Eowyn felt nauseous. She felt this way after every encounter that she had with Worm. Looking at the food on her plate, she wished she did not feel so sick. They were having venison stew, and she really did enjoy having it, but she feared eating any would make her sick.

"What's the matter Eowyn? You usually are on your second bowl by now, and you barely touched that." Eomer's' elven-year-old friend spoke.

"I don't feel good." Eowyn replied solemnly.

Eomer gave his sister a worried look. "What happened? You were fine earlier."

Eowyn stared at her food a little longer before glancing up and saying. "Worm was in the hall, he was bothering me again."

"Ha!" Eomers' friend laughed. "Who knew that the almighty Eowyn could be afraid of such a pathetic excuse for a human being."

Eowyn threw her bread roll at him. "I am not afraid of him!" a scowl played at her lips, "I just do not like him, he gives me a creepy feeling."

"Which is fear." He said with a smirk.

"Shut that hole in your face!!" Eowyn retorted, "I am not scared of Worm! Or anyone!"

Eomer nudged his friend in the side, "Leave Eowyn alone."

She glared at the boy one more time before picking up her spoon and forcing the hot food down her throat. She would show him, and everyone—she was not afraid of Grima Wormtounge.

A few minutes later after Eowyn had managed to choke down the stew and most of her other roll; she turned around on the bench she was sitting on and took in the scene around her. Couples were dancing merrily on the floor, and men were drinking and singing songs about barmaids and war. At the front table, Eowyn could see her uncle eating with the sons of Gondor and his men.

Whenever there were parties like this in Edoras there was little for Eowyn to do after she finished her meal. If she were a few years older, than she could partake in the dancing, but for the most part, she was to sit at their table until told to go to bed. And judging by the lack of drunks in the room, Eowyn knew that sleeping was far off. She probably had a couple more hours of doing nothing until her maid came.

A few minutes later Eomer and his friend got up to talk to some other boys across the room. Eowyn sighed, there were no girls her age that went to these parties, and the boys would not talk to her.

For a time she watched Theodred dance with a young lady Eowyn had often seen him with. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when at the end of the dance Theodred and the lady kissed. "Ew!" she said aloud.

Theodred turned at the noise and laughed. "Something wrong Eowyn?" he asked, holding the woman a little closer.

"Do you have to do that?" she asked with pursed lips.

The woman laughed. "You will enjoy kissing as much as we do some day."

The little shield maiden stuck out her tongue. "I doubt that!" she retorted. "I am going to be too busy in battle to have time for silly things like kisses." She swung her feet from the bench and jumped to the ground.

As she approached him Theodred noticed something, "Eowyn, what happened to you eye?" he bent down and gently touched the forming bruise that surrounded her left eye.

Eowyn pushed his hand away quickly, "Nothing." She said with all haste. "It must have happened when Eomer and I were fighting today." Quickly changing the subject, she asked. "Theodred, I'm bored, can we show the Sons of Steward the plains of Rohan now?"

A small smile formed on Theodreds' face. "I understand that these sort of things can be terribly dull for a litt—young girl like yourself." He said, catching himself. "But we are not going riding now, for it is far too dark and there are orcs out at this time of night." He watched the disappointment rise in his cousins' face. "However Eowyn, I see no harm in you stepping outside for a little fresh air." He said. "But go no further than the stables, you hear?"

Eowyn nodded happily and wrapped her arms around Theodred's legs, "Thank you Cousin!" she yelled as she ran towards the door. She pushed open the sturdy door and stepped out into the cool night air.

Sorry its short...TBC soon...