Disclaimer: All Lord of the Rings characters are property of the Tolkien estate. I am making no money off of this.
Author's Note: So... I finally started the sequel. I know it's about four years late, but I am working on it.
"Karri..."
"Hello, Eomer." Her voice was soft, her skin still pale, her eyes dark as ever. A year hasn't been enough, was her first thought. As soon as she saw him, surrounded, a rush of emotion came flooding back. Her heart began to ache again and a million questions ran through her mind. Was he married yet? Had he thought about her?
"You've become a ranger, I see."
"Yeah. Aragorn sent them a letter, they accepted me as soon as I got there."
"I begged Eowyn to tell me where you were." He said softly. "She wouldn't."
"I made her swear not to." Karri said with a smirk.
"I looked for you." He replied making her look into his eyes for the first time. They were even more amazing then she had remembered.
"Didn't look far enough North, I guess." She said casually.
"Why are you here?" Eomer's voice wasn't angry just confused.
"Eowyn's wedding."
"I know she has been missing you." He responded.
"How is Lothiriel?" She asked and Eomer's face hardened.
"She is well. Still in Edoras. She will be joining me in a few days for the wedding."
"How is married life treating you?" He knew Karri was trying to aggravate him, but he was just excited to be speaking to her. To be seeing her.
"I am not yet married." He replied and her eyebrow raised. "The wedding is set for a year."
"Glad to hear it." Karri said coldly. "I am sure you'll be quite happy." He didn't say anything.
"Sire, I should be off. I have my own roads to travel."
"If would be best if you travel with us. One alone may be dangerous."
"Don't worry, my Lord." She bowed and he winced. "I have been traveling alone for some time. I will be fine. I will see you in Gondor in a days time or less."
"Karri..." She whistled loudly and Liwin came from the forest.
"King Eomer. It was a pleasure seeing you again." She bowed before climbing on her horse and speeding away. She didn't turn around. She couldn't. As soon as she was out of sight she felt the tears threatening.
Riding through the night was a challenge she had become accustomed to. The rangers made her move, made her train, made her struggle. Night was the worst time to sleep when you were traveling. Orcs struck at night, goblins lived at night. Even if she had wanted to sleep there was no way she could have because his eyes kept playing in her mind. He had looked so worn since she last saw him, even maybe a little sad. Shaking her head, she concentrated on the world around her. It was late and the forests were moving. There was no time to think about him now. Pulling her cloak tighter around her, she momentarily thought about turning around and going back to the North, not dealing with any of this. However, she knew she couldn't do that to Eowyn. A few more hours until daybreak and she could sleep, clear her mind, and prepare for the upcoming few days.
The city rose over the horizon as she paused to take it in. The last time she had this view she was preparing for battle. Theodon's voice permeated her thoughts: "Death!" He had screamed, instilling the bravery to fight in his men. Guiding Liwin she took the same route she had on that day, remembering each moment as if it had been the day before. A smile crossed her face as she thought about Legolas. Though he and Gimli had visited her only two months previous, she was looking forward to seeing him again. She rode hard and fast as the city came on her quickly. Handing her invitation to the guard at the gate she was allowed in and rode to the stables. After unsaddling and brushing Liwin she headed toward the throne room.
"My warrior." His melodic voice made her smile.
"My elven prince." She responded before he pulled her into a warm hug.
"I was wondering when you were going to get here."
"I had to stop and help some people on the road. Orc attack." His eyes studied hers.
"There is something you're not saying."
"It was Eomer." Even saying his name bit into her. Legolas nodded and placed a hand softly on her shoulder. "Where is Eowyn?" Wordlessly he lead her through a maze of marble hallways passing several guards he paused outside a set of double doors and knocked quickly. With a wink he walked off. Eowyn opened the door and her hands covered her mouth as tears pricked her eyes.
"Karri."
"Hello, M'Lady." Karri started to bow when Eowyn pulled her hands up and around her.
"Don't you even think about it." Karri laughed as she pulled away.
"Hello, Eowyn."
"That's better. Come in!" She shut the doors behind Karri. The room was massive. The bed in the center was a huge with stunning blue silk sheets and laid on it was a beautiful white dress.
"Eowyn. This is beautiful."
"Thank you. So tell me, what has the North been like?"
"A lot of training and work." Karri answered.
"You seem different." Eowyn studied Karri for a few minutes. "Harder. Sad?"
"I had a run-in with your brother on the way here." Karri explained. "He and his men we're attacked by Orcs. They're all alright."
"I see." Eowyn sat on the edge of her bed. "Did you talk to him."
"Only enough to ask after his family."
"Karri..."
"How is the soon to be sister-in-law?"
"Awful." Eowyn answered. "They're both miserable. Neither wants to marry the other." Karri's heart jumped but she shook her head. She wouldn't allow herself to be happy about that.
"Well, they were never marrying for love."
"No. Nor will they ever be in love."
"Sucks for them."
"I told you before Karri... My brother has loved and will love only one person." Karri rubbed her forehead, trying to push away the headache that threatened her.
"Let's not talk about this." Karri almost begged. "Tell me of Faramir. Tell me of your life. I came here for you, my friend." Eowyn sighed, but soon a smile came over her face as she talked of her fiance and their life together.
Being back in Gondor was nostalgic. After visiting the Houses of Healing and thanking, again, the people who saved her life she sat on a bench just outside the magnificent building. It was where Eaodon has laid down to rest, his arm bandaged. Where he had finished the wooden sculpture of a horse for his younger brother. Karri watched Legolas move toward her. Seemingly gliding, she envied his fluid movement.
"May I join you?"
"Of course." Karri answered, sliding to one side of the bench.
"Two months has felt like such a long time."
"It is such a long time. How is Gimli?"
"Ornery as ever, but good. We've been at Rivendell for a while. It's weird with so many of the Elves gone." During the war most of the elves once in Middle Earth had sailed to the Grey Havens. There was nothing to keep them there, knowing there would never be another age of elves.
"Do you want to go too?"
"One day, yes. I shall rejoice in seeing my family again. However, now is not the time. Have you been making any progress on finding a way home?"
"No. I am beginning to think I never will. I am happy with the Rangers though. They push me like they push everyone else. It doesn't matter, my gender."
"As it shouldn't." He watched her eyes scan the marble streets. "I don't think he's here yet."
"Soon. He would have been riding slower than me, but not by much."
"Karri.." Legolas' ice blue eyes focused on her. "Your lot in life can be drastically different then you have imagined."
"I haven't imagined much. I don't let myself."
"Why?"
"Everything I had imagined before took place in my world. That is a distant hope right now. Then I allowed myself to imagine a life with Eomer..." Taking a deep breath she steadied her voice. "... That did not come true. Now I can only see a blank sheet in the future. It has changed so much I don't pretend to have the faintest idea of what is coming for me."
"You could always travel with Gimli and me."
"Be your new ranger of the group?" Her question brought a soft laugh to his lips.
"As you joke, I am serious. We both care deeply for you. We will help you find a way home, if you can't we will take it from there."
"I will consider it." Karri answered honestly.
"I don't expect an answer right away."
"Good, because I could not give one."
"King Eomer is on the horizon!" A young boy shouted as he ran through the streets. She felt her shoulders stiffen as if he was around a corner.
"I did ride through the night. I should probably get some sleep. At least an hour or so to be proper for the party tonight."
"May I ask, are you planning to wear your ranger attire?"
"I have a dress." She said through a smile. "Though it will feel weird wearing it. It's the green one Eowyn gave me." Legolas nodded. "Forgive me, my prince. I must retire." The elf didn't say anything as he watched her walk into the marble structure. He stood and his eyes turned to the group of riders coming towards the city. Riding at full speed, it was apparent he needed to be around her as much as she wanted to be around him.
As Karri awoke and stretched she moved toward the window. Daylight was just beginning to fall, which meant she hadn't nearly overslept. Good. Karri's year away had taught her to wake on cue after a specified amount of time. Though, she did miss her annoyingly loud alarm clock. A small knock on her door turned her attention away from the crowds of people lining the streets in preparation.
"Come in." A young woman, no more than 17 entered.
"Hello ma'am."
"Karri, please. You are?"
"Ina."
"What can I do for you Ina?"
"Lady Eowyn sent for me to draw you a bath. A dress was also sent." She quickly ran out of the room and brought in a resplendent light green gown.
"Wow. Please, tell Lady Eowyn that I can not accept this."
"This isn't from Lady Eowyn."
"It isn't? Who's it from?"
"Lord Legolas, of the Woodland Realm." As the words left the young girls mouth Karri couldn't help but shake her head with a slight chuckle. "He told me I was not to take no for an answer."
"Of course he did."
"He also told me I am to take your other dress and make sure it is completely repaired." Reaching into a pack she pulled out the dress. It was dirty and there were a few places where the stitching could be done better.
"Be careful with it, please." Karri's eyes looked sad as she handed the dress to Ina.
"I promise." The young girl assured her.
"Okay. We better get to it." Karri let herself be led to the bath area where she could see the water was steaming and ready for her. The feeling was heavenly. To just let her body relax in the warm water for a few minutes was doing more good than she imagined it would. A few nursemaids came in to comb and put her hair up after she toweled herself off, already missing the warmth from the bath. Very carefully she pulled on the dress. It seemed incredibly delicate, as if she could rip it if her foot moved just the wrong way. However, logically she knew better it was probably more sturdy then some pieces of armor she owned. Slowly she made her way down the candle lit corridor. Her legs felt practically naked when the cool air assaulted her. Sure enough, before the double door entrance to the party stood Legolas, his outfit a match to hers.
"This was too much." Karri said, sternly.
"Nonsense. You look beautiful." He held his arm out for her. "And wait until you see the next one?"
"As do you, but the next one?" She asked and he nodded. "Why do you have dresses for me?"
"I knew you would come here with your one green dress, and as nice as that is – you shouldn't wear it for several events in a row."
"Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me, my warrior." As she took his arm she could feel her heart rate begin to speed up. Somewhere in Gondor he was waiting. He could be in the room already, for all she knew. One thing she was absolutely positive of, she wasn't ready to see him again.