A/N: In honor of Veteran's Day (Eomer is a veteran, you know), I'm posting two chapters in one day. Besides, this chapter may show a little more clearly that we are, in fact, headed in an Eomer/Lothiriel direction despite the Eothain goodness...
Chapter 5 (early Oct)
Lothiriel paused outside the king's door, listening for the sounds of disurbance she had heard a moment ago. They came again, and she recognized the jumbled sound of someone dreaming. Reluctantly she lifted the latch on the door and entered the room. A full moon streamed through the window, easily lighting the chamber, and she turned toward the bed where Eomer was thrashing and moaning, calling out periodically. Most of the words were mumbled and incomprehensible, but a few slipped through and it was enough for her to know the dream involved battle...and Eowyn.
She moved to the foot of the bed, safely out of his reach, knowing how dangerous it could be to approach a sleeping soldier. She firmly called his name a few times and, when that got no results, she reached forward and caught his foot, shaking it hard. Abruptly he launched up in the bed, and she hastily released him and sidestepped, still calling his name. She could tell by the confused, rapid blinking he was doing that he was not yet full awake and cognizant of her presence, but at length his face cleared and he noticed her standing before him.
"Lothiriel?" He rubbed his face with both hands. "Is something the matter? Why are you here?"
She moved slowly around to the side of the bed. "You were dreaming, Eomer, and in distress. I came to wake you." She sat down, turned to face him, and he was a bit disconcerted by her actions. Some part of his mind kept insisting it was inappropriate for her to be here, but he was too disoriented to fully comprehend the situation.
"I am sorry if I disturbed you. Please, go back to bed. I will be fine now. If you like, tomorrow we can move you to a room farther away so it will not happen again." The words tumbled out rotely, and he was almost unaware of what he was saying, but she took no notice.
"I did not come to complain of the disturbance, Eomer. I came to help ease your torment." He turned to look at her curiously in the moonlight, and she continued, "What were you dreaming? I heard you mention Eowyn and it obviously dealt with battle."
Eomer was not sure he wanted to talk about this, but perhaps it would help him get back to sleep, and it didn't appear she intended to leave until he did. Slowly, he told her, "It is the same dream all the time. I dream of the Pelennor fields. Of finding Theoden and being named his heir before he died. Of finding Eowyn, seemingly dead. I thought I had lost everything...everyone. I went mad with grief and hopelessness. I went on a rampage of killing, hacking and slashing at every orc and uruk and other enemy I could get my sword into. I felt nothing but anger and despair, and was convinced I was to die. I fought so blindly that I got myself and my men into a situation where we were outnumbered. Imrahil and Gondor's army came to our aid, but if Aragorn had not arrived to help, I might have caused many needless deaths." His voice trailed off into silence, as he leaned forward onto his raised knees with tears flowing down his face.
"Lie down," Lothiriel instructed softly.
He looked at her, cautiously and surprised. "Lie down," she repeated, "on your side."
With a sigh, he did as she told him and looked up at her questioningly. Her hand reached over and began to stroke his head, and it struck him that it reminded him strongly of the way his mother used to soothe him when he had a bad dream as a boy. She began humming a low tune, but interspersed with it, she began speaking in a gentle voice. The effect was almost as if she was singing to him, and to his amazement, he felt his muscles starting to unbunch and relax. "Many men, most men, would have despaired in such a situation, and likely done something just as reckless in their anguish. You believed you were to die and you determined to take as many of them with you as possible before that happened. You did not know if it would make a difference to the outcome of the battle, but with your last breath you fought to defend friend and family and home. There is no dishonor in that."
She fell quiet a few moments, still stroking his head and humming, then directed, "Think of one of your happiest memories, Eomer."
He was becoming so relaxed, he felt almost on the edge of sleep again, but after a moment he responded, "My happiest memories are when I was a child, before my parents died. Once, at harvest season, many workers had gone to pick the apples from the trees. The children who were old enough either helped, or watched the younger children in the orchard. I was eight and Eowyn was four. I remember we played hide and seek for a while and then, even at that young age, she wanted me to teach her to use a sword." His mouth curled up at the memory.
"Describe it to me. Was it a warm day or cool? Was the sun shining? Birds singing? What did you hear, smell?" Lothiriel questioned softly.
Sleepily Eomer murmured, "It was a cool day, but the sun was bright. The darkness of Mordor had not yet overshadowed us. I remember the sound of childish laughter, mingling with twittering birds. I remember scolding mothers when a child did something foolish or dangerous. I remember...Eowyn. With her braids and her freckles and her...smile. After our parents died, I did not see that smile very often ever again."
Drawing him back to the happy memory, Lothiriel asked, "Did you sneak any apples to eat?"
He chuckled, "We snuck so many we did not want to eat the meal our mothers brought for us. And when we were finished, the baskets were loaded into wagons and the children got to ride on the back end, with our legs dangling out. Father came and met us on our way back home, and I got to ride behind him while Eowyn rode in front of him on his horse." Eomer's voice had drifted so far into sleep that his words were almost unintelligble now.
And still Lothiriel hummed and stroked his head, until the deepness of his breathing told her he was finally asleep. Stiffly, she rose and moved slowly to the door, glancing back once before she stepped into the hall, and closed it behind her. She pinched the bridge of her nose with weariness and sorrow. The war might be over and Sauron's evil defeated, but its effects would linger for a very long time – in the fatherless homes, in the maimed bodies of men, and in the tortured memories of the soldiers who fought. She had sat up nights like this with her brothers, since the fall of Sauron, and always it tore at her heart to see those dear to her so wounded. She knew they were not alone in it. How many other wives and sisters and mothers spent long hours consoling and comforting the men in their lives?
Wearily she returned to her room and fell into a tearful slumber.
xxxxx
When Eomer awoke he had the strangest feeling of disorientation. Last night...he recalled the nightmare, and then he was dreaming about Eowyn...but somehow Lothiriel was in there also. Was it real or dream? As he came more fully awake, he was more convinced that she had actually been in his room last night, comforting him, but he couldn't quite piece all the details together. He could ask her, he supposed, but what would she think if it had been a dream...or if it had not and he didn't remember?
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he rose and began dressing. Perhaps she would mention it, if it truly happened, and if she did not, he did not know if he would risk broaching the subject, despite his curiosity.
At the morning meal, Eowyn and Lothiriel chattered away unmindful of his quietness, and missing the glances he threw in Lothiriel's direction. When they were done eating, Eowyn departed to her daily tasks, so before Gamling could claim him for the day, Eomer asked, "Lothiriel, may I speak with you a moment?"
She nodded agreeably, and he led her to his study. When she was seated, he started to sit as well, but instead began pacing the room as he sought the proper wording for his query.
Almost as if she sensed what distressed him, she asked quietly, "I did not hear you again in the night. Did you sleep better?"
His head whipped around and he eyed her disconcertedly. It was a little unnerving to have her able to read him so easily. Finally, he nodded. "I did. I...I confess I do not remember what exactly happened..."
She gave him a gentle smile. "Then let me fill you in on the particulars. You were having a nightmare, which I could hear. I came to your room and woke you. You explained what the nightmare was about, and then I helped you focus your thoughts on more pleasant memories to enable you to drift back into a more peaceful slumber."
He sat down behind his desk and stared at his hands, feeling very vulnerable that she had seen him in such weakness. He had not even let Eowyn know about the nightmares as he knew it would worry her. He supposed his fears for his people and anxiety over Eowyn's leaving had rekindled them, and talking about Rohan's troubled past with Lothiriel had not helped either.
Softly, Lothiriel reassured him, "Eomer, there is no shame in this. My brothers sometimes suffer the same thing, and I have gone to them in the night to help them through it, as I did you. No one who has seen battle firsthand comes out of it unscathed. Even Eowyn sometimes has nightmares."
His eyes came up to meet hers, alarmed at this final bit of news. "Eowyn has nightmares?"
She nodded. "Does that surprise you, considering what she faced in battle? It is one of the things that made her recovery so difficult."
"Does...have you gone to her and helped her through it?"
"Yes. That is how I know of them. She would never have spoken of it to me otherwise, any more than you would have. It is a sorry, hidden legacy of war."
Eomer pondered her words a few moments, then gazed at her acceptingly. "Thank you. I appreciate your help."
"No thanks are necessary, my friend. It is the least I can do for those who fought to protect me and my country." Rising, she smiled with understanding. "And, now, I suspect Gamling is anxious to get to you and begin your day, and Eothain will be expecting me soon for my riding lesson."
Lending emphasis to her words, there was a knock at the door, and he escorted her to it, opening to admit Gamling as she departed. He watched her move away down the hall, before turning his attention back to his Doorward and the matters of the kingdom.
xxxxx
Later that afternoon, Gamling brought up the subject of the soon-to-be departure for Minas Tirith, and Eowyn's wedding. He had sketched out the details of what they needed to take with them, who would be going, what matters needed to be dealt with before they left and so forth.
Eomer found himself only half listening. Eowyn's wedding. Imrahil would be there as well, and likely expect his daughter to remain when the Eorlingas returned to their homeland.
He had not discussed Lothiriel's plans with her, but he supposed he should do so now. There was, of course, the possibility that Imrahil would think her not sufficiently improved, and encourage her to return and stay longer, but Lothiriel had missed her home greatly. He was not sure Imrahil could find enough inducement for her to remain this time.
Once Gamling had left him, he stared out the window for a while, considering things. With a sigh, he rose. He might as well get this over with. If she was leaving for good, it was better to begin planning for that eventuality.
He found Lothiriel where he had expected – in the garden. He glanced around at the work she had done during her time in Rohan and was impressed. The garden had languished over the years, never really tended after the death of Elfhild. There had been a royal gardener once, but war and unrest had overshadowed much interest in such matters for many years.
"Will you spare a moment to talk?" he asked, coming to a stop next to her.
Looking up from where she was working the soil, she nodded and began brushing the dirt from her hands. He offered his hand and she took it to rise, following him to a nearby bench.
He studied the sky a few moments, disinclined to begin the conversation, but knowing it was necessary. Abruptly, he asked, "We leave for Minas Tirith in a week. Have you decided what you will do then? Would you return to Dol Amroth or would you stay in Rohan longer?"
She had been reluctant to remain here when her family left in August, so he rather suspected his question was pointless. Obviously, she would be more than ready to see her home and family once more.
To his surprise, she answered his question with one of her own. "What would you have me do?"
He turned to her, startled, and stammered, "What do you mean? It is not my decision to make."
"No, it is not. But Eowyn will not be returning with you, and there is still so very much that needs doing here. If my assistance would be helpful to you for a while longer, I would be happy to remain through the winter and do what I can. The wedding will afford me an opportunity to spend time with my family before we are separated again."
Eomer was unprepared for the feeling of pleasure that washed through him at her offer. It had occurred to him how much he would miss Eowyn, both as his sister and for the help she gave him in taking on the kingship and rebuilding their country. During her time here, Lothiriel had gone out of her way to make herself useful to him. Imrahil had not exaggerated her knowledge and understanding of political matters, and he had found her counsel to be invaluable.
Moreover, she was much like Eowyn in that he found it easy to talk with her about any manner of things, even deeply personal ones. Things he would share with his sister were not always things he felt comfortable sharing with his male friends. Lothiriel's presence would certainly ease his pangs over missing Eowyn. Yes, perhaps, since she was willing, it would be advisable to have her remain longer in Rohan. Certainly there was still much that needed doing...
Trying not to appear too eager, he told her, "I would welcome you remaining in Rohan and helping to ease the transition. By spring, I think we would be better situated so that I could manage on my own. If you truly do not mind staying, that is."
She smiled at him. "I do not mind, Eomer, or I would not have offered." She paused, then looked closely at him, "And what of the winter? Will Rohan be ready? I know many crops were destroyed and land despoiled. Not to mention all the men that were lost who farmed that land."
Eomer sighed heavily. This had weighed on his mind for many months. He wanted to believe Rohan would be fine, but he was not at all certain their stores would see them through, and if it was a hard winter, many would suffer...and some might die. "I do not know. I keep going over the numbers I am given and trying to find a way to make it all work, but..."
"Eomer, you have listened to my counsel before. I hope what I say now will be useful to you also. First, your soldiers are not so needed for protection as they once were. Let those on patrols set a few guards and the remainder assist the villagers in planting for the spring, where the land will tolerate it. Even if they do not know how, likely the wives of the dead farmers know as much as their husbands did about it." Eomer nodded, realizing that would be helpful for the future.
She continued, "And, secondly, when we go to Minas Tirith, ask aid of Gondor." He stiffened beside her and she laid a hand on his arm, "This is not begging, Eomer. Had Rohan not come to our aid, Gondor would have fallen. Rohan has the right to ask of us anything that she wishes in gratitude for your services. The storehouses of Minas Tirith are hidden deep in the mountain and were largely unscathed in the war. Additionally, many people died in the city itself, and even with the influx of refugees, they will have a vast surplus of food. It is unconscionable for Gondor to let the people of Rohan starve through the winter while they feast in their fatness. If you wish, I will make the petition to King Elessar on Rohan's behalf." Her mouth quirked with amusement as she added, "After all, my father hinted that I was to serve as something of an ambassador to Rohan, whilst trying to convince me to stay here. If that is the case, then it is only right that the ambassador report home her findings and make recommendations for appropriate diplomatic actions to be taken!"
Eomer could not restrain a laugh. "How can I argue with the inestimable judgement of the ambassador from Gondor! We will petition Gondor when we go, and I would be honored to have you represent us in the matter. Your diplomatic skills far exceed mine. Aragorn may be able to refuse me, but I think he would rue the day he ever took you on!"
They laughed together a few moments, and then Eomer told her sincerely, "Thank you. For everything. I had no idea when I agreed to your father's proposal of your visiting with us, how fortunate it would prove for Rohan. Had I known, I would have suggested it myself. Thank you." Impulsively, he leaned and kissed her cheek, and was amused when she blushed.
Rising, he offered his arm. "Shall we go in to supper?"