Wow! It took me almost a year to put this update up.. Isn't that really sad? To be honest, I had the rest of this typed out and on my computer which crashed a week later. So that's one excuse. The other one is just life. I'm sorry! I want to finish this one (which will probably be in the next chapter or two) so that I can move on to others. I'm also planning on going back andrevisingthis story as well. It needs a lot of work, I think. ButI want to do a series of Lothi/Éomer one shots, and for those of you who've seen The Notebook I'm doing a piece on Allie and Noah after they get back together. So be looking for all that!

Now, please don't forget to review!

The bed seemed bigger, and consequently, she felt smaller. Laying next to Éomer and not being able to reach out to him was a painful reminder of the distance that had literally and figuratively separated them over the past months.

Lothíriel rolled away from him, her eyes closing as begged sleep to take her. Why was this so difficult? During her recovery, all she had wanted was him. And now? She felt awkward and shy, and the man was not even awake yet! How would she handle this when he awoke to find her in his bed next to her? She thought of her time at home, of the simple images of her husband that helped strengthen her weak state. She prayed that their love would be enough to make them both whole again, after everything that had happened. As sleep began to gently tug on her eyes, she was reminded of an encounter that had strengthened her resolve..

FLASHBACK

"It will do you much good to get out of Dol Amroth and stretch your legs.. Perhaps your cousins spirits will lift yours! I know that he shall be in Minas Tirith as well." Her fathers argument for her to accompany him to the city had worked and she reluctantly agreed to go. A few days later found her being greeted by the King and Queen.

Very rarely did she actually come up close with King Elessar and Queen Arwen, which was why she was so surprised when a messenger arrived the day after and said that the Queen requested her audience. In all honesty, Lothíriel was intimidated by the Elven Queen's beauty and grace but, with no pressing arrangements to stop her, she agreed. An hour later found her in the Queen's private sitting chambers.

"Thank you," Arwen smiled, politely dismissing the servant that had lead Rohan's Queen to her chambers. "I am glad that you could make it, I feared that perhaps we would both be too busy on your short stay here to be able to talk." Lothíriel frowned. As much as she appreciated and was flattered by the Queen's attention, it somewhat puzzled her.

"I fear, My Lady, that I do not follow you."

"Lothíriel, I would dearly wish for you to call me Arwen. We are the Queen's of near-brothers and countries that are allies, and I would like it if we could be friendly with one another."

"Of course."

"I must be frank, I know that it was not the cold weather nor any serious physical ailment that chased you out of Rohan," as she said the words that froze Lothíriel's heart, Arwen was calmly pouring her a cup of tea. "Please forgive myself and Faramir, for I inquired and the tale he told me was not one I believed. Only Elessar and myself know."

She wanted to be sick. A woman she much admired now knew how weak and pathetic she truly was. Many more negative thoughts flew through her mind as she looked cautiously up at Arwen, one hand automatically taking the offered cup of tea. "My Lady.. Arwen.."

"Please, let me speak. I want you to know that it was not your fault. I know your strength, Lothíriel, and I can see your grace. Your elven lineage flows brightly through you, and I fear you underestimate your abilities to overcome." Lothíriel could only sip her tea in silence.

"It was I who suggested that Éomer and you were in love before even you were aware of it. One afternoon, I came upon you two arguing passionately about something in the gardens. I was so caught of guard by the look in each others eyes that I could not even alert you to my presence, but instead I watched you.. If only for a moment. You compliment each other, he the day and you the night. Your personalities are similar and yet different enough to balance perfectly. And despite the great tragedy that has befallen you two, you will overcome it to prove even more perfectly connected than before. I know you may not believe me at first, but in time you shall. Yours will be a long and happy reign."

Only a few weeks later, Lothíriel was journeying towards Rohan.

END FLASHBACK

Éomer rolled over, stretching his arm out and quickly froze. Had he imagined his fingers brushing against something warm? Moving his hand again, he felt the distinct touch of soft skin beneath his finger tips and knew it was undeniable, there was a person in bed with him. Panicked, he thought back to the previous night. Sure, he had been extremely drunk last night, but not drunk enough to bring a woman back to his marital bed. And even if he had, Eothain would have stopped him. Licking his suddenly dry lips, he forced open his eyes.

It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Lothíriel lay on her side, facing him, with her hand gently tucked under her cheek. His hand had come to rest on her arm, and unconsciously he caressed the warm skin there. The sun was coming through the window and framed her in a way that gave her an ethereal glow.

Raising his hand, he gently caressed her cheek and moved closer to her. Her eyes opened and met his, and in a moment, they were pressed together. "Lothíriel…" She raised her lips to his, and his hand tangled in the mess of warm black curls.

"My Lord."

He ignored the simple voice and rolled over, desperately fighting as the dream began to disappear, leaving him with the excruciating pain of a hang over.

"My Lord?"

"What?" Éomer's voice was little more than a grunt as he squinted. The servant had opened the curtains, and the bright sunlight felt like daggers to his head.

"Lady Éowyn bid me to bring you breakfast and to make sure you were awake."

"Thank you, please leave it on the table," the servant did as she was told and took it as a dismissal.

Éomer rolled over and looked at the empty bed next to him. The deep melancholy that stirred in him was a reminder that the dream he had just experienced was likely to never happen again. He had never been a man of much luck, and this was just further proof of it. Forcing himself out of bed, Éomer knew that it would do him no good to linger in bed and dwell on things that would only make him miserable. That was what he saved for the precious hours of sleep he got, where his wife's face haunted him.

Taking a seat at the table that also served as a private dinner table should it be needed, he looked over the small breakfast. Éowyn must have heard of his adventures last night and ordered a breakfast that would be the only thing he could stomach. Two pieces of toast, a small bowl of fruit, a glass of water, and a cup of what he suspected was strong coffee.

As he sat and ate, he looked out the window, studying the day. He was surprised to find that it was later than he usually slept, and even though spring was well on its way, another layer of snow had fallen.

After having his breakfast and his morning wash, he left his chambers and headed towards the main hall. Surely he would find Éowyn there, busy with whatever it was that kept her entertained during the days. He was surprised when he found that many had gathered in the Great Hall, each obviously busy with some task. It was more hustle and bustle than normal.

"There you are, sleeping beauty." Turning his head, he found that his sister had appeared at his side from seemingly no where, and he forced a glare in her direction.

"Funny.. What is this all about?"

Éowyn started a bit, a frown coming across her face. "Well, one thing would be the up coming spring festival. We will also be having a banquet the evening before that to celebrate the return of the Queen. Your advisors have been given a break till after the Spring Solstice to be with their families and do any repairs to their homes that the winter might have done." She almost delighted in the look of shock that crossed his face.

"Lothíriel has returned..?"

"Yes, and had you not slept so late, you would have woken to find her in your bed."

"Where is she now?"

It was at that moment that Lothíriel entered with Amrothos in tow. The King and Queen both paused in what they were doing and could only stare. It felt like it was the first time she had seen him, and her heart immediately raced. And for the first time in months, she wanted to be touched. She wanted to be held, kissed, and touched by Éomer.

He couldn't stop himself. She was breathtaking. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, and the cold wind outside had whipped a few strands loose and color into her cheeks. His body's reaction was strong and he felt pulled to her like a moth to a flame, and before he had the time to realize it, he was crossing the space between them.

Gently taking her hand, which he was surprised to find was shaking slightly, he bowed over it and placed a kiss on her knuckles. "I was quite pleased to hear of your return, My Queen, and regret that I could not personally welcome you home when you arrived last night." Straightening up, her looked straight in the eye. "I trust that your time spent at Dol Amroth was pleasant and your journey back safe?"

Those closest to the royal couple knew what a tame and somewhat stiff reunion it was. "It was quite late when we arrived, so I was not surprised to find you asleep and did not dare try to wake you. And yes, it was quite therapeutic and the journey was fine." She regretted the moment he released her hand and turned his gaze to Amrothos to make his polite welcoming as well. There had been a look in his eyes that told her everything - he loved her, he wanted her, he needed her but she would have to come to him. It was out of respect to all that she had been through and that he would not dare rush her.

"If you will excuse me.." He turned and walked out of the hall without further words, and she hesitated. Lothíriel badly wanted to follow him, to talk to him. But she needed to get her footing.