A/N: Have a great long weekend, all (for those of you that get one). These 3 chapters wrap up this rewrite. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing Eomer's view of it all. I do have another Elfwine Chronicle ready so that should post sometime this weekend or Monday.

Tracey – "E/F tales are my first fanfic love" – while I've never felt inclined to write a strictly E/F story, in my longer stories where there is interaction with E/F, they usually get a nice little bit. I'm rather fond of them myself! Even if I don't do a full-blown story with them, there are many ways they can sneak into pending Elfwine Chronicles…

Chapter 13

Unfortunately, our reconciliation meant that I had to return to Rohan. And, so, we found ourselves saying goodbye yet again. I was learning to hate farewells tremendously, for they wrenched at me more every time I had to do it.

She stood in my room, watching while I closed my bag and sent it with a servant to be packed. Then I turned to her and put my hands on her shoulders. For awhile, neither of us spoke, but then I said quietly, "Since you warned me to stay away from Danwen when last we parted, I think it only fair that I insist you stay away from Ardrion!"

She smiled reluctantly and told me, "Do not be silly, my love. My supposed involvement with Ardrion was nothing more than a ploy to see you again before March!"

I could not restrain from chuckling. "I almost believe that! Do you have other plans for January and February, or are you still working out the details?"

"I think Father is beginning to be suspicious. I may have to curtail my stratagems now. Though, if a good enough opportunity presents itself, I will not hesitate to take advantage of it!"

I smiled and rested my forehead against hers. "I trust your wisdom in such matters, but, please, no more former lovers threatening to take you from me. I could not bear to lose you."

"Nor I, you. But you should know that even when I was uncertain what my feelings were for Ardrion, I very much wanted them to be nothing more than friendship, and to know that my heart was truly and completely yours."

I held her closer, grateful for that added reassurance, and we stood tightly wrapped in each other's arms. Finally, with a sigh, I whispered, "I must go. Everyone will be waiting and it is not the kind of day I wish to make them sit out in."

Before I could pull away, she reached for me and caught my lips in a kiss. As the kiss slowly ended, she murmured, "Let that keep you warm on your journey, my love."

And, too soon, she was watching me ride away. Once again our long vigil began.

During the trip home, I noticed Kialmar smiling more often, as if he held a secret dear, and at length he confided one night around the campfire that he had gotten Miren's approval to court her. Apparently all their time spent together in Minas Tirith had sparked an attraction, and I could truly say I was very happy for them. This meant I would not be the only man in Edoras who watched eagerly for Dol Amroth's arrival in March.

We do not get a lot of snow on the plains of Rohan, so it was sometimes difficult to remind myself that messengers between Gondor and our city would be hampered by such, even though I knew it to be true. Despite the circumstances of my visit, I had taken more letters to Thiri for her to add to her collection, and she returned to writing to me once she no longer feared to do so.

I reread her letters often, and waited impatiently for the spring thaw.

xxxxx

I think I had almost convinced myself that March would never come – that Sauron had somehow managed to destroy it before his demise just to torture me. But, at last it arrived and there seemed too much that still needed doing before the wedding party and guests began to make their appearance.

The servants were scrubbing Meduseld with great excitement and fervor, though keeping it clean, in the face of the spring rains and subsequent spring mud, proved challenging. As the day of Lothiriel's arrival drew nearer, I grew more excited and more nervous.

I was certain of my love for her and my earnest desire to make her my wife and queen, but I worried that she would find life in Rohan unsatisfying. While she had enjoyed her visits, she had not spent a great deal of time here, and likely did not yet understand how much work there would be and how hard life could be. Our existence, even as royalty, was not nearly so easy and luxurious as she would have enjoyed in the finer cities of Minas Tirith and Dol Amroth. Could she truly be happy with just me and my rough ways, sharing a new home in a rough country? Everywhere I looked around me, I saw things with new eyes, and I hoped that when the blush of love had eased a bit, she would not be too overwhelmed with what she saw or too chagrined at her new situation.

I kept telling myself I was being foolish in my fears, but I very much needed Lothiriel here to laugh at me and convince me that it was so.

At last the wedding party was spotted approaching Edoras the next day, and a party of Rohirrim rode out to meet them and escort them in. My advisers insisted it was inappropriate for me to go and greet them in person, so I paced the Golden Hall, impatiently awaiting their arrival. Gamling, to his credit, mostly managed to conceal his amused grin when he came to inform me they had entered the city gates.

Amid the bustle of getting everyone settled into their quarters for the duration, and excited talk from all about our purpose for gathering, Lothiriel and I were swept apart in the crowd with little more than a chaste kiss of greeting.

I didn't see her again until after supper, when Faramir engaged the two of us in conversation and began walking away from the assembled host, without our even realizing it. When we were off to the side and not so readily noticed, he ended the conversation, gave us an amused grin and excused himself. At first Lothiriel was puzzled by his peculiar behavior, but I caught on more quickly and seized her hand to lead her to my study before anyone spotted us. I would thank Faramir profusely later.

At last we were alone and in each other's arms. As I held her, I said, "I hear there was trouble on the road. Are you well?"

She nodded and sighed. "It seems, in addition to everything else, both nature and orcs conspire to keep us apart!"

I hesitantly smiled, then asked quietly, "Do you take it to be a sign that we should not be together?"

She looked up into my eyes, that were reserved, yet hopeful, about her response. "I take it to be a sign that you and I will do wonderful things as the King and Queen of Rohan, and our children will do equally wonderful things. The forces of evil do not want that to happen, but I will not be dissuaded! Make no mistake about it, I will be your wife!"

I smiled, with relief and amusement. "Good! We have had such difficulty getting here that I was a little afraid you might not think it worth all the trouble."

She seemed to understand my feelings, but even so, she glanced up at me with a wily grin and replied, "But I must marry you, Eomer." My eyes narrowed and she continued, "If I do not, how can I ever hope to see you barefoot in a skirt?"

I laughed heartily, and wiped tears away as I choked out, "If that is what is required to get you to go through with this wedding, then I do solemnly promise, you shall see me so!"

Alas, Gamling put in appearance and apologetically drew us back to the gathering, and so arm in arm, we returned to our guests.

As the evening wore on, I was looking forward to its end, and either getting to bed or finding an opportunity to slip away with Lothiriel and stay up very late talking and 'smooching'. But by the time the celebrants began to disperse, I had been waylaid by the men and dragged into a night of drinking and boasting. I knew my vague hopes of a romantic liaison in the moonlight were not likely to come to fruition.

Lothiriel cast a yearning gaze at me before reluctantly heading off to bed, understanding that I was lost to her this night.