I apologise for the huge wait for this story to continue- though I seem to have a lost a majority of my readers from one story to another. Never mind though, many thanks to Gecco and Dis for the reviews: they were much appreciated.

There has a been a lull in work at the moment- the show season is in full swing, as are many pony camps so I don't have many new liveries, just two problem horses and my own. The only problem is an outbreak of 'strangles' nearby, so I've got to be extra careful. C'est la vie!

Disclaimer: Everything here that you recognise from Tolkien's works, including places, names and characters, are not mine, as I wouldn't have a clue what to do with them. Torfi, however, is mine, and is making a comeback from my first ever story, 'Worth More Than Riches'. I do recommend you read that first though it is not, of course, essential.

"To be loved by a horse, or by any animal, should fill us with awe- for we have not deserved it."

Marion. C. Garrety

The sight before him should have filled him with joy. He had witnessed similar sights too many times to count without the removal of his boots, and he had always felt proud and at peace with the world, but somehow it was not working anymore.

Éomer sighed and leant against the sturdy fence watching Brytta and her four-day old colt in their paddock. Brytta was grazing, ignoring her son and intent on filling her belly. Hafoc had decided to name the colt Nidor, 'new life', because he was the first black horse to be born in Rohan for many a year, and the only one in the whole of Edoras thanks to the scavenging Orcs. Nidor was prancing about the paddock, flicking his tiny hooves through the luscious grass and skipping every now and again, swishing his bottle-brush tail with delight.

The city was peaceful- it was late evening, and many had retired for the night, but Éomer remained. He had no appetite, and was in no mood for company. There were two things bothering him: Brytta had not bonded with Nidor the way he had wanted her to. She ignored him much of the time, and was unwilling to nurse him; Éomer had been forced to intervene and make the mare stand whilst the colt suckled. The other problem was Legolas; he had been distinctly cool ever since the birth of Nidor a few days ago. Éomer had talked to Gimli about the Elf's mood, but had received little information; the Dwarf had at least twenty ways of saying nothing at all.

The Horse-Lord rubbed a hand across his dusty face. His whole body ached, even though he had been doing little all day. He was restless at night despite his obvious fatigue, and had to force himself to eat in order to remain alive, and this was beginning to tell on him. He had become short-tempered and irritable; he had actually snapped at some of his men earlier, and had hated himself for it. He had almost lost his temper with Windfara that morning, almost to the extent that he had struck the fidgety horse. Luckily had had caught himself in time and gone for a walk to calm down and let the horse settle into a calmer frame of mind. He hated being like this, and knew his frayed nerves would soon give out.

The King decided he could not stay where he was for much longer, and began to walk up to the barn to give the horses one last check. He trusted his men intimately to make sure all the horses were well, but it was reassuring to be able to see for himself. The walk up the hill to the royal stable block had never seemed so long. Eventually Éomer reached it and slid the large door back; a few curious heads looked over their doors, but most of the horses remained inside, tending to the more pressing matter of their mangers. One horse pressed against his door, throwing his head and whinnying joyfully. Éomer could not help but smile as he went to give Firefoot the fuss he had just demanded in his own not-so-subtle manner.

"What am I going to do, Firefoot?" he asked, rubbing the horse's forehead with the pads of his fingers. "Everything seems to be going wrong; I try to do what is right for everybody, but it is difficult. I always thought I would do a good job of being King, but it doesn't seem I am living up to my own ideals." The horse had no answers, but he stopped pressing against his master's hand and watched him with large, curious eyes, and Éomer smiled again. Whether or not his horse understood, he always made him feel better.

Éomer had raised Firefoot from a foal. His birth had been difficult, and they had been unable to save his dam, and Firefoot had just made it. Théoden had given the dapple-grey colt to his nephew to raise himself, thinking it would do the boy good, and Éomer had to admit that it had worked. He had become surly and quiet when he had first moved into Meduseld; he had lost both of his parents, and he had found it difficult to cope with the grief. Éomer had fallen in love with Firefoot, and named him after his temperamental disposition and quick-silver speed. Now the horse was so attached to Éomer he would follow him about Edoras as quiet as a lamb, whereas with other men he would pull and jerk at his rope in indignation at having to follow orders.

When Éomer left the barn night had almost fallen; the sky was a blanket of deep blues and purples, netted with stars, and ragged clouds drifting across a sickle moon, filtering dappled light occasionally to the ground. When the Horse Lord reached Edoras it was deserted and silent, apart from two guards on their watch. Éomer greeted them pleasantly, and they replied in courteous voices. Éomer thought he sensed some reserve in their tones, and he could not blame them- talking to him that day had been like walking on a knife edge.

His quarters were inviting, his bed looked comfortable and warm, and he longed to curl up between the light sheets and drift into a refreshing sleep, forgetting his problems until the morning.

He sat at his window and watched the moon's journey across the night sky.

Whew! I found this chapter actually quite easy to write. I love Éomer, and I think he needs a little more attention. Many people write him in a fairly two-dimensional way, and I have enjoyed exploring and fleshing out his character. I hope you liked this chapter- please review!

Love for all,

Shieldmaiden.