Chapter Six
Churning Emotions
Alavine groaned, rolling her head from side to side, trying to rid herself of her headache. Opening one eye, she sighed, glad to be alone. Éomer, Éomer, Éomer, yes....Éomer. Éomer had rescued her, he had come to get her, and they had....kissed? Wait....that was a dream! Or was it? She was not in her chambers that much was for certain. Alavine spied the Rohirrim armor in the in corner. That meant...she was in Éomer's room! Oh great!
The door creaked open and in came Éomer, dressed in a simple red linen shirt with a red tunic that had gold embroidery on the edges. He sat down next to her on the bed, letting his eyes pouring into hers. She smiled a little,
"It wasn't a dream was it? I really did-"he silenced her by putting a finger to her lips. His finger's lingered for a moment before caressing the side of her face, then entwining themselves in her hair, he brought his lips to hers, massaging her bottom lip with his own. She pressed into him subconsciously, trying to get as close to him as she could, the warm sensation tingling up her body.
"Gods, everyone had thought you dead! I was bringing to think I was going crazy!" Éomer said, breaking the kiss, looking deep into her eyes. Alavine placed her hands in his, "I thought I wouldn't see you again." She admitted, laying her head on his shoulder.
Five Days Later.....
"Awww! Can't you tell us another story?" a small boy begged, sitting on the lap of his quiet mother. Alavine laughed, leaning on her knees again on the dusty path in the city. For the past three days, she had told Halan's daughter, Karnie, stories that she had heard in her world. Soon, Karnie had told the other children in the village about her stories, and now, she had had the children gather around her near dinner for a story, in fact, they had spread amongst the older folk as well, even Éomer's own eored had heard about them.
"Not tonight, tomorrow perhaps." Alavine said making to get up and trying to UN tangle herself from the group of children gathered around her legs.
"You always say that! Come on! I want to hear a horse story!" one child cried out, Alavine sighed and went back to the children, plopping herself among them.
"Alright, I will tell you about a horse named Hidalgo, a painted stallion of the Indian tribe." And so, Alavine proceeded to tell about the race across the Sahara desert and his accomplishments. The children starred wide eyed as she finished the story, when Karnie spoke up.
"But that's not fair! The man always gets the woman, and he just left her!" she cried out, Alavine shook her head.
"Not always little one, sometimes that doesn't happen." Alavine said,
"I will have to think about that answer Alavine," Éomer interrupted, "Can I see you please?" Alavine nodded, and followed him into Medusald.
"What's this all about?" she asked, following him into a council room behind the throne room. They stood gathered around a map in the center of the room, any kind of noise made Éomer and Halan jump.
"HEY GUYS!" she yelled, making them jump out of their tunics, "What is wrong, you pull me into here and I get no explanation!"
"Trouble in Gondor, King Elessar's men has spotted evil beings from Angmar; they seem to plan to attack both Gondor, and then move on to Rohan." Éomer said. Alavine shoved Halan aside for the moment and set to work studying the map.
"We need to know in how long they will reach the gates of Minas Tirith, and who we can have aid in this fight."
"They can be at the gates in one week or less, if they destroy it, then they will be here by the time winter sets in. As for who we have allies in, Legolas of Mirkwood has already began mustering elves that are able and willing, we sent out riders this morning." Halan broke in,
"What we need is someone who can get close enough to them to see how many there are." Halan muttered the tension broke in again; even the ticking of the water clock in the corner seemed to be loud enough that it was like someone playing a flute in her ear. Suddenly, as if someone has struck her with a lightning bolt, she figured out what she must do, she was going.
"I'll go, it's too risky for Éomer to go, and Halan, he needs you, they will know if one of the Eored riders get close enough to get an estimate, not to mention count them!" Alavine said standing up; Éomer shot her a dirty look.
"No! I just got you back! I'm not letting you go again!" Éomer cried, pulling her against him, she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Éomer, think of your people, if they all die, surely will you! Please let me go, I have to do this!"
"No, you don't! I can send one of my men out!" he yelled again, fighting in his mind that he was in a losing battle, already knowing her answer was killing him as well.
"Éomer, are you really willing to risk your men's' lives? Are they willing to do that for something they know they can't possibly do?"
"Éomer, Lady Alavine is right, it is too dangerous for any of our men to be spotted." Aragorn's voice wafted into the room, during her stay, Alavine had completely forgotten that he was here.
"How soon can you be ready?"
"Give me ten." She responded, getting a confused look from them. "It means ten minutes." She said quickly, rushing out of the room. Éomer snorted and followed her, determination written all over his face, it was obvious as to what he was going to do.
A light knock sounded on Alavine's door a few minutes later, just as she was about to open it, Éomer stood in the doorway, she couldn't make out the look on his face; was it guilt, pity, love?
"Éomer, please don't ask me to stay." She said, slinging the saddle bag over her shoulder. It suddenly occurred to her that he was deathly pale and sickly looking. Walking over to his, she stood before him, looking him over as if she wasn't going to see him again.
"Alavine, please, I don't need to lose you again." He said, trying to stay as calm as he could, resisting his gut to tie her down the bed to make her stay. She shook her head still avoiding eye contact with him.
"Éomer let me pass; you have to give some things up for your country."
"This is not your country!" he almost yelled at her,
"But it is hour's." she said quietly, pushing passed him and breaking out in a slow run down to Halan who was holding Alliam. Securing the saddle bags once more, and adding the one with her belongings, she mounted, securing the clasp around her cape, pulling her hood up against the hard wind that was blowing.
Halan grasped her leg and looked up to her,
"I did not see this coming from a woman who has nothing to do with this country." He said, amazement written in his eyes although he kept a stern face.
"Keep safe Halan, keep Éomer's spirits high, the people have little faith, even with the War of the Ring, he will need to became the leader I know he is Halan, he no longer has a choice."
"That I will do, Keep Safe as well Alavine." He said slapping the rump of Alliam sending them off in a gallop of whirl out the gates.
Halan sighed and picked his way through the people back to aid his king. The Hall seemed deserted, clouds casting black shadows on the walls; it was like a death paper hung on the wall in front of the throne, and on it, sat Éomer. He lay there crumpled and broken, blood and bodies strewn about everywhere, he walked foreword, stepping over the bodies until he stumbled on one. Turning it over, he almost fainted at the sight, his little baby; Karnie; was dead, a deep cut running across her throat, he stood up backing away in horror, only to run into more people, stumbling until he heard running footsteps and ducked behind a curtain, although allowing him to see.
Alavine stood in the middle, blood spattered across her torso; a man circled her, running his fingers down the bloody blade.
"Bow to me and I will spare your life." He spoke, Halan almost thought he knew that voice, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't place it. Alavine shook her head, denying him. Like a flash of lightning, he swung the blade across her flesh, making her crumple to the floor.
Halan almost screamed when he was jerked backwards, finding himself back in the Hall, Aragorn kneeling over him.
"What was it? A vision of the future?" he questioned his eyes intent and wary. Halan nodded and scurried to his feet, looking once more around the Hall, shaking out the vision.
"Where is Éomer?" he asked,
"He is in the study going over the maps." Halan nodded, scurrying almost like a rat to Éomer's side.
"What I would give to be Chief Marshal, Halan." Éomer said running his finger aimlessly over the impressions on the map.
"Why? Do you understand why Alavine went ahead and rode purposely into the enemy's nets to get us the information on this new enemy? Éomer, do not think she went willingly, think about it. I think she would rather stay in your arms then ride out and meet the enemy."
"She said nothing about staying! She just, she just-"
"It was breaking her as well Éomer, think not that your own feelings are the only ones being pulled at by the sense of duty. She did what she did for your people Éomer! She had no reason to go out and do what she is doing; she does this for your people, she has nothing to gain!" He sighed and put a comforting hand on his king's shuddering shoulders.
"She will come back to you in two days, in the meantime, keep your spirits high and send out riders to Snowbourn and the outer settlements to muster the Rohirrim to ride to Dunharow, their we can meet Alavine and ride out." Éomer nodded, silently agreeing with the logic that had now spread in his mine.
Dunharow; Two days later
Éomer sat alone in the large tent, decorated with never ending runes. The map lay empty, the soldiers were restless, and the mountain and pass of the Dimwalt still gave some shivers up their spine, although Éomer guessed that it was the battle approaching them and Minas Tirith.
Halan entered the tent, as loosely dressed as Éomer, although the motive on his breast plate was a running horse encircled with vines.
"My lord, the armor is ready should she return by the dawn." He said, only encouraging the thoughts swarming around in his head.
"Thank you, how many spears do we have? How many has Aragorn gathered?" Éomer asked
"About seven thousand spears my lord together, more are arriving every hour or so. No news about how many King Elessar has gathered." Halan said, the doubt ridden everywhere.
"Again I am in your debt Halan, praise the Rohirrim for your skills." Éomer said dull fully,
"Thank you my lord, do not tend so much grief, I am sure that the lady will return." Halan said before striding out of the tent. Éomer sighed and slipped into a dreamless sleep.
A/N: So sorry that you guys had to wait for this short chappie. I just uploaded this tonight and because you are so loyal and patient with me, I grace you with two chapters tonight!