Here is the next chapter. Thanks to daydreamer8301 for reviewing. Hope you still like it.

Chapter 6 'Awakenings'

As she woke the next morning Willa felt so warm, safe and loved like never before in her life. She sighed opening her eyes and almost screamed out loud. A man was next to her or rather half under her. He laid on his back sleeping peacefully, his right hand rested on the small of her back and Willa's right arm lay across his bare chest.

It took several seconds until it all came back to her. The feast and how Eomer had brought her to her room, the kiss and the…what had followed. Willa groaned and turned onto her back. God, what had she been thinking? Had she really seduced him? Was it even legal here to sleep with someone if one wasn't married to him?

She had no more time to dwell on those thoughts because Eomer stirred next to her and opened his eyes. Willa turned to look at him and managed a small smile. Confusion was clearly written on his face but Willa could literally watch as he, too remembered what had happened. His eyes widened in shock and he sat up. So there Willa had an answer: what they had done that night, here usually involved only married couples.

"Where…what happened?" he asked looking at her questioningly. Willa sat up as well and contemplated what she could say.

"We…well, we did it." Which put it lightly.

Eomer groaned and passed his hands several times over his face. He knew what had happened last night even before Willa had said it. He just didn't know what to do or say or even think.

He fell back and closed his eyes trying to sort his feelings and thoughts. Willa sighed and looked at him.

"Please say something, Eomer. Anything!" she said only making him feel worse.

"Willa," he said opening his eyes. "I am sorry. It should never have come to this."

Not what she had been hoping for but still, he had said something. Willa softly traced a hand along the side of his face.

"I know but please, don't be sorry because I am not." She smiled at him but he did not return it. Her smile faded at once.

"What is it?" she asked at once knowing something was wrong, very wrong.

"Willa, it is more complicated than this. I spoke to Prince Imrahil yesterday."

"I know, I saw you. But what has it got to do with this…with us?"

Eomer took a deep breath, sat up again to look at her and took her hand.

"Willa, I…I agreed to marry his daughter. I wanted to tell you last night but you never gave me the chance to do so."

This time her eyes widened in shock. Willa felt as if the ground was ripped from under her feet, as if falling from a cliff but never reaching the bottom. Emptiness spread from her stomach to every fibre of her being. Tears shot to her eyes but she did not care if he saw them. Quietly she said: "But I thought…you and…me…. – You don't even know her."

"That will come, later. It is the way it is done here, Willa. Not all marriages are because of love," he explained. Willa felt embarrassed. She felt stupid to believe he would even think of her that way, that she thought he would love her and had chosen her as his Queen.

Suddenly she felt also angry; angry at herself, at him that he didn't stop her, angry at Eowyn for encouraging her, angry at everything.

"Well, I hope you had your fun then," she said bitterly and got up, not caring that she was naked, not caring that it was actually her who started all this.

"I am not proud of what I did, Willa," he told her.

'Well, you should be. It was amazing,' she thought but pushed that thought quickly out of her mind. She put on a robe and paced up and down in front of the bed saying: "Well, at least it's a great story to tell. I slept with the King of Rohan!"

At that Eomer got up, put on his underwear and stopped her pacing, making her look at him.

"You will not tell anyone," he half asked, half demanded. Willa gave a choked laugh.

"Yeah right, I'll go 'round telling everyone I slept with you and be known as the whore next door," she yelled back. Eomer frowned.

"I do not know what you mean by this and I doubt you know it yourself. Again I am sorry it has come to this and if it was not for the circumstances I would not regret it." That was more than Willa could take. She went at him, assailing his chest with her hands crying: "Why didn't you stop me then? Why?" He grabbed her wrists gently yet firmly and Willa completely broke down. In retrospect Willa had to marvel at how calm he stayed. Not once did he raise his voice or became really angry. He held her for a long time tightly to his chest, softly caressing her back and Willa silently sobbed until no more tears would come. And she knew then what she had to do, for both of their sakes. Willa swallowed, took a deep breath, stood tall and looked at him.

"I apologize for the trouble I have caused you, my Lord. I sought love which you are not able to give. And I think it best if you leave now," she said without any emotion and turned away from him.

For a long time, Eomer did not move nor say anything. To him Willa had never been more beautiful than just there and then as she stood tall and with tear-stained face and puffy, red eyes. He saw the deep pain all this had caused her, he had caused her and for a split second he listened to his heart.

"But I…there is," he started. Willa turned to look at him.

"Yes?" A sliver of hope sparked off in her but was at once extinguished when he said: "Nothing!"

Eomer quickly put on most of his clothes and after a curt goodbye left. Willa stood at the window gazing into the sky, tears again rolling down her cheeks and for the first time in those 3 weeks she had been here thought of home, longed for it. True, she had talked about it but before now had never really missed it or thought about missing it.

Willa sighed and wiped away the tears. She would be strong. She would get through it and go on with her life, even if she never returned home. She knew she could do it. She was a Cowgirl, for gods' sake.

Yet, the feeling of loosing more than her best friend could not be eased.

The tears overtaking her once again, she fell face down onto her bed and cried herself to sleep.

The gentle touch to her shoulder and the soft call of her name woke Willa up. She breathed in deeply and her nostrils filled with his scent. For a few moments she thought he was still there, that everything else only had been a dream. Yet when she opened her eyes she was quite disappointed to see Eowyn sit on the edge of her bed.

"Good morning, Willa. I thought I'd look for you since you missed breakfast. Come, get up, Willa it is such a lovely day," Eowyn said.

Willa snorted rather unlady-like. Lovely day, indeed. At once everything came bubbling up again.

"Why didn't you tell me exactly what you meant, yesterday? I have gone and made a fool of myself. God, Eowyn. I seduced you brother. I fucking slept with him!" she yelled at a startled Eowyn. Even though she was shocked (and Willa's profane language did not improve that) Eowyn nodded. She had detected a change in Eomer that morning at breakfast. He was sullen and seemed depressed. And this explained why.

"I tried to but you did not here me. I am sorry, Willa. I had not thought of what it would mean to you. I…I did not realise you are in love with my brother until it was already too late. I am truly sorry."

Willa sighed and her shoulders slumped forward.

"Well, it's too late. It's already done," she said gravely.

Both were silent for a while, deep in thought. It became clear to Willa that she could not and would not stay. She needed to leave and soon. She did not belong here. Quickly she got out of bed and walked to the small wardrobe. It was not until Willa was almost completely dressed that Eowyn noticed she was not in her bed anymore.

"What are you doing?" she asked turning to look at Willa.

"I'm getting dressed. What else does it look like?" Willa gave back rather harshly regretting it instantly.

"I'm sorry, Eowyn. I didn't want it to come out that way."

Eowyn stood and smiled at her.

"'Tis alright, Willa. Why are you dressing in your work clothes?"

Willa sighed and finished tying her hair in a bun. Donning her chaps, mostly to avert Eowyn's eyes she said: "I'm going to leave this place. I'm going to try and go home. And don't try to stop me, Eowyn. I have to do it. I do not belong here." Not even thinking about stopping Willa Eowyn nodded. She walked over to where Willa was still busy with her clothes and hugged her.

"I will not stop you, Willa but I will surly miss you. You have become such a dear friend in this short of time." Here she paused and pulled away.

"Please take this small token to remember me…us by," she finished, unfastened her necklace and handed it to Willa.

"Thank you, Eowyn. I will never forget you." And with that Willa put on her Stetson, and walked out ofthe room.

A/N: Okay, that was that! I have a slight problem b/c I have more than one end to this story and I don't know which one is better, so it can take a while until the next update. If you have any suggestions...they are more than welcome!