Sorry it took so long to update. It's been a crazy week. Thank you all so very much for your reviews. They mean the world! Sorry if the ending isn't so good I'm rushing because I have about ten things to do and a half an hour to do them but I wanted to post. I hope you like it and as always, let me know!

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

Chapter 8

Éowyn, Avelina, and the villagers had made came for the night. They would reach Edoras by midday tomorrow if they left at dawn. Avelina sighed as she slid off of Sigeric and removed her bedroll. She pulled the cape Éomer had left her around her tighter when a cool wind blew into the small valley they were in after she had laid her roll down. The riders that traveled with them would rotate guard duty while the others rested. As Avelina pulled out some bread and her water flask from her saddle bag, Éowyn came up to her. "Avelina," she said and Avelina looked at her, "would you tell me of where you are from? I'm afraid these last few days have been challenging for all of us, and I would like to know more of you." Avelina gave Éowyn a small smile and nodded.

"As you wish, my lady," Avelina said and Éowyn returned her smile. "What would you like to know?" she asked as she sat down and Éowyn sat with her.

"Firstly, where are you from?" Avelina smiled.

"I'm from the Kingdom of Sandria." Éowyn furrowed her brow and Avelina knew her next statement before it even left her lips.

"I have never heard of such a place." Avelina nodded as she ripped the small loaf of bread in half and held one half to Éowyn who smiled with a nod of her head and took the bread.

"According to Lord Éomer, Sandria does not exist. During our travel to Helms Deep, we took a path close to where he and his men found me, however, I did not know the land or how I came to be there." She paused a moment and thought of that day and how Sigeric snorted and shook his head as they walked over a patch of burned grass. Now that she had thought about it, she realized that the grass looked as though it had been struck by lightning. Her eyes widened and she looked at Sigeric who she found looking at her. She looked back at Éowyn with a furrowed brow only to see the woman looking at her much the same way.

"Avelina, are you well?" Avelina nodded.

"Aye, forgive me, I was just thinking." Éowyn nodded and Avelina cleared her throat before she continued to tell Éowyn of her life as a maid in Lord Wilmington's house. "I must say, even though I have only been in your land for a month, I find that I am happier here than I have been since I was a child." Éowyn smiled at her.

"What of your parents?" Éowyn asked curiously. Avelina gave her a sad smile.

"My father was killed when I was six and my mother died of an illness when I was sixteen. That is why I had to take my position at the Wilmington's house." Éowyn nodded.

"I am sorry. Éomer and my father was killed when we were young, and our mother died soon after. Her grief was too much and she no longer had the will to live. My uncle took my brother and I into his home where we grew up with our cousin Theodred." Avelina nodded.

"I did not meet your cousin at Helms Deep." Éowyn sighed sadly.

"He was slain by orcs, shortly before Éomer was banished." Avelina frowned.

"I am sorry," she whispered. Éowyn gave her a smile.

"It is well, although his loss caused my uncle a deep grief that I do not think he has fully recovered from." Avelina nodded in understanding. Éowyn sighed as she ate the last bit of bread in her hands. "A war is coming," she whispered and Avelina looked at her. "The dark lord's power grows and I can feel deep in my heart that the war is brewing. It has been for a long time, but things are finally coming to a peak."

"What do you mean?" Avelina asked for she was never fully told what was happening. Éoywn's eyes moved from the fire and to Avelina. Then the White Lady of Rohan told her all she knew of Sauron, Saruman, and the impending war.

Edoras had been a buzz of activity since the villagers, riders, Éowyn and Avelina arrived back into the city. A guard spotted the small party of King Theoden and the others riding towards Edoras and the activity doubled. There was to be a celebration for the victory had Helms Deep that night, and there were finishing touches left to do. When the party came Éowyn held herself back to finish helping Avelina ready the hall with others. Avelina smiled up at Éowyn. "Go on, welcome your brother and uncle home," she whispered as she tucked some of her copper hair behind her ear and paused in her sweeping. Éowyn smiled and nodded before she rushed out, her cream dress billowing out behind her. Avelina laughed quietly after she caught herself subconsciously found herself straightening the dark blue dress Éowyn had given her as she handed the broom to a maid that was putting the brooms and things away.

King Theoden, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Éowyn, all of which where followed by two small children. Avelina furrowed her brow when she did not see Éomer. She snuck out of the hall and stepped out onto the balcony, it was then that she saw him standing near the door of the stable. He was petting Sigeric with a small smile on his face. Avelina did not want to interrupt him; he seemed at peace, more so than she had ever seen him as he petted him. Avelina knew there was something special about Sigeric, it would just take more time for her to figure it out. However, her attention was soon drawn to the man that stood in front of her horse.

Éomer looked tired and she could tell there was a heavy weight on his mind. Avelina found herself smiling as she looked at him and a hand on her shoulder pulled her from her daze. She jumped and turned to right to see Éowyn smiling at her. Avelina felt her cheeks flush and she looked down at the stones she stood upon.

"Avelina," Éowyn said quietly as her gaze moved from the woman to her brother who remained in the stable. "Is there something you would like to tell me?" Avelina looked at Éowyn and shook her head when Éowyn's eyes met hers.

"No my lady," she whispered before she rushed inside and greeted the king and others. Éowyn remained where she stood and smiled as she looked at her brother. She knew the look Avelina gave her brother, for she had caught herself giving Lord Aragorn the same look.

At the beginning of the celebration Avelina stood to the right of the throne and watched Éowyn carry a goblet to King Theoden. She held her own goblet, but she wasn't certain she was going to drink. She never cared for wine or ale, but she would listen to the king before she would decide for sure. "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country," Theoden said as he held up his goblet. "Hail the victorious dead!" he exclaimed. The people raised their mugs and goblets as did Avelina for respect of the dead.

"Hail!" the people shouted before they all drank from their cups and the celebration began. Avelina drank slowly from her goblet as she walked around the room when she ran into the elf, Legolas.

"Excuse me, my lord," she said after stepped back with a blush gracing her cheeks. Legolas just gave her a small smile and put his hand on her elbow to steady her.

"It is alright, Avelina," he said as he lowered his hand. Avelina nodded and smiled. "Are you enjoying your evening?" he asked. Avelina nodded and sat her goblet down on the table, no longer thirsty.

"Aye, that I am. Are you?" she asked. The elf nodded and looked to his right. Avelina followed his gaze and found Éomer walking towards them. When he came up to them he smiled at Avelina, but as she was about to address him he moved his gaze from her to Legolas.

"Legolas, Gimli has brought forth a challenge against you. Follow me," he said before he turned and walked away. Avelina felt her heart drop and she quickly blinked and looked at Legolas. He was looking at her closely and Avelina forced a smile.

"I suggest you take Master Gimli up on his challenge, if he is anything like Lady Éowyn tells me, he will not let you live it down if you do not accept it," she said doing her best to disguise the slight hurt she felt. However, by the look Legolas gave her, she knew that he could tell.

"I would have to agree," he said, and Avelina thanked the heavens that he chose to not address her hurt. "Perhaps I shall see you later this evening?" he asked. Avelina smiled and nodded.

"Perhaps." Legolas bowed his head and left the woman to try and figure out her feelings before they got the best of her.

Éomer knew that Avelina had been about to address him, but he knew that if he heard her voice he would only want to keep her company that night, and he wanted to celebrate with his men.

Since arriving back in Edoras he had been successful in avoiding her, however, when he saw her when his uncle addressed the people, he thought she was lovelier than he remembered. Of course, the last he saw of her she was covered in dirt and dressed in oversized men's travel clothes, but she was still lovely. Her horse, Sigeric, seemed in good spirits when he saw him in the stables. However, Éomer had noticed that the horse's eyes changed slightly. There was almost a human quality to them now, more so then when Avelina had first came upon their camp.

Éomer shook his head as he walked to the barrel of ale. Now was not the time to think of such things. Confusion and fatigue will simply have to wait until his head laid upon his pillow for sleep.

The night was drawing to a close and Avelina sat in the shadows. She had laughed quietly to herself until her side hurt when she watched Gimli pass out from too much ale. Finally weary, she stood and made her way across the hall to the quarters she had been residing in since coming to Edoras, however, as she walked a hand reached out and pulled her behind a pillar and hidden from view. Avelina gasped and found herself in familiar situation, only this time she felt no will to fight as a memory filled her mind.

Flashback

Avelina had finished cleaning the banquet room and was making her way to her room for a peaceful rest when someone pulled her into a darkened room. "Why do you tempt me Avelina?" came a slightly slurred voice that she recognized as Lord Wilmington.

"Tempt you, my lord?" she asked frightened. Lord Wilmington smiled as he lit a candle and his face came into the light. He said nothing as he walked over to her and pinned her against the wall.

"Why did I not take you as my wife?" he asked as he slid his hand down her throat. "You would not be so cold to me." Avelina gasped when she felt his hand slide down her chest and she reached for the nearest thing, a small statue. She grasped it and struck him causing him to fall to the floor. With shaky hands she propped him against the sofa and laid the empty brandy bottle next to him. Hopefully, he would not remember what had happened.

End of Flashback

Her breath came in short gasps before a hand moved to cup her cheek. "Do not be frightened. Why is it I always frighten you?" came Éomer's voice. Avelina took a deep calming breath and closed her eyes as she relaxed.

"I know not, my lord," she added shakily. Éomer furrowed his brow.

"I did not mean to frighten you so terribly. I only meant to ask your forgiveness for being so rude earlier this evening." Avelina let out a heavy breath.

"It was not just you my lord, but a memory," she said quickly before she adverted her eyes from his. "You are forgiven, Lord Éomer," she whispered before she rushed off and down the corridor and away from him before he would ask her to explain.