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

AN: thanks so much for the reviews, they're great. glad you enjoyed the last chapter. oh, and I agree that I did write that strange for the guard to doubt them being friends but quick to believe that they were Imrahil's kids. I guess I should not have written the guard to seem so doubtful. I mean for him to doubt them because they were alone and did not seem royal or anything. I probably should have written that better, my apologies. but I hope you enjoy this one!! =]

Chapter 25: We Meet Again

Eomer sat silent atop his bed, eyeing the outfit a maid had chosen for him to wear for the evening. He could not believe that his men had planned out a feast for his return. In truth he was tired and weary from the journey, and was in no mood to entertain guests, but he knew he could not get out of the engagement now, especially since it was an hour or so away. Sighing heavily, he made his way to the washbowl, cleansed the dust from his face and neck, and began dressing for the occasion.

Some time later...

Upon entering the hall, Eomer could not help but be a bit confused. The layout was not one of a sit down feast, as lively music played and barrels of ale were brought in. On the contrary, there were few tables, positioned along the side of the hall, and many of the guests that filled the hall were mostly, to Eomer's surprised observation, women, save for a few Eored and soldiers. He felt all eyes fall on him as he entered, crowds parting to let him through, as the hall seemed packed with masses. Women whispered and smiled sweetly as he passed, Eomer only nodding slightly in acknowledgement, no doubt turning red with embarrassment. Finally he spotted the three who had informed him of this "feast", each noticing that Eomer had noticed them, and stiffening a bit as he made his way towards them.

"What is the meaning of this? 'Tis no feast it is one large mass," Eomer whispered to the three men, each holding a mug in their hand and looking to one another, not knowing what to say to the angered king.

"Surprise?" Erkenbrand said in a bit of a mock tone. Erkenbrand was Marshal of the West-Mark, who came to Edoras often and was a dear friend to Eomer, as was Elfhelm and Ceorl, who were the other two that stood before the King.

"What he means to say, Eomer, is that this gathering is for your own good. It would not hurt to keep your options open and help retain hope for the Rohirrim that their King would marry one day," Ceorl reasoned, Elfhelm nodding meekly in accord.

"I will marry one day, Ceorl, it is only a matter of time. I have already found the one I wish to be with, so you three have wasted everyone's time," Eomer retorted, conscious of the crowd, especially the women who seemed to be aware of his every move.

"With all do respect, Eomer, it has been almost three months now, and still no word has come from Dol Amroth."

"I know it, Elfhelm, you need not remind me."

"Well then, instead of waiting and sulking about, why not take advantage of the time? If this Princess is the one, then surely meeting other women and cordially speaking with them would not hurt a bit, would it?" Erkenbrand asked, clasping his King's shoulder.

"The man has a point, Eomer," Ceorl added.

"I do not doubt my heart, but amongst these women I would fear for it. I am not blind to what they seek," Eomer answered, looking around the room. The men were silent for a moment, noticing that the crowd was becoming restless for the King's attention.

"Just, try to enjoy yourself, you never know what could happen," Elfhelm said softly. Eomer only nodded in response, as he spotted a certain maiden he would not mind conversing with for the night, and made his way towards her.

ELSEWHERE...

Lothiriel, and Erchirion who followed closely behind her, entered the Golden Hall and were met with stares and raised eyebrows. The siblings were hidden under the hoods of their cloaks, the bottom halves of their faces covered with a cloth, light enough to breathe through yet kept their bottom half hidden. Erchirion looked about to the people's stares, but Lothiriel did not notice. Her attention was set fully on locating Eomer.

"Lothiriel this is ridiculous!" Erchirion announced, his voice strained in a whisper.

"Ridiculous, maybe. Effective? I think so. I swore to you one night, and we've much a time gap before this night is through, so humor me."

"Humor you? Oh, I think I have gone beyond humoring you. Dressing as a woman surpasses humoring! And though I have gone along with your wild plan, I doubt anyone else will believe me to be a..." but before Erchirion could finish, a young man approached the two. He looked a year or two older than Lothiriel, and if he was not a Rider of Rohan he was surely a soldier of some sort. The young man bowed politely to the two and smiled charmingly, his blue eyes piercing. Lothiriel thought he wished to ask her to dance, but to her surprise he turned his eyes to Erchirion, who stood behind Lothiriel.

"Excuse me, miss, may I have a dance?" he asked politely. Lothiriel nearly burst with laughter. Erchirion answered "NO" in a high-pitched tone, to attempt to resemble a woman's, taking his leave and pulling his sister to follow.

"Well, Erchirion, are you not flattered?" Lothiriel asked, laughing as she did so.

"This is humiliating," he retorted, crossing his arms. Lothiriel only continued to laugh, leaning against the chair next to her as she did so. Upon doing this however, she realized someone was seated in the chair, as she did not realize before, and in reaction backed away and apologized. The man turned to look at her, and she gasped as she realized just who he was...

Eomer approached the table where he found Beornwyn sitting quietly, watching the crowd.

"May I?" he asked, gesturing the to the seat across from her.

"Of course, my Lord," she replied happily, as Eomer took a seat.

"Enjoying yourself?"

"I am, though I cannot say the same for you. I saw the look on your face when you entered this hall, and the look on your face when you approached your men."

"Yes, well, I was quite taken by the surprise. I did not think they would do such a thing."

"Is it so terrible to be surrounded by eligible women, my Lord?"

"Well, no, it would not be, save for the fact that these women are looking to occupy more than the space in my heart."

"I should think that they would have trouble in attempting to occupy both."

Eomer chuckled lightly. "Yes, they would have quite a difficult time trying. My heart already belongs to someone, as it were. But I suppose the night will not go to complete waste. My men seem to be enjoying themselves." Beornwyn nodded, eyeing the crowd who danced merrily. She then turned to Eomer.

"My Lord, do you wish to dance?" she asked innocently. Eomer was taken aback by the request, but before he could answer, he felt someone bump into his back, which was followed by an apology. He turned to see two women stand behind him, one much taller than the other, both shrouded in their cloaks, and half their faces hidden under a cloth. Eomer stared at the women in puzzlement, the shorter one especially. Her eyes looked quite familiar.

"I am so sorry, my Lord," the shorter said humbly, bowing her head. Eomer rose from the chair and stood before her, her voice mysterious, and fake sounding. It seemed as if the women wished to hide the true tone.

"And where are you two from?" Eomer asked, looking to the woman who had bumped into him, then to the woman behind her, who was amazingly as tall as he. This was strange indeed, for Eomer considered himself to be quite a tall man, and here was a woman who was only a half an inch or so shorter.

Lothiriel felt her voice disappear, as she turned to her brother, whose eyes widened. Both did not know what to say, though they knew they needed to say something eventually, as Eomer stood before them waiting for a reply, suspicion clear across his face.

hehe, hope you liked! thanks again for the reviews!!! they're great!! =]