Chapter 4

Ceorl looked up from his sweeping as she approached the stable doors. The breeze whipped her hair into the air and fluttered her dress. "Feeling better?"

"I dare say better than before." There was that same shrewish smile that she held when she knew she'd gotten away with something. "And why do you look so pleased with yourself?" her eyes sharpened and she put her hands on her hips, the smile suddenly replaced with a stern jaw. "Because, Lord Éomer wishes for me to help him break in the new stallion from the Wold tomorrow." She got the reaction she was aiming for; complete and utter disbelief, his mouth was almost hanging wide open if it hadn't been for the broom handle he was leaning on.

It was a warm night, the sky was clear and the stars sparkled sharply like burning torches from a distant land. She pushed the blanket off her shoulders and stood up to walk over to the open stable doors. It was too hot and the anticipation about tomorrow was hindering her sleep. Tomorrow I will show my skill, or make a bigger fool than before. Walking over to the fence of the training pen she wriggled her bare toes in the cool grass before sitting herself up on the fence and looking over the mountains. The moon was a crescent and made the permanent snows on the peak of the mountains glow like the crowns of kings. Soon there will be snow of my Lord's brow.

Éomer paced up and down the empty corridors of Meduseld, his brow furrowed and hands clenched in a fist at his side. Eowyn stood leaning against a pillar in the Golden hall watching her brother as he frowned with worry. "You will ware a ditch if you keep that up." Stopping, momentarily thrown off his train of thought, he looked over to his little sister's shadowed figure across the hall to him. "Do you make a habit of watching me?"

"Someone has to."

"Gamling does that enough as it is." His frown lifted and the lack of sleep caught up with him. He walked into the centre and sat himself on a bench in front of the glowing embers of the huge fireplace. "You should not fret over such things. Uncle thought you to be the rightful heir after Theodred…" her voice trailed off as the memory came flooding back, stabbing at her heart as she sat beside him. "He should be awake worrying, not me. I am no king, Eowyn."

"That's because you have not been crowned yet."

"Eowyn…" she slapped his arm with a smile. He could only muster a warily smirk in response to his shrewish sister's teasing. "Faramir has himself a handful with you." Standing proudly she looked down at him as if he was a child. "Go outside. The fresh air might help you sleep." At that she lift him in peace, still sat slumped on the bench in silence.

The courtyard was empty and every house was dark as their inhabitancy slept soundly inside. At least some people can. Being outside had slightly helped in cooling her down from being stuck inside the stuffy stables. The breeze was not cold but held a slightly coolness that refreshed her as it blew up from behind her, sending her hair and dress floating forward. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of being completely alone and free, if only for a moment. Éomer stood leaning on the fence beside her quietly for quite a while before she noticed. Noticing a pair of arms leaning beside her she jumped down and looked to the intruder, her heart hammering in her chest. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to startle you."

"Oh no, my Lord, do not apologize, I was off in a dream." She smiled broadly before propping herself back up onto the fence and looking back up to the mountains and moon. They both looked at the magnificence of the Misty Mountains and the glowing of the snow cause by the moon for a long time before either spoke. "They're magnificent in moonlight."

"That they are." Morwen looked down to him, the moonlight reflected in his brown eyes and golden hair. He looked so handsome and strong, but also very tired. "You looked tired my Lord."

"I have not found it easy to sleep lately."

"I don't think standing around outside in the middle of the night helps… if you don't mind me saying, my Lord." She turned back to the mountains shyly after her little outburst. She sounds just like Eowyn.