Sorry it took so long to update! I hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know what you think! As always, thank you for the reviews, please keep them coming because I love to know what you think.
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Lilly.
Chapter 8: Birthday Celebrations
Once they reached the stables Eowyn and Faramir dismounted and handed the reins of the horses to the stable boy. "We'll see you both inside," Eowyn called as she and Faramir went up the stairs to the Golden Hall. Lilly was still in a daze from what almost happened as she sat in the field with Eomer. She felt him dismount from behind her and she looked at him as he stood on the ground. Eomer looked at her and saw that her cheeks were still flushed, whether from the events earlier or the ride he did not know. He held out his hands and grasped her waist to help her from the horse.
As he lowered her to the ground she winced when she flexed her left shoulder. "Are you alright?" Eomer asked concerned.
"My shoulder is just sore. I'll probably have a large bruise by the end of the day," Lilly said as she moved her shoulder gently. Eomer nodded sadly at her.
"I am sorry. I should have known better than to let you take Saradine without leading her with you first." Lilly shook her head and raised her hand for him to stop and he did.
"It is alright, your majesty. I've been through worse." Eomer furrowed his brow and Lilly's eyes grew wide at the slip up.
"What do you mean?" Lilly looked away and shook her head.
"Nothing, your majesty." Lilly quickly turned and ran away from him and up the stairs to and into the Golden Hall. Eomer stood for a moment and ran after her. Lilly entered the hall and ran straight to her room.
Lilly closed her door and rushed over to the window. The one place she found solace. She put her hands over her face and took a few deep breaths. 'Maybe he thought I meant about Roryn. No, he would have said something. Who am I kidding? He knows about the marks on my back, he knew it was something more,' she thought to herself. Her thoughts were stopped when she heard the door open quickly. Lilly turned around and saw Eomer standing there concern the only emotion on his face.
"Lillyana, why did you run?" Eomer asked as he made his way over to her. Lilly shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I-" Lilly began but Eomer silenced her by raising his hand.
"Please, Lillyana, tell me what haunts you." Lilly closed her eyes and turned around so her back was to him. She wanted to tell him, out of everyone including over Eowyn and Gamling, she wanted to tell him. Lilly didn't know why she wanted to tell him. She never had that urge before, and it scared her.
"My past," she was all she whispered and she whispered so quietly he barely heard her. He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so she was facing him. Lilly kept her head bowed so she wouldn't look at him. Eomer sighed and put his right index finger under her chin and raised her face so she was looking at him. Lilly slowly raised her eyes to meet his as he moved his hand from her face. "Please, I'm not ready yet, not on my birthday. I don't want to relive it today." Eomer's eyes softened as he looked at her.
"When? When will you tell me?" She shook her head.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know." Eomer sighed and suddenly got the urge to hold her. Without warning, he gently pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. Surprised by the action it took Lilly a moment before she wrapped her arms around him and embraced him back. Eomer took a deep breath to breathe in her scent of heather and the crisp autumn wind. Lilly did the same with her head resting in the crook of his neck as he nearly lifted her from the floor as he held her close. He smelt of spice, horses, and . . . the scent that helped her sleep when she first woke from her fever. 'It's him! He's the reason why I feel so safe. Was I brought here for him?' she thought as he held her. After a few more minutes, Eomer slowly let her go and she rested back on her feet. His arms left her body and she felt cold. Lilly looked up at him and offered him a small smile.
"I shall wait until you are ready." Lilly nodded and Eomer raised his hands to the clasp of her cloak. "I shall come for you when the evening meal is ready." He took her cloak off and draped it over the bed. "Take rest until then." Lilly nodded and watched him leave, and suddenly she felt so alone, more alone than she had ever felt before.
Eowyn smiled as the last of the food was brought in. She turned around and looked at her brother as he entered the hall. "Eomer, have you just come inside?" Eowyn asked. Eomer smiled at her and shook his head.
"No, I'm afraid not. I've been in my study, Lady Lilly is in her room," he said with a smile but the thought of Lilly made his heart ache. Eowyn nodded and smiled.
"Wonderful, will you go and get her? Everything is ready." Eomer nodded and smiled. He walked down the corridor to Lilly's room. He stopped outside the closed door and raised his hand to knock. He heard her move towards the door and she slowly opened the door. Eomer gave her a slight smile and she returned it.
"Good evening, your majesty," Lilly said quietly.
"Good evening, Lillyana," Eomer said as he held out his arm. "The others await us in the dining hall." Lilly nodded and laced her arm with his and he led her down the hall. The silence between them was uncomfortable. Lilly wanted to stop him and explain everything then and there but she didn't they just continued down the hall. They soon entered the doors of the dinning hall and Lilly smiled when she saw Eowyn, Eowirethien, Faramir, Gandalf, Gamling, and several other people she didn't know, but a few guards she recognized from her stay in the dungeons. One guard stepped over to her and smiled as he bowed his head to her. Lilly felt Eomer's grip tighten slightly on her arm but she tried to keep her eyes on the man before her.
"Good evening Lady Lilly. I am Gaellyn, and I am glad to see that you are finally well," he said with a smile. Lilly nodded her head and smiled.
"Thank you," she said quietly but she returned Eomer's grip and tightened her hold on him. He looked down at her and then at Gaellyn. Gaellyn looked at Eomer and bowed his head before he stepped aside and let him and Lilly pass. They walked towards Eowyn and the others. Before she let go of Eomer's arm she looked up at him and smiled. He returned her smile and she motioned for him to lean down to her. He furrowed his brow but did as she asked. She leaned up to him and whispered in his ear. "Thank you for leading me here, your majesty, and thank you for allowing this celebration." She pulled away and smiled at him before she turned to Eowyn, who led her to the table to get something to eat.
Eomer stood and watched Lilly and his sister. Everyone else started talking and laughing and having a good time. Gandalf smiled at the king and walked over to him and placed his hands on the young man's shoulder. Eomer turned his eyes from Lilly and Eowyn and looked at the wizard. "She has become special to you has she not?" Gandalf asked. Eomer sighed. They moved from the middle of the room towards the throne, where they sat down.
"She has, but she will not tell me of her past," Eomer paused and looked at Gandalf. "She fell from a horse earlier today." Gandalf nodded.
"Yes, Eowyn told me about that. However, she seems to be doing rather well." Gandalf looked over at Lilly and saw her smiling slightly as she talked to Eowyn, but he noticed her glance at Eomer a few times. He smiled and looked back at Eomer who was looking at him with a grave face. Gandalf frowned and furrowed his brow.
"When I asked her how she was, she said she'd been through worse. You know of her past?" Gandalf nodded sadly and looked back at Lilly, who was talking a sip of her water. "It is what haunts her, what makes her weary around those she is not familiar with and fearful of men." Gandalf nodded again but kept his eyes on the king.
"Do not worry, King Eomer, she will tell you in her own time." He paused and smiled. "She trusts you a great deal, just as much as she trusts Gamling and myself." Eomer nodded and sighed.
"I suppose you are right, Gandalf." Gandalf smiled and nodded.
"She will tell you. She is just afraid that all of us will shun her for her past." Eomer furrowed his brow and looked again from Lilly to the wizard.
"Why would she think that?"
"Her past is dark and full of pain. Lilly is afraid that we will no longer care for her because of it, but knowing what I know of her makes me feel terrible for what has been done to her, and thankful that she was brought here." Gandalf sighed and shook his head. "Now is not the time to dwell on darkness, it is a time for celebration and I do believe there is a certain young woman, in need of a dancing partner." Eomer raised and eyebrow at the wizard who chuckled and patted his knee before standing and making his way over for a mug of ale. Eomer looked at Lilly and found her leaving the dining hall. He quickly stood and followed her from the dining hall to the evening air.
Lilly left the hall and wrapped her arms around her as she stepped outside. She sighed as the wind whipped around her, but she felt no cold. "Lillyana, you'll catch another fever if you do not come inside," she heard Eomer say from behind her. Lilly turned around quickly and nodded.
"I know but, I just wanted to be outside and think for a moment," Lilly said quietly. Eomer stepped closer and took her hands into his. Lilly took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes. "I'm sorry for not telling you what you want to know, your majesty." Eomer shook his head.
"I told you I shall wait until you are ready to tell me, but I had something I wanted to give you." Lilly furrowed her brow as Eomer let go her hand with his right hand and reached into the lining of his outer tunic. He pulled out an object wrapped in a deep red cloth.
"Your majesty, your gift was to teach me how to ride a horse. I do not need anything else," Lilly said quietly. Eomer shook his head.
"I want you to have this." He placed the cloth in her free hand and then slowly let go of her other hand. "Open it." Lilly looked at the cloth and then at Eomer, whose face was lit by the moonlight making him look softer and not as worn. Lilly nodded and pulled back the cloth and revealed a golden hair comb with dark green gems and clear gems in a beautiful pattern. Lilly's eyes widened and she shook her head and tried to hand it back to him.
"Your majesty, this is beautiful, but I cannot accept it. It is too much." Eomer smiled and pushed her hands back towards her and closed her fingers over the comb with his.
"I want you to have it. It was my mother's and I know it shall enhance your beauty just as it did hers." Lilly felt her cheeks heat up and blush at his words.
"Thank you," she whispered and looked up at him. "Thank you very much." He smiled at her and nodded his head he went to step away, but what she did next froze him to his spot. Lilly rose up on her tip toes and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. Eomer looked at her and she blushed once more before rushing past him and back into the hall. Eomer raised his hand to his cheek and smiled slightly before turning his dazed attention over the plains and his thoughts on a dark haired maiden.
