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

Once the dinner was in full swing Karri quietly headed to the kitchens to pick up a little food for herself. The servants didn't question her, though Karri had a sinking suspicion that once the eyes were off of most nobility, they were weirder than your average person. So, she imagined the Gondor nobles visited the kitchens to satisfy their own cravings. Probably dressed in their pajamas, grumpy and hungry. She took food back to her room and was pleasantly surprised to find her green dress waiting for her on her bed. It had been cleaned and carefully stitched. Karri ran her hand along the material and smiled, knowing she must remember to ask Ina who took care of it and thank them profusely. The minutes passed by quickly and Karri took to pacing her room, her mind racing. More so when she heard the sounds of passing servants. The dinner was coming to a close, and she had to make a decision.

She wanted to fight herself, she truly did. But, she knew, it would have just been a losing battle. Changing quickly into her green dress, she quietly roamed the halls of the Citadel. There were a few scattered voices of those who were late to leave the party. Drunk and full, their laughter echoed off the walls. The King and Queen would have been in their chambers for some time. As would Eowyn and Faramir – separate chambers, of course. Wouldn't want any hint of impropriety before the ceremony. Karri found it slightly primitive, though, this whole world had been primitive to her. If she openly talked of her sexual desires or thoughts on the subject, she may be burned as a witch.

The Merethrond was the 'Great Hall of Feasts' used by the nobility of Gondor. Smaller than where the latest balls and feasts had taken place, it contained about four tables lengthwise, then one going along the front of the hall where the Royal Family dined. When Karri pulled the heavy door open, she was surprised to find the place brightly lit, as if the servants purposefully avoided the room. And he was there. Walking slowly around in the front of the hall, his eyes had fallen on her as the door opened. His armor was off, and sitting on a nearby table, and Karri let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding as the heavy door closed behind her. Eomer seemed frozen in place as she walked slowly toward him.
"I remember that dress." He finally said when she was merely five feet away. "You look beautiful."

Karri bowed slightly. "Thank you." In an instant he was next to her, his arms softly caressing hers, almost afraid to really touch her.

"You don't have to bow to me." Karri nodded and took a step back.

"Why did you ask me to come here?"

"Because I missed being around you." He answered honestly. "These little moments in time, they're not enough. The quick glances are not enough. I don't know if eternity would be enough anymore."

"Was your fiancee's travel uneventful?" She asked as she turned around and admired the tapestries on the walls.

"Karri.."

"Eowyn said she would be at the dinner, so I assume it all went well."

"Karri, stop." He was in front of her, blocking any more movement, and Karri looked into his eyes. Brown near the iris and moving out to green, it was hard not to get mesmerized.

"What do you want from me, Eomer?" She wanted it to come out as strong, as powerful. But, instead, it was merely a whimper.

"I want you to accept that I love you." He answered honestly.

"I do, and I love you Eomer. I have for a very long time."

"Then, let the future remain a mystery. Even if only for tonight. Let's stay here, in this present. Where the only thing that matters is us."

Karri gave him a small smile. A year, she had been dreaming of him for a year. Through anger and pain, through her sadness, her dreams were still of him. "Tonight, then." She whispered softly as she raised to kiss him, his arms wrapping tightly around her. Were they magic, that moment would have lasted forever. By the time she finally pulled back he cupped her cheek with his palm, smiling more than she had seen in some time.

"I told you that last night would not be the last time."

"I didn't exactly doubt you."

He kept his arms around her. "You became a ranger."

"That I did."

"It suits you." He affirmed.

"Does it?" She asked, cocking her head to one side.

"You're stubborn, know how to fight, and I do like you in a cloak." He seemed to purr.

"More than this dress?"

Eomer chuckled. "Now, I didn't say that." When she finally pulled away she again walked around looking at the tapestries.

"Why did you ask me to meet you here?"

"I knew no one would interrupt us." He answered.

"How?"

"I asked Aragorn to make sure the servants would allow us privacy.

Karri's eyebrows raised. "You told Aragorn who you were meeting?"

"It was prudent."

"And he was alright with this?" She inquired.

"Aragorn has been around for many years, and while he insisted I behave with the utmost respect for my station, he understood the situation." Eomer answered with a shrug.

"Was that kiss back there behaving with the 'utmost respect' for your station." She air-quoted.

"Compared to what I would like to do, yes."

His brazen words left her almost speechless as her cheeks flashed a deep shade of crimson. "Eomer, I don't believe I have ever heard you talk like this." She had stopped walking and turned back to face him

"I told you, Karri, I am tired of small stolen moments." He walked slowly toward her, fire in his eyes. "I have been missing you for a year, and I intend to make up for that year." He pulled her into another kiss, his arms holding her impossibly close to him. As his tongue caressed hers, her mind spun. Karri had forgotten what it was like to be kissed like that. To feel passion like that. A soft gasp escaped her, and it seemed to push him further as she found herself pressed against the end of a table.

"Eomer.." She managed to whisper.

He pulled back, but only for a moment. "I missed how my name sounded on your lips." He kissed her again before his lips moved to her neck, eliciting a gasp from her that made a smirk appear on his handsome face.

"We can't do this Eomer." She finally made her arms push him away gently. He took a step back, but held her hands.

"Karri..." His voice was soft. "Right now all I care about is you, and all I want is you. Be mine. Damn the sun rising right now. For we can pretend it never will."

Karri could feel her body shaking, her mind running wild. "But tomorrow the sun will rise. As it will the day after that and your sister will marry. Then I will be off, and you will head back to Rohan."

"So, right now, we have two days." He said quickly. "Make them last with me." His eyes burned as he moved closer to her once more. "If in two days, you still want to leave, you can leave. And I will not ask for more if that is what you wish." He kissed her hand. "Until then, live this time as if we had nothing in the world to stop us."

Karri wished she could say her reason and common sense took over in that moment, but it didn't not even come close. She kissed him in blind passion. Whatever the future held didn't matter to her. She had been wanting him for so long, and she decided that she was not going to waste the short amount of time they may have had together. She could feel him smile against her kiss as he finally felt like himself. As if he was with the one person who seemed to truly understand what he was feeling. That one person with whom he wasn't afraid to show every part of who he was.

He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. "Come with me."

"Where?" She asked.

"My bedchamber." The two words sent shivers down her spine, and her stomach clenched in both desire and fear. She knew exactly what he was asking, and he didn't need to say anything more. She felt her head nodding before she could say anything and he grabbed her hand. He was off quickly, her in tow. As they ran through the corridors, stealing kisses in the shadows, neither cared about what the future would bring. The only thing that mattered was each other.

The morning came too quickly, as they knew it would. Karri found herself slowly waking as the sun was just beginning to rise. For a moment she didn't open her eyes, because she didn't want the time to end. Eomer was beside her, his breathing slow and steady, still sleeping peacefully. She sat slowly, her eyes peaking open. The vast room was still bathed in darkness. The faintest hue of blue was beginning to cover the sky. Eomer shifted slightly, but did not wake and she turned to admire him. His right arm was above his head, is left at his side, and she watched his bare chest move up and down slowly as she wished she could curl against him and let sleep find her again. However, now was not the time. That time had come and gone. The servants were already awake, beginning their daily preparation. If she wanted to make it back to her own bedchamber before arousing suspicion, she would have to leave now.

Moving slowly and carefully, she stood making sure the King of Rohan did not even realize she was gone. Her dress was back on in less than a minute, and everything in her body was telling her to leave. However, something stopped her. Walking around to the other side of the bed, she sat on the edge.

"Eomer.." She called softly and she watched as his eyes fluttered open. "I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye."

"It is early, my love." His voice was husky with sleep. "Come back to bed."

"That's not a good idea. I should return back to my room before anything is suspected." Eomer let out a soft sigh. Karri was right. It would not be wise to get caught. "I love you."

Eomer sat and captured her lips with his in a soft embrace. "I love you, too." He whispered as his forehead leaned against hers. "I will see you soon."

"I'm sure you will." She teased as she stood and headed toward the door. Without so much as a creak, she opened the heavy wooden door and glanced back. Eomer was still sitting up, his eyes watching her. As the door shut behind her, Karri couldn't seem to stop smiling. Whether it was the endorphins flooding her brain, or the rest that comes from a truly peaceful sleep, she couldn't say. But, as Karri carefully made her way back to her room, she knew there was no way she would be sleeping any more that day.

Her bed was perfectly made, and Karri ruffled the sheets, just to be sure. Though, she let out a small giggle as she did. Tying her hair up, she decided to stay in that simple green dress. The morning was hers, and she could go wherever she wanted. The orange glow of the sunrise was now filtering through the halls of Minas Tirith as she wandered. Maybe she would wake Legolas and they could go for a ride. Karri made her way out of the palace, longing to see the last moments of sunrise. The air had a small chill to it, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Karri breathed in the morning, loving the landscape of Gondor, and longing to explore.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone else was out here." A woman's voice surprised her and Karri turned around with a start. The woman now standing in front of her had straight brown hair that was braided down the back. She wore a sapphire dress that matched her eyes, and a kind smile on her face. The dress was of fine quality, she wasn't a servant. It took merely a moment for Karri to realize who she was standing in front of.

"No need to apologize, my Lady." Karri said quickly. "I can leave you to the sites."

"Please, may I ask who you are?"

"Karri Benson, of the Rangers of the North." Karri bowed.

"Oh! My goodness, it is wonderful to finally meet you. I'm Lothiriel." Karri nodded. "Eowyn and Eomer speak of you quite often.

"They do of you as well." Karri responded, painfully willing her face to smile.

"How Eowyn was hoping you would be here." Lothiriel said with enthusiasm. "I did not see you at dinner, you were missed."

"My apologies, my Lady. I was unwell, but am better now."

"I am delighted to hear it." Lothiriel moved a step forward. "I hope to see you around more. I would love to get to know the woman my future husband and sister-in-law speak about with such adoration."

"It would be my honor." Karri lied expertly, she couldn't think of anything she wanted to do less. "If you would accept my apologies, my Lady. I promised a good friend of mine that I would meet him this morning."

"Of course." She said quickly. "I look forward to seeing you later."

Karri bowed. "I as well, my Lady." She walked at a steady pace, ignoring the urge to run. She had to leave Gondor, if only for a few hours. Her conscience weighed heavily on her, and all happiness she had built up seemed to quickly dissipate.