I updated! Thank you for your reviews and Kit Kat, I've taken your suggestion and I'm working on making sure I use different expressions. I hadn't realized I used 'smile' so much in the last chapter until you pointed it out. Thanks for that. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Let me know, please!

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

Chapter 29

It was a month before their wedding, and Avelina sat in council with Éomer. "The movement has been increasing, Éomer King," Lord Bregdon said tiredly. Avelina looked at Éomer, she didn't know why she was present, but there she was nonetheless at Éomer's request. "The scouts have spotted small bands of men, wildmen, conjugating in the caves on the edge of Rohan."

"Have any villages been attacked?" Éomer asked and Lord Hamamil shook his head.

"No, my lord, none have been attacked but their movement is concerning," Hamamil said. Éomer sighed and Avelina watched to reach for his hand but knew better considering the looks she was receiving from Bregdon. Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door and the door opened quickly. Cynwise stood there with an alarmed look on her face and Avelina furrowed her brow.

"Forgive me for the intrusion, my lords, my lady, However, Lady Avelina do come quickly a visitor has arrived for you and has said it is of the utmost importance that they see you immediately," Cynwise said. Avelina furrowed her brow and slowly stood. Éomer grasped her wrist stopping her movement and she looked at him, however, his eyes were on Cynwise.

"Who is this visitor?" he asked and Cynwise shook her head.

"I did not ask, Éomer King, he left not room to do so. He's created chaos in the hall and lets no one speak. He only repeats that he must see Lady Avelina," she said with a sigh. A crash was heard and all the men stood and Éomer's grip tightened on her wrist. She raised her hand to his upper arm and he looked down at her.

"All will be well, there are four guards in the hall that if anything should happen, they will protect me and the others. I will see him, and send him on his way," she said quickly. Avelina saw the hesitation clear in his eyes and she shook her head with a sparkle in her eyes. "I will be alright, my love," she whispered so only he could hear. "No harm shall come to me, and you must finish with your council." He sighed and his hand moved from her wrist to her hand where he squeezed it with a nod. Avelina smiled and nodded her head before she walked around the table to Cynwise. "Take me to him Cynwise." The older woman nodded and led Avelina from the hall.

"I do not know who this man is, Avelina, he kept his face covered by his cloak and began shouting when the guards stepped into the room," she said quickly as they walked. "I do not know even how he would know of you." Avelina nodded and as they stepped into the hall, her eyes widened. Tables were over turned and a maid was cleaning a mess of bread and cheese from the floor in front of the steps that led to the throne. A man was being held by two guards while another kept his hand on the hilt of his sword at his side.

"I will see Avelina! I will tare this golden hall apart until I see her!" the man yelled and Avelina felt slight panic fill her stomach, but she knew the guards would not let him go. She held her head high and stepped into the light of the hall so she would be seen by all. Cynwise stayed close behind her, incase the need arose to pull her from the hall.

"There will be no need for you to tare apart my home, sir," she said more confidently than she felt. The man stopped his struggles against the guards and looked in her direction. She could not see his face as it was covered by a hood just as Cynwise had said. "You wanted to see me, and here I am. How can I help you?" she asked. A soft laugh came from under the hood and he made to pull from the guards, but they only increased their hold.

"Let me go!" he yelled and the guards looked at Avelina who nodded but held up her hand.

"They will let you go sir, but know that if you try to harm me or any other in this hall, they will not hesitate to use their swords." The man bowed his head and Avelina lowered her hand with a nod. The two guards slowly let him go, and moved their hands to the hilts of their swords just like the third guard. "Now, how can I help you?" she asked again and the man stepped closer to her. She could only see his lips as he smirked at her and suddenly she felt her stomach drop. From under his cloak he pulled a dark brown staff. He whirled it around them and all that were in the hall fell unconscious except for him and Avelina. She stepped back from him and made to run, however, she was not quick enough and he pulled her close. She opened her mouth to scream when his staff came down on her head and she knew no more.

Alarm filled Éomer and a strong panic before it disappeared completely. He furrowed his brow and stood. His council looked at him and Bregdon furrowed his brow. "My lord?" he asked and Éomer looked at him.

"Something is not right," he said quietly before he rushed from the council room. There was utter silence in the corridors and he felt his own panic rise. He heard the wish of the council member's robes behind him and he quickened his pace. He stepped into the hall and could not believe his eyes before him. The guards, Cynwise, and a few others laid unconscious on the floor but there was no sight of this mysterious stranger or Avelina. He heard the started gasps of the men behind him before he moved and kneeled next to Cynwise. He tapped the woman's cheek gently and she sighed before he opened her eyes. He saw confusion in them and then she sat up quickly and looked around the room.

"He has taken her," she said quietly and looked at Éomer as he put his hand on her shoulders.

"What happened Cynwise?" he asked alarmed and she met his eyes with tear filled ones of her own.

"The man, he had torn the hall apart, but Avelina had the guards let him go. He waived a staff and all I know is blackness consumed me. She stood just there but she is gone. He has taken her. He must have!" she exclaimed and Éomer swallowed his panic.

"Did you see what he looked like?" Cynwise shook her head as the guards slowly woke up and shook their heads.

"No, my lord, I did not see his face," she said in a whisper. Éomer stood and looked at the guards as they slowly stood with the aide of the councilmen. When they met their King's eyes they lowered their own immediately and bowed their heads. Éomer was not angry with them, he was angry at himself that he had allowed her to come out on her own. He looked away from them and looked at the throne. A piece of parchment sat upon the cushion and he furrowed his brow before he stepped up the three steps and picked up the rolled paper. He unrolled it and began to read.

"Well, my old friend," the letter began and Éomer sat down. "You have taken a beautiful woman to be your wife. I had watched her in the healing halls of Gondor as she tended to the wounded and spent time with your sister. I must say Éowyn has grown fair, has she not?" It took all his control not to scream in frustration. "Unfortunately for you, Avelina shall not be yours for long. I have never seen such hair. I can only imagine it feels as soft as it looks, however, I will not have to imagine any longer. Do not dare and try to fight me, Éomer son of Eomund, you will not win." The letter was unsigned but his anger was boiling and he looked at his council and then at the guards.

"Ready a party, we travel to Minas Tirith immediately. I must take council with King Elessar, for I do believe my friend's help is needed," his voice was stronger than he felt and the guards nodded before they quickly left the hall. Éomer looked at the councilmen and stood from his chair still clutching the paper tightly. "Someone has taken her, and I will not rest until she is once again within these walls. Keep me advised of progress while I am in Minas Tirith." The councilmen nodded and Éomer left the hall to ready for his ride ahead. However, as his chamber door closed he laid his form against the door and then his head against the wood. He had held in his tears, but in the privacy of his chamber he let them fall. He would get her back because if he did not, he felt as though he would die without her by his side.

Avelina groaned quietly and slowly opened her eyes. She was laying on something extremely soft and smooth cloth was covering her. It felt like silk against her fingers, but she had yet to see that material in Middle Earth. She slowly sat up and realized that she laid on a bed and the coverings were a deep red and black. The room was dark except for a fire burning in the fireplace and she had a slight throb on the left side of her head. Movement at the foot of the bed caught her attention and she moved her eyes to the right to see a tall form standing at the end of the bed.

"You are even more beautiful when you sleep," he said gently and Avelina stiffened.

"I was not asleep by choice, you struck me," she said. He laughed quietly and moved to stand at the side of the bed.

"You would not have come with me otherwise." He sat down and Avelina moved away from him.

"Where have you taken me?" she asked and in the firelight she could see his smile grow. His hair was light and his eyes a cool blue, but in their depths there was malice and hate. He was fair, but rugged and worn looking. When he did not answer she moved further away. "Why have you taken me? Seeing as you refuse to tell me where."

"I have taken you to my home if you must know where we are, and as for the reason," he paused and sighed before he stood from the bed. "You are beautiful and are deserving of more than a horse master for a husband." Avelina glared daggers at the man and she knew that he could see her very well for the fire burned just in front of her.

"That horse master is the man I love; I will not take kindly to you insulting him for when you insult him you insult me." He only smirked at her and sighed before he sat down on the bed once more.

"You shall never see him again, and with time you will learn to love me." He reached out and grasped her upper arm firmly and raised his free hand to her cheek. She tried to pull away from him but his grip was too strong. He ran calloused fingers down her cheek and met her eyes. "And if needed, I will make you love me." His grip tightened and Avelina winced as his fingers pierced into her arm. He smirked again and leaned into her. She struggled away from him, but he grasped her other arm and pulled her to him. He kissed her then and she whimpered in pain against his lips.

He was not kind and gentle like Éomer his lips were demanding and hard against her own. Tears fell from her eyes as his grip tightened on her arms. He tried to pry her mouth apart but she would not open her lips to him. He pulled back and she looked at him with hate burning deep in her eyes. She would not cry in front of him, two tears were enough for him to see.

"Do not ever kiss me again," she said heatedly and he only laughed.

"I will do as I please with you." He let go of her right arm and grabbed her by the neck. She gasped but glared at him. "However, I have all the time in the world to do that." His eyes scanned her form mercilessly, but Avelina had noted she was still in her dark green dress she had worn in Edoras, so he had not changed her. "But I will not wait long to see what is under that dress." He shoved her back and stood from the bed. Avelina raised her hand to her throat and looked at him coldly. "Rest well, Avelina. You have fittings tomorrow for new gowns." With that he left her in the room and at the sound of key locking the door, Avelina let go of the tears that she was holding in. She sobbed and looked about the room. There were no windows and only one door, so she was trapped. A fear settled in her and she pulled the blankets around her tightly.

"Éomer will find me. He will find me," she said quietly. She was more or less trying to convince herself that he would come in time. That he would find her before the mysterious man took from her by force what she intended to give to Éomer by choice. Tears fell more steadily from her eyes and she prayed quietly that her fears would not be realized.