A/N: Sorry for the distance between updates, school got in the way.
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Éowyn walked down the hall, feeling as if everything was right in the world again. She and Faramir had sat and talked for a little while longer, enjoying each other and the sun. She saw Éomer down the hall and smiled at him. She walked over to him.
"Good day, Éomer." She said smiling.
"So you are talking to me now." He said.
"I never was not." She said smiling.
"But you avoided me, though that could have been a good event. I'll walk you to your room." He offered her his arm.
"Quit possibly yes, but I have calmed since the morning." Éowyn replied.
They walked in quiet for a little, then Éomer began again. "I spoke with Faramir this morning."
Éowyn finned surprise at this. "Really, what did you talk about?" She asked, though she knew that answer.
"About things. I am meeting him tomorrow morning as well, to discuss what is to happen." Éomer said with a smile.
Éowyn let her heart jump for a second. But it was only for a second; she knew that Éomer was planning something. "What are you going to do tomorrow Éomer?" She asked stopping.
Éomer just smiled again, and kept walking. "Éowyn, are you going to come with me?" He asked, as if she had said nothing.
"Not until you tell me what you are going to do to Faramir tomorrow."
"It will be nothing to endanger his life." Éomer said. "Now come Éowyn." She followed.
Éowyn wanted to know what he was planning, but she would not find out easily, or even from him. He does not want me to know, she thought, maybe I should try a different approach. "What are you going to talk about tomorrow?" She asked, hoping that this would get her answer.
"About your safety. If I were to lose you to a Man of Gondor I would like to know that you will be safe with him."
"Éomer, I know that I will be safe with him. It is not as if we will be living somewhere were we are exposed to danger at every turn." Éowyn said with a small smile.
"I would like to know for myself. Faramir and I will discuss it in the morning." Éomer said.
They arrived at the room that Éowyn had been given and she turned to look at Éomer, hoping he would listen to her. "Éomer, I know that you will say what you will, but please, do not try to scare him."
Éomer laughed. "I had no intention of scaring him."
Éowyn tried to smile as she stepped into the room and closed the door. She did not want to think about what Éomer might do the next morning. She had to warn Faramir, she did not want him to be unprepared, for whatever Éomer was planning.
Éowyn thought of what she could do. Éomer knew she was in her room, and she had to be there if he wanted to find her. The only other place she could be would be eating her dinner. She could not go see Faramir; Éomer probably had a greater chance of finding out that she would have gone to see him, knowing her starting place. If only I had a way to warn him, she thought. Then she remembered Merry's words. She could slip him a letter at dinner and he could bring it to Faramir.
She sat down to write the letter. Once she finished she felt like she had said nothing useful in it. The truth was, she had not. All it said was to be on guard for what Éomer might be planning for the next morning. She did not even know what her brother might do.
Merry did not have to go to Faramir's study to find him. As soon as Merry was exciting the hall for dinner. Merry handed the letter to Faramir and said. "From the Lady."
"Thank you Master Merry." Faramir said with a smile.
Faramir sat down and had food brought to him. He looked over the letter while he ate. So I must be prepared for something she doesn't know will happen, but might? He thought. Faramir sat staring at the letter, still wondering what to make of it, when another person sat across from him.
"What has my Steward in such deep thoughts?" Aragorn asked. Faramir looked up surprised to see him there.
"A letter Éowyn wrote me, my lord." Faramir said looking at again.
"What does it say that needs such concentration?" Aragorn asked.
"Nothing, it says nothing really. Only of something vague that might happen. And warnings of her brother." Faramir said with a sigh.
"Why would she have written to you about this? Surly she can go and speak with you if she so pleased." Aragorn said.
Faramir explained of what had happened with Éomer. He was a little ashamed at himself when he mentioned the fight that they had had, and the words that were exchanged.
"I suggest you be prepared tomorrow then." Aragorn said.
The day dawned bright and clear. Faramir rose with the sun, whether out of habit or because he was anxious to find out what Éomer had planned for him, he could not tell. He breakfasted and waited in the hall until Éomer came.
"Lord Faramir, you are already here, I did not think that you would rise so early." Éomer said.
"I was waiting to begin our talk, Lord Éomer." Faramir replied.
"Hmm." Was all Éomer could utter. He sat and ate in silence, while Faramir waited patiently for him to speak. Nothing was said until Éomer finished.
"Would you take a walk with me?" Éomer asked standing.
Faramir nodded, wondering what was going to come of this. Surly a walk would not have been something to worry about. He thought.
Éomer lead the way out, though Faramir knew where they were heading as they made their first turn.
"We are going to the practicing grounds?" He asked.
"We are." Éomer said. Faramir decided not to question this decision, but decided to concentrate on what Éomer might have planned. They arrived at the grounds. Éomer walked over to where the blunted practice weapons were kept and took one for himself.
"Are you going to get something to defend yourself?" He asked Faramir when he returned.
Faramir went into the room, found the practice sword that he had used to many times to count and returned.
Éomer was standing in the ring. "If I were to allow you to court my sister, I would like to know that you can defend yourself. And, if it is clear that you two should marry, that she will be safe in your care." Éomer said calmly.
So this is what Éowyn had been trying to warn me about. Faramir thought. "I believe that I can defend myself, and her, quiet well." Faramir responded.
"We shall see." Éomer said.
They faced each other. Éomer made the first lunge, Faramir blocked him. Faramir turned the move to his own advantage, turning his sword upward. Éomer's arm jerked upward with the move. Éomer lunged again, Faramir turned this time, changing the angle to his advantage once again. They continued along the same lines. It became clear that Éomer had the greater strength with his weapon, but Faramir had the better stratagem.
Faramir knew that Éomer was becoming tired. His moves were becoming slower, with all the force that was put behind them, it was not surprising. Faramir took this to his advantage. Éomer moved to strike, Faramir moved at the last moment, sending Éomer off balance. Éomer's momentum caused him to trip. He fell to the ground. Faramir walked over to him and offered a hand to Éomer.
Éomer scowled at Faramir. "You have skill." Was all he could say as he took the hand offered.
"I'll take that as a complement." Faramir said, helping Éomer to his feet.
"You should, in sparing, I had yet to be beaten. But you, Faramir of Gondor, have just ended that." Éomer said. Faramir looked at him, and saw in Éomer's eyes amazement, though it did not sound in his voice. "I believe that Éowyn would be safe if she were to be with you." Éomer said finally. Faramir smiled. He had won two battles as of now, but that did not mean that this was over.
A/N: Ok, so I would update again soon, since next week is spring break for me, but I am going to Spain for the week. I found out this last weekend. Got to love the cheap fairs. But I get a sword! Yay! Now, what to name it… How did you like the chapter? Any other test, I have a few, that Éomer might give, I am open to them. Review and say! Also, I have no experience with sword fighting, entirely taken from what I watched during Pirates of the Caribbean, so I am sorry if I had anything wrong. And I am taking Faramir beating Éomer from the book. "...and yet knew, for she was bred among men of war, that here was one whom no Rider of the Mark would outmatch in battle."(Return of the King, The Steward and the King). Éowyn thinks that about Faramir, so I took that and put it here. Thought I should say that.
Responses:
Rebby-Eowyn: This was just another test. Thanks for the review!
Ziroana: He will grant them what they want, in time. I have this nice idea about what I want to happen, but I think that I may have spaced the time wrong. Lothíriel is not going to show up for awhile. But it will be fun to see what they do together! Thanks for the review!
Queen Arwen: I probably should have asked you about fencing techniques before I wrote this chapter, but I forgot to. Empty his pockets. Trade your Gondorian for the Trojan, hehehehehe. I never said that it would be Éowyn that would beat Éomer up. Thanks for the review!
Mad-Aniviel:There will be some Éomer/Lothíriel in this. Just not yet. Thanks for the review!
LiL Pippin Padfoot: I always love your reviews, I hope you know that. Oh, that's what you were thinking about. Lothíriel will meet Éomer, just not as soon as you think. She is still in Dol Amroth at the moment, and Éomer is leaving in two days. Oh, I know the whole no sleep thing. Thanks for the review!
RiverRatRogue: Lothíriel will make an aperence. I hope this was longer! Yes, poor Éomer. Thanks for the review!
