The sunlit clearing was theirs for one long afternoon. They ate sweet honeyed bread and Éomer spoke of many things, simple things and Aedre listened, enrapt by all he told her and the expression each new emotion etched upon his face. Despite the earlier frightening occurrence of the day and the fact it had made her feel slightly uneasy she did still manage to feel peaceful. The slight hum and buzz of insects in the flowers was a pleasant music along with the constant dripping of water and the lull of Éomer's rich voice. Aedre glanced at the man who lay beside her on the grass, his eyes now closed, not in sleep but contentment and her very heart seemed to swell with a strange feeling. She had an overwhelming desire to make him happy, to see him smile at her and praise her with kind words.

She smiled warmly as she thought over the day's happenings, the talk, the silence and the play. Éomer had tried to teach her childhood games, but she could not fully grasp them, the concept was strange and new to her. Still she had enjoyed the game in which he had tried to catch her, that had left them both breathless and hot but grinning and laughing. He had tried to tell her the rules of such a game, if someone caught you, you then had to chase them and so on. It was a simple concept but Aedre found it confusing that children did this, were they not scolded for avoiding their chores? She supposed not... and after all the game was immense fun, she could understand why children would play it and wondered why the elders didn't chase each other, sometimes they looked so sullen and work laden, a smile would do them good, she felt sure.

Evening crept slowly upon them and the sky began to gain tinges of reds and oranges, the colours streaking the sky in a warm glow. Aedre finally gave into the small tug of discomfort that the darkness which would soon cover them brought, she had no desire to stay outside when the night came, when you could see nothing before you or what lurked just out of sight. Even in her own little cosy room in the Golden Hall, the shadowed corners caused her disquiet. She placed a hand gently upon Éomer's shoulder, reluctant to bring him out of the ease and comfort he was lulled in but she also did not want a repeat of the unpleasant occurrences that had come on this day. His eyes opened slowly revealing the depths of deep hazel, tinted with a glimmer of moss green, a colour that only seemed to present itself in the light of the sun. A smile spread across his lips at the sight of her before him and she was happy to offer a smile in reply before she glanced up at the sky.

Éomer gave a low laugh. "Yes, we should be heading back, we have been gone far longer than I said we would." He glanced once more around the glade now bathed in warm orange from the setting sun and mentally tucked the memories of the day away within him. It had been a good day he mused. He heaved himself onto his feet before offering Aedre his hand. She gladly took it, relishing the feel of warmth it brought along with the texture of roughness caused by hard work and riding. They shared a secret smile between them before making their way over to Firefoot who grazed happily on a patch of lush, green grass. Éomer had taken the animal's bridle off to allow him to have a little free rein but the animal had not strayed far from his rider, the bond between Horselord and horse held them both to each other.

The stallion whinnied as they approached, the sound was one Éomer knew all too well, Firefoot was hungry and wanted to be back in his stable with a good bag of oats and clean hay. After Firefoot had been bridled, they mounted and Éomer pushed the horse onwards in the direction of home. The ride was leisurely and slow paced, never extending to more than a fast trot and it was a good while before Edoras could be seen in the distance, its torchlights and fires twinkled in the oncoming twilight. The sweet melody of music drifted to their hearing and both knew the festivities had not come to an end and would go on for many hours yet as the guards of the city watched on. They re-entered through the great wooden gates and began to ascend the steep path that led up to the Golden Hall. All was silent in the city although shouts and laughter could be heard distantly outside the walls as people enjoyed themselves and sang far too loudly.

They reached the stables still cloaked in the shadows and dismounted. Once Éomer had stabled Firefoot comfortably and fetched some fresh oats and water, he returned to Aedre and silently taking her hand in his they made their way up the steps and into the comfort of Meduseld. Even though Aedre had felt happy in the clearing with Éomer, she felt gladdened by the sight of home about her. She breathed in the all too familiar smells of must, wood and the distant scent of the kitchen's wood fire. This was the place she always wished to stay, her home and her solace, she was even starting to think of the ruler of Rohan as her protector in a way, to her he had become a part of the city she had grown to love. The king and the great, solid city almost seemed to merge in her mind. She smiled up at him at the thought and he returned her smile gladly.

They came to his chamber and hurriedly slipped inside. It was dark within the room and Éomer quickly brought a lone candle into being, the flame flickered and spluttered as it consumed the wick and wax, growing brighter. Even here, high above the base of Edoras the music could still be heard, faint and eerie, drifting upon the summer breeze.

He placed the candle down and turned to Aedre, his eyes taking in her form. She seemed small and fragile within the dimness, her face shining out with that wonderful beauty that spoke from within her dark eyes. How he wished more than ever in this moment, to wrap her in his arms and gently carry her over to the bed, kiss and caress her until all fears and torments of the past were forgotten, until it was only him and her melting into each other. But he knew he chanced much to act in such a way, did he dare gamble everything on a strong need of his own? What of her? Did she know anything of pleasures of the body? Would she recoil at his touch? Éomer could not even help wondering if she had felt some enjoyment at the hands of the Orcs, but he quickly pushed the unpleasant thought away. Of course not, how could anyone enjoy such treatment when the only goal was the other's pleasure and desire to cause pain. He cast his eyes to the open window, his gaze glancing across the vivid shining stars. His brow furrowed in its familiar frown, no this woman was lost in the realm of lust, desire and love, all this was strange and new to her.

He turned back to Aedre and studied her for a long moment. He knew that he could not deny his want and desire for her in the way any man would want the woman he loved... love seemed such a small word in this dim room. Was it love he felt? If he was honest to himself he didn't know, he felt he had nothing to compare to the feelings this woman brought forth from him, no emotions he could grasp that would tell him the pretty label he could place upon them, giving them a name. But if he had to call it something, he thought love seemed such a small, petty word in this moment.

She cocked her head at him, a small puzzled smile pulling at her mouth.

"It is nothing." He mumbled and turned away.

But Aedre's hand clasped his wrist gently bringing him once more to face her, her expression asking and a burning need to know behind her eyes. The frown that softly crinkled her brow told him she knew he was acting strangely.

Éomer's mouth felt suddenly dry. How could he explain what he wished to her? It felt like a repulsive task after all she had been through and those large, dark eyes held a naive innocence to them that prevented the words forming upon his tongue. He swallowed. "It can wait." He said finally at a loss for words, the frown not seeming to release his brow no matter how much he wished it.

Aedre shook her head, her hair dancing about her shoulders with the action.

Éomer swallowed again. "It is... difficult to talk of what I feel." He paused. "What I want." He paused again watching her expression for the ripple of understanding to flutter across its surface, telling him she had understood his words. "I know you are not ready."

Aedre softly placed a hand to her breast, the gesture asking what he meant.

Éomer sighed, frustration etching itself upon his brow, replacing the frown. "It is... a closeness I wish us to share." He paused, the words felt thick and strange, catching in his throat. "Like when we kiss... but more."Éomer felt almost foolish talking in this manner, almost embarrassed. He was a grown man and should not need to stumble and stutter over his words when it came to bedding a woman. However this was new to him, new to them both and he felt as if he was grasping blindfolded in a barren land searching for the one word or thought that would aid him.

Aedre again cocked her head, her mind processing all the words. Silence reigned between them before Aedre stepped forward and reached up, her lips pressing against his. The sudden unexpected action surprised Éomer for a brief moment and he stood unmoving as her lips met his in a series of slow exploring kisses. He felt confused, was she telling him she wanted more or was the mention of the word 'kiss' enough to make her think it was what he wished? His thoughts began to melt slowly away to only faint remembrances as he was compelled to return the kiss, his mind clouding in a haze of desire that he found hard to see clearly through. He wanted her, had wanted her for so long since that night at the feast all those years ago. But now the lust was different, it didn't just want to consume her body, it wanted to hold her, caress her and please her. His lips burned against hers as his arms came to encircle her and pull her body close. He breathed in her scent, it was slightly musty from chores and she had a faint sweet smell of grass about her hair but beneath these smells was her own scent, it held an aroma that was reminiscent of wood and a bitterness that reminded Éomer of fragrant fire smoke mixed with herbs, it was imprinted into her skin and he moved his mouth from hers burying his face into the soft skin at her neck, gaining a deeper breath of it.

He laid soft kisses against the slight rise of her collar bone before making his way back to her mouth, lingering slightly upon the curve of her jaw before their lips were again connected. He intensified the kiss, his tongue gently caressed her bottom lip, asking silently for her permission to proceed, when she did not pull away he continued and allowed their tongues to meet in a deep kiss. It was the first time he had dared to allow it to go this far and he felt his own excitement flare and heat at the prospect of what could be between them. Finally he pulled away, his breath laboured and his eyes burning as they found hers. He watched her expression, trying to gain any hint into the myriad of thoughts he knew she concealed within but she just looked at him, her eyes gently lidded and her lips still parted in remembrance of the sweet act they had just shared.

"Aedre." Her name came past his lips in a husky whisper. His hand came to rest upon the nape of her neck, he suddenly had an urge to tell her that he loved her but once again the word seemed too small, unfitting and so he said the only thing that came freely to his mind. "My little Aedre."

She gave a smile, her own hand came to rest upon his cheek and her eyes glinted in the soft light.

He pressed his lips to hers again in a brief kiss. "There is so much I want to ask of you." He said resting his brow to hers. "Yet I know I should not ask... but I am only a man," He paused. "and the race of men is often weak." He smiled and caressed her cheek. "If only we were beasts of the wild woods, none of these problems and customs would touch us." He chuckled before he kissed her brow and pulled away, knowing the closeness they now shared may become dangerous. He wasn't used to waiting for a woman, they had always come to him more than happy to lift their skirts and give him pleasure. But Aedre, she knew none of this world and he knew he didn't want it to be simple or easy, he wanted it to be right.

Aedre again caught his wrist, she frowned deeply her expression stating she did not understand but she wanted to, so very badly. Her eyes asked him why he would not explain his feelings to her, what was he hiding? If he wanted to kiss her she was willing, he could kiss her for hours if it would make him happy.

"Aedre." His voice faltered. "Now is not the time."

He turned his back on her again and she couldn't bear it, couldn't stand the fact that he was discontent. She felt strongly that she was connected to what troubled him, perhaps it was the injury she had caused to his arms or had she done something wrong at the glade? Her heart drummed in her chest, she wanted to make it right, how it had been.

She rushed forward, the fear rising in her at the thought that he might leave, just as Anborn had left. She held Éomer dearer than she had done anyone else and where she had not had the will or reason to stop Anborn from leaving she had every intention of fighting now, for Éomer. She came to stand before him, blocking his path and her hands connected with his chest, pushing gently and stilling his steps as her eyes held his. She grasped one of his hands in hers and brought it to her cheek, the action almost desperate.

In a flash her lips were again upon his, pressing and demanding until he again responded. His will was shaking, breaking apart and finally he guided her backwards. His mind flashed up warnings, the fact that the girl still had no idea of his wants, but he soothed the gruff reprimand from within, he would stop if she willed it, this time would be different and they would proceed as slow as it needed to be. He couldn't deny the renewed flare of excitement of taking her into his bed, he longed for it to be so.

They reached the bed and Éomer softly guided her to lay back upon the soft linen covers and dark fur overspread. The kiss remained soft but gained in heat and passion as his hand hesitantly caressed her arms, allowing his fingertips to explore the skin beneath them and then he moved to the slight curve of her waist. After he had permitted his hands to roam across her form in this way for a while, allowing her to become accustomed to the feel of his caress, he softly brushed the mound of her breast. She made no move to stop him and his fingers worked softly, deftly over the material. Éomer didn't allow the kiss to break but he could feel her breaths becoming harsher, shallower at each soft brush. He covered her breast, splaying his fingers to claim it fully as he softly kneaded.

She clutched at his shoulders, but this time not in protest just for her own reassurance. Finally his hand moved lower, glancing across curves until his fingers felt the hem of her dress. He slowly pulled the skirts up allowing his hand access to what lay beneath. His hands sought, brushing the soft exposed flesh of her thighs, lingering a moment, and then in-between, his fingers pushed gently, finding the soft folds...

Suddenly Aedre was pushing him away, it was a firm, panicked demand. Her hand was about his wrist wrenching his caress roughly from her body. He broke the kiss, his eyes fixing upon hers. Her gaze was marred by pools of tears but this time it was not at what was happening to her but bitter disappointment, a look akin to betrayal. She shook her head, telling him she could not continue, her eyes pleaded for him to see she couldn't understand this, what he wanted.

Slowly Éomer rose, his lust calming and his breathing returning to normal. He brushed his hair away from his face and glanced at her as she pulled her skirts back down. She again shook her head, that same confused expression etched into her features. Finally after a few moments of silence had passed she shakily rose and went to the bag Éomer had left upon the wooden chair by the fire. She pulled out the pallet and walked to where the candle stood. By its glow she wrote, taking her time before she turned to him, holding it out.

Éomer rose from the bed, his throat lodged full of regret and the words that would be upon the black surface. Slowly he allowed his gaze to glance over them, reading the scrawl and mentally correcting the misspellings and mistakes. "I have done wrong?" He muttered the words to himself before turning his eyes to her, his brow furrowed.

"No, you have done nothing wrong." He took a step forward but she instinctively retreated a little away from him, her eyes taking on that same wide eyed look of fear but there was more marred in her gaze, a look that spoke of hurt, treachery and heartache. "Why would you think that Aedre?" He couldn't help the tone of annoyance coating his words. "If I was displeased I would tell you so."

Aedre gave out a small sob, her tears beginning to spill down her cheeks, her eyes beseeching him to tell her how to right the wrong she bitterly thought she had committed, before finally she reached out for the pallet and after wiping the words away she began again to write before giving it to him to read.

He again allowed his mind to form the words into something understandable. "But you punish me." He mumbled. The words seemed to ring and echo in his mind and hearing even though they hadn't been spoken out loud.