A/N: Didn't want to keep you hanging too long, esp. since the website is being a little random about updates and notifications, so no telling how long between when I post this and when you actually can read it.
Beornthryth - Yes, the collapsing female is a bit cliche, though hopefully my purpose and use of it won't be quite so. (see below)
Jazzcat - "Will it fade once they begin to trust each other more?" - Personally, I don't think that it will fade so much as just mellow a bit. Lothiriel actually trusts Eomer rather implicitly - but she still wasn't going to let another woman near him with amorous intentions. Eomer is a bit more intense here, as in other things. He trusts Lothiriel, but he's so totally in love that he's desperately afraid of losing her. Overwork and exhaustion weren't helping matters. But I would expect him to relax a bit after they are married and the possibility of losing her lessens.
Didn't see "My Best Friend's Wedding" so I don't know how they compare. After the non-courtship these two had, I couldn't just let them walk traditionally down the road to the altar. This pair could never be that boring!
By The Book
Chapter 5
When next I opened my eyes, it was to find Eomer sitting at my bedside, my hand anxiously clutched between his and relief flooding his face.
"Water?" I rasped, and he released my hand long enough to pour me a goblet. He helped me sit up enough to take a few swallows, before I indicated I'd had enough and lay back down. My whole body was achy and felt weighted down, and it was an effort just to move. I couldn't seem to think very clearly either.
I blinked several times, trying to remember where I was and what was going on. I gave Eomer a perplexed look and asked, "What happened…we were going riding…"
He smiled gently. "We never made it. You have not awakened for eight days." The look in his eyes told me what an ordeal it had been for him.
"I am sorry, my love. What is wrong with me?"
"You were bitten by a poisonous insect and had a strong reaction to it. You can thank Lissa for saving you. If she had not told us about the insect, Aragorn might have been too late to save you." His voice broke, and I squeezed his hand.
I lay silently a moment and then it registered what he had said. "Eight days! Noooo...what about Dol Amroth?"
He reached over and stroked my cheek. "Another time perhaps. For now, you just worry about getting well, and we will enjoy one another's company in Minas Tirith."
"But I wasted so much of our time together!" I wailed.
"It could not be helped. And at least you are alive so that we may eventually spend all the time we want together after we are married." He gave me a teasing grin and then feigned a hurt expression. "Do not worry. I do not for a moment think you did this on purpose to avoid being with me – truly I don't..."
I smiled in spite of myself, but whispered, "But I so wanted to show you my home." My disappointment was evident, and he leaned over to kiss me lightly on the lips.
"One day you will, dearest. I promise it will happen. Now rest while I go get Aragorn and let him know you are awake, and tell your family the good news." He rose, reluctantly releasing my hand.
My room was soon full of family and King Elessar joined them a few moments later. He was pleased with my progress and instructed me on what I needed to do for the next several days as I recuperated. They could see, however, that I was still weary and needed to rest, so they all left but Eomer. His own exhaustion was evident and my hand caressed his face as he leaned near me. After a moment's thought, I shifted over to the side of the bed away from him and gestured for him to join me. He hesitated at first, but was loath to leave me, so apparently he decided if he stayed on top of the covers and fully clothed no one would think anything improper had taken place. He settled down beside me and quickly dozed off with his arm across me. And I nodded out a short time later.
Over the next few days, I gradually grew stronger and was able to sit up, then leave my bed for short periods. When at last I felt up to it, I ventured outside with Eomer anxiously at my elbow. I made for the garden where we had spent such a pleasant afternoon the day after we met, and we settled under the same tree as before. We talked for quite awhile, and I told him much of my home by the sea since I was not going to be able to show it to him. Eventually, we ended up asleep, my head against his shoulder.
We were awakened some time later by Faramir. He had always been the only one who ever seemed to know where to look for me.
"Wake up, you two!" he said shaking my shoulder.
I blinked my eyes open and looked at him curiously. "Cousin? What is it?" I rubbed the sleep dust from my eyes and yawned.
He smiled affectionately at me and answered, as Eomer slowly awakened as well, "I have discovered in my reading that in the past, when Gondor previously had kings, it was the common practice to have the King of Gondor bless all royal betrothals, including those of other realms. When the kings disappeared, naturally the practice ended, but since we have a king now and since he was not present in Rohan for your betrothal, I thought you might like to be the first to reinstate the practice."
I glanced at Eomer and answered, "I suppose we could. King Elessar does not mind doing this?"
"Not at all. He thinks it a good idea also."
I shrugged and held out my hand for him to help me up. Eomer rose with me and I glanced at our casual attire. "Should we go change clothes? Do I need to find my family and Eowyn?"
"No, come as you are. This will not be terribly formal. I do not think we need to find your families since they were all present for the betrothal anyway. I just thought this was something you might want to do since you are disappointed in not getting to take Eomer to Dol Amroth. I know it won't make up for that, but maybe it helps a little."
I narrowed my eyes and said, "Why is it I get the feeling you are not telling me something?"
He smiled noncommittally. "Must just be your suspicious nature, Thiri. What I have told you is the truth."
Still, I had the feeling that even if his words were strictly true, they did not tell everything. Faramir could play at words as well as I could when he wanted to. But I did not think he would do anything mean to me, just recovering from illness, so I laid aside my wariness and we followed him to the King's council chambers.
It was a simple ceremony, and almost seemed more of a binding than a blessing, but lovely nonetheless. Only the two of us, Faramir and the King and Queen were present. Afterwards, the King and Queen kissed both Eomer and I and wished us well, assuring us they were looking forward to the wedding in March.
The more I thought about it later, the more I was glad we had gone through with the ceremony. Though I was content with being married in Rohan, it was nice to have the blessing of my own king as well.
Too soon the week was ending and Eomer would have to return to Rohan. I could see that Miren was also saddened at the prospect of Kialmar and Lissa leaving. At least this time, I would have someone else as anxious as me to hear news of Rohan. Perhaps having such would make it easier to bear the months apart we were facing.
I knew the snows would make it difficult for messengers to get through, so I could not expect to send or receive as many letters as I had previously. Before we even parted, I started writing some letters to Eomer. I know it was silly, but I wanted him to have some to take with him and read until more could be sent.
The day of our parting was overcast and gloomy, which suited my mood perfectly. We would still be staying in Minas Tirith another few days, so I spent the morning helping Eomer get packed. To my surprise, he seemed to ignore a sizeable chest sitting on a desk. "What about this?" I asked. "You need to put it with your other belongings."
He shook his head and turned to me with a sheepish grin. "That is for you. I will take it to your room before I leave."
Curious I asked, "What is in it?" I reached for the lid, but he playfully slapped my hand.
"You may open it only after I am gone! It is a surprise!"
I gave him a questioning look but made no further attempts. Still, it held my attention the rest of the time I was there. The servants began carrying his trunks out, and he picked up the chest and took my hand, leading me down the hall. We dropped the chest in my room and then continued on, but he detoured to our spot in the garden. Once there, he wrapped his arms around me and held me in a tight embrace. "I will miss you," he whispered. "But when next we meet, we will wed and can stay together forever. That thought will keep me warm until then."
I could feel my tears starting, and was grateful he had sought seclusion for our farewell. I clung to him, my arms tightly around his waist. It took a few moments for me to gain enough control to respond, "I love you, and I will wait however long it takes, but I will not like the waiting!"
And then we were kissing, almost in desperation, as if to imprint the memory indelibly on our hearts. When we finally broke apart, I could feel myself shaking all over. I had not realized just how wrenching it would be to let him part from me again. I drew a ragged breath, knowing there was no escaping the inevitable, and managed to fix him with a weak grin. "I expect you to keep your hands off Danwen in my absence," I chided. "Amrothos told Eowyn all about her to enlist her help in keeping an eye on you when I wasn't there, but I had to point out to him that she wouldn't be there either. So you will have to keep an eye on yourself!"
He rested his forehead against mine and assured me, "Unless Danwen can transform herself into you, she holds no attraction for me. I will not be content with anyone but you in my arms."
It was Faramir who found us again. "I know it is not what you want to hear, but everyone is waiting for the King of Rohan to put in appearance so the group may depart for Edoras," he told us quietly. And then he was gone.
Reluctantly, we moved apart and walked hand in hand from the garden. Our steps were like those of a condemned man going to the gallows, but no matter how slowly we walked, we eventually reached the assembled group of horses and riders.
Eowyn hurried forward to bid her brother a tearful farewell, and Faramir stood behind her. After giving his sister a warm embrace, Eomer eyed Faramir sternly. "I am counting on you to take good care of her...make her happy."
Faramir wrapped his arms around his wife and smiled. "That, dear brother, I do with the greatest pleasure." He kissed her head and added, "Do not fear. I will cherish her always." Eomer simply nodded in response, not at all surprised by the reply.
Next he turned to bid the King and Queen farewell, before turning again to me. Miren stepped to my side and pressed a packet of letters into my hands – the ones I had already written to Eomer. I blushed slightly in embarrassment. "I know it is a bit ridiculous of me, but I have already written you several letters." I handed him the packet. He took it with a strange expression on his face that I did not recognize. "What?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Nothing. You will find out soon enough. But I thank you for these. I will be glad to have them on the journey home." After a moment, he lifted his eyes and stepped toward me. Kissing my forehead, he whispered, "Soon."
Through my tears, I nodded and managed to answer, "Soon."
He turned quickly away, and I knew that lingering would only make it more difficult for him so I did not try to stop him. As they began their journey through the streets of Minas Tirith, I sought a vantage point on the wall. There I remained until they were so far distant that I could no longer be sure if I was seeing them or not.
Miren had remained with me, keeping silent the entire time, but as I rose, she moved forward and slipped her arm through mine. Without a word, she led me back to my room and suggested I rest before the noon meal.
I did lay down for a bit, but when I turned on my side, my eyes fell on the chest that Eomer had given me. Open it after he was gone, he'd said. Well, he was gone, so I guessed it was safe to do so now. Curiously, I stood and moved over to look at the container. The chest itself had beautiful workmanship, and I could tell it was of Gondorian design so he must have gotten it here. Anxious, now, to know what he had given me, I lifted the lid and saw a pile of folded papers. One on top had my name on it, so I assumed I should read it first, and perhaps get an answer.
As I read Eomer's note, I began to laugh. No wonder he had given me such a strange look! The chest was filled with letters he had written to me! He began writing when I was taken ill, even though he could not be certain I would ever have the opportunity to read them. But it had helped fill the long hours of waiting and hoping for my recovery, and he had continued it after the cure was found so that I could keep a little part of him when he had to return home.
For the next hour I sat and read his letters. When Miren came looking for me to make sure that I ate, I showed her what he had done and she smiled softly. "Then I suppose you would like me to bring you a meal here. I will return shortly." And I continued reading.
There must have been nearly a hundred letters or so, but I did not take time to count them, only to read and reread them. I finally had to set them aside when it was suppertime, for I knew my family would become concerned if I were not to put in appearance. So I carefully replaced the missives in the chest, and added his earlier letters written to me in Dol Amroth to the treasured collection.
