I'm so very very sorry to keep you all waiting for this chapter. Once again I have no excuses other than life is crazy. Anyway, thank you all so very much for the reviews they mean so much! Keep them coming (please)! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I don't know if it's any good. Let me know!

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

Chapter 21

Avelina was running from the stable up to the healing garden. It was nearly sunset and she had promised to meet Éomer there. She ran into the garden nearly skidding to a stop as she slowed. As she stood there her skirts slightly raised because she had been running and her chest falling rapidly as her breath came in quiet gasps. She looked around the garden and found it empty. "Éomer?" she asked quietly so she would disturb the wounded that were asleep. She heard a soft laugh, a female laugh come from the shadows to the right. She furrowed her brow and grasped a small torch that was hanging on the wall near her. She tentatively stepped into the area and gasped.

Pinned against the wall was the tall dark haired woman she had seen countless times in the healing halls, as a man kissed her neck and her fingers were buried in the man's hair. However, it was not just any man it was Éomer.

"Éomer?" she asked louder and with an obvious break in her voice. The man jumped slightly and pulled up from the woman and looked over his shoulder. As tears fell from her eyes she shook her head.

"Avelina?" he asked clearly confused. Éomer looked at the woman and stepped back from her like she was fire. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked the woman. Avelina felt her heart breaking and she dropped the torch. Éomer looked at Avelina and caught only the tail of her skirts leaving the garden. His eyes lit like fire when he looked back at Lothiriel. "What is the meaning of this? Tell me now!" Lothiriel jumped and she shook her head.

"She is but a servant. I know for I heard her talking freely with your sister. You say you are to marry her? Why would you marry a servant when a Princess stands before you?" she asked and Éomer shook his head.

"I do not marry for title. I am going to marry her because I LOVE her!" He could not believe that he could not tell Avelina from the woman before him. "I wish to never see you again, Lothiriel, and if I lose her there is no telling what I will do." Lothiriel swallowed hard. She did not think he loved the plain looking woman as much as he seemed to now. Éomer shook his head and took off after Avelina. He was a fool to not be able to tell that it was not her. Lothiriel had smelt of lavender like Avelina constantly wore, and she had not said a word to him when she pulled him into the shadow.

As he rushed down the corridor nearing Avelina's chambers he heard her cries as clear as the mid day sun on a cloudless day. He ran down the corridor and stopped outside her door finding it partially open. Éomer pushed the door open and near the balcony he saw her kneeled down as she sat on the floor, leaning against the doorway. Her face was in her hands and her broken sobs echoed in his ears.

Avelina felt like a fool as her heart laid in her chest in a million pieces, she did not know if she would ever be able to make it whole again. She lowered her hands and looked out the balcony windows. There was a new stillness in the air and the darkness had nearly enveloped the land. Her room was dark; she did not even have the strength stand and start a fire to ward away the chill of the night air. As her sobs quieted and only her tears rolled down her cheeks, she heard his footsteps. She did not need to look to know it was him.

"Leave me, my lord," she said her voice sounding dead and striking a deep wound in his heart.

"I will not," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. She looked at him then, only the dim moonlight and faded light from the sun illuminated his features. They were dark and full of pain and worry. He kneeled down next to her and she looked at him coldly.

"What do you want? She is probably waiting for you." She looked away and hastily wiped away the wetness from her cheeks, but before he could speak she looked back at him. "Is that why you wanted me to meet you in the garden? So that I would see you with her and you would not have to tell me you could no longer be with me? So that it would be easier for you to tell a servant that she is just that and nothing more?" She wanted to smack herself for her words. She had no right to speak to him as such. He was to be King, and there she was scolding him because he broke her heart. Éomer moved so his knees rested on the floor right next to her and took her firmly by the shoulders.

"NO!" he exclaimed so loudly his voice echoed through the room. Avelina jumped slightly and met his fire filled gaze. "She tricked me. She wore your scent and spoke not a word to me only kissed me. I should have known it was not you for you have never been so bold with me." He saw her lower lip tremble as tears filled her eyes once more. "I wanted to meet you in the garden to say farewell for I know I will not be able to do so before the dawn." He raised his right hand to hold her cheek. She pulled away from him but he followed her movement and held her face gently. "You are such a fool to think that I would not wish to be with you." He laughed sadly and shook his head. "You are the one thing that has taken my mind from the darkness that has enveloped it for so long. When I am near you I forget the growing number of orcs across the lands, the wildmen that slaughtered my people, and the number that have fallen and left families behind as they fought under my command. You, Avelina, and you alone have the ability to make me feel that all is not hopeless. That there is still hope for a brighter day." He wiped the tear that rolled down her cheek gently with his thumb. "You are not a servant here. You are my sister's friend and confidant . . . and you are the woman I love. I love you Avelina. How many times must these words be said before you believe them?"

"It is hard for me," she said her voice barely a whisper. "It is hard for me to think such a man like you would love someone like me. I feel as though I am in a dream when I am with you, like nothing shall harm me and that all is well in the world." She swallowed hard and moved to her knees so she was nearly eye level with the man, nearly but not quite. "When I saw you with her . . . she is beautiful and I . . . I know I am not." Before she could speak another word, Éomer placed his thumb over her lips and shook his head.

"You are fairer than any I have ever seen." She gave him a small smile but he could still see sadness in her eyes. Éomer ran his thumb across her lips softly and removed it from them.

"You do not have to say that when I know it is not true. She would make a better wife; I have even heard rumors that she is a Princess in this land. Perhaps it would be a smarter match; after all you are to be king." Her voice was a whisper and Éomer's frown deepened.

"It would not be a smarter match for my heart lies with the woman that sits before me. Have you heard nothing I have just told you? Where has this doubt come from? What does it matter that I am to be king?" Avelina met his eyes. "I do not wish to ride to war tomorrow morning knowing that if I return I will not have the one I want because she does not find herself worthy when it is I who am not worthy of her love." He paused once more and lowered his hands from her form and she suddenly felt the night's chill fully when his hands left her. "And it appears as though I do not have her love as I once thought I did." He stood feeling broken, an odd feeling he had only felt at his mother's passing and when he feared Éowyn was dead. He was nearly at the door when he heard quick movement and arms suddenly wrapped around his waist and a form pressed firmly to his back. He stiffened but relaxed when his back began to feel damp.

"You have not lost it," she said through her tears. "You shall never lose it." Her grip was tight which surprised him because she was so small. "I am sorry." Éomer sighed and closed his eyes. He loosened her grip and turned around in her arms. He tilted her head up so her tear stained eyes met his.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, little one. It is I who am sorry." Avelina smiled up at him, the pieces of her heart slowly melding together once more. "I am sorry." He once again ran his fingers across her damp cheeks before he pulled her lips to his and kissed her tenderly. He sighed as he pulled away and she looked up at him. His eyes remained closed. "I should have been able to tell her lips from yours for yours are much sweeter," he whispered before he leaned in and kissed her again. Avelina sighed against his lips when his arms pulled her flush against him and she raised her hands one resting on his chest the other on his neck. After a moment she pushed him away and looked up at him. The moonlight was their only source of light now and she had a hard time seeing his face.

"You are forgiven," she whispered and she saw him smile. "It is late, you must rest for your journey tomorrow and thereafter will be a long one." He raised a hand and tucked her unruly waves once more behind her ear, a habit he had grown to love as it allowed him to touch her soft hair.

"Promise me something," he said gently and she looked at him expectantly. "Promise me that upon my return, you will . . ." he trialed off and kissed her forehead, "that you will be here waiting for me." Avelina smiled and embraced him.

"That I will promise, for you will return as Sigeric will lead you to the Black Gates and back to the White City," she said muffled against his chest. He raised his hand and ran his hand down the back of her head.

"If only I had your confidence in myself, little one," he thought as he closed his eyes. "Aye, that he will," he said to her before he kissed the crown of her head. That had not been what he wanted her to promise, but it felt it would not be fair to ask her what he wanted when he did not know if he would come back to her. Avelina sighed and looked up at him.

"Go now, you must rest for the hour grows late." He nodded and took in every inch of her face into his memory. It was not that he would forget it, but as before when he had left her, he knew not if he would see her again.

"Good bye Avelina," he whispered and she shook her head.

"Not good bye, it is just until we see each other again." He smiled at her and kissed her forehead once more.

"Until then, little one." She nodded and he stepped away from her and walked to the door.

"Éomer!" she called before he stepped out of the door. He stopped and looked at her. "I love you," she said quietly and he smiled.

"And I you," he said before he stepped out and closed the door behind him. Éomer sighed heavily before he would walk down the corridors to his own chamber, thankful that the trick Lothiriel played did not cost one of the few people he had left that he loved.

Éomer laid on his bed looking at the decorative ceiling the dawn was approaching and he had gotten rest that night but his mind had him elsewhere in his dreams. A knock sounded on his door and he climbed from the bed. "Enter!" he called and the door opened. Gamling stepped inside and looked at Éomer.

"My lord," he said quickly, "it is time we ready. The men awaken and are readying to ride." Éomer nodded.

"I will be fine on my own Gamling. Go and ensure Sigeric is saddled," Éomer said as he pulled his outer tunic over his head. Gamling nodded but stopped when a new voice filled the air.

"He is ready for you already, my lord," the voice said. Gamling smiled at Avelina before he stepped away and Éomer looked at her with wide eyes. "I had ensured that one of the stable hands had him ready for your," she said as she stepped inside. She did not look well and he walked over to her.

"Avelina-," he said but she silenced him.

"You must ready, Éomer." She smiled at him. "Get your boots on while I get your armor." She turned from him and he watched her for a moment before he did as she instructed. Soon, he was ready for she had dressed him in silence. When she handed him his sword she met his eyes.

"Why did you come this morning?" he asked. She smiled at him once more and he could see just how weary she was.

"I did not sleep through the night, and thought I would see you off this morning." He frowned but she raised her hand to his cheek and brushed her fingers across his beard. "Do not worry about me for you have no reason to do so. I am just anxious." He nodded his head. "I will leave you now, Éomer, but I will see you again soon." She quickly raised up and kissed him briefly before she rushed from the room. Avelina did not want him to see the tears in her eyes. He raised his hand to his lips and his face turned cold after the warmth of her light disappeared. War was coming soon and he would be ready for whatever came his way.