner then he was to his dogs. Yes, you and I are both very well off to have had parents that didn't treat us that way. And those things are the things that we remember as adults, burnt in our memory. He had his own demons to fight through. I feel for him."

Eomer snorts, shaking his head. "I do not think him his father, though he does resemble him. I do not see his father in him. I merely said that to him because I did not want what happened to his mother to happen to my sister. Then the fool told me to finish the job he had started if I wanted to rid my sister of him." He shakes his head. "I did not actually mean to cut him. I was.......angry." He looks at Lothiriel, feeling ashamed and for a moment wondering why he wanted her forgiveness.

Faramir looks at her with an amused look on his face. "That is my hope, Darling, for I do not wish to lose too badly to a girl. But do not refuse this. I have waited for this time with you since we met." He keeps the grin off his face, watching her. He truly believed she could beat him in a sword fight. And it didn't hurt his pride any. No far from it. He actually was thrilled to finally be sparing with her. He loved her but he also admired her. She was beautiful and strong, independent yet she didn't mind cuddling with him, or acting like a woman should. She balanced him, made him happy. And she loved him completely, which to him, was the most important thing. "And my arm is not as bad as it used to be, my Love. I can move it now."

Eowyn walks over to him, her sword pointing down and at ease till she is right in front of him. "Oh you won't loose too badly. Because of your shoulder. Now if you were in full health, maybe I would be worried. As it is, it is just a nice little sparing match. So kiss me, while they aren't looking, and we will start this." She leans in a little closer, her back to her brother, looking for all the world like they were just whispering to each other.

Faramir smiles, leaning on his sword, the tip pushed into the ground. When she walks over and leans in close he hears what she says and smiles, leaning down to kiss her gently but with love. When he pulls back he does it only a little. "I would much rather be sparring with your brother right now, since it was him who had to come along." He winks at her and then pulls back and moves a few steps away from her, pulling his sword easily out of the ground as he goes. He then bows slightly to her and straightens with his sword pointing towards the sky and infront of him. He then moves his sword down, and with his free hand he gestures for her to begin, a slight grin on his face.

Lothiriel sees that something is really bothering him, but she doesn't understand what it was that he was talking about. Frowning, she lightly places her hand on his arm. "What are you talking about, Eomer?" She was trying to put together the pieces of what he had said, something about him not thinking he was his father. And about his mother and Eomer's sister. Then it all seems to fall into place. "You mean you called him his father? Oh, Eomer." She looks at him with wide eyes as she realizes what had happened. "That is the worst, most hurtful thing you could ever say to him. He father was an evil man to him, it would be no wonder he would act rashly. For he is not his father and he would never hold Eowyn back for anything. He saw his own mother die from being caged by his father. It devastated him, the loss of his mother, for she was the only one besides Boromir that loved him, really loved him. Now Eowyn loves him, I have seen it in the looks she gives him, and he would never hurt her." She reaches out and without thinking she takes his head in her hands, seeing the pain etched on his face. "You didn't know, Eomer, but you know now. It is not I that needs to forgive you, but Faramir. You should take him aside some time and let him know why it is that you said that, and how you didn't realize. He is a very forgiving man, Eomer. He is that way because his father was not."

Eomer looks at Lothiriel, frowning as he listens to her. He had meant to hurt Faramir, it was his nature when he worried about his sister and who she associated with. Plus with the things Theoden had told them of the last Steward of Gondor, and with meeting the man only once......well he had just assumed that Faramir would be his father. Though he knew now how wrong he was. He did like Faramir. For one he liked the fact that Faramir encouraged Eowyn to stay the shieldmaiden she was born to be. He could only hope that Faramir stayed true to that and allowed the daughters he and Eowyn would have to follow in their mother's footsteps. He looks over at the two and then back at Lothiriel. "I do not think of him as his father. Not really. I will have to talk to him before he is to leave." He glances at the two sparring again, smiling at the look of determination on his sister's face. She always looked so serious when using a sword, even when it was just for fun. Looking back at Lothiriel he speaks. "So then you have elvish blood in you as well as Faramir? I was told his mother's side is where the elvish traits came from. It is quite erie to be standing in a room alone and to not hear him enter. He has light steps for a man. I pride myself on always being alert to my surroundings, even asleep, yet he can still sneak past me to visit my sister if he wishes."

Lothiriel smiles tenderly at him again when he talks of Faramir sneaking by him. "You think that is hard, try playing with him as a kid and he could sneak behind you when you are looking for him, and scare you. Though he has gotten better with time, he probably could sneak up on anyone he wanted now. But he would never cross your path if he knew that it would hurt Eowyn. He will never hurt her, if that is something that you are worried about." She had dropped her hands and was now just holding his hand loosely. She was slightly shocked that she was being so forward, but he seemed to invite that forwardness.

Eowyn shakes her head. " I am not going to get you a new sword any time soon if that is who you are going to treat it," she says, motioning to the way he had pulled it out of the ground, teasing him, but honestly. She would never put her sword in the ground like that, it dulls it for one and she loves to keep her's sharp at all times. She takes his cue and advances on him, taking the first swing, then defending herself. She moves around the clearing like that, blocking each blow carefully and slowly making the moves more advanced to see how much he can handle, her face suddenly serious as she works him.

Faramir smiles. "And that is why I do not put my arrows into the ground." Truth be told he didn't much like using his sword. He preferred the bow and arrow to the sword. "But alas.....I do not need a new sword. This one has many more fights ahead of it." He smiles at her, easily blocking her swings and counter-attacking with ones of his own. Soon he too has a look of concentration on his face, all thoughts out of his mind as he just concentrates on her movements. He needed to concentrate. She was very good, as good as, if not better than, Boromir. And he didn't need a reason to visit the healers in Edoras.

Eomer keeps a hold of her hands, smiling at her. "I am just being the over protective big brother, Lothiriel. I suppose....it is what I told her. She is all I have left of my family. I do not wish to see her come to harm. When I saw her in the House of Healing in Minas Tirith, she looked dead. It scared me, how close I came to losing the last family I had." Why he was telling her all this was beyond him. But she made him feel comfortable, like he could tell her anything. And so he was.

Eowyn notices that he is concentrating more and more and so she throws in a few more advanced moves to see if he can handle them.

"I am sure that she knows that, that she knows how valuable she is to you." She gives his hands a squeeze and smiles, looking over at the two fighting. "She is more then a match for him with the sword. I am sure that she will be strong in the marriage. I do not thing that you have to worry so about her. You do not see her really letting him take her and put her into a situation where she has to bow to his every wish, do you? I know that Faramir will cherish her, he would never press her like his mother was. He saw his mother die from what his father did and he would never do that to a wife of his."

Faramir has a little trouble blocking the more advanced moves but he does block them. Despite knowing Eowyn was far better with a sword than him, he was still having fun with her. He was going to have to do this with her more often. Especially when she looked the way she did. Ghod she was beautiful. He is distracted for a moment but that was enough. He misses blocking one of her swings and then winces as her sword nicks his arm. He sees the look of shock and fear on her face as she notices what she did, but instead of getting upset, he merely gives her a curious look. "No no no. We did not agree on branding each other today." He smirks a little, speaking so only she could hear him. "That comes later." He lunges at her, chuckling when she easily blocks his sword.

Eomer sighs, watching his sister. "No I know he wouldn't. I will just miss her terribly when she is to leave to live with him. But he has promised to not hold her there. She can come and go as she pleases.....is what he said." He sees Faramir wince and grab his arm and the look of shock on Eowyn's face. He stiffens for a moment, then smiles when they resume, the smile on Eowyn's face telling him all was well. He turns and looks at Lothiriel. "Would you tell me about your life now? I wish to know all about you. Or as much as you wish to tell me."

When he losses concentration she wasn't expecting it but she is able to catch herself before chops off his arm, but she does nick him fairly good and she is worried he will be upset. But when he laughs it off she smiles, relaxing, and going back to the fight. Though she backs off on the advanced moves and just goes back into the easier movies, smiling as he gets them with ease.

Lothiriel blushes, dropping one hand as she turns slightly away from him and looking towards the couple sparring. "You don't want to hear about my life. It is boring, I am sure, compared to yours. I thought that you wanted to see their match?"

Eomer smiles at her, not wanting to push her. "When you would like to tell me, then I will want to know all about you." He lets go of her hands and leans back so he is holding himself up with his hands flat against the ground behind him. He crosses his feet and then watches his sister and Faramir sparring.

Faramir smiles and continues to spar with her, finding it quite relaxing. So it isn't till much later that he finally must stop. When they do he falls back to the ground, breathing heavily and covered in sweat. But happy. He looks up as he feels the cold metal tip of her sword against his throat. He gives her a cocky look, smiling up at her. "Yes yes. Never drop my guard. Just you remember, I am older than you. I get winded a lot faster." It was nonsense, seeing as she was just as out of breath as he was, and just as sweaty. He can't help the look he gives her as he sees the sweat glistening off her skin. His look was full of desire for her, and frustration at having to wait longer. He does however pat the ground beside him. "Ah now you have a decision to make my dear, lay beside me and relax, or run me through." He knew the answer she would give, as if she would actually harm him. So he just waits to see what she would do, no sign of fear or anything on his face, even with a sword tip pressed against his throat. He trusted her completely.

Lothiriel watches them sparing, not moving away from Eomer, rather staying close, from time to time commenting on the battle. They were good tonight, in that she could tell Eowyn didn't take advantage of Faramir's weaknesses, but rather fought on his level so that the fight was fun and easy going. It was yet another way that it proved their perfectness for each other. When in the end he goes to the ground and Eowyn stands over him, her sword at his throat she almost jumps up. In fact she would have jumped up and run over there if it hadn't been for Eomer. "She might hurt him," she says with a shocked look at Eomer. "I just think she needs to be reminded it is but a game."

Eowyn looks at him with a thoughtful expression, purposefully taking a little while to think before she slowly moves her sword away from his neck, sheathing in and laying down next to him, panting as she looks up at the sky, her head next to his. "I don't want to have to clean my sword today." She turns her head and smiles, her lips but a breath from his, panting softly. "I think looking at the sky would be much more pleasurable. Besides, I think I like your neck the way it is. Connected to your head."

Eomer puts his hand on Lothiriel's arm when she starts to get up. He knew his sister was just playing. He looks at Lothiriel and smiles, not upset that she would think Eowyn would hurt Faramir. Lothiriel didn't know Eowyn so even though it was absurd to think Eowyn would hurt the man she loved, he still wasn't upset with Lothiriel for thinking it. "No no. She is merely playing with him. Look see. No, Eowyn is quite loyal to the people she loves. She would no more hurt Faramir than he would her." He looks back and rolls his eyes as he notices Eowyn and Faramir kissing. Shaking his head he looks back at Lothiriel. "Would you like to take a walk?"

Lothiriel watches the two and then when they start to kiss her eyes go back to Eomer and she nods. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea." She lets him help her up and they start to walk, him not relinquishing her hand. Though she doesn't try to take it away either, She stays silent, realizing suddenly the stupidity of her thinking that Eowyn cutting off Faramir's head.

Faramir can't help but laugh, smiling as he turns onto his side and leans over her to kiss her gently. When he pulls away again he lays on the ground beside her and takes hold of her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "I am glad you prefer my head attached to my neck. I also prefer it that way." He smiles and stares up at the sky. It was a beautiful day, warm and bright. Perfect for napping outside. The ground was soft too, though a little cold but that didn't stop his eyes from drooping. He wasn't about to tell Eowyn but perhaps sparring with her when he was still in someway sick, was not a good thing. He felt tired. But he also felt happy and content. So that didn't help any when his eyes start to close. With a soft sigh of content, he drifts off into a light sleep.

Eowyn notices the two leaving for a walk and is about to mention it to Faramir when she hears a snore coming from the man beside her. With a smile she lay her head on his chest, laying lightly on her side as she does she too starts to fall into a light sleep. It was easy, the day was perfect for it. And her head on his chest listening to each of his heart beats lulled her into a sound sleep.

Eomer walks along a path with her, staying silent as well. After a while he looks over at her and smiles. "I have never met a woman like you, Lothiriel. I like how I can speak with you and not feel a fool. Though...well I do not know how people in Dol Amroth think of people from Rohan. I do know there are some from Gondor who think of us as backwards." He keeps a hold of her hand, smiling at her. "I do not think you are one of them."

Lothiriel shakes her head, smiling at him. "I do not judge something or someone that I have not met yet. I have only just met you, therefore I have only just... judged you." She ends with a large grin, her eyes twinkling as she teases him. She keeps holding his hand, her thumb rubbing the back of his hand.

Faramir continues to sleep, that is until something nudges his side. He grumbles something and then sighs as he is nudged in the side of the head and then something snorts by his ear. He opens one eye and laughs as he sees his horse's nose by his head. "Go away. I'm trying to sleep." He closes his eyes again and then winces as his horse nips his shoulder. "Ok ok. I'll wake up." He moves to sit up, wondering where Eowyn went. She had been sleeping with him. He stretches and yawns, then he stands up and takes his horses reigns, and leads him over to the water. It is then that his surroundings change. He frowns as he watches and finally knows he was dreaming. And he knew where this dream was from. He had had it when he found out Boromir was dead. And just like in the dream then he walks slowly out into the water. He again watches as out of the mist a boat approaches and floats past him. He looks into it and sees his brother's dead body under the water. But just as his eyes pass over his brother's face, Boromir's eyes snap open and in a erie whisper he says, 'help me'. He watches as the boat disappears into a black hole in his vision, one filled with fire and cries of pain. He was suddenly filled with a great fear and it is then he realizes he was being pulled into the hole. No matter how much he tries to fight it he is pulled closer and closer, while in the real world he starts to moan and move about, as if he was trying to get away. But he can't. And just before he wakes up he hears the most terrifying sound ever. Eowyn screaming out his name in a way that sounded like she was in great pain. He snaps awake and sits up straight, breathing heavily and shivering, even though it was still warm out.

Eowyn is thrown off him when he starts to move around, sitting up all groggy, rubbing her eyes. She pushes against him when she notices he was having a bad dream, but he doens't seem to waken any, so she pushes harder. "Faramir! Faramir! Wake up!' She is relieved when finally he does snap awake, sitting up suddenly. "Faramir! What was that about?" She takes his head in her hands to make him look at her. "What happened?"

As soon as he sees her he grabs her and kisses her deeply, just to make sure this wasn't all a dream and that she was really there. When he pulls back he looks her over. Then finally, when he is sure she is alright, he sighs with relief and relaxes. When she again asks him what happened he frowns. "It was a dream.....or a vision maybe. I do not know which at this time. It started out different, then changed to the same dream I had when Boromir was dead. But it was different. He.....opened his eyes and asked for my help...then he was pulled into something and I was starting to get pulled in as well." He winces a little as his shoulder starts to hurt, reaching up he rubs at it. "And then I heard you."

Eomer gives her a skeptical look, smiling slightly. "And what is your judgement, my Lady? Oh do not worry, I can take criticism." He leans in closer and whispers, as if they could be over heard. "It is Eowyn who can't." He grins, keeping a hold of her hand.

Lothiriel laughs, shaking her head at him. "I am sure that she isn't going to agree with you there. However, if you are sure that you can take it... I will start by saying that you are indeed a very protective big brother. But you aren't that way because you merely want your way, it is because you truly love your sister and want what is best for her."

Eomer smiles and shrugs. "That could be it. Or it could simply be that I do not wish for her to leave." He sees her look and laughs. "Yes yes. You are right. It is because I want what is best for her. I am starting to see that Faramir may be what is best for her. But I still do not know him well."

Eowyn frowns at his reaction, though she enjoys his kisses, it was still the way that he was reacting that was confusing. Not only confusing, but worrying her. "Faramir, what is going on? You heard me? What was I saying? Why are you acting this way? I am okay, I am right here. Was it something bad?" She looks at him confused, hoping he would answer her truthfully, but also worried about that because he called it a vision.

Faramir runs his hand though his hair as he tries to remember. "You....called my name, and you sounded like you were in pain. But I didn't want to help you, I was trying to get away." He frowns deeply. That was what had him so upset. That she had been calling for him and obviously in pain and he just wanted to run away. Was that why he always felt guilty about Boromir's death? Because he hadn't pushed his father enough to allow him to go instead of Boromir? Perhaps. He sighs and looks over at her. "I do not know if it was just a nightmare or something more. I am hoping it is only a nightmare manifested from something I feel but do not wish to dwell on."

Eowyn frowns slightly at his tale. "It might be regret. I don't see how it can be something more. Because Boromir is gone and I am perfectly fine. You know that I would never call your name in pain." She grins mischievously and leans closer, trying to lighten the mood. "Not unless I was giving birth to your child and blaming you for the pain." She wraps her arms around his neck and leans against him, resting her head against his. "It was a bad nightmare, Faramir. Just another bad nightmare. All will be okay. WE will be okay."

"And you may never know him well, Eomer. You need to realize that. There is a lot about Faramir that no one will know, except probably Eowyn." She pauses a moment, turning to look at him. "He is a good man, Eomer. At heart, he is a good man. And he would never hurt your sister. You have to realize that."

Eomer looks over at her, surious as to why she says he may never get to know Faramir that well. But he shrugs and then smiles at her. "So.....we should be getting back....though I do not quite wish to return to just yet."

"And why is it that you don't wish to return just yet? It could not be my company, could it?" She blushes, flirting with him outright now and having fun doing it.

He smiles, still holding her hands. "Yes actually. I do very much enjoy your company, Lothiriel. What man wouldn't enjoy the company of a beautiful woman like you?" He leans down and kisses her hand lightly, glancing up at her for a moment before he straightens.

She blushes at his words, feeling the redness go all the way up her neck. He really had a way about him, that was for sure. She smiles softly at him, whispering as if only for him, "Then maybe I should give you that which you asked for before. You wished to know a little about me. If you still do..." she waits for his slight nod and starts to walk along with him, dropping one hand but still holding onto his other. "Then I will gladly tell you." She looks sideways at him, almost shyly before she starts to quietly tell him about her life.

He walks along with her, smiling slightly as he listens to her. When she finishes he speaks before thinking. "I have never seen the sea....would you show me it someday? Perhaps if I came to visit you in Dol Amroth?"

She pauses, her eyes getting a far off look in them as she nods ever so slightly. "Of course I will show it to you, if you come to see it. It is the most beautiful thing you will ever come across. You will never want to leave it when you run along the beach with the sand between your toes." Once more she gets that dreamy look in her eyes and she sighs deeply, not realizing she was doing so.

He smiles and watches her. She looked so beautiful when she was thinking about her home. He speaks before he can think of what he was about to say. "Would you write to me when you go back to your home?" It wasn't really an odd question, but seeing they had only just met yesterday, it was slightly odd.

She looks at him in shock, amazed that he wants to further their friendship to the point of having her write to him. She takes his other hand, turning to look up at him with amazement. "You want me to write you? I mean, of course I will write you, if you want me to." Who did she think she was? Turning down a King would be so wrong. But she didn't see him as a King, she never had. And this hadn't been an order or anything. This had been a request, from a simple man to a simple woman. "If you promise to return the letters," she says softly.

He smiles at her, rubbing his thumbs against her hands. "Yes of course I will. It would be unfair to know all that is happening to you and you to know nothing that is happening with me." He smiles and stares ate her for a moment, then looks away, his cheeks turning a light red for a moment. Oh he knew he was falling for her. And falling hard.

Before she can stop herself, she blurts out, "Why do you look away?" She felt like looking away at times too, but right them she wanted to see in his eyes. Was it because of what she might see? Did he want to kiss her as much as she wanted him to? That thought shocks her to her core. How dare she even THINK of kissing him! Oh but she couldn't help but wonder what his lips tasted like. It was all too fast, and it made her feel so wanton.

He looks back at her and smiles. "I.....do not know why I feel it. Maybe this is what Faramir felt when he first saw my sister." He had heard from the Warden of the House of Healing in Minas Tirith, that Faramir had suddenly changed when Eowyn had first appeared before him. So maybe he was acting or feeling like Faramir had. With a smile he again shrugs. "I like you, Lothiriel. No...I care for you. I do not wish to rush this along though." He didn't know what he was saying. Trying to explain himself had suddenly gotten quite hard. "I apologize if I am rambling. I have not had to confess my feelings for a woman before. I am not as poetic as Faramir. Nor as smart."

She shakes her head, smiling. "Then do not try to explain yourself, Eomer. You do not have to explain yourself to me or to anyone. Besides, I think I know what you are talking about. Like how I feel a fluttering in my chest when I look at you, or catch you looking at me. I wonder what it is that could be so fascinating that would have you seeming to study my face. But then I find myself studying yours. So that when I leave in a few days, I will have something to remember, for it will be permanently etched in my mind.... the way you smile, the way you laugh, or how about the way that your neck reddens ever so slightly when I do catch you looking at me, as if you got caught doing something you shouldn't be. When in fact I do not mind the looks. I think that I would mind it more if you did not look. As long as you do not mind me looking at you." She is still clutching his hands, but now they were between them, her body close to his, smiling softly up at him. She liked the intimate way they were standing, it seemed so natural.

He smiles, holding her hands now near his chest, his thumbs still gently rubbing against them in slow circles. "If if pleases thee so much, I shall look at you more often. While you are here." He stares at her for a little bit, and then, without thinking, he leans in and kisses her lightly.

She is too shocked when he kisses her to move away having never been kissed, much less kissed by a King! She looks at him in shock, her mouth making these little fishie type gaping movements as she just stares at him in shock. He had just kissed her. "You just kissed me," she says with a gasp, sounding almost incredulous, completely in shock, yet not wanting him to stop by any means.

He smiles at her look, finding it not upsetting but amusing. "Hmmmm, I do believe I did kiss you. My apologies if I am being too forward with you. I could not help myself." He lets go of one of her hands and reaches up to gently touch her cheek.

She blushes, reaching up to cover his hand with her own. "Eomer, you don't understand," she whispers, unsure how to let him when what it was she wanted. Eomer, you kissed me. No one has ever kissed me. NO ONE."

He smiles at her, keeping his hand pressed against her cheek lightly. "Then perhaps, if you wish, I could kiss you like you should be kissed. Though I will ask your permission this time. I do not want to force you into anything." He laughs and shakes his head. "Oh if only my men could see me now. They would not know me."

She swallows hard, but she doesn't pull away, her eyes locked with his. "If I wish?" Yes she wished. "Like I should be kissed?" Wasn't that how he had just kissed her? "Not know you?" She didn't realize she was just repeating everything he had said, but he had her flustered and she was grasping at the things he was saying to understand it. If she could understand it, then it would all be okay, right?

He smiles, laughing softly at how flustered she was. "Well maybe not now. I should let you recover from the first kiss before I give you another one. Unless it is your wish that I give you another one."

She frowns slightly, her lower lip actually pushing out a little. "Would you make a Lady beg?"He smiles and shakes his head. "No indeed you don't." And with that said he leans in and kisses her softly but passionately, his hands letting go of hers so that he could wrap his arms around her and hold her close while they kissed. He didn't care who saw them. He didn't care if it looked bad. He'd fallen head over heels for this woman and he wasn't going to feel bad about it. Besides, he was King. He could do what he liked and choose to love who he wanted to love.

She stands there at first once more as if in shock, but then she leans into him and starts to return the kiss just as passionately. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest and taste the wine still on his lips as her hands move around his middle to lay against the small of his back, pulling him towards her. Her lips and tongue act as if they had kissed many men, when in fact this was but her second kiss, and with the same man. She had never allowed any man this close to her before, much less anywhere close enough to kiss her. And it was intoxicating, much more so then the wine they had had for lunch. She had never thought a kiss could be like this and she wonders if it was so sweet because of who she was kissing, or if any man would have caused this reaction because it was her first kiss. But then in the next moment she knows that it had everything to do with the man when her heart dose a double flip when he grabs her a little tighter. How could she be feeling this way about this man in so short a time she was unsure, but she knew, if she let herself listen to her heart, that the answer was simple. It all had to so with her heart and how much she was starting to feel for this man.

He continues to kiss her passionately, pulling her a bit tighter against him. He had now totally lost his heart to this woman. And in such a short time too. But he wasn't really thinking about that though. No he was thinking about how good it felt to hold her and kiss her. He was so into the kiss that he doesn't hear or notice when Faramir and Eowyn catch up to them.

---

Faramir can't help but smile at her. Her mention of their children warmed him. He kisses her when she gets close enough, smiling against her lips as he reaches up to keep her face close to his. "Yes. Just a silly nightmare. Though I will warn you, I tend to get them a lot. Though I have noticed that I sleep better knowing you are beside me." He leans in and kisses her again, more passionately this time, with longing. When he pulls back again he sighs softly. "I curse your brother for coming along with us." He gives her a frustrated smile, then lays back down, bringing her with him, his arm around her. "I should do something mean to him....perhaps I should put bugs in his bed. Yes yes. No that wouldn't work." He looks down at her and smiles. "Any suggestion you might have would help."

Eowyn laughs, smiling lovingly up at him. "My brother doesn't mind bugs. Now snakes, snakes are another subject altogether. But I think putting snakes in his bed would make him a mortal enemy, not work as a joke he will soon forget. If you want a suggestion, then I would say to just embarrass him, ever so slightly, in front of his new love. Maybe make a comment about the puppy dog looks he keeps giving her." She leans up and kisses him tenderly. "Aye, but we won't do that either. Because that would make it so that he only looked at our relationship more. No, we will not tease him or hurt him. We will just make sure he doesn't come next time.

He grins and nods, leaning over her again so that he could kiss her. "Hmmmm yes. Wouldn't want to make him an enemy. My wife to be would not allow it." He smiles and kisses her again, this time long and slowly, just enjoying himself. But he eventually has to pull back so when he does he just grins at her. "Perhaps we should go look for them, give your brother a taste of his own medicine?"

She gets a mischievous look in her eyes as she looks up at him, her fingers lightly threading through his hair at the base of his neck with one hand and her other lightly caressing his cheek. "Now that sounds like it could be a little fun. Then maybe he wouldn't follow us again tomorrow. However, I can not go seek him out when you are laying on top of me. Not that I am complaining, mind you." Her smile turns seductive, her eyes cloudy with passion, looking towards his lips as if to seek out another kiss.

He grins at the look in her eyes. "Hmmmmm maybe we should just make the most of the time we have alone together?" He leans down and starts kissing her again, this time a lot more passionately. He moves to let his body rest lightly against hers, never once pulling back from the kiss.

A deep moan gets caught in her throat as she opens her lips to deepen the kiss, wraping her arms around his neck and arching her body up towards him. She continures to kiss him passionately, much more passionately then she probably should have, but unable to stop herself either. Her body burned for him and she was no longer on the floor of the forest, able to be caught by her brother at the slighest moment, but instead a woman filled with a burning desire that needed to be fed. She lets her hands move across his back, feeling the thick leather of his tunic between her fingers and his skin and her hands ache to feel more. She had felt more at one time, but that had been when she was alone with him with no danger of being caught. She whimpers, not wanting to pull from the kiss, but realizing that she really needed to very soon.

He too knew they should stop, as he wanted nothing more than to feel her skin pressed against his. And what delicious images entered his mind with those thoughts. His hands soon have a mind of their own and even though she was still fully clothed his hands begin to carress her body. He was still kissing her, unwilling or unable to pull away from the passionate kiss.

She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her hands moving all over his body where ever she could touch. She was lost in the kiss, lost in him, and suddenly she finds herself trying to undress him and it is when her hands meet the flesh of his back that she suddenly stops and pulls away from him, looking up at him in shock. "Sorry," she croaks, puling her hands out from under his tunic, licking her kiss swollen lips, her desire clouded eyes searching his.

When he feels her hands against his skin he can't help but shiver. But when she pulls away from the kiss he groans and looks down at her, smiling softly. "No no. You are right. Need to stop. I do not wish to have your brother try and fight me today." He kisses her lightly again before he moves off her and sits up, running his hand through his hair. "I still say I should just sneak into your room tonight." He smiles, looking over at her.

She doesn't answer him, she just nods slightly, letting him know with that one nod and the look in her eyes that that was what she wanted him to do. She sits up and straightens her dress, not wanting her brother to suddenly come across them with her cloths everywhere. Reaching up, she loops a strand of hair behind her ear and looks shyly at him to see what his reaction was to her nod.

He looks over at her and smiles. Reaching over he strokes her hair for a moment, loving how silky it felt. Then he speaks. "If I can I will come to your room tonight, Eowyn. If I can." Then he grins as he drops his hand from her hair. "Perhaps I should involve my cousin. She could.....occupy your brother."

She looks at him suddenly, shaking her head. "NO! I mean no, Faramir. I do not want anyone to know if you are to be there. Maybe I should be the one to sneak out to your room." She could do it, easily, and he wouldn't have left his room, but if her brother actually went into his place, it would be a much bigger deal, and much harder for him to hide her. She could easily hide him in her wardrobe with her dresses if need be.

He lays down beside her again, putting one hand behind his head and the other on his stomach. "You forget, I can sneak past most people, Eowyn." He looks over at her and smiles. "I could sneak into your room. I could come after all but the guards at the entrance to the Golden Hall are asleep. That is if you would like to wait up for me."

She lays back down with him, this time resting her elbow on his chest lightly, her chin on the palm of her hand, laying on his chest fully as she looks down at him, smiling. "Then I suppose that I will have to wait up for you. That or you can wake me with a kiss."

He looks up at her, smiling at her with a lazy look on his face. "I would prefer to wake you with a kiss. Ah but I would also prefer to wake you with my hand upon your skin." He stretches again, then glances over at the blanket where Eomer and Lothiriel should have been. He smirks and then looks at her. "They have yet to return. I think we should go for a walk in the direction they went in."

Her eyes follow his and she grins. "You suggested that a little while ago, and then you kissed me with such passion that there was no way that my legs could stand, they would not hold me up. Are you ready now to try to walk? I think that I may be able to walk."

He smiles and nods. "I believe I can walk. Come get off me so I can get up." He waits for her to move off him, returning the kiss she gives him before he stands up and offers her his hand. When she takes it he helps her up and then smiles and kisses her again before he grins and lets go of her hand so that he can tuck his shirt back into his pants and make himself look a little more presentable.

She straightens her skirts when she is finally standing, trying to ignor the fact that he was having to put his shirt back into his pants, and the reason why he had had to do that. She had never intended to start to undress him and her fingers ached to touch his bare skin again. She has to look away suddenly when the memory of just how soft his back was hits her hard and makes her knees wobble. The skin on his back and along his side where she had been able to finally touch had been amazingly soft and she wanted so badly to take his shirt back out of his pants and let her fingers roam across his back again. But she didn't dare, for fear if she did try it she would get them both in a lot of trouble.

Finally when she feels that she has herself under control she says softly, "Are you ready?" But she still doesn't look at him, her eyes off on the distance of the way they had come, her hand held out at her die to take which ever one he offered her, thinking that if dhe didn't look at him she would be able to get home without any major problems or meltdowns.

He takes her hand and smiles, a very amused look on his face. "Am I really that desirable to you, my Love?" He grins slightly as he starts to lead her towards the path Eomer and Lothiriel had taken.

She glances sideways at him, arching a brow. "What makes you ask that, Faramir?" She had not thought that it was written all over her face or anything, because she had tried to hide it, but apparrently it had been written all over her face because he had felt the need to ask. She blushes, shaking her head.

He smiles as he walks along with her, shaking his head. "No. Actually your eyes gave you away. I will admit, I feel the same way. Terribly frustrating." He brings her hand up and kisses it lightly.

She smiles tenderly at him as she walks along, squeezing his hand that held her's. "Well I will have to be more careful how I look around you, won't I? I would not want you to become too sedate and bored with me. But more then that, I would not want you to think that I am a wild woman, easily brought to a man's bed, merely by the way I look at your body." Blushing at her bold words, she tries to keep her face looking bland, both teasing and fishing at the same time. Searching not just for a comiment but for something more private. A reassuance that she had finally gotten it right.

"Oh no, Love. I would never ask you to stop looking at me like you do. It warms my heart to know you love me and desire me." Faramir looks over at her and smiles. "And I do not think of you as a wild woman who will jump into any man's bed. You will be in my bed. And since we are to be married, I find no fault in that. For after we are married, it is my wish that you will always be in my bed." He smiles at her, leaning over to give her a kiss. When he straightens again he looks ahead and then stops just as she does. She must have saw what he did. Which was Eomer and Lothiriel kissing. He snorts and clamps his mouth shut to keep in the laugh that threatened to burst free from him. Oh this was just too perfect!

Lothiriel felt her knees weaken, and if it wasn't for him holding her up she knew that she would have fallen right then and there to the ground in a heap at his feet. She doesn't hear the throat being cleared at first, for she was totally lost in that kiss, mind, body, and soul. So that when it does register she pulls away to look into his eyes in shock, whispering against his lips, "Please don't tell me that that is someone behind us?" But she knew that there was someone behind her, at least it was only his sister and she knew that Eowyn was easy going.

Eowyn returns his kiss, sighing agianst his lips, then just before he pulls away she runs her tongue over his lips in a very seductive, erotic way. She can't help the little smug look that comes across her face at the shocked look that crosses his. She knew he would be drilling her later on that one, because it wasn't a 'normal' gesture or kiss by any means.

When he draws her attention to her brother she stops dead in her tracks. Oh boy! And here he was going after about HER kissing men she hardly. She at least knew Faramir a lot more intimately. Eomer did not know this young lady nearly as well as she knew Faramir. She pulls her hand from his and crosses her arms over her chest and waits, clearing her throat.

Eomer pulls back when Lothiriel does, the throat being cleared having not registered in his mind until she pulled away from the kiss. He looks behind her and sees Eowyn and Faramir standing there. Eowyn looked annoyed and slightly mad, and Faramir just looked like he was having a hard time keeping a smile off his face and to keep from laughing. Eomer though, just smiles and looks at his sister and future brother-in-law. "Hello dear Eowyn, Faramir. I thought you two were sleeping."

Faramir has to grit his teeth to keep the smile off his face and the laugh in. He glances at Eowyn and that sends him over the edge. He starts to laugh, a huge smile on his face. It was just hilarious. Eomer was acting like he was doing nothing wrong, Lothiriel looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock and never come out, and Eowyn was acting just like Eomer had every time the man had caught Eowyn and himself kissing! All in all it made for a very funny scene.

Lothiriel was NOT going to turn around at that moment. There was no need to embarass herself even more by looking at the two that she knew was looking at them. Instead she merely answers without turning around, making it seem as casual as possible, looking up at Eomer. "It must be time for us to be betting back, Eomer, and they came to get us." She closes her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath and putting on her best smile as she turns around and faces the two of them. And instantly she regrets it. The look on Eowyn's face causes her to stumble back against Eomer, a hand going to her chest. Was the woman mad at her? She had not intended her to upset Eowyn in anyway with just a kiss. "Lady Eowyn?" she asks softly, hesitantly.

Eowyn attention goes from her laughing fiance to the shocked woman in her brother's arms and she can do something but shakes her hed for a few minutes, her head in her hands. This was a mess a real mess. She looks up and elbows Faramir. "That is enough of that, Darling." She then walks away from him and over to Lothiriel, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Please, it is okay, I am not upset with you, or my brother." This last was said with a direct look at her brother that sounded as if she truely was angered by her brother's actions.

Oh yes. Eomer could tell. His sister would be discussing this with him tonight. And he knew what she would say too. She would ask what he thought he was doing with Lothiriel and then proceed to tell him how it wasn't fair that he act a different way than her just because he was a man and the king. With a sigh he shakes his head and looks straight at his sister, intending to try and look strong before her angry gaze, but as usual, Eowyn won out and he has to advert his eyes. Damnit! He hated it when she would do that. She was the only person in this whole world who could level him with gaze! So with a somewhat annoyed voice he says, "Shall we go then? I am sure we will need to be getting back to the Hall before sundown. And by the looks of it I do not think that possible now."

Faramir tries his best to control his laughter, and soon he gets it under control, though the huge grin stays on his face, the only indication of just how funny he thought all this was. He looks over at Lothiriel. "Can I tell Uncle Imrahil about this? I am sure he would love to know all about it."

Lothiriel's face softens for a moment when Eowyn says what she does, though she knows that the woman was probably going to talk to Eomer later from the look that crosses her face when Eowyn turns from her to stare down her brother. It is then that the softness and relief leaves her face, for it is then that Faramir asks his question. "NO!" It is out as quickly as he asks it, then she looks down, blushing. "Faramir, my father does not need to know whom I have been kissing." The mention of the mere word turns her cheeks an even brighter shade of red and she quickly moves away from him and the group, turning and heading down the trail, wanting to put as much distance between her and the group as possible until she could get her wits about her. She felt close to tears from the whole situation, thinking that it was just a kiss, but wondering why it had blown up to so much more. Not just because of her cousin, but the kiss itself.

Eowyn stares him down, knowing full well that in this one thing she would prevail. She didn't do it to belittle him in front of anyone, for all she was concerned there wasn't anyone else around but the two of them at that moment. She did it because of the way he made her feel at that moment. He had known this woman less then a day and already he was KISSING her! At least she had known Faramir much longer before they had first kissed. She turns away from him starting over to Faramir as she agrees with him. "It may be after dark, but I am sure we will be safe with both of you to protect us." She turns to look at the other woman but notices her almost runing off. Reaching out, she puts a hand on Faramir's arm and shaking her head. "No," she says so only he can hear. "Let Eomer take care of this." She waits until her brother is out of ear shot and she is once more walking with Faramir back towards the clearing where they had left their horses. "I wonder what got into her? Maybe it was the fact that you were LAUGHING at her." She gives him a sideways look, shaking her head. "Or the threat to tell her father?"

Eomer turns and watches for a moment as Lothiriel starts to run off. He looks at his sister and then turns and runs after Lothiriel. When he catches up with her he frowns. "Is something wrong? I am sorry if it was the kiss that has upset you." He looks at her when she slows down her pace, hoping she wasn't upset with him. He wanted to never hurt her. Maybe he had by kissing her like he did. After all, they had just met last night.

Faramir sees Lothiriel run off and as always he feels the need to go after her. She was like a sister to him. He wanted to make her feel better. But when Eowyn stops him he frowns. Then he sighs and nods. Yes. It was Eomer's mess. He could clean it up. Offering his arm to Eowyn he waits for her to take it before he starts walking back towards the clearing. He smiles innocently when she starts to speak to him about his laughing. "I could not help it, Eowyn. It was funny. You looked just like your brother when he catches us, and he and Lothiriel looked just like us. And I did not threaten her with her father. Uncle is a kind man, and he has met your brother and thinks highly of him. In Minas Tirith he met him. No. Uncle would not be upset. He would be....not upset. It is hard to explain but he is understanding. Much like my mother was and like I am now. He doesn't fall to anger easily. He would however tell them to slow down a bit, but he knows Lothiriel is of age and does not need him to guide her actions anymore. So he knows it is Lothiriel and Eomer's decision to act the way they are. Just as it is my decision to wed the White Lady of Rohan and cherish and love her till my dying day."

Lothiriel doesn't stop, she just keeps going, shaking her head, not sure that she could trust her voice. But then out of the corner of her eye she catches something and she stops, turning to look at him fully. Yes, she hadn't been imagining it. He indeed looked worried, truely worried. She takes a shakey breath, licking her dry lips slowly as if to give her just that moment longer before answering, but then rushes on so as not to worry him. "Eomer, it was not your kiss. Your kiss was something else. As you now know, it was my first real kiss. And I am truely glad it was with you. No, it was not your kiss. You have not done a thing to upset me. The situation has me upset. Mostly my cousin has me upset, laughing like he did." She looks down, looking embarrassed again. She wasn't sure why she was so upset, maybe it was because it had been Faramir who had laughed at her. He didn't know it was her first kiss, well he might have, if he had paid attention, but still, he had laughed. "It is just," she goes on in a whisper from her embarassment low enough he would have to lean in close to hear her, "it was my first..... and I did not find it funny." She feels a tear trickle down her cheek and quickly reaches up to wipe it away as fast as she can, feeling mortified now and wishing the ground would open up and swollow her.

Eowyn shakes her head, frowning. "You don't understand, Faramir." She glances sideways at him, trying to see from his facial features if he was getting it or not. "She is a young woman who has just met a King. Granted he is not so much a blowheart as to make that seem a scarey thing, but still it is a fact. And not only has she met this King, but she just kissed him. And got caught, caught by someone who promptly started laughing at her. You can laugh all you want, when you look back on it or in the privacy of your quarters at the memory. But do you really think that she felt good to have her cousin not only laughing, but saying he was going to tattle on her to her father, regardless of the outcome. Do you not think that maybe she would have liked to have had that kiss thought back on as something special? Not a joke that her cousin made of it. Is it not bad enough she got caught?" She was not angry at him, she could see the humor in the situation, and his telling her how much she looked liked her brother would bring talk and joking around later. She just wanted him to realize that that young woman was just that, a young woman. Not the little girl that he grow up with. And as a young woman she could get her feelings hurt very easily.

Eomer reaches out to touch her cheek. "I do not find it funny either. I shall be talking with him after dinner. He should not have laughed. Come. Don't feel upset." He smiles and lifts her chin so she'll look at him. "We'll go back now. If it helps any, you could accompany me tonight when I go to find them. Which I most likely will, as they like to sneak off together. Then you may laugh at him." He grins slightly, then takes her hand and leads her the rest of the way to where the horses were grazing.

Faramir nods, his smile falling to leave behind that emotionless mask he always seemed to get when someone was ridiculing him, or talking to him when he did something wrong. He had learned long ago from his father that to show fear or shame was not a good thing so he had learned long ago to just make his face blank. He also was a master at forced smiles and politeness. What he couldn't control were his eyes. He knew Eowyn wasn't telling him all this to make him feel bad or because she was angry with him, but at her words, other words sprang into his mind. Like how he had messed things up yet again and was unworthy. His father's voice of course. It was always his father's voice. "I will apologize to her when we get to them. You are right. It was wrong of me to laugh." His voice was steady and low, as it always was when he was giving the answer he figured the person wanted. In a very soft voice he speaks to no one in particular. "I am sorry." It was what he always said after his father was done yelling at him. It was more habit now to say it than anything. And he always said it so softly that no one would hear him, for if he said it any louder his father would just become more angry.

Lothiriel gives him a slightly lopsided smile and nods, letting him lead her the rest of the way to where the horses where. She walks over to her horse and pats its neck slowly, having had the sting of what just happened lessened as she watches a bird scurry along the forest floor, chasing something. She guessedit was a bug of some kind and smiles when it quickly ducks it's head down and up again to see a fat bug in it's beak. "Creatures are cruel, as cruel and some children. Did you see that bird over there? It chased that bug all across the forest floor till it finally captured it. The thing is, it could have gotten that bug a long time ago, it was much faster and the bug way over weight. But instead of going for the indtant kill it had played with it, chasing behind it as if to tire it out. To make it think that it had a chance. Only to pluck it up when it finally things it won." She motions to the bird as it swallows the bug and flies off. "It was doing it for fun.... Creatures like to see others suffer." She shakes her head. "I do not. I could never be cruel on purpose. Whether it be a knife in someone's back, put there by my hand, nor a knife in someone' back, put there by my words." She gets the reins to her horse and brings it over the top of it's head.

Eowyn instantly can tell the difference and she stops, pulling him to a stop beside her. "I am afraid that I will forever have to battle the demons that your father has left behind. The ones that make you say you are sorry, as if you were a dog caught wetting in the bedroom. I did not say what I did to make you walk up to her with your tail between your legs, nay I only said it so that you might realize the workings of a young woman. You are a man, Faramir. Granted, a very handsome kind hearted man, but still a man none the less. You are not used to being around women it would seem, even with Lothiriel around you growing up. At least not of the delicate kind that don't run around the forest playing tag with you. We like to be treated differently when we reach a certain age. We like to be treated as if we are as delicate as glass, while also never once being treated as if we will break. Strong and fragile at the same time. And it was the fragile part that you hurt, but it you will only make it worse if you go to her like that, Faramir. Because she knows you not as a dog with it's tail between it's legs, but as someone as strong and wise, as an older brother of sorts, someone that she played with as a kid, and remember, Faramir, more importantly then that. From what you have told me, she was like your brother, making sure that you never felt out of place. You simply made her feel out of place when you laughed and you will make her feel as if she isn't in this deminsion at all if you go to her like this." She sighs deeply, sad eyes looking up into his face. "Oh Faramir, do not revert to that which your father turned you into. I have seen such a great man since I have known you. I had never seen you like this, " she says as she shakes both his hands that she still held, as it to weight them, before holding them out at his sides slightly. "I don't think that I like what I see. " She hopes that he does not take it wrong, that he sees what it is she is trying to do, in her own way, trying to relieve the stress that he suddenly held across his shoulders, the furrow so harsh across his brow.

Eomer looks at her, wondering what she was getting at as he walks over and collects the blanket and other things from the ground. As he is putting it away it dawns on him what she might be saying. "Oh. You do not wish to be cruel to your cousin. But he was cruel to you. Should you not be to him? I do not think your laughing at him will harm him, Lothiriel."

Faramir sighs deeply. "I am close with her, yes. But I did not live with her forever. Until today I had not seen her for three years. The war had kept me from Minas Tirith. Except for the times I was to report to my father, or when I lost Osgiliath and Boromir reclaimed it. I was in Minas Tirith then but she was not. Uncle was." He shakes his head. "You do not know of my childhood, Eowyn. You had a father who loved you and then an Uncle who loved you as well. I had a mother who loved me and and older brother, and on occassions an Uncle, but I was left to deal with my father. A father who would rather think of me as a mistake or as some other man's son, than realize I was his own. No...I know you are trying to help but it will take time, Eowyn. Time and your love if you are still willing to give it. I do not wish to be this man you see before you, but I can not over come being him without time."

Lothiriel starts to double check her sinch on her saddle, checking all her tack like she was used to since she was a child. "It doesn't matter, Eomer, I will not do it. You can go have your fun, but I really rather not go seeking out the love birds." She could honestly see how it might be fun, if it had started out differently. But it hadn't, it hadn't started out in a good way, rather it had started with her being laughed at. Maybe some other time, when her feelings had not been hurt to begin with, she would be able to play the game, seeking out the love birds only to have them seek out her and Eomer.

Eowyn lets go of his hands to wrap her arms around his neck, smiling softly into his face. "Yes, Faramir, I will help you as best I can. As for time, my time is yours now, together I believe we will be able to accomplish anything we need to."

Eomer finishes putting everything away, then checks his horses saddle before he climbs up onto his horse and looks over at Lothiriel. "Would you rather talk to him then? Or I? He should not have laughed. I will talk to him if you wish." Oh he was going to do it anyways. And none to nicely either.

Faramir smiles down at her, his arms going around her. "I am counting on that, Eowyn." He leans down and kisses her lightly again. Then he straightens and hugs her. "I love you, Eowyn. And I thank you for loving me." He smiles down at her, then pulls away and continues on to where Eomer and Lothiriel were waiting for them. He looks at the two of them as he whistles strangely. His horse comes over, followed by Eowyn's. With a smile he pats his horse and then climbs up onto the saddle while Eowyn goes over to her horse. He readjusts his sword at his side and then looks over at the other two who were already starting out. He sighs and shakes his head and starts back, one hand holding the reigns of his horse, the other resting lightly on the tip of his bow.

Lothiriel climbs into her saddle, adjusting herself then looking at him. "I will speak with him later, Eomer. Do not think that I did not notice your kindess however. I have, and I am sorry that I can not return that kindness right now. One day I hope that I might be allowed to." Then she hears the two coming and she clamms up, not saying another word. She had long since stopped crying, her last tear touching her cheek the instant that he had touched her cheek with his hand. Now as she sits alone on her horse, she thinks about what she might say to Faramir. She knew they would have to talk, she could tell from the way that he held himself when he returned. She feld degection, as if this was all her fault, yet she didn't know what 'this' was. What was it that caused the sudden silence when the two returned? Was it something she said, something he said, or something all together having nothing to do with what anyone said? She erges her horse on as they start to move back to the trail and back home, moving her horse right next to Eomer. It was not a slight to the other two, for it was the way they had ridden to this point. No, if anything, it was a confirmation that things were okay between her and Eomer.

Lothiriel reaches out and takes Eomer's hand, just able to loosely clasp it if the rode very close together. She rubs the back of his hand with her thumb a few times before letting go of his hand.

Eowyn returns his hug, smiling brightly up into his face. "And I love you, Eomer. A love so strong, so deep, that no one will ever be able to pull us apart. For even when our bodies are not in the same space, our souls will always be together." She gives him a last kiss and then moves away from him, laughing this time at expression on his face when they make it back to the camp and find the other two already together and everything put away. "I see that Eomer already has it ready." She tsks him, but still smiles as they take off, leaving her and Faramir to follow behind.