Chapter 2,

Holding On

Éomer sped through the gates of Edoras. Pausing only long enough to dismount from his horse and run up the stairs, where he met his younger sister in the golden hall.

"Éomer, what has happened?" she said, her face lined with worry. The simple white gown gathered at her ankles. Her long golden hair was carefully braided back.

Her face grew pale when she caught sight of the girl. She looked at him.

"Follow me" she said simply, calling to a gathered group of women nearby. Eowyn carefully made a note to ask her brother how he came upon such a creature. She quickly entered a spare chamber, although simple, it was enough. Setting the girl on the bed, they quickly set to work.

Taking a knife from the bedside she set to work cutting through the odd material. The shirt came off first, reveling more horror, not only was she lucky to be here, she was lucky to be alive. A deep gash ran from her shoulder to her stomach. Blood crusted to it, had quickly spread running down her entire body. Eowyn shuttered.

Hours passed, Éomer stiffened every time a maid came out of that room, blood spattered across her apron. They talked to themselves in muffled tones, often bringing a new bowl of water after dumping a bloodied bowl out.

Éomer's nerves were high; no sound came from the room. Not anything. Soon, Faramir joined him. He clasped his Hands on Éomer's shoulders in welcome.

"So, does my brother wait for his love to come out?" Faramir said, the twinkle in his eyes sparkling. Éomer snorted, "I brought a girl in from the cliffs, at the end of Fangorn." He said, curtly, his tone allowing no argument. Faramir snorted.

"Come, let us sup, and wait until Eowyn gives us news." Faramir said pulling his step-brother from the doorway. He clapped his hands and servants brought the food out from the lower kitchens. He gave Éomer one last pat before starting a conversation on Gondor. As Éomer remember seemed to be his favorite subject, within the rights of the libraries he would spend hours in.

"Éomer, come snap out of it. I was just explaining, about Gondor. Certainly that cannot bore you!" Faramir said, pretending to be insulted. Éomer did not get to reply before Eowyn came through the doors. Her dress was spattered with blood here and there, but her apron was full of it. Éomer quickly got to his feet, with Faramir quickly doing the same.

Eowyn silently chuckled, seeing the earnest look in his eyes. "She is fine, the worst is over. She is strong, she did not break a fever." Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she saw her brother relax. "Tell me brother, how did you come upon this girl?" she asked, taking a mug of water and sitting down. Faramir smiled and kissed her. She smiled,

"Faramir, please, not with me so dirty!" Eowyn said blushing.

"Now, please excuse me gentlemen, I wish to see the girl a night's rest before she awakes." She said, walking to the door of her chambers.

- - - - -

Éomer tossed in his bed, he sighed, the moon was high, yet he had not a wink of sleep. The blankets wrapped around his legs. He groaned, and then shifted out of the bed. Slipping into his boots and a light linen shirt he made his way through the corridor.

Slipping through the doorway, he entered her room, the moonlight cascaded down upon her form. Walking to the bed he stood above her. He bent down and brushed her black hair from her face. 'What in a horses' name are you doing Éomer?' a voice inside spoke up, Éomer snorted, then briskly walked out of the room.

- - - - -

"Where is he?" Eowyn shouted, her mood matching that of the sky above the Hall. She stormed through the halls, everyone careful to keep out of her way. Éomer sighed, watching his sister was entertaining. Her blonde hair was loose and wavy, her lips swollen, she and Faramir had obviously stayed up late last night. She waved her arms and screamed, sending everyone in frenzy.

Faramir chuckled and came out of the shadows. "Dear Eowyn, come on now, don't be so stupid to go mad!" he said, his calm words subduing her in a heartbeat. As suddenly as she had begun ranting shouts came up from the gates. Eowyn shrieked, "She is fine, I need not worry. Where were you? I was worried!" Faramir smiled,

"Do not worry your self so much!" he said, never the less they hurried out to the gates.

A scout smiled, "Look my lord! Look, at the way the horse prances! I bet it is one of your Eored riding out there!" he said happily, gesturing to more of the scouts. Éomers face grew grave as Faramir approached, "Nay, my riders are safe within the walls of Edoras." he said, putting a hand over his eyes, protecting them from the sun.

The horse raced across the plains, a speck among the plains. It danced, twirling its mane high in the air. Rearing and bucking in pleasure. The rider upon it, staying on, seemed perfectly in tune with the horse. Back and forth, stopping at the end of the fat land, then rearing and racing back the other way.

Soon, the horse and rider raced towards the gate. Black hair flowing out from both directions, they passed the gates and slowly came to halt. Whispers immediately sprung up like wildfire.

Eowyn, Faramir and Éomer quickly hurried up the hill to greet the rider.

"Who are you?" Eowyn asked, smiling, though out of breath. The rider said nothing, but swiftly dismounted from the horse. The rider pulled down the hood of the black cloak. Eowyn gasped.

"What devilry! You tricked me!" Eowyn hissed, at her, Éomer laughed, all eyes turned toward him, especially the girl's bright green eyes.

"Well, since you have spilled your heart out to be Eowyn, I shall leave you with my name, Alavine." She said, slipping unto the horses back once again. Eowyn blushed but grew serious.

"Your wound has not healed! Do you wish to kill yourself?" she said keeping her tone low but firm. Alavine snorted,

"I would rather die at the hands of horse then a gun." She said Eowyn raised an eyebrow, "Gun? I'm afraid I don't understand"

Éomer noted the faraway look Alavine's eyes suddenly grew, "No, I supposed you don't. Let's keep it at that." She said, turning the horse again.

In one swift movement, Eowyn had grabbed the reins from her. "You are going to heal! You are not going on this beast until you are!" Every knew she had made a mistake saying that, for the horse's eyes grew dangerous and Éomer had just enough time to get Eowyn out of the way before the horse reared.

Éomer gazed up, the horse was in its hind legs, Alavine still on it, gathering what weight she had to the front of the horse. He shouted to a royal guard to take care of the horse but was silenced by a sickening crack and thud. The horse had fallen back, and rolled, Alavine had lost her grip was now lying on the ground, her arm.

The horse immediately stopped, and snorted, trotting over to Alavine. Éomer quickly rushed to her side as well. The horse snuffed her hair and nudged her again. Eowyn who had regained her composure was now storming over.

"Look at you! You do want to kill yourself don't you?" Eowyn said loudly.

"If a certain somebody hadn't said a certain something about a certain mustang, I wouldn't have had my wound reopen." Alavine said leaning on Éomer while she stood up. Her arm grasped around her middle.

"Still, do you think that making a fuss over such a thing is so important? Look at what you've done." Eowyn said, she hadn't meant to say that so harshly, now that she saw the look in Alavines eyes.

"You sound like my father." Alavine muttered, Eowyn snorted.

"Good, now let me help you." She said, more kindly.

"That was not a complement." Alavine said her tone harsh. Eowyn sighed and cast a look at her brother before helping Alavine up the stairs.

- - - - -

The next few weeks, Alavine explained to Éomer, Eowyn, and Faramir during dinner about how she had come to the horrid cliff. How she had found the mustang, and any other questions they directed toward her.

Éomer and Faramir had spent time alone discussing the heated arguments the passed between Alavine and Eowyn, mostly directed at the heated topic of dresses. Eowyn would persist she wear a dress, while Alavine would retort back that she couldn't ride in a dress. It was split between who would end up winning.

Alavine sighed; her mood had stayed the same throughout the week. She preferred to spend time alone, or with her horse, who she had named Free Rider. Although Éomer didn't seem to take notice that whenever they were together, she would brighten up. This however did not go unnoticed by Eowyn and Faramir.

Eowyn pulled Alavine into the gardens and began a conversation.

"You know I'm sure Éomer could teach you how to fight." She said, like it was nothing. Alavine brightened, "Really? Does he have time? I mean, you know, to teach me, he is the king, one would think that he does not have the time for such things." Alavine said, her face turned upwards as it began to rain.

"ask him tonight at dinner. There are some guests coming, maybe he can teach you before they arrive in a few weeks." She said linking her arm in Alavine's and they strode inside to get out of the rain.

The hall was filled with laughter when Alavine stepped into the Hall. Faramir and Eowyn were off to one side talking to Éomer. Her face brighten when she saw her, she quickly walked towards her, only to get soaked when Alavine had shaken the water off of herself. Eowyn laughed and took her hand and led her over to where they were sitting. She had casually brought up the subject of swordsmanship.

"Lord Éomer could I ask you a question?" Alavine's quiet voice piped in, Éomer nodded.

"Could you teach me how to fight?" she asked him quietly. Éomer laughed, "Well see." He grunted at the sharp pain in his shin, "I'm sure there will be time before Lord Aragorn, and Lord Imarhil, and many others come in a short time." He added with a smile at her delighted face.

It was two days later that Éomer knocked at her door. She opened it fully; she had obviously come back from a ride on Free Rider. For her face was smudged with dirt and sweat. He chuckled.

"You're going to get a lot more then just a workout with training." he said. She smiled, "I'm ready."

And so the courses began. She was defiantly getting more then a work out. IN Éomer's terms, she had been attacked by an Urk-hai by the end of there third lesson. A small bruise was forming under her eye. He smiled.

"Again." He said counting out the numbers. She moved with the grace of elves but the precision of any of the Rohirrim. Yet she was still no match for an orc.

And so they began again, and again, and again. Untill at last she was able to do the counts with his help and she had managed to knock him off of his feet once. 'Once, that was it though.' He reminded himself, all the while fully aware of the desire in his heart for the girl in front of him.

He smiled at the end of one lesson midway into the week. She was lying on the ground, her chest heaving. He walked to her, and bent down to her.

"Exhausted?" he asked, she nodded, "Good, come on, we're done." He said as she took his hand to pull herself up.

She smiled, "Right, then tomorrow, rain or shine, you are going to drag me out here anyway." She teased, running up the steps to the Hall. Éomer smiled, "It did not cross my mind, but thank you for the reminder!" she stopped and put her hand to her forehead.
"Whatever shall I do?" she chided mocking him. A cough interrupted the two,

"Éomer, can I borrow Alavine to try on some new dresses before the guests arrived tomorrow?" Eowyn interrupted. Alavine shot him a look but he smiled and nodded.

"We were just finishing up." He said, Eowyn grabbed her arm and dragged her through the double wooden doors. Alavine sighed, "I already succumbed to your dressing yesterday! Come on, there can't possibly be more dresses!" she complained. Eowyn nodded, pulling her into the room.

Alavine turned in the dress, "Okay, maybe I was wrong, this is beautiful." She said, turning again in the dress. Eowyn nodded, "I will leave you to get into bed, and then, I will decide on your hair tomorrow." Alavine shot her a look, Eowyn just smiled.

"Now, off with the dress." She said, slipping the dress off of Alavine.

"For a bath...." Eowyn began; Alavine wrinkled her nose, "Come on, you starting to act like a parent!"

"You hush!" she said firmly, "Your bath is getting cold!" Alavine sighed and stepped into the tub. Eowyn smiled, and began washing her hair.

"Now, you're done. Get dressed and I'll see you in the morning" she said getting up off the floor. Alavine watched her go before stepping out of the tub, dressing in a short gown she slipped off into bed.

- - - - -