Disclaimer: All Lord of the Rings characters are property of the Tolkien estate. I am making no money off of this.

A/N: firesflame1366 Thank you! I'm sorry it took so long to get the sequel off the ground.

Karri was finishing lighting the candles around the room when Eomer walked in. Part of her wanted to be surprised that he followed her so quickly, but she knew he was going to. The fire reflected in his ceremonial armor, which was polished to perfection. His eyes studied her as if he was memorizing every inch of her face.

"Tell me you didn't think I would come." He said, his voice soft.

"I knew you would." She answered back.

"You look beautiful, Karri."
"Thank Legolas, he gifted me the dress for the event."

"Though the dress compliments your beauty, it is you who has it in full." Her cheeks flushed and he felt a sense of pride that it was he, and not the elf, that made her blush this time. As he moved toward her she felt her heart race and her body temperature rise. Bringing his hand toward her, his knuckles softly brushed her cheek.

"Eomer." She took a step back, her voice pained. "You're engaged."

"Don't remind me."

"I have to." He nodded before moving toward the table and sitting, quickly indicating for her to sit across from him, which she did.

"Why did you leave after the orc attack. Why did you not travel with us?" He had been dying to ask.

"It hurts me to be around you." She answered and he felt a sting in his heart. "I miss you, Eomer, but I remember you told me that love was a fool's dream for someone in power."

"Then I am a fool." Her eyes finally connected with his, neither willing to let go. "I miss you too. I have missed you every moment since you left." Karri's words seemed to utterly fail her, there was a million different things she could say, but she wasn't sure how to articulate them. "It's too late isn't it?"

"Of course it's too late." She whispered back, her eyes confused as her head cocked to one side. Leaning back he let out a sigh.

"It's the elf, isn't it?"

"What?" Karri couldn't help but laugh, even through Eomer's annoyed expression.

"It's too late because you've fallen for the Mirkwood prince."

"Eomer, it's too late because you're engaged. You've promised yourself to someone else. I threw myself at your feet, but it was not enough."

"You're always enough."
"Were that the case you wouldn't be expecting the arrival of your fiancee in the morning." Karri pointed out with a raised eyebrow. "Legolas is my friend, my armor. Nothing more." His eyes beamed hope for a moment. "But your fiancee is coming at dawn, so you should sleep and be well rested to greet her."

"You promised me if I came you would answer any question I asked." He reminded her and she reluctantly nodded. "Do you still care for me?" The silence hung in the air as the sound of the party echoed in the outside hall. The white marble walls seemed to amplify it, unlike the heavy wood of Rohan.

"Yes." Her answer was a simple one, but it made his heart soar.

"If I were free, would you marry me."

"That is a very complicated question, Eomer." Karri could feel her palms begin to sweat as his eyes studied her. She did her best to look away, instead concentrating on a candle as it burned lower in its holder.

"No, it's not." His hand grabbed hers, but she pulled away.

"Remember I am not of this world."

"If you think that would make my people... our people treat you any differently, you're wrong. You've proven yourself."

"I am not worried about Rohan." She muttered as she stood. Walking over to the candle she collected a drop of hot wax on her finger and endured the stinging sensation. "What if I somehow find a way home? You couldn't come with me."

"Why in the world would you want to go home?" He asked with a small laugh.

"I miss my family." She turned to look at him as memories of her old life flooded back. "I was in school, I had hundreds of books, hours of music, there was penicillin."

"What?" He asked confused and she just shook her head. The wonders of modern medicine would be too complicated for the late hour.

"I have friends who may miss me. I have an entire other life to go home too."
"And it's more important than your life here?" His voice wasn't angry, just sad.

"What life here? My life with the Rangers is one I love, but I would trade it for home."

"Me? Eowyn?"

"You are to be married." She didn't want to say it again. It was as if he kept forgetting or just didn't want to acknowledge the situation the two found themselves in. "Eowyn will be married in just a few days. Soon she will have a family of her own to look after."

"What if I wasn't to be married." He wasn't looking at her as he said it, just down at the table.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean if I were to call of my engagement." She sat back across from him and their eyes finally connected.

"I feel that would mess up a lot for you."

"We don't need the extra bonds with Gondor. They are made through my sister and my friendship with their king."

"And you would destroy your fiancee's life. Turn it around like that?"

"Karri, she is vastly unhappy." He explained. "Our arrangement had us both leaving ones we loved."

"I can't promise you anything." She answered sadly and he stood, anger over-flowing.

"And why not? Here I am, offering myself to you, why do you turn me away?"

"If I would find a way home... I need to tell my family and friends that I am alright. It must be awful for them, not knowing where I am." He was quiet, still seething. "Imagine if Eowyn disappeared. One day she was just gone. You searched for her, but there were no signs of her. Would you ever give up the search?"

"No." He answered, his anger leaving him. "I suppose I would not. I never stopped searching for you, either."

"At least you knew I was somewhere safe. I wrote to Eowyn, she would have told you if something had happened to me. My family has no idea." She stood and moved toward him, taking his hand once again. "In a perfect world, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to marry you."

"Then let us pretend it is a perfect world, if only for a minute." His lips covering hers was the safest she'd felt in over a year, and everything about it was comfortable, familiar. His lips were soft, the hair on his chin and upper lip tickled. Eomer's hands wrapped around her, playing with her curls. As they pulled away they rested their foreheads against one another.

"I missed that."

"I promise you this, my dearest Karri. That will not be the last time my lips find yours."

As Eomer returned to the celebration, Karri walked slowly around the Citadel. The candlelight on the white marble made shadows of various shapes – Karri's mind assigning them as she would clouds when she was a girl. When Eomer had walked away from her, turning at the last moment to give her a smile, she allowed herself to hope and daydream that everything would work out exactly like he had promised. That his engagement would be called off, that he would rush to her and kiss her with all the passion that he could muster. Whispering sweet-nothings in her ear as he carried her to his bedchamber and made love until dawn. Though, the more she walked, the more she realized it was not likely to happen. Eomer had a strong sense of duty, and she knew it was Eowyn's words pouring from his lips earlier. His fiancee would arrive in the morning, and he would return to his ancestral way of thinking. After a few more minutes, Karri decided it was safe to return to the party, he would have been back for a while and any talk of impropriety could be doubted. The musicians we're playing a raucous song as Karri walked into the hall. Eowyn and Faramir were dancing prominently in the center. Her eyes were alight as her fiancee twirled her around the room. Karri paused, leaning against the wall, just to watch them. No one could deny the love the couple felt for each other, and the room watched them in delight. Their marriage would be a prominent connection between the Kingdoms of Men, though not the only one. With that thought, Karri's eyes flicked up to Eomer. He was back, sitting his his chair, his eyes fixed on her. A playful smirk crossed his features, and Karri's stomach tightened.

"Karri..." Legolas' voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Are you alright? You were gone a while."

"I am." She answered, and he leaned against the wall next to her.

"I couldn't help but notice the absence of the King of Rohan." His voice was low so no one would hear.

"We spoke for a few moments." Karri confirmed. "He says he could end his engagement."

"And you're worried about going home."
"Is mind reading another gift of the elves?" Karri half joked and Legolas responded with a melodic laugh. "Truth be told, Legolas, I think he is caught up in the excitement of seeing me. Once Lothiriel is here, his mind will surely change."

"The minds of the race of men are fickle."

"Excuse me, my Elven Prince.." Karri turned to look at him. "I am one of the race you speak of."

"And you agree with me." He replied, a smile on his handsome face. Karri merely shrugged. "Come, there are more drinks to be had." He held out his arm, which she took, and they walked back toward their table.

"Have you danced with anyone else tonight?"

"I am not fond of dancing." He was quick reply, and Karri gave a laugh.

"I feel bad keeping you all to myself."

"Don't." He pulled her chair out for her. "I am accompanying you, you are who I choose to dance with."

Karri leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper. "Then I feel bad about abandoning you for another, even if only for a short while."

"My point again, fickle." This time she laughed out loud, the sound carrying over to Eomer. He missed her laugh. He missed her kiss. He missed everything about her, and for that moment he allowed himself to hate his sense of duty to his Kingdom. If he didn't have it, he would be making her laugh. She would have walked in on his arm, and she would leave with him as well. He let out a slow breath he had been holding as Eowyn took her place next to him.

"Brother," He momentarily looked toward his sister, and couldn't help but smile. Her cheeks were flushed from the dancing, and a smile seemed permanently etched on her features. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her so happy. "If you stare any harder at her, you're going to burn a hole through her."

Eomer sighed and sat back in his chair. "I apologize, sister."

"There is no need. I understand." He patted his arm. She leaned toward him, her voice lowering. "Where did you sneak off to?"

"She and I talked." He admitted and Eowyn couldn't help but smile a little wider.

"And?"

"She is still determined to find a way home, and no one could blame her. I am sure her family is missing her terribly."

Eowyn nodded. "But, did you tell her how you feel?"

"I did. I wish I could changed what happened after the battle."

"You can." Eowyn pressed.

"I can never make up for hurting her like that."

"Eomer.."

"Please, sister." He interrupted her. "Don't act like there is an easy solution, but I promise you, I am going to try. I know she doesn't believe I will – I could see it in her eyes, but I will not be as foolish as I have been." Eowyn gave him a soft smile before sitting back in her seat and looking out over her guests. For the first time in a year, she let herself hope.