Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for reviews. Southern Charm83, Eomer proposing to Avelina was just a dream. We'll have to see what the future holds for the pair. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, please let me know what you think!

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

Chapter 20

Avelina felt safe and warm as her mind slowly came back from her peace filled dreams. A warmth was wrapped around her and she found she did not want to move from where she laid. A spicy scent filled her. One that was familiar and made her feel even more comfortable. With a contented sigh she buried her head in her pillow only to find that her pillow was rather firm and she heard a steady thump beneath her ear as well as her head slowly rising and falling. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up to see Éomer sound asleep as his head rested on a pillow. His right arm was wrapped securely around her back and rested where her waist met her hip on top of the blanket that covered her. Her right hand rested on his stomach where his left hand rested on top of her forearm.

Avelina flushed but couldn't help the smile that made its way across her lips. Why he had stayed with her she did not know, but one thing she did know was that she had never seem him look more beautiful than he did as he laid there. A great look of peace was across his face as his sleep kept him. The sun had barely even broke the horizon so she knew she had time to enjoy him while she could. His golden hair laid unbound and free across the pillow behind his head and she could tell his beard needed to be trimmed, but she freed her right arm from his hand and slowly raised her hand to his face.

She ran ghost like fingertips down his jaw line and stopped at his chin, where she gently swirled the slightly long hairs before she lowered her hand and looked at his closed eyes silently wishing they were open and he was smiling down at her. She tilted her head as her chin rested on his chest and smiled once more when she saw him stir in his sleep and she knew he was waking.

Éomer took a deep breath and blinked a few times. He tightened his grip on the soft form that rested against him and smiled. He looked down at her and smiled when he saw her smiling at him. Éomer returned her smile and leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Good morning little one," he said his voice still heavy and deep from his sleep.

"Good morning," she said quietly before she made to pull away. He, however, kept her close to him.

"Do not leave. The dawn has not yet come." Avelina blushed and smiled at him.

"Tell me, my lord, why are you in my bed with me?" she teased and Éomer smiled before he raised his left hand and tucked her unruly waves behind her ear.

"When I carried you last night, you had fallen asleep in my arms. I laid you down but you would not let me go. When I made to pull your arms from my neck you whimpered and asked me not to leave you, and at the weak tone of your voice I could not find the heart to leave you." Avelina smiled and blushed lightly once more.

"I am sorry." Éomer laughed quietly before he kissed her forehead.

"Don't be for it was the first time in a long, long time that my sleep was truly peaceful." Avelina smiled and sighed before she laid her head on Éomer's chest.

"I suppose you once again have much to do today," she whispered as she played with the soft green material of his tunic. Éomer closed his eyes and breathed in the smell of her hair before he answered.

"Aye, I do. I must ready the riders." Avelina suddenly sat up on the bed and he moved to rest back on his elbows. "What is it?"

"Éomer, Gandalf spoke to me yesterday before I went into the stable. He told me something, something that did not make sense at first." Éomer furrowed his brow and sat up fully. He looked down at her and waited for her to continue. "Remember when I spoke to you about the traveler, the old man that worked on my family's farm when I was young?" she asked.

"Aye, I remember." Avelina nodded and took his hand into hers and laced their fingers.

"Gandalf told me that he was the reason Sigeric brought me to this world."

"I'm afraid I do not understand," he said gently as he moved his other hand and covered their joined hands.

"His name was Natharus and Gandalf told me he was one of his brethren, a wizard. He traveled to my world only twice. The first time when he stayed with my mother and I, and the second was when I moved to work for Lord Wilmington. He knew my fate, Éomer. Hew knew more than he shared with me." Avelina paused and could still see the slight confusion in his eyes. "He enchanted Sigeric so he would have his foresight and knowledge and so that he could take me away before my fate would be sealed. Gandalf told me Natharus saw that my future in Sandria would be full of darkness and I would die before my twenty-second birthday." Éomer's grip tightened on her hand and his eyes flared slightly deep in their hazel depths. "However, by bringing me here Natharus knew I would live happily for many years. So, you have no cause for worry of me ever being taken from you Éomer. The only one who has that power is Sigeric and I do not think he ever would let me leave this world." Éomer raised one of his hands to her face and held her small face in his hand.

"Avelina," he whispered but before he could continue a loud knock echoed in her chamber. She jumped slightly and looked toward the door. Éomer sighed and lowered his hand.

"Who is it?" she called.

"It is Legolas, Avelina," came his voice from the other side of the door. Her eyes widened and she looked at Éomer who had an amused expression on his face.

"Éomer, he must be looking for you?" she asked in a whisper. Avelina stood from the bed and looked down at the wrinkled dress with a shake of her head. She grabbed her robe and threw it on. "Just a moment!" she called and Éomer was chuckling slightly. She looked at him with a slight scowl. "You!" she exclaimed in a whisper and pulled on his arm as best she could. He complied and climbed out of the bed. "Get in the washroom. What will he think if he sees you in here!" Éomer smiled and stepped into the washroom. He turned to say something to her but the door closed in his face. Avelina took a moment and walked over to the door. She slowly opened the door and Legolas gave her a smile.

"Forgive me for disturbing you, but I have been sent to retrieve Lord Éomer. However, I have been unable to find him. Have you seen him this morning?" he asked. Avelina nodded.

"Aye, briefly." Legolas gave her a knowing smile and she felt her face flush deeply. How could she have forgotten that elves have sensitive ears and can hear things from leagues away? She suddenly wanted to disappear.

"If you see him again, would you tell him that we must meet once more this morning before we go to the men." Avelina nodded.

"I will." With one last smile at her and a quick glance in the room Legolas left her feeling utterly mortified. She closed the door and sighed as she rested against it with her eyes closed. She heard another chuckle and her eyes snapped open. Éomer stood there with a smile on his face.

"He knew I was here already Avelina," Éomer said as he walked over to her. His much larger form trapped her against the door and she swallowed hard. "He is an elf and his senses far surpass ours."

"I remembered that upon seeing his smile. Tell me, were you standing there the whole time?" He smiled and nodded as he raised his hand to her face.

"I was, but do not worry. Legolas will not speak of this to anyone and if you wish I will explain myself to him in privacy to maintain your honor." Avelina nodded as his calloused fingers skimmed across her tender skin. "Then I shall inform him. However, before I leave you this morning, I have one request of you." Avelina raised an eyebrow and swallowed the lump in her throat.

"What is that?" she asked in a whisper.

"This," he whispered in return before he leaned and claimed her lips firmly. Avelina gasped quietly and stiffened at the strength behind his kiss. He had never kissed her in such a way, only in her dreams had he kissed her like that. She returned his kiss and his hands rested on her waist while her hands found their way into his hair. Éomer pulled away from her lips after a moment and smiled as he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. "Before I ride tomorrow morning," he said his voice deep and heavy, "I will call upon you again, little one." Avelina nodded.

"Then I shall look forward to our meeting again, my love," she whispered in return. Éomer closed his eyes at the emotions he heard in her voice. There was love, pain, sadness, and hope wrapped into one. He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"I love you Avelina," he whispered before he kissed her gently and pulled her from the door. He removed his lips from hers and she looked up at him slightly dazed.

"I love you Éomer." He smiled at her and kissed her forehead once more before he left her room and maid his way to his own chamber to ready for the day's upcoming trials.

Avelina laughed quietly with Éowyn who was telling her a story from when Éomer and her were younger, before their father and mother died. "His hands were green for a week from the dye," Éowyn said with a smile. Avelina and her had shared stories from when they were growing up to try and ease the worry from both of their minds.

"He should have known better that to take the cloth from the dying pan," Avelina said as she fiddled with her dark green skirt.

"True, true." Éowyn looked at Avelina and sighed. "You are afraid." Avelina looked up at her and furrowed her brow. "You are afraid that he will not come back." Avelina looked away then and out the large window across the room from where Éowyn's bed rested.

"Yes, I am afraid," she said after a moments silence. Avelina looked back at Éowyn and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. "I am afraid because those that I love more than life itself always seem to die. I do not wish for that to happen." Éowyn gave Avelina an understanding smile and put her hands on Avelina's.

"He is a strong man. He has survived many battles. For the sake of your heart and mine I hope that he returns, as well as for the sake of Rohan." Avelina furrowed her brow and a tear rolled down her cheek. She freed one of her hands and wiped it away.

"I do not understand," she said and Éowyn met her eyes.

"Since our uncle's death," she paused and swallowed hard before she continued, "Éomer is the next in line for the throne. He will be crowned king upon his return." Avelina felt her heart stop. She had never thought of that. "If he does not return, than the throne shall be mine and I do not think I would be able to Rohan as well as he will." Avelina looked away from Éowyn and shook her head.

"I did not even think of it." Avelina's eyes moved back to Éowyn's. "I must stop this." Éowyn frowned when Avelina stood. Éowyn grasped Avelina's wrist with her good hand and Avelina looked at her.

"Stop what?"

"Éomer and I cannot be together," Avelina whispered.

"What?" Éowyn asked thoroughly thrown by the other woman's words. Avelina looked at Éowyn.

"He is to be king. He will have an obligation to his land and his people to marry a noble woman. I am not a noble. I will bring nothing to a union like that." Éowyn shook her head and tugged on her wrist causing Avelina to sit back down on the bed.

"You are wrong; you would bring everything to a union like that. Your heart and mind are open to all things, except where you are involved," she paused and smiled at Avelina who did not return it. "You have compassion for people, and you have a spirit that has brought something out in my brother that I would never have expected to see."

"What is that?" she asked her voice sounding weak even to her own ears. Just the mere thought of her not being with him made her heart ache in a way that she had never experienced. Not when her father died nor when her mother died had she felt that lost. Éowyn turned Avelina's chin so she was looking at her and Éowyn gave her a small smile.

"Over the years my brother has had his fair share of admirers. He showed interest but never made the steps to begin courting, and I have never seen him look at any woman the way he looks at you. If during a war and some of the darkest times Middle Earth has seen you could draw his attention and claim his heart as you have, then you must be something spectacular." Avelina laughed and shook her head. "It is true my friend, and there is no other woman I would rather call my sister than the one that sits before me this very moment." Avelina sighed and embraced Éowyn carefully so not to hurt her still healing wounds.

"Why is it whenever I doubt myself, you always seem to make me feel better?" Éowyn smiled when she pulled away from her.

"That is what sisters are for." Avelina squeezed her good hand and smiled.

"I should let you rest." Avelina believed Éowyn's words but did not know what she should do. She stood from the bed and Éowyn smiled and nodded.

"Remember, Avelina, you deserve more than you think you do." Avelina smiled and nodded before she slightly raised her skirts and left the hall so Éowyn would rest. As she stepped outside she saw Éomer talking with the man Éowyn had been talking to the day before. Mid-sentence Éomer stopped and looked up at her. He frowned when he saw the slightly distressed look on her face. Avelina watched as he excused himself from the man and walked over to her.

"Avelina, are you well?" he asked quickly as he put his hands on her upper arms. Avelina gave him a small smile.

"I am fine. Do not worry about me, now. There is still much you must do," she said gently. Éomer smiled at her and nodded before he squeezed her upper arms.

"Will you meet me in the healing garden tonight at sunset?" he asked in a whisper. Avelina nodded.

"I will meet you." Éomer smiled before he kissed her forehead once more.

"Until then little one." With that he stepped away and rejoined the man. The man smiled and bowed his head at Avelina. She did the same and watched the two walk into another healing chamber talking quietly.

Avelina sighed and made her way down the corridors to the stable. She was going to speak with the stable hands to ensure that Sigeric would be saddled for Éomer to ride in the morning.