Chapter 2.

Éomer woke the next morning with no recollection of falling to sleep. He still remembered all of the previous days happenings vividly. Reluctantly, he forced himself to put his feet on the cold, hard ground. His mother had gone to bed early the night before, and was still in her bed. Tiredly, he dressed himself, and ran across the floor and down the hall to his mother's room.

From the door, he heard mumblings and hurried gibberish. Slowly, he pushed the door open and entered into the bedroom. His mother's hair was damp, and lank against the white pillows. Her brow was covered with sweat and her mouth moved, uttering sounds that had no meaning.

His sister entered almost unnoticeably and looked worriedly at their mother.

"Will she die too?" the girl asked, her voice soft as if a whisper could hurt their mother. Éomer turned to her with an angry voice, "Be quiet Éowyn, she will not die, she is just sick, let us get the maids."

Éowyn nodded and followed her brother out obediently. But he cast a sidelong glance at their mother as they exited, in his heart he feared.

The doctor was sent for and when he arrived, the children were all but forgotten amidst the bustle. Éomer kept a silent vigil near the door. Soon a maid left the room and summoned him, ushering him back into the bedroom. The doctor was leaving, and as the two adults left, Éomer caught talk of "care for the children" with their conversation.

His mother lay weakly against newly washed pillows and coverlets. Her eyes were open, but distant; there was no life in them. Éomer approached the bedside and took his mothers damp hand in his own. "Mother…" he said quietly.

"I am sorry Éomer," she answered in a dull, joyless voice. "I am sorry I cannot stay with you and your sister. I can not live my son. The life has been snuffed out, like a candle on a windy day." She never met his eyes. He was glad for it, for his were filling with unshed tears.

"You cannot leave us mother," he stated, feeling as if a newly received wound had been reopened. She turned to him staring evenly into his eyes, "I cannot stay," she let go of his hand.

The moment fluttered for a second before Éomer's eyes, and he tried to grasp for it as it flew out of reach. The moment was gone, and with it he felt, warmth, and hope, and even perhaps life. His heart was torn from his body and there seemed to be nothing he could do to heal it.

"Take care of your sister, Éomer." His mother said quietly, and then she passed. Éomer sat on the ground and did not rise.

The next day passed in a flurry of crying maids, sobbing relatives, and busy undertakers. Éomer stood silently with Éowyn in the rain, as the men servants lowered their mother's body into the ground. The other people gathered, bowed their heads reverently, but Éomer could only stare at the body.

It was so cold, so lifeless. It was not his mother. Those still hands were not his mother's hands. His mother's hands, wiped away tears and stroked his head, and tucked the coverlet under his chin tenderly. Those lips, so devoid of color were not his mother's. They were not the same lips from which so much comfort, and joy had poured out. They would never move again.

The thought consumed him. Across the grave Éomer could see the king his uncle whose own eyes were filling with unshed tears for his favorite sister, and Théodred who looked back at him remorsefully. After the ceremony had been completed the royal visitors approached the children. Éowyn curtsied, but Éomer stood still and cold as ice.

"My dear children, my sister meant a great deal to me and as her children I care for you deeply also. It would greatly honor Théodred and I if you would come and stay with us, and be raised in Meduseld as my own children.

Éowyn seeing her brother's silence found her own tongue. "My lord, it would greatly honor us to live with you in Meduseld." Théoden nodded and looked curiously at Éomer.

"Surely my lord, the children are tired, let us rest tonight and depart for Edoras tomorrow." Théodred quickly stated, resting his hand upon Éomer's head. "Yes of course, my son you are more considerate than I, it is becoming late, let us retire."

Thus said the children were taken to their chambers, where both, upon contact with the feather filled pillows, fell into a deep sleep.

His hands were covered with blood. "I cannot stay," his mother's eyes stared into his as the words echoed over and over again. "I cannot stay. I cannot stay. I cannot stay…" and then silence, darkness. The smell of sweat and blood and death filled his nostrils. His father's eyes stared into his, and then closed, his cracked lips moved, "I cannot stay. I cannot stay. I cannot stay…" then silence, darkness. The blood was still there on his hands and the smell was overwhelming him.

Suddenly, Théoden was there with Théodred, both were looking at him with contempt; their arms were folded. "We cannot stay. We cannot stay. We cannot stay…" they glared at him again and then vanished. Éowyn's hand rested upon his shoulder. She took his hands but withdrew horrified looking at the blood that stained them. Her eyes met his, an icy, blue stare. "I cannot stay. I cannot stay. I cannot stay…" she skipped away, her white dress fluttering, a stark contrast to the darkness.

Éomer reached out his hands but they were turned black with dried blood, he collapsed. It was a dream, and Éomer woke curled in a tight ball. He looked at his hands and almost imagined the blood still there. The sun was just rising, setting the fields afire with colors. Éomer crept out of his room quietly and to the dining room. Théodred's hand came down on his shoulder and Éomer looked up startled. "We cannot stay…"

Éomer yelled and drew away frightened. "What did you say?" Éomer asked on the verge of tears. "We cannot stay long, young one, we need to be on our way to Edoras. Whatever is the matter?"

"Nothing." Éomer forced a weak smile and continued to the table. Théodred stared in pity at the boy, and guiltily he followed, the memories of Éomund washing over him. He vowed to himself silently in that moment, he would look out for these children, his savior's heirs and help them as much as possible. It soothed his conscience for the moment…

The children and the king's party sat silently while eating. Éowyn yawned several times, not being used to such early hours. Afterwards the children packed clothes they would need and other such belongings, the rest would be delivered to Edoras later. They were taken to their parent's room to select some keepsakes to treasure from their parents belongings.

Éowyn reluctantly took a necklace that had been their mother's, simple in design, a small, round, green pendent with a border of white horse hair strung on a golden chain. Théoden struggled with his emotions when he saw it, saying the necklace had been passed down to Théodwyn from their mother. He said it was only fitting that Éowyn should possess it now.

Éomer looked around quietly, but finally stopped before his fathers crested ring. He must of by chance, or fortune, forgotten to wear it the day of the battle. Éomer held it uncertainly. The crest was a horse bucking. It was much too big for his fingers but they placed it on a chain and Éomer, reverently put it over his head. He also took one other thing, his father's dagger that had been passed down father to son for many generations. It was never used but held a place of honor in a long wooden box.

By now the riders had prepared to go. The children were placed on a gentle-spirited horse together. Both had been trained from their first steps of horses and they had no trouble riding. Théodred rode by their side already determined to keep his silent vow and watch over the children. The ride began gloomily, the rain had left everything smelling damp, and as they went on Éomer felt that he had left something behind him. And he had, a portion of his broken heart.

Note:

Hey guys sorry it took so long to get this chapter up! Thanks so much to my first reviewers! For disclaimer see first chapter.

Isilhén- Thanks so much for helping me with that! Hope you actually read the story soon!

thekidmdd- Thanks so much for your comments! I hope you like this next chapter too. I like Éomer's character also.