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When Braenna skipped that night's meal as well, Èomer had not touched his own meal. He instead had enough food to feed the both of them brought to the garden of the Houses of Healing. He found Braenna bent over Frodo, Sam hovering nearby.
Èomer watched in silence as she tended to Frodo. She kept bumping into Sam. She finally let out an aggravated sigh. "Samwise Gamgee, you're only hindering his recovery by hovering near me whilst I try to heal him. Do I need to have you removed?" Braenna snapped.
Sam looked appaled and stepped back from her. "Do not fear, Sam. She is just irritable due to lack of food and drink," Èomer assured.
Her head snapped up to look at Èomer. She blushed crimson, embarrassed that he had witnessed that outburst. She turned to the Hobbit. "My apologies, Sam. I did not mean to speak those words," she said softly.
Sam nodded, accepting her apology.
"You send Aragorn to get proper nourishment, yet take none yourself. Come, finish with Frodo. We will enjoy our meal in the gardens," Èomer revealed to her. She smiled gently and nodded before turning back to Frodo.
Braenna was soon finished. Èomer led her from the room, linking his arm with hers. They enjoyed a moonlit dinner in the gardens. Èomer told her of Èowyn and Faramir's engagement and as soon as all the elves had arrived in Minas Tirith and Frodo was well, Aragorn would be coronated. She had not the heart to ask him when he would be returning to Rohan for his own coronation.
Èomer, however, seemed to know exactly what was troubling her into silence. "Braenna, I would very much like for you to ride with us to Edoras when we return," he said softly.
Braenna sighed. "I long to," she stated. "Yet Faramir and Aragorn most surely will be going, and I should remain to see to Minas Tirith's reconstruction and healing those in the Houses of Healing."
"Gondor has plenty of Healers that would cover your duties, and Imrahil could see to the City," Èomer argued. She looked up at him, surprise on her features at the slight harshness in his tone. He saw it. "I am sorry. I just know I would be more at ease that day with the knowledge that you are near."
"We shall see," she stated softly.
"Braenna," he growled playfully.
"I must follow the orders of my own king as well, Èomer," she reminded him.
"He will not be your king for long if I have any say in the matter," he mused.
Braenna grinned. "You, sir, are going to be my death," she shot back.
"A fitting one, to be sure," he teased back.
It was an hour before he let her return to her duties. Just before letting her go, however, he kissed her with such passion. It nearly knocked her over at how strong he was showing his love for her.
He saw her little over the next week. He and his able remaining men helped in the reconstruction of Minas Tirith. She tended diligently to Frodo and other injured men. Once Frodo was back on his feet, moving about the city with Merry, Pippin, and Sam the other Healers banned her from the Houses of Healing to relax.
Braenna moved through the levels of the city, just taking in the damage and repairs alike. A group of children ran to her, laughing gleefully. They enticed her into a game. She played and laughed with them until the evening meal when their mothers called them in. She went back to the upper level of the city.
She entered the hall to see Èomer and Faramir standing dangerously close to one another. She raised her brows and moved closer to hear the conversation. "You were not supposed to take Èowyn through the city without a chaperone," Èomer said.
"I saw no harm in it. I took her on a tour of Minas Tirith. There were so many people around that I dared not do anything to dishonor either of our families, Èomer," Faramir protested.
"That is not the point," Èomer said.
Braenna walked up and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It is alright. I had my eye on them as I was playing with a group of children, they just never saw me," she assured . Faramir nodded his thanks and walked off. Èomer turned to her. "Besides, if we yell at them for going unchaperoned, we will have to get a chaperone as well," she pointed out.
Èomer grinned. "You always think of a way to make a problem not as pertinent," he mused.
"I've had practice. Boromir was courting a young Healer and I always claimed to be with them, but out of sight, to both fathers," Braenna revealed.
"How did she take the news of Boromir's death?" Èomer wondered.
"She didn't. They were betrothed, but she died. We were out riding before Osgiliath was taken the first time. Faramir and I were trailing behind the two of them. We didn't know the orcs were on the move from Mordor until she took an arrow intended for Boromir. She was the first casualty of this war," Braenna replied. They moved to go into the hall for the evening meal.
"Braenna!" Aragorn called.
"Yes, m'lord?" she replied, looking to him.
"It has been decided that you will accompany Faramir, the Lady Arwen, and myself when we ride to Rohan for Théoden King's funeral and Èomer King's coronation," he announced.
"And two months following the coronation, Rohan will have a queen once more," Èowyn added with a gleam in her eyes. "Just as two months after Aragorn's coronation Gondor will have a queen once more as well."
"And no fairer pair of queens have ever graced the land of Men," Legolas commented, smiling softly.