DISCLAIMER: The names, places, things are Tolkien's. I think we can all figure out what is who's.

AN: loving the reviews!! thanks so much!!! =]

Chapter 8: A Revelation?

"Run after her!" Eowyn commanded.

Eomer stood in the doorway, watching Lothiriel grow smaller and smaller in sight, but at the command of his sister he quickly found his feet and ran after her.

The emotion in Lothiriel was so strong that her energy for running seemed endless. She ran through the halls of the sleeping quarters, the main hall, making her way to the main entrance of the palace and into the city, past the merchants to her left and the sailors to her right, past the numerous homes of her people, past the pens holding flocks of sheep and cattle, and finally stopping in the open fields outside of the city. All the while Eomer had been running after her, calling to her. She ignored his calls, however, and ignored the stares she received from family and Amrothians alike.

Eomer finally caught up to her, as she was on her knees, gasping for air. Eomer hunched over, almost falling on the ground trying to regain oxygen. He looked to her, but she seemed to take no notice of him, she only kept to looking at the ground, even after her hard breathing subsided to normalcy. Eomer then remembered the girl's injury, and wondered if maybe she had passed out or was beginning to feel the effects of the cut. He went to her and knelt beside her, lifting her head by her chin to look at the wound.

"I can tend to it myself," she said coldly, standing shakily, obviously dizzy, but pushing away Eomer's arm as he stood with her and tried to help her balance.

"Let me help you," Eomer said rather annoyed, worried that the wound was worse than he thought.

"No... no just stay away from me!" Lothiriel replied, pushing him away. She groggily walked away from him, but suddenly stopped in front of a small thicket of trees. Eomer watched from a few feet away, puzzled, as she froze in front of this small grouping of bushes and trees.

"Lothiriel?" he asked softly, coming up from behind her, but she did not stir.

"Something moves in the bush..." she said softly, and Eomer felt a twinge of panic in his heart, for upon rushing out of his quarters, he did not think to arm himself.

"Come... Lothiriel come we must go back!" he whispered pleadingly, but her gaze was fixated on the bush. Her eyebrows furrowed as she stepped closer to examine something shiny that caught her eye. She slowly reached out her hand to touch it, but before she could a rather short and robust man jumped up from within the shrub and Lothiriel gasped in surprise.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"Ah, I am sorry miss, I did not mean to frighten you. I thought that you would take the advice of your male companion and leave, but instead you came closer so I decided it was better to reveal myself," he replied calmly. "My, that is quite a cut you have, miss," he said, stepping closer to Lothiriel to examine it. Eomer came closer to Lothiriel as well, however, and the man backed away, realizing Eomer's protective stance.

"We will tend to it ourselves," Eomer said sternly.

"No, we will not. I will tend to it myself, like I said before. I need not your help nor your pity," Lothiriel announced, to the annoyance of Eomer.

"Must you be so stubborn that you gamble your own health? Let me help you!"

"I am stubborn?? I am no more stubborn than you! It is as if I speak to a mule!"

The stranger watched speechless, as Lothiriel and Eomer continued to raise their voices and argue passionately. "Excuse me," he called, trying to intervene, but they ignored his quiet plead. "EXCUSE ME!" he cried out in a scream, finally getting their attention. "If I may, it is getting dark and I would not recommend to have the lady travel in such a condition, especially since, you sir, have no weapon about you. If you'd like, my camp is only a few feet away."

"Ah, that sounds wonderfu..." but before Lothiriel could finish, Eomer interrupted.

"Wait a moment, you never answered the Lady's question as to who you are exactly. What are you doing camping outside of the city? Had you any business here you'd be within the city gates."

"My family and I are but passing through Belfalas, and thought it to be a grand idea to camp here for tonight. The sea is rather beautiful. Please allow me to tend to that wound; it is bleeding quite much for my own comfort." Lothiriel began to follow him, but Eomer halted her.

"I do not trust him," he said in a demanding whisper, Lothiriel only looking annoyed.

"Please sir, we have water and food if either of you need nourishment," the stranger said gently. Lothiriel turned to Eomer, nodding her head for them to follow, but Eomer stood his ground.

"I think we will manage," Eomer replied.

"And we have a fire going, for I hear it gets rather cold here come mid- night."

"I will build a fire for us."

"We would provide a place for you both to sleep for the night, our blankets and pillows, I assure you, are the softest, blessed by the Valar themselves, or so it feels."

Lothiriel stood impatiently as the men insisted on each other over and over again. The cool air began to sting her wound, as she began to feel dizzy and her mouth dry and begging for water.

"Please, won't you join us?" the stranger asked politely.

"Well, you need not ask me twice!" Lothiriel replied, everything the man offered being what she needed, and enough for her to not care where he was from or who he was. What mattered most to her at the moment was the nagging feeling of pain and fatigue.

"No! I am sorry sir, but we must decline. Thank you for your kindness, but we must be off," Eomer told him, taking Lothiriel by the arm as she protested.

"Well then you leave me no choice, I take you as my captives," the stranger said smiling, Lothiriel and Eomer turning to see him pointing his sword at them. Lothiriel laughed, realizing that the man was trying to help, and followed him willingly. The stranger looked to Eomer to follow as well, and Eomer complied, much to his dismay for he had no choice.

Later that night...

Eomer hated to admit it, but he was glad for their 'kidnapping', and relieved to see that Caladon, the stranger, was able to tend to Lothiriel's wound. Caladon had a rather large family traveling with him, which not only consisted of his wife and five children but also extended to include his sister, her husband and their three kids, and his wife's brother, his wife and their two kids. The sight only amused Lothiriel and Eomer, however, for the children danced merrily around the fire under the moonlight, and each of the lords and their wives were warm in welcoming the pair.

It put Eomer to ease to see Lothiriel laughing and smiling, as she watched the children dance around the fire and listened to Caladon tell stories, being quite the comedian. When each of the lords gradually took to making small talk with their wives, Eomer stood and made his way to sit by Lothiriel, quiet for a moment.

"I am sorry, Lothiriel. I suppose this is all my fault," he said to her softly.

"Yes, it is," she simply replied.

"It is good to know you keep humble through all of this," Eomer said sarcastically.

"Do not speak to me of humility. If not for your pride I would not be away from home this night and you would need not apologize for anything."

Eomer sighed, not wanting to argue. "Yes, I know. Truly I am sorry, Princess. I did not mean for you to hear such sharp words."

"But you meant them had I heard you or not?"

Eomer fell silent for a moment, once again feeling his heart harden in fear, but he pushed the fear aside, deciding that Lothiriel had been through enough for one night. The least he could do for the girl was speak the truth. He turned to her; in awe of how beautiful she looked as the light from the fire reflected off her porcelain skin and the light from the moon shined upon her dark hair.

"I meant no word of it," he breathed, gazing into her eyes, moving closer to her. Lothiriel gazed in return, her eyes moving from his stare to his lips and back again, noticing that Eomer did the same. He finally leaned in to kiss her, but just as his lips lightly met her own, she pushed herself to pull away and quickly stood up.

"You meant no word, so what did you truly mean to say?" she asked, crossing her arms. Eomer stood and pulled her close to him, drawn in by her scent and his heart racing faster.

"What does it matter?" he said softly, leaning in once again to place a light kiss upon her lips. Lothiriel returned the kiss, for only a moment however, and though difficult, pulled away once again.

"It matters a great deal! Do you not know that in these two weeks I have driven myself to the brink of insanity trying to figure out whether or not my heart stirred for you? And when you arrived today, all doubt subsided just seeing you. I want to be in your company more often than naught, Eomer."

"Then be in it..." he blurted, making his way towards her once again and pulling her to him to kiss her, again; her lips soft and her passion gentle.

Once again, however, Lothiriel pulled away, this time staying within Eomer's grip and keeping her arms around his neck. "And what can this mean, King?" she asked amused, her cheeks flushed and warm. Her question was more like a statement, and Eomer relaxed, burying his face amidst her dark hair, his head placed so that they were cheek to cheek.

"Marry me..." he breathed lightly in mock desperation, Lothiriel giggling happily knowing he did not mean it, not yet anyway.

"Come, we must dance! For if my ears did not deceive me, I should think we have the makings of a pair of lovers here this night!" Caladon cried, grabbing the hand of Lothiriel, who in turn grabbed Eomer's hand, as the company formed a circle and merrily danced the night away.

thanks again for the reviews guys!! I hope you liked, because again I didn't feel like this was a great chapter. Gah, I'm hoping I can get back on track again, and be happy with my chapters. but anyway, hope you enjoyed, and don't forget to review!! =]