A/N: Just wanted to say thanks to all those great reviewers who've stuck with me from the start of this crazy journey. And a special mention to these fantastic people who've encouraged me to go on: Flipperjlw, Leah and Sativa you guys rule!!. ( As for the story the background is set, so the sky's the limit from now. Hang on to your monitors cause this is gonna be the journey of a century. And as always don't forget to review!! One more thing the rating is going to change during the course of the fiction so I'll inform everyone as it occurs.

It felt good to feel the sun kissed wind blowing through her tresses once again Èowyn thought as they galloped across the lush, green fields. They had been riding almost for an entire day, stopping only to refresh their mounts and themselves. Mateje and Èowyn had remained with each other for the entire day, laughing gaily like two old friends after an unbearable separation.

The men were more sombre. Talking softly between themselves as they rode at a relaxing pace glancing behind occasionally to see if the women were abreast. Legolas smiled brilliantly at his love behind him and wished for nothing more than to take her in his arms, feeling the warmth of her smooth, silky skin upon his lips. Thinking of his lady love he blushed dully and glanced quickly at Aragorn hoping he did not notice the crimsoning of his pale skin. He was in luck, for the King seemed preoccupied in his own dreams. In this state, Legolas had often wondered if he thought of Arwen.

Arwen Undomiel. Had she regretted the choice she had made? Was she happy in Valinor? Together with her kit and kin yet unable to be with the one she had loved as much as her own family. Where ever she was, he uttered a silent prayer for safety and happiness. It had been hard for Aragorn to move on. She was his only consolation and hope and yet she left. He remembered the look on his friend's face as he told him the news. The ring of Barahir and the Evenstar splayed in his palm. It was a face of confusion and hopelessness. It had pained him to see this courageous mortal, who had endured a lifetime of pain for the sake of others, had his only source of light extinguished.

Now two years after Arwen's departure, Legolas witnessed a kindling of something in Aragorn's eyes every time he beheld the Lady of Rohan. Long had he known of Aragorn's withheld affection for the Lady of the Mark, yet his loyalty to Arwen surpassed any inclination of attraction for Èowyn. Yet despite knowing Aragorn for almost sixty years, he had been unable to decipher his true feelings for Èowyn. Aragorn had automatically dismissed her as long as Arwen occupied his every thought, but there were numerous occasions where Legolas had questioned his loyalty.

Watching the mortal, with his love he could understand why Faramir had become instantly besotted with her. There was a magical aura surrounding this woman. Her beauty was surpassed only by her courage and compassion. He had never met any female mortal who could be her equal in his two thousand plus years. Lady Èowyn, was a special individual destined for great deeds, whether it would be as Lady of the Mark or even Queen of Gondor. He was fond of her and wanted Aragorn to be happy maybe together with Matejé they could instigate something between them in the course of this journey.

"Should we set up camp soon Aragorn?" he asked referring to the setting sun, casting brilliant shades of orange mingled with deep reds across the quickly darkening sky.

"Yes. We have done much riding for the day and I am positive the ladies are as bone weary as we are. It has been quite sometime since we have ridden for such a long period. It seems I have been stagnant for too long." Aragorn replied laughing softly.

"Adventure less maybe but not stagnant." The elf responded smiling at his friend.

"You know me only too well Legolas. We should rest among those boulders which lay before us." The king replied pointing to a collection of small hills not more than one hundred feet in front of them.

"Very well Aragorn. I shall inform the women." He replied turning his mount for the women behind.

"Forgive my interruption ladies. We are resting for the night in the hills yonder." Legolas replied to the laughing women.

"Thank you. Master Elf." Èowyn replied. " I shall accompany King Elessar for the rest of our ride. I fear I have impinged upon your good nature, by taking the gracious Lady Matejé's company for the entire day." She said smiling at him.

"Nay my Lady, that is impossible. For I carry the image of my Lady in my heart." He said and Mateje coloured at once.

"Nevertheless....." Èowyn replied laughing gently. "You deserve time with her. I shall take my leave from you until we arrive at our destination." She replied and urged Mafusa forward to join Brego's relaxed canter.

"My Lady you honour me with your presence." Aragorn said with a small smile as she rode next to him.

"I wished to give Lady Matejé a respite from my company. Legolas seemed to be somewhat out of sorts without her." She replied wittily. "It is not in my nature to keep lovers apart."

Aragorn looked at her quizzically his eyes clouded briefly for a moment but he said nothing. If only she knew what major role she had played in the departure of Arwen she would have retracted those words hastily. Yet he would not blame Èowyn for one mere moment. She who had sacrificed everything she loved for the happiness she craved. The one thing she had asked of him and he could not return. Though he told no one there were days during the War where thoughts of her had kept him going. Her courage in her own battle with the Nazgul king and the thought of her in the House of Healing awaiting the safe return of her dear ones had spurred him to even greater heights.

She was the icon of hope in the men. Her valour had encouraged them to limits they could not possibly fathom. Even Elladan and Elrohir were amazed by her deeds and her beauty. They stated on numerous occasions she was indeed the fairest woman among all the mortals they had known. Word had reached Arwen's ears of this woman's deeds and though she had never met Èowyn, she was afraid of the bond between Aragorn and the descendant of Eorl.

Their demise had culminated on the day of his coronation. Words were said, bitter on her part, cajoling on his. He pleaded with her to stay but her decision was already made. She would leave for Valinor at the end of his crowning and leave she did never to heard of in Middle Earth again. It was her parting words to him which sealed their fate and the end of their tale.

"I hope you are happy now with this Èowyn of Rohan, Estel. It seems she deserves you more than me, even after all we have endured to be together." She had said bitterly and returned the Ring of Barahir to him before leaving with Elrond.

He had watched her until she was no more than a speck of dust in the horizon and then had calmly walked away among the rejoicing Gondorians. His heart shorn in two and he greatly ached for his mother Gilraen.

"My Lord.... My Lord" Èowyn's gentle voice called out to him from his reverie and he smiled sadly at the fair Lady.

"Forgive me Èowyn, I seem to have drifted away. What were you asking me?" he asked gently offering her a small smile of apology.

"Nothing of importance my liege." She replied.

"Aragorn. Lady Èowyn just Aragorn." He replied laughing. "Let us be free of the ways of the court on this journey. I wish simply to be the ranger you knew for this time." He said and she nodded thoughtfully.

"As you wish Aragorn. Then this agreement applies to me as well." She responded. "I shall welcome sleep tonight. It has been a long time I have been on such a gruelling ride." She stated and he laughed merrily.

"You are not alone in that though Èowyn. I fear I have allowed myself the comforts of royal life." He said wittily. "Ah we are almost there. I spy a promising spot for it seems as though the weather is about to change." He said pointing to a small cave and looking upwards to the darkening sky with spots of grey clouds hovering menacingly above them.

She pulled her cloak tightly around her as the wind began to change suddenly from a calm evening breeze into a harsh torrent and spurred Mafusa quickly to the circle of granite marking the entrance of the cave. Quickly dismounting she led him to the alcove of rocks.

"Be free my friend. Lead the others to a safe place for it seems tonight shall be harsh." She whispered stroking his black silky head. He whinnied as if understanding his command and trotted off into the black night with Brego and the others behind him.

"They shall be safe until morning." She said to the others as they watched their mounts disappear. "Mafusa has been born and bred among these plains. He shall keep them safe." She explained and they nodded.

Aragorn stood at the mouth of the cave brandishing Andruil as well as a torch he had retrieved from his knapsack and entered tentatively, followed by Legolas and the women.

"It seems we are not the first to be here." Aragorn stated pointing to a bundle of dry wood and a burnt fireplace.

"Orc or man?" Èowyn asked and peered at her surroundings. "West Emnet is known for Rohirric travellers rather than Orcs." She stated.

"I agree. It does not seem to be the work of Orcs. Yet we should remain on guard." Aragorn replied grimly. "I shall take first watch." He said to the group before him.

"And I shall relieve you Aragorn." Legolas stated firmly.

"What about us?" Èowyn demanded. "We can stand watch as well." She said her eyes blazing in the light.

"Peace my dear Lady." Legolas replied laughing. "You shall have your turn tomorrow night. Tonight you must rest. For I am certain we are all bone weary." He said gently, calmly the bristling woman.

"Legolas is right dear Èowyn, we all need some rest tonight. Tomorrow shall be our turn." Matejé repeated smiling at her friend, cajoling a small smile from the blonde woman.

"Then that is settled. Let us eat! I am famished." Aragorn said heading for the wood and fireplace. The wind howled like a hungry animal and together with the constant pounding of the rain it was unbearable. Èowyn awoke fitfully from her slumber looking around at her surroundings. Legolas and Matejé slept side by side, huddled together for warmth. She smiled at them and turned towards the crackling fire and saw through its haze the outline of Aragorn huddled at the mouth of the cave.

She rose and walked towards him, her heavy mantle blowing in the wind. He had fallen asleep and the rain stung him, but he did not feel. She knelt before him the wind blowing her hair wildly about her face, and she tenderly removed a lock of brown hair which had fallen to his face. Her long fingers, stroking his lean face gently.

Then he awoke and swiftly held her hand. She was in shock to utter a word. He stroked her face gently with his free hand her skin warming to his soft touches and in his eyes, lay an emotion she had never seen in him before. It was desire. Pure unadulterated need. He leaned forward and enclosed her into his frame with one sudden movement and kissed her gently, probing into her being. She resisted at first but her heart gave into the moment and soon she was caught in the tide of emotional freedom.

"Never leave me again my love, my Evenstar." He said and settled back into his slumber.

Èowyn's face paled instantly and she stood frozen to her spot. Grief stricken she made her way back to her sleeping spot and wept silently.