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Chapter 13

When Avelina entered her tent it was empty but where Éowyn was she did not have the heart to think of. She had just kissed the man she loved and it left her filled with fear. Éomer's confession was all that she needed to make her crumble the wall she had established when it came to him. The horse lord was now the keeper of her heart and she very well may never see him again. That thought caused her to tremble before she sat down on her bedroll and looked at the fire that burned in the small stand in the middle of the room.

However, even though she did not know what the future held for her and Éomer she smiled. For the traveler's second piece of her future seemed to be coming true. She remembered the old man's words as the flames danced and could hear his raspy voice in her head. "You, my dear, will find love with someone you think you do not deserve. He, however, will show you that you are more than what you deem yourself to be for he will love you unselfishly and unconditionally. To him, you will be the light of hope during dark times and through him and someone close to him, you will find courage you never thought you had." His voice seemed to echo and she took a deep breath as the tent flap was harshly pushed open and Éowyn stepped in looking distraught. Avelina quickly stood forgetting her own thoughts and focusing on her friend.

"Éowyn," she said completely forgetting her propriety as she walked over to her. "What has happened?" Éowyn's tear filled eyes met Avelina's and she shook her head.

"He is gone," she whispered and Avelina furrowed her brow.

"Who is gone?" she asked.

"Lord Aragorn has left; Legolas and Gimli have traveled with him." Éowyn wrapped Avelina in a hug which the woman slowly returned. "I have been a fool. He told me that he could not give me what I sought from him." Avelina comforted her as best she could before she spoke.

"What is it that you sought?" Éowyn sniffed and pulled back from their embrace wiping the tears from her eyes as she did so.

"His love," she said in a whisper. Avelina sighed and enveloped her friend in another embrace.

"It will be alright, my friend," she said gently as Éowyn wrapped her arms around her once more. "You'll see. Even if Lord Aragorn is not your meant to be, then he is out there. Somewhere, and before too long you shall find him . . . just as I have found mine," she added in a whisper. She felt Éowyn stiffen before she pulled away and looked down at her friend, her own tears now gone and replaced by the surprise of Avelina's words.

"What?" Éowyn asked and Avelina felt her cheeks flush as she turned and looked once more at the dancing flames. "You have indeed made my heart lighter, Avelina, but do tell me what you mean." Avelina pulled her braid over her shoulder and unbound her hair and began to pull the braid apart.

"Many days ago, I came to realize that I have grown to care deeply for someone. I did not allow myself to give into those thoughts for he is someone who deserves more than I have to offer. However, this very night he came to me and confessed to me that he has grown to care deeply for me," she paused and turned to face Éowyn. "I confessed the same to him before I left him, but my heart is filled with fear that I will never see him again after they ride tomorrow." Éowyn took her friend's hands in hers and squeezed them.

"Who is it? Do tell me my friend." Avelina's blush deepened and she swallowed hard as she met the cool blue eyes of Éowyn.

"Lord Éomer," she whispered and a smile lit Éowyn's face before she threw her arms around her. Her pain was well forgotten to live in the happiness of her dear friend and her brother. Avelina smiled and returned Éowyn's embrace.

"That is the most joyous news I have heard since my uncle's return," Éowyn said happily. Avelina did not have the heart to ask what she had meant because she did not want to dampen her friend's happy mood. She pulled away from Avelina and smiled down at her. "My brother confessed to you did he?" she asked and Avelina found herself blushing again.

"Aye, he did." Éowyn clapped her hands happily and Avelina laughed. "My heart is still racing Éowyn," she gasped and covered her mouth when she realized her slip up and Éowyn smiled and lowered Avelina's hand.

"It is fine my friend. No more formalities with me." Avelina smiled and nodded her head before she sighed deeply.

"I feel as though my heart is ready to burst from my chest," she said as she put her hand over her heart. Éowyn smiled at Avelina and nodded but soon her smile left her face and Avelina became concerned that her friend was once again upset over Aragorn. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I should talk of such when you-."

"Do not be a fool Avelina!" Éowyn said with a small smile. "You have done nothing wrong, it is just . . ." she trailed off and looked at Avelina. "If I were to confide something in you, would you swear to me you would not tell a soul?" Avelina's dark eyes remained on Éowyn's and she nodded. It was then that the White Lady of Rohan confided her plan to join the battle and fight along side the men of Rohan.

Avelina woke well before the dawn. Sleep did not find her well between the new emotions stirred by Éomer and the thought of Éowyn being in the heart of battle without anyone's knowledge of it. She dressed and walked from her tent. She had debated all morning on whether she should keep her promise to Éowyn, but she knew she could not betray her friend's trust in her. So, she walked over to Éomer's tent and stood outside of it. She heard him moving about and she took a deep breath.

"My lord?" she called and the movement stopped. She waited a moment before the tent flap opened and Éomer stood there looking at her. His hair was unbound and fell around his face and he was dressed in his usual dark green tunic and dark brown leggings, however, this time she could see the chain mail in his hand and she could see his armor in the tent.

"Avelina," he said gently. "Is everything well?" She smiled and nodded her head.

"Aye, everything is fine, I just wanted to see you before you and the men readied to leave," she said. Éomer smiled and nodded his head and stepped aside. She walked into his tent and turned to look at him when he closed the flap. The warmth of the tent was a welcome change to the chilly morning air. "My lord-," she began but was silenced when he put his hand on her cheek.

"Please tell me you have not come to say good bye," he said his voice heavy and she shook her head quickly.

"No," she whispered and he lowered his hand. "I have come because . . . because I . . . I do not know," she admitted. It was the truth, she truly did not know why she came to him other than she wished to see him and speak with him. She felt her cheeks flush heavily as he looked at her and she looked away. "I will let you ready. I know you have much to ready for and I will only distract you." She moved and stepped towards the tent flap when his hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back. Her heart raced when she looked up at him because she was so close to him.

"Avelina, you are no distraction. It is true there is much I should be readying for, but there is one thing that I feel I must do before I ready myself any further." Before she could ask what it was his lips were on hers and he kissed her deeply. Avelina sighed against his lips before he let go of her wrist and she raised her hands. She rested her left hand on his neck and buried her fingers in his golden brown locks. She heard the chain mail crash to the floor before he pulled her flush against him and deepened their kiss. Hours seemed to pass as they held each other and kissed, however, it was only minutes when she pulled her lips from his.

"Éomer," she whispered with her eyes closed and his head jerked up and his eyes bore down on her with a smile on his face. Her eyes slowly opened and she returned his smile knowing full well that she had called him by his name. "Just as I requested last night," she said her voice heavy with the emotions that were rolling through her, "come back to me. Please do not leave me here alone." She lowered her hands from his neck and rested them on his chest. Éomer shook his head and kissed her forehead.

"I will do all I can to come back to you Avelina." She nodded and wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly. She pulled back and looked at him.

"I want you to ride Sigeric," she said suddenly and his eyes widened.

"I cannot ride your horse." Avelina just nodded her head.

"He will not let you fall, please Éomer, please," she said on the verge of tears. Éomer cupped her cheek and nodded.

"I will ride him." He kissed her lips briefly. "I will ride him and come back to you." She smiled and embraced him tightly once more.

"I love you," she whispered into his chest, but he did not understand her and she knew that. He knew she spoke but he could not make out the words she said, and he knew she would not repeat them. She pulled away and looked at him. "I must go. I will ensure that Sigeric is saddled for you." Éomer let her slip from his arms and nodded. As she stepped to the tent flap she smiled once more at him and Éomer did his best to memorize her just as she was that very moment. However, she was gone too soon and he was once again alone in his tent to ready for the ride ahead and the battle he and his men were about to face.

Avelina walked quickly back into her and Éowyn's tent. She saw Éowyn finishing putting her armor on and she looked the sheildmaiden square in the eye. "Do you carry another set of armor and spare sword?" she asked and Éowyn looked at her with a furrowed brow.

"Whatever for?" Éowyn asked confused.

"I ride with you," Avelina said causing Éowyn to drop her helmet onto the ground with a soft thud.