Aedre entered the kings chambers carrying a mug of Cyser, the contents slightly warmed to ward off the winter chill. The king lay relaxing upon his bed but at her entrance he slowly sat up, a warm smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
"Little Aedre, how are you this evening?" He asked in a mellow voice, his mood seeming to lift even more by the sight of the Cyser.
He held out his hand for her to give him the mug directly. "Come." He urged. "You must come to understand that no one here means you harm."
She walked reluctantly towards him and held out the mug for him to take.
"You cannot act like a frightened rabbit forever." He enclosed his hands around the vessel and brought it to his lips tasting some of the delicious sweet liquid, filling his mouth with the flavors of apple and honey. He smacked his lips and returned his gaze to her.
"Here, try some." He held the mug back out to her and she regarded both Éomer and then the object he held with a questioning look. With his free hand he motioned taking a drink and then again urged her to take it from him.
Aedre clasped the handle and lifted it to her mouth, sipping slowly and uncertainly at the liquid. Her eyes widened slightly as the honeyed warmth of the drink filled her senses, without pausing she took a larger gulp and then another before the mug was pulled gently from her grasp.
Éomer laughed heartily. "Not too much at once." He playfully scolded. "It will make your thoughts spin." He grinned at her and to his surprise a small smile was returned.
"You smiled!" He said the playful notes again coating his tone. "Be careful or it will become a habit." He took another drink his eyes still upon her. "Is Sunniva still tutoring you in writing?"
It was a moment before Aedre nodded.
"That is good." He said distractedly his gaze drifting again to the shutters, his thoughts once more upon his past but this time thinking upon them did not seem so bleak. Sunniva always seemed to have a wondrous power to make him feel better and not dwell upon shadows. He brought his leg up and rested his arm leisurely upon his knee.
"What of your past?" He asked suddenly his eyes flicking back to her. "Do you remember your mother, your father?"
Aedre gave an uncertain nod and then placed her hands over her face before letting them fall back to her side, she shook her head sadly.
"Ah you do, but not their faces?"
Aedre again nodded.
"You must have been young…" He paused. "Do you remember anything of your home land?"
Aedre again took a moment to reply, processing his words thoroughly before answering with a slow shake of her head.
Éomer studied her intently as she shifted nervously under his gaze. "You don't look like you belong to the Rohirrim." He commented casually. "You are too small and dark." He again studied her. "It is more likely you are from a village in the lands of Gondor, one that is no more." He gave a wry smile. "It is strange to think that you know nothing of the great war of the One Ring." He mumbled to himself.
Finally he again returned his gaze to her. "I'd like us to become friends little Aedre, after all one day you must have a life outside the walls of Meduseld." He paused watching her a moment as she watched him. "You must get used to the world, people… perhaps my company will ease you into your new life." He again returned his gaze to the shutters, the melody of his mother's song running through his mind. "After all." He said distantly. "Do we not all deserve the chance to live a good and noble life." He heard her shift slightly and connected with her eyes. "Though I know not why I pity you so and why your eyes haunt my mind…" His voice was barely a whisper.
Their eyes stayed locked for a moment before Éomer gave her leave to depart. He watched after her a moment before turning back to his drink, perhaps it was not just the Cyser and Sunniva that had lifted his spirits this night.
---
"Sunniva!" Éomer scolded his brow furrowing. "Use neater strokes with your pen, the poor girl shall never learn from your chicken scratch." He grinned cheekily and Sunniva's reply was to throw a piece of stale bread his way.
Sunniva sat upon a warm fur rug by the fire with Aedre beside her as the older woman tried to continue her writing lesson. Éomer sat in a wooden chair not far from them his feet resting upon a stool. This had become a frequent sight in the king's chambers over the long winter months; the distraction gave Éomer some enjoyment when his regal tasks of the day were at an end.
"She will not learn anything if you continue to disrupt me with your childish comments." She gave him a warning, but playful look before turning back to Aedre who was now writing with some difficulty upon a sheet of parchment. "That's very good Aedre my girl, very good, you answered my written question with ease."
Aedre glanced up, a small smile upon her lips at the praise as she finished the last letter. Sunniva picked up the parchment and showed it to Éomer.
"I am Aedre." He read aloud before turning his eyes to her and smiling broadly. "Yes, very good."
"And who am I?" Sunniva asked quickly, bringing Aedre's gaze from Éomer.
Aedre again set to work and soon passed the parchment back.
"Sunniva, who is a kind woman." Sunniva said with a grin. "Very good." She patted Aedre's shoulder affectionately.
"And who am I Aedre?" Éomer asked.
Aedre hesitated her eyes showing that she was thinking before she began to write again passing her finished work to Éomer. "Éomer King, ruler of Rohan." Éomer chuckled as he read it. "You forgot to put that I am kind." He chided playfully.
He smiled warmly and Aedre returned his smile with her own.
"You have improved much." Sunniva said moving the younger girl's hair to one side.
"Yes." Éomer interrupted. "And soon it will be spring and Sunniva will not be able to keep either of us inside this stuffy building." He teased.
"The cold weather is no place to go if you need not, I prevent you both catching a chill!" Sunniva said a little indignantly before beginning to gather up the parchment and pens.
Éomer looked at Aedre and gave her a stern look that mocked a similar expression often used by Sunniva when she fussed. Aedre clasped her hand over her mouth and glanced at Sunniva's turned back, trying hard to suppress her laughter.
"Come now Aedre, it's time for our evening chores, let us leave Éomer King and his childish faces." She rounded upon Éomer with a knowing look. "And go our way."
Éomer gave a low chuckle. "Ah Sunniva, do not be vexed." He said trying to control the tone of amusement in his voice. "The evenings are so dull, I must do something."
Sunniva cast a disapproving eye over him before helping Aedre get to her feet. "Perhaps you'd do better to read than make fun of an old woman."
Éomer rose from his chair and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissing her briefly upon her cheek with a cheeky grin.
Sunniva couldn't help but smile. "Ah be off with you." She said more warmly than she had wanted.
Aedre watched the scene with a curious expression, until Sunniva once more turned to her and ushered her out of the room.
---
Spring began and the first budding flowers pushed themselves from the cold ground, their appearance warming hearts and cheering minds that the harshness of winter was over and planting crops and birthing animals could soon begin.
Éomer took the first chance that presented itself to him to ride out with his éored. They checked nearby villages, looking for any sign of enemies or trespassers. It was mid spring by the time he returned to Edoras.
As he rode up the steep pathway to Meduseld, the fresh breeze behind him and the warm sun shining to his left, lighting the hall's thatched roof and making it seem to shine golden, he saw the advisors and nobles already waiting from him on the steps. He gave an inward sigh as he reined Firefoot around and into the stables, dismounting and giving the reins to one of the many stable hands. He stroked the stallions muzzle gently.
"Restan Arfreond." He cooed quietly as Firefoot gave a soft snort and nuzzled against him.
He took a deep breath knowing that as soon as he mounted those steps he would once again be bombarded with question, suggestions and stern observations. He glanced back at Firefoot who was already enjoying a rub down and wished that his life could be so simple. He turned and made his way to the stairs. Before he had even placed a foot firmly upon the first step his advisors were clamoring down to meet him.
"My Lord." One began. "We are so happy you have returned, we began to worry…"
"There is much to do." Another put in.
"Your absences have caused us much debate."
"Your place is here with your people."
"I was among my people." Éomer growled trying to control his temper.
"Yes, yes My Lord, but riding is for the éored at your command, you are needed here."
Éomer tried to smile but it came across as a grimace. "My people are still plagued by Orcs and I will continue to ride to their aid until I deem that the threat does not loom so far across Rohan's lands." He paused. "Papers and formal duties amount to nothing over a person's suffering." He saw the men cast their eyes down. He felt a small ball of hope warming inside of him, he was finally making them see…
"I have not forgotten my duties to Edoras or you yourselves and I will look over all you would put before me on the morrow, but now I am tired and wish to rest."
"Yes, Éomer King." They said in unison and gave a small bow.
Éomer grinned. "Good, I shall see you all in the morn." He gave them a small incline of his head to show his respect and then began to climb the stairs in earnest, his heart suddenly feeling lighter.
His room was clean and tidy, a bath already drawn and waiting by the time he had made his way past everyone that wished to greet his return in a formal manner. He disguarded his armor and sank down into the steaming water. His muscles gave small protests at relaxing at first, the many days in the saddle had made them once again familiar to being forever in use but soon the soothing warmth lapped away any knots and tightness he felt and he gave a long sigh of relief to be home and clean.
He wrapped himself in a snug fur lined robe that had been put nearby the fire to warm, tying it tightly at his waist. Éomer reclined back in his chair letting the fire slowly dry his hair as he waited for his meal to be brought. He began to doze softly before the sound of a tray being put nearby made him open his eyes. Aedre stood before him and as his gaze met hers a small welcoming smile formed upon her lips.
"Little Aedre!" Éomer said warmly. "It seems so long since last I saw your face." He gave her a small grin. "How goes your studies?"
Aedre nodded eagerly.
Éomer glanced down at the freshly made food. Honey roasted pork and buttered cabbage, one of his favorite meals; it seemed Sunniva was treating him.
"That is good." He said in reply to her nod. He picked up the plate and began spooning large amounts of food into his mouth, within minutes the plate was scarped clean; he placed it back down upon the tray and took a long swing from a mug containing ale, before placing that too back down and wiping his beard with the back of his hand, removing any stray drops.
"I brought you something." He said cheerily pushing himself up from his chair and striding over to his bed. He picked up a rather tatty, well worn leather bag and pulled it open, his hand searched for a moment before pulling out what he sort, a carefully wrapped package.
He turned and walked back towards her. Aedre looked at him questioningly, her dark eyes wide, her expression almost childlike.
Éomer gave a small chuckle at the sight before producing a delicious looking bun with what appeared to be a sticky topping crowned by sugared flowers.
"It is a special sweet from one of the villages in Rohan; they only make them once a year when these blue flowers are in bloom." He indicated to the pretty sugared flowers before holding the gift out for Aedre to take.
Aedre glanced up at him her eyes sparkling with curiosity and a look that verged upon being glee. He raised his brow at her indicating that she should take it from him. A little nervously and clumsily Aedre reached out, her hands hesitated before finally she took it. Their fingers brushed softly for a moment and Aedre felt a small shiver ascend her spine. As if stung she pulled away taking the bun with her, she glanced up at him, suddenly feeling warm as if her cheeks were burning. She averted her eyes to the bun and gave a small nod stating she was thankful.
Éomer studied her, had she blushed? He couldn't help but smile. To ease her discomfort he walked over to where his ale still awaited him and took another long drink.
"Try it." He urged seeing that she had not moved.
She slowly turned to face him her composure again restored. She gave a small nod and brought the bun to her face level. She examined the sweet, turning it for a moment this way and that, fascinated by the crystallized flowers and how they caught the light. Slowly she brought it to her lips and carefully took a small bite. The taste seemed to envelope her entire being, she had never tasted something so wonderful. She took another bite and then another, her lips savoring the sweetness, her tongue tasting the sugared flowers. When she had finally finished she looked across at Éomer realizing that for a moment she had forgotten he even stood in the room with her.
She noticed his expression was a little stunned, his lips parted. Aedre shifted her gaze uneasily, perhaps she had eaten too greedily. Sunniva often scolded her for eating like a small piglet… perhaps she had forgotten herself.
Éomer gave a small clearing of his throat and tried to smile warmly.
"Was it good?" His voice sounded strange to her ears, thicker somehow.
She nodded and suddenly wished for nothing more than to be from the room.
"Good." He mumbled turning to look at the fire. "You can go." He gave a small gesture over his shoulder and Aedre quickly obeyed leaving him alone.
Éomer waited until she had departed before he again looked back up. The images of her mouth as she bit into the bun, her eyes closing in enjoyment, her lips glossy with sweet sugar stirred something within him. Her dark eyes again seemed seared into his mind, although this time it was not guilt or shame that kept them there.
