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Chapter 16

Avelina raised her free hand and buried her fingers in his hair as he quietly cried on her neck. "It is alright, Éomer," she whispered gently. She tilted her head and kissed his neck just under his ear for that was the only part of him she could reach. "Éomer," she whispered once more before she ran her hand through his tangled locks and wrapped her arm around him. She closed her eyes tightly and held him while his cries quieted. Soon, she heard him sniff and lift his head slightly. She pushed back slightly and raised her hand to his cheek and wiped away the wetness on his cheek. His hazel eyes met hers and she gave him a small smile. "It is alright, my love," she whispered before she kissed his lips lightly.

"I'm sorry," he said his voice heavy with his still fresh emotions. Avelina shook her head and caressed his cheek under her hand.

"Never be sorry when you weep in front of me. You have been there for me the countless number of times I have cried on your shoulder these past few months. You may be a warrior and a man, Éomer, but even a warrior and man have emotions within them that need releasing." Éomer sighed and kissed her once more. When he pulled away he once again rested his forehead against hers and held her close. It was then that she realized he was still dressed in his armor and she sighed quietly. "Éomer, you must rest. Your body is weary and your heart is heavy." He shook his head against hers.

"I will find no rest." She once again raised her hand to his cheek and pulled her head back slightly.

"You must, or you will fall ill and I will not have that." He sighed and kissed her forehead. "I will speak with Lord Aragorn, and find a room so you can rest. Do not move from here. I will be only a moment." He nodded and let her slip from his arms and enter the healing house.

Avelina walked up the steps to see Éowyn looking back at Aragorn before she sighed and closed her eyes. "She has awoken," Avelina whispered and Aragorn looked up at her with a small smile.

"She has. The witch king's fever has left her," he said as he placed a damp cloth on her forehead. "She will be fine with time." He stood and looked at Avelina. "Are you well?" Avelina nodded.

"Aye, I am fine. However, I came to see if you knew of a chamber where Lord Éomer may rest. He will fall ill if he does not find rest soon." Aragorn nodded his head.

"There is a chamber down the corridor the last door on the left. I made arrangements with the maids to have them ready for the others and one for you." Avelina smiled and bowed her head to him.

"Thank you, my lord," she said. Aragorn smiled at her and watched her as she walked down the steps and out into the corridor. It was obvious to him the love she had for the horse lord, and it seemed fitting. They made a unique pair one that would undoubtedly aid in bringing a peace once the war was over.

Éomer looked up when he heard her steps leave the healing hall and making her way towards him. "Come with me, Éomer," she said gently as she held out her hand to him. "Lord Aragorn has had chambers made ready for all that travel with him." He laced his fingers with hers and she led him down the corridor.

Éomer glanced at her and saw that under the dirt and soot that covered her face, she looked tired and just as weary as he felt, but she was remaining strong. She was remaining strong for him and even though he knew the roles should be reversed just as they were when they first traveled together; it brought his heart a great comfort to know that she cared enough about him to do just that.

His mind was still reeling from his confession to her and her admission to him. He truly did not know how his words would have been received but when she said the words back to him, his barriers broke and he held onto her for all his life was worth and she just held him back. Avelina opened the door and led Éomer inside the fire lit room. She looked back at him and smiled a small smile, one he noticed she shared only with him.

"Take rest now and know that Lord Aragorn has broken the witch king's spell on your sister and she rests peacefully." Éomer could not help but smile and he nodded his head, his heart feeling much lighter at her words.

"With that news I will rest easily this night," he said gently. Avelina smiled and slowly let go of his hand before she raised her other hand and brushed his hair away from his face. Éomer raised his hand and clasped her hand in his and brought her palm to his lips and kissed it gently. Avelina stifled a gasp at the tingling sensation that slowly moved up her arm and she swallowed hard. "Good night Avelina," he whispered and she smiled.

"Good night Éomer," she whispered in return before she pulled her hand away and slowly walked out the door. She paused before she stepped out of it and smiled once more at him before she pulled the door close behind her. Instead of going in search of her own chamber, she returned to the house of healing to aid as many more men as she could before she found rest herself, a task she would find uneasy to accomplish.

Éomer slowly opened his eyes feeling refreshed and a new beat in his heart. He sat up quickly and looked about the room before he stood and dressed in a fresh tunic and leggings left out for him. The small white flower that rested on top of them left no doubt in his mind that Avelina was the one who left them for him. Once he was dressed he raised the delicate flower to his nose and inhaled its sweet scent with a small smile. Before he realized what he was doing and cleared his throat. He partially bound his hair back and walked down the corridor and into the house of healing. He went to where is sister laid the night before but found her missing and he furrowed his brow.

"You look for the lady from Rohan?" a soft voice asked and Éomer turned behind him to see a tall and beautiful woman with raven hair and pale blue eyes. Éomer cleared his throat and nodded his head.

"Aye, she is my sister. Where is she?" he asked. The woman gave him a sweet smile and turned to go down the steps.

"Follow me." He followed the woman through the main room and into another, one that seemed more comfortable than the crowded room. "She is in the last bed on the right. If you should need anything, do ask for me." Éomer looked at her and saw the woman smile sweetly once more and he furrowed his brow. "I am Lothíriel." Éomer nodded and left the odd woman where she stood and went to his sister. He smiled when he saw her laying asleep but his smile fell when he looked at the chair next to her bed and saw Avelina laying in a rather odd position asleep. He walked around the bed and kneeled next to Avelina's chair and raised his hand to her cheek.

"Avelina?" he asked gently and she slowly opened her eyes. She gave him a small smile but when she moved to sit up she winced at a sharp pain in her neck. Éomer shook his head and moved his calloused hand to her neck and gently rubbed the aching muscle. "You should not have slept in a chair, little one," he said softly. Avelina sighed heavily and closed her eyes as his fingers eased the pain in her neck, but at the same time she fought against the blush that threatened her cheeks from the intimate care he was giving her neck.

"I know," she said softly, "but I could find no rest so I spent most of the night by her side waiting for her to wake. It would seem that I fell asleep during my waiting." Éomer chuckled at her closed eyes and slight wince. He also noticed the slight color to her cheeks and smiled wider. When he felt her muscles finally loosen he stopped rubbing her neck and she slowly opened her eyes. "Thank you," she said quietly and Éomer moved his hand to her cheek and rubbed at the dirt that rested there.

"You are welcome, but you are also in need of a bath, little one." Avelina laughed and pushed his hand away.

"That I know," she said as she clasped his hand in hers before she laced her fingers with his. They smiled at each other before they heard a quiet laugh coming from the bed beside them.