Yours Truly: OK, I'm back! ::waits for cheering to die down:: I spent all night at work thinking up possible endings for this story, and I think I've come up with some quite good ones that you guys will enjoy. The only problem is getting there! So bear with me, please. :)

The next morning I awoke to find Calla noisily examining my clothes. I only had the brown dress and the gray dress hanging up, but she had gone through my bag and found the servant's clothes that had smuggled me out of Dol Amroth.

"This should do." She muttered, then briskly ordered me out of bed.

"Calla, what are you doing? It's the middle of the night!"

"And the market opens at dawn, so you'd best get ready."

I threw the blankets off my bed and climbed out, glaring at Calla the whole time. There was a basin and pitcher of water on the nightstand, which Calla had apparently donated, so I washed hastily and put on the scratchy wool tunic and hose. Calla cleared her throat and looked pointedly at my hair. Reaching my hands up, I discovered that it was sticking out from under my kerchief in all directions.

As soon as I had righted my tresses, Calla ushered me out of the room into the gray morning.

"Wait…can't I have breakfast first?"

Calla continued dragging me along by the arm. "No time. You can have a bite later."

I sighed and tried to ignore my stomach's rumblings. "One more question: why am I wearing this horrible outfit?"

It was too dark to see Calla's expression, but I'm sure she was smirking. "Because if you go to market wearing silk, the vendors will charge you an arm and a leg. If you wear rough cloth, and show a talent for bargaining, you just might come away with a fair price."

I considered that. In Dol Amroth, whenever I had gone to market it had been with a retinue of at least three guards and a female companion. Since I had always had plenty of coins to spend, I hadn't worried about prices, and had simply assumed that vendors charged everyone the same amounts, but apparently I was wrong. Going as a peasant would be a new experience- and a real adventure- for me.

"Do you have any money, Calla?" My steps became brisk, and within a few feet the Chief Housekeeper had to walk faster to keep up with me.

"Uh…yes, I received an allowance for this trip. What's got your spirits up all of a sudden?"

"It has just occurred to me that I have never really been to market before."

The Edoras market was a series of carts and wagons, loaded with goods, that met at the very edge of the city before dawn. Food of all kinds, along with mainstream items were to be found there daily, but at least once a week the gathering swelled to nearly twice its normal size with the arrival of shipments of foreign imports. Exotic cloths, spices, artwork, and trinkets were available to anyone with the coin to purchase them, or other goods to barter with. When Calla and I reached the market the sun was just beginning to rise, its golden rays glinting off of polished metal and wood everywhere. Buying and selling were occurring at furious paces, and the market was in full swing.

Calla started to stride confidently towards the cloth-sellers, but I grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the delicious smell of freshly-baked bread. Gazing longingly at sweet rolls and fruit pies, I debated spending one of my coins on breakfast. I had only the limited funds I had left Dol Amroth with, after all, until I finished Eomer's robe and received payment for it.

"Well? Are you going to buy one or aren't you?" The baker faced me with hands on hips. He was a giant of a man, with thick reddish-blond hair and a rounded nose.

"I guess not," I said reluctantly. "I can't really afford it." Calla snorted. The baker looked at her suspiciously, then turned back to me.

"Well, be on your way, then." I looked sadly at the food once more, then with a sigh allowed Calla to lead me through the market. My pace was slow as I stopped to gawk at the marvels displayed on either side of us. A jeweler's stand caught my eye. I had always loved jewelry…not the large, ostentatious kind, but anything of high quality and superior craftsmanship. My room at home showcased quite a collection of fine pieces.

What drew my attention the most was a delicate headdress wrought in the shape of a dragon. A thin circlet of gold wrapped around the head, with the dragon's face at the front. From the teeth dangled a red gem that would be situated just between the eyebrows. It was love at first sight, but I could most definitely not afford such a luxury in my current position.

"Wishing you'd brought more money with you?" Calla remarked beside me as she admired a pair of sapphire earrings.

"Yes," I admitted. "But it makes me appreciate all the things I have even more. That circlet would cost me nearly a year of mending, and that would be without paying for my room and board."

Eventually, we reached the cloth vendors. I examined the wares and found a bolt of beautiful green velvet, gold silk to line it with, and gold embroidery thread to accent. As the merchant lifted the velvet up to hand over to me, something else caught my eye.

"I'll take that as well." I paid the man with Calla's money and started to walk away with my packages. She gaped at me with raised eyebrows.

"You're dressing the King in black leather?!"

"The effect will be magnificent, I think."

Calla started to say something else, no doubt disparaging, when a small boy ran up to her and tugged on her skirt.

"Miss…please, miss, are you Calla, the King's Housekeeper?"

She looked puzzled. "Yes. I am. What do you want?"

The child shoved a folded piece of paper into her hand. "One of the merchants from the South told me to give you this for a coin." He held out his hand expectantly and Calla absently pressed some money into it. As soon as the boy scampered off, she pulled me behind a pile of wine barrels and broke the seal on the paper, which looked like a letter. She raised her brows again.

"Here. It's for you." I took the letter from her curiously.

Dear Lothiriel, (the letter read)

I have just been informed that you were not intended to marry my brother, but that ambassador from Harad instead. No doubt you knew this but allowed me to believe otherwise so that I would help you escape. While this irks me, it amuses me as well, so I have kept your secret.

I hope that this finds you well, and having no difficulties and many adventures. I've sent it to Calla by way of a merchant so as not to arouse suspicion.

Your father and brothers are privately convinced that you ran away, but the public has been informed that you were kidnapped. Kutheia is concerned for your safety; his father thinks it is all a ploy to cancel the marriage and is threatening war if you are not returned to his family. However, I don't think it's anything serious and I'm sure your father can handle it just fine. Please don't worry, everything is under control. No doubt you've heard about their planned visit to Rohan, but did you know it also has the ulterior motive of getting Kutheia's family out of Dol Amroth for awhile? Your father is hoping you will return if he is gone. He is quite worried, and quite angry.

Have you met my brother yet? I think you two will get along quite well, if you get a chance to talk to him. If you can, please send me word of the goings-on in Rohan! Don't hesitate to ask Eomer if you need any help.

Be careful; come home soon but not too soon.

Love,

Eowyn

"Nothing I didn't already know." I said to Calla. "Is there any way you can send a letter back to Dol Amroth for me?"

She nodded. "There is a trading party going south quite soon. I could send it with them."

I started walking back towards Meduseld. "Good. I shall write to Eowyn and send you the letter when I'm through, if that's all right. Just now I had best get to work on the King's robe!"

By afternoon my back was sore from bending over, my fingers were pricked many times from the needle, and I was dying to get out in the sunshine. I had made significant progress in my task: all the pieces were measured and cut, and some were sewn together. I had paused only twice to eat breakfast and lunch, but now I needed Eomer to try on the beginnings of his outfit to make sure I had everything right. The more pressing matter, however, was the first of my fighting lessons.

I stood up and stretched, then quickly changed back into the cheap but functional clothes I had worn to the market that morning. I bound my hair up as tightly as I could and tied a scarf firmly around my head. Grabbing my dagger, I slipped it into my pocket and bounded outside to the army training grounds.

Lucky for me, they were training on foot that day. I searched the crowd of thirty or so young soldiers until I found Jeb, then went quietly to stand next to him. Every man there turned to stare as I walked past.

"Have I missed anything?" I asked nervously.

He shook his head. "No. We've only done a few warm ups with the marshals. Soon they'll break us into smaller groups to train with our commanders. Then the King will come and work with each group for awhile."

We didn't have to wait long. Within a few minutes, Galliwine had divided the soldiers into five groups. For some reason, this took a long time, as every young man seemed to want to be in my and Jeb's group.

"Ria? What is a seamstress doing here?" The Third Marshal sounded irritated at my intrusion into the training session.

"The King has ordered me to learn to fight. Where else am I to learn but here?"

Galliwine scowled at me. "You are a distraction to the soldiers."

"There are distractions on the battlefield, are there not? Perhaps it will be good practice for them." Once again I spoke before I thought. High ranking army officials were not used to being mouthed off to by young women.

Galliwine opened his mouth but didn't say anything. At last he sighed loudly and started the practice session, ignoring me through all of it. He demonstrated several blocking and disarming moves with the body that could be adapted quite easily for sword or knife fighting. Then we paired off to spar.

Jeb and I were together. With an apologetic grin, he swiftly leaped towards me and grabbed my arms to twist them behind me. Using one of Galliwine's moves, I evaded his grasp and elbowed him in the stomach.

With a loud groan, Jeb doubled up and stepped backwards. Relentlessly, I pressed my advantage and pinned one of his arms with mine, wrapping the other in a loose chokehold around his neck. In no time at all, he was on his knees admitting defeat.

"Well, that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!" I exclaimed happily, dusting my hands off.

"Thanks, Ria. You really know how to boost a man's self-esteem." I reached down to help my victim to his feet. He took my hand, but instead of standing up he pulled me to the ground and we started the fight over again. This time, he won.

"Oof! Let me go, Jeb, you win." Wincing, I sat up and felt all the places where I would have bruises the next day. I looked up and realized that Jeb and I were completely surrounded by fascinated spectators, all of whom were male. Most were frantically offering to fight me next, but they grew silent when Eomer King pushed his way through the crowd and crossed his arms above me. Blushing, I stood and curtsied.

"Good afternoon, milord."

"Good afternoon, Ria. I did not expect to find you here." He glared at me.

"No, I don't suppose you did." I said shortly.

Eomer looked at me expectantly, but I didn't elaborate. "Well? What is the meaning of this? Why do you parade yourself in front of my men thus?"

Now the redness in my face was more due to anger than embarrassment. "What do you mean, 'parade myself?' YOU wanted me to learn to fight, so I came here. I am doing nothing wrong!"

Instantly, Eomer clasped my arm and pulled me outside the ring of men and out of earshot. He practically growled at me.

"Soldiers are….they are not fit company for women, Ria. If you stay amongst them in such a fashion, they will think you a whore. I say this not to insult you, but to protect you, for it is a foolish thing that you do."

I gasped. "How dare you! I am not a whore!"

"I do not think you one," He swiftly defended himself, and his tone became more soothing. "Nor did I say you were. In fact, I admire you for attempting this thing. But I cannot allow it, for it is both harmful to the soldiers' concentration and your reputation."

"Damn you!" I shouted. "You tell me I must learn to fight, but you will not let me practice! Why must you be so insufferable?"

Eomer's brief conciliatory mood faded and he yelled right back at me. "Why must you be so naïve? You are a beautiful woman, Ria! You cannot honestly expect to fraternize with thirty young soldiers so casually, and you cannot expect me to allow you to! I won't thrash every one of my men, and that is what they make me want to do when I see them looking at you so!"

"Fine." I snapped. "Teach me yourself, then."

"What?" Eomer narrowed his eyes.

"You will have to teach me, since you can't seem to stand anyone else doing it." I crossed my arms and eyed him defiantly. I knew I was stepping well over the line of respectful servitude, but I was so annoyed that I didn't care.

"What, now?"

"Whatever time is best for you."

For the first time Eomer seemed uncertain. "Well…uh…I might be able to find some time later this afternoon, after the council meeting…"

"Good. I shall meet you at the stables, if that's quite all right with you, my lord?" Irritation dripped from my words.

"Fine. The stables at five o'clock."

"Fine." I stayed where I was and sent him icy looks. He shifted his weight from foot to foot. After a pause, he spoke again. "Don't you have some sewing or something to do?"

"I need you to try some things on before I can continue. However, since you're so busy, I probably won't have anything better to do than hang around the barracks for a few days…"

Eomer gritted his teeth. "All right, all right. As soon as I'm finished here I'll find you and you can stick me with needles to your heart's content…within reason, of course. Now will you please go?"

I smiled sweetly, dropped a curtsy, and left.

Me Again: I have such an evil imagination. Bet you weren't expecting Eomer in black leather, were you? Heh…get your mind out of the gutter, all of you :P I have my reasons. I promise it'll pan out. If you review, that is...