Sorry it took so long to update, the only excuse that I have is I have been helping family and friends move since Friday afternoon and I have had zero time to get anything done. However, I finally was able to finish this chapter this evening and post it for you all. I hope you like it and as always thank you so very, very much for your reviews! Oh, and Nasuada Moon Lothiriel is the Princess of Dol Amroth and the one who really marries Eomer in the story. One more thing, please let me know what you think!

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

Chapter 17

Avelina and Éomer looked at the bed to see a sleepy eyed but smiling Éowyn looking at them. "Just kiss her and get it over with," came her weak quip. Avelina blushed deeply and Éomer just chuckled.

"It is good to know your humor remains, my sister," Éomer said as he slowly removed himself from Avelina and sat on the edge of Éowyn's bed. The sad look that crossed her face caused his heart to ache for her. Éomer took her right hand into his and held it gently. "You did all you could to protect him. He was too badly injured for anyone to do any more." Avelina knew of what they spoke of and felt her own heart begin to ache for her friend, her love and their lost uncle. Éowyn nodded slowly.

"I know, but is not fair," she whispered. Avelina knew just how they felt and kneeled next to the bed beside Éomer and right next to Éowyn's head.

"It is never fair," Avelina whispered and the woman's pale blue eyes met hers. "It is never fair when the ones we love are taken from us, but we still have each other." Éowyn gave Avelina a teary smile and squeezed her brother's hand.

"You followed me when I told you not to," Éowyn said. Avelina smiled at her and nodded.

"Aye, I did, but I did not fight. I remained hidden." Éowyn nodded again and looked at Éomer. Avelina looked at him and saw him smiling sadly at both of them.

"You know that it is far from over," he said gently. Éowyn nodded once more and Avelina furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Éowyn let go of Éomer's hand and the man stood before he held out his hand to her.

"There is much you do not fully know Avelina," he said as she placed her hand in his and he helped her stand. "We will leave you to rest for a time Éowyn. I must speak with Avelina and then I have duties I must take up with Aragorn and the others." Éowyn looked between the two and nodded. With that Éomer led Avelina from the healing house and out into the garden just off of the rooms.

They looked over the fields that were still littered with the bodies of the fallen soldiers and the enemy. However, it was slowly being cleared and the soldiers given honored burials.

"Éomer," she said gently before she tore her eyes from the field and looked up at him. He met her eyes. "What did you mean when you said that it is far from over?" He sighed and held her hand tightly.

"Sauron's power is still strong. He must be defeated," he said. Avelina nodded in understanding.

"I know of this Sauron, Éowyn told me of the dark lord." Éomer nodded and pulled her close to him. She rested her head on his chest and he just held her.

"I do not know what our next course will be. That is yet to be decided." Avelina nodded and held onto him tighter.

"Éomer!" a familiar voice called and Avelina quickly pulled away from him, however, Éomer kept his hands on her waist. Aragorn stepped into the garden and smiled at the pair. "I do not mean to interrupt, but there is much we need to discuss." Éomer nodded and looked down at Avelina. When he saw the blush that graced her cheeks he smiled slightly.

"Wash and try to find rest," he whispered to her and she looked up at him. "I can see it in your eyes that you are weary, little one." He kissed her forehead and embraced her one more time before he pulled away from her. Avelina watched as Éomer and Aragorn left the garden. With one final look out over the fields she turned and made her way down the corridors to her assigned chamber to wash and change into a fitting garment for the rest of the day.

Days passed and Avelina spent most of her time with Éowyn as Éomer had duties he had to attend to. They would just talk and enjoy each other's company. However, Avelina noticed the long looks a light brown haired man would give her friend and on the fourth day after the battle Avelina walked into the healing hall were Éowyn rested to see her sitting with the man talking quietly.

"My men told me you defeated the Witch King," Avelina heard him say gently. He had kind eyes and seemed knowledgeable and there was an air about him that told Avelina he was of importance. Avelina turned her eyes to her friend and saw her blush gracefully, almost as though the light pink to her cheeks was natural. As Éowyn began to reply Avelina left the hall, as she found it best to let her enjoy some new company.

It was then that Avelina realized she had yet to check on Sigeric since he was stabled after returning from battle. With a sigh and a shake of her head she lifted her dark brown skirts and made her way through the citadel.

As she rounded the final corner before she would reach the door that would lead to the stables, she collided with a figure and stumbled back, however, she easily caught herself. She looked up to see Gandalf smiling at her.

"Good morning Avelina," he said kindly and Avelina swallowed hard. She had never had one on one discussions with the wizard and she always had a feeling he knew what she was thinking.

"Good morning Gandalf. I am sorry for running into you. I should be more careful," she said quickly. Gandalf just shook his head.

"No harm was done." Avelina met his light blue eyes and gasped.

"Has any of your kin ever come across Sandria?" she asked carefully. The sparkle she saw in the man's eyes only grew.

"Not my kin, but one of my brethren. He was given shelter by a kind woman and her young daughter in exchange for his work on their small farm. He visited there only one other time." Avelina's eyes had yet to leave Gandalf's and she could feel her heart beating hard against her chest. "I believe it was five years ago. He called upon the woman's home only to find that the woman had passed and her daughter had moved on to work for a Lord high upon a hill far from where she once lived." He paused in his tale and met her gaze. Gandalf knew it was time she knew of what would have become of her if she had remained where she was and that what Natharus did was for her benefit.

"What he was told of the lord was that the man was not of good character and even though he had just taken a wife, there was no doubt in any mind that he would acquire many mistresses." Avelina swallowed hard once again remembering her frightful night with the lord. "So, he called upon the Lord's stable hands and asked them if he could work for them for a day to obtain shelter for an eve and they gladly allowed him to do so. After a hard days work, and as he laid in the hay loft of the stables he saw the daughter of the woman enter the stable. She had undoubtedly grown since the last he had saw her and he thought her to have grown into a beautiful young woman.

"He watched her as she walked over to a great stallion unlike any he had seen in all his years. As he worked in the stable that horse would only let one stable hand near him and any other that tried he would rear and screech out at them. He sat up in fear for her safety but when the horse gently nudged her shoulder and she laughed he knew that the pair shared a bond. So, when she left the stable he descended down and bestowed a gift upon the horse. One that would give him the foresight and knowledge he himself possessed and he told the stallion that he would know what to do if she had ever needed him." Avelina looked at Gandalf with wide eyes.

"What was your brethren's name?" she asked in a whisper.

"Natharus the Green," Gandalf said with a small smile. Avelina swallowed trying to moisten her suddenly dry throat. The traveler that resided in her home was in deed Natharus. She had never forgotten his name.

"Why do you tell me this now? Why did you not tell me upon our first meeting before we rode to Helms Deep?" she asked quickly. Gandalf just smiled at her.

"It was not the time, and I did not yet know for certain until I looked into your stallion's eyes. I know the former King of Rohan provided some information to you, but I did not give him the details I provided you."

"I understand, but-," she was interrupted when the wizard held his hand up.

"I know you are confused and I know that there are many things you do not understand, but know that what Natharus did was for your benefit. Your future in Sandria was full of darkness and you would not have lived to see your twenty-second birthday." All the color left her face at Gandalf's last sentence. "Natharus did not want that fate for you for he saw much for you in another world, in this one. In this one you will live for many, many more years."

"But will it be in happiness? This war has not given me that." Gandalf raised an eyebrow.

"It hasn't?" he asked gently before he left her confused in the corridor. However, as she slowly walked out of the citadel she realized the answer to the wizard's last question. The war had given her some happiness. Éomer.