I tried to post yesterday but I couldn't log in, anyway. I hope you like this chapter and thank you for the reviews and keep them coming. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Lilly.


Chapter 16: A Plan is Born

The next morning Lilly woke to strong arms around her body, and her head resting on a strong shoulder. She had a slight headache but she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Eomer's sleeping face. Lilly smiled as the sun shined on his tan face and his golden hair laid across the pillow. He looked every bit the God he was sleeping next to her and she smiled. 'I could definitely get used to waking up to this sight every morning,' Lilly thought as she raised her right hand and ran her fingers across his left cheek and down his jaw line. She saw his eyelids flutter and she stopped the movement of her fingers and moved her hand to rest on his chest. Eomer's eyes opened and he blinked several times but then quickly looked down and into Lilly's eyes. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"Good morning, little one," he said his voice still full of sleep. Lilly smiled at him.

"Good morning," she said. "There is much to do today." Eomer nodded.

"Aye there is." Eomer gave her a smile and pulled her closer to him so she was nearly laying on him. Lilly's heart rate increased quickly and she tried her best to keep her breathing regular but being that close to him was making her feel things she had never felt before. "I suppose we should rise." Lilly smiled at him and nodded.

"I suppose so." Eomer smiled and kissed her lips lightly before he reluctantly pulled away from her and climbed from the bed. Lilly sat up and watched him as he pulled on his boots and his outer tunic. He picked up his belt and sword and turned to face her. Eomer's breath nearly caught at the sight of her sitting there in that bed. The white linens piled in her lap, her dark hair flowing freely around her and even though it was a little knotted and messy from her sleep she was beautiful. Lilly smiled at him and for the first time in her life she felt free. Eomer returned her smile and walked over to her. He leaned over the bed and kissed her softly. He pulled away and smiled at her as she slowly opened her eyes and smiled back at him.

"After you dress I shall be waiting for you in the hall. There is much that needs to be discussed and you need to be there." Lilly nodded and Eomer stood and left her room. Lilly sighed and climbed from the bed. She quickly washed and dressed in a dark maroon dress and left her hair down. She slid on matching slippers and made her way to the door. When she opened it she smiled when she saw Eomer standing there dressed in a dark green tunic and black leggings and his boots with his sword at his side.

'Always the warrior,' Lilly thought as he smiled at her. He held out his arm and she laced her arm with his and they made their way to Aragorn's study where the others were waiting for them.


Aragorn sat behind his desk his chin resting in his hand. Eomer paced the floor and Legolas stood next to Aragorn's desk looking off into the distance. Gimli sat in the chair next to Lilly's. Lilly just watched as Eomer paced. "There has to be another way," Eomer whispered. He stopped and faced Aragorn. "We cannot use her as bait. What if something goes wrong and she is hurt?" Aragorn looked at Lilly and saw that her face was neutral. He furrowed his brow, usually the young woman's face was full of emotion. Lilly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Eomer," she said as she stood and he looked at her. Lilly walked over to him and placed her small hands into his. He squeezed her hands and his brown eyes met her blue ones. "It is the only way. We've sat in here for the last three hours and it's the only solution. We will leave for Edoras tomorrow morning with our small party. Gondor's soldiers shall follow but at a distance and far enough away so they are not detected. Legolas will hear the Wildmen before they approach and they will charge the army to join us. I will not get hurt." Eomer shook his head and looked at Aragorn.

"Is there any other way?" he asked as he clung to her hands.

"None unless you plan to remain in Minas Tirith until they storm upon you here," Aragorn said as he stood and walked over to Eomer and Lilly. "If we are to draw them out into the open and bring them forth we shall have the advantage."

"But what if they outnumber us and we are over powered," Eomer said. For the first time in his life he worried about a battle, not for his life or the lives of his fellow soldiers but for the life of his love, the one he could not stand to lose. Aragorn just looked at Eomer, never in the time that he knew the man had he seen him as such. "What if we are over powered and she is taken, what then?" Aragorn was about to speak when Lilly raised her hand and forced Eomer to face her.

"Eomer, this is not the man I know you are! Do not be afraid for me! You know and I know that as long as you and the others stand by my side no harm shall come to me," she said. Eomer just looked at her and knew he was acting the fool. He felt himself blush slightly but she gave him a kind smile. "I want you to teach me what you can about using a sword. In case worse comes to worse, I want to be able to defend myself a little bit." Eomer nodded and Aragorn smiled as he turned to face Legolas who was also smiling. "You all have faced much, much worse than a band of Wildmen. You faced the dark lord's worst minions and lived to tell the tale. I will not leave you, ever," she whispered the last line but she knew Legolas still heard her and probably Aragorn did too but she didn't care.

"Like I said before, laddie, they'd have to answer to my axe before they touched a dark hair on her head," Gimli said as he stood and walked over to Eomer. Eomer looked down at the dwarf and smiled. He looked at Lilly and when his eyes met hers he knew she was right. "Besides, I think this lass has a fire in her much like your sister." Lilly laughed and looked at the dwarf.

"I think I do too, Gimli. I just have to find it," Lilly said as she let go of Eomer's hands.

"It is settled then," Aragorn said. Lilly looked at the great king and nodded. "I will call the soldiers to gather. We will ensure both of your safety." Lilly nodded and stopped Aragorn before he could walk away. Aragorn looked down at her and she smiled up at him. Lilly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and embraced him tightly. Aragorn chuckled quietly and returned her embrace.

"You truly are a greater man than I ever thought you would be, King Elessar," she whispered to him. She pulled away and looked up at him and he furrowed his brow at her but Lilly just smiled at him. "Thank you." Aragorn nodded at her and quickly left the room followed by Legolas and Gimli. Lilly looked at Eomer who seemed troubled. She walked over to him and took his hands. He wrapped his much larger hands around her small ones and pulled them up so they rested on his chest. Lilly looked into his eyes and saw his worry. Lilly just shook her head and smiled. "Eomer, you are the great King of Rohan, you were the brave Third Marshall of the Mark that led those true to Rohan into battle without so much as a second thought. There is no need for the worry in your eyes now." Eomer sighed and closed his eyes as he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. "Eomer, you once told your sister that war was the trouble of men, and you are right but sometimes women are brought in the middle of that war." Eomer lifted his head and looked at her.

"How do you know that?" he asked quietly. Lilly shook her head and removed her right hand from his and cupped his left cheek.

"I know many things about you, King Elessar, and the others, but that is not important right now. What's important is that you remember who you are and what you stand for. Remember the strong and true land you come from and you remember how bravely your uncle stood for your country when he felt all was lost. Now, the only thing that you stand to lose is me, and I am not that great of possession to lose." She gave him a small smile but his look told her otherwise. "You will see all will be well, Eomer." She gently caressed his cheek and smiled as he closed his eyes. "You'll see." Eomer opened his eyes and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her close and embraced her before taking her lips with his and kissing her slowly and deeply. Lilly sighed and gave in to the kiss letting him take in all of her. After a moment they slowly pulled away from each other, both breathless and dizzy from the passion they just shared from one simple kiss. Lilly looked up at him and smiled. Eomer smirked at her and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

"Now, about those sword lessons?" she asked teasingly. Eomer chuckled and kissed her once more before he led her from the hall to the armory to get her a sword.