A/N: new chappie, finally! sorry it took so long. enjoy!


Chapter 6: Approval

Isolde stirred with a sigh, smiling when she snuggled against a warm body next to her, then frowning in wonder. Her eyes fluttered open to reveal her room shrouded in the darkness of night as she heard the rain still pattering outside. Thunder and lightening clashed outside, making her gasp and throw her arms around the body next to her, burying her face into a hard chest. A pair of arms wrapped themselves around her shuddering frame as the rumbling faded.

"Worry not, Isolde," Eomer murmured into her hair. She gasped and looked up at him in wonder, a blush over her cheeks. "I'll protect you from the storm, as I promised."

"M-My lord, Eomer," she breathed, slipping her arms from around him as she still stared wide eyes at him. "It's rather late. Should you not be sleeping?"

"I was," he smirked through a chuckle. "You wanted me to stay with you until the rain stopped. It hasn't stopped since we arrived."

"Oh," she murmured, and her eyes widened as she moved to sit up, but Eomer's arms held her fast as he frowned. "My lady Eowyn must be worried—"

"She came in earlier and I explained everything to her," he replied, lifting a hand to stroke a curl from her face. "She said she could take care of herself for tonight." He pulled her a little closer, a grin plastered over his face as he murmured, "Besides, I am quite comfortable like this if you are, my lady."

"I-I am," she mumbled, her blush deepening.

"I'm glad," he murmured. "And it's a good thing I remained here with you. You whimpered in your sleep every time the thunder rumbled outside."

"Once I was asleep you could have left, my lord," she explained, meekly.

"Do you wish me gone, my dear?" he smirked. "Say nothing more. I shall leave you."

"No!" she chirped, gripping his tunic when he moved to get up and he laid back next to her again. "I-I mean…I did not mean it that way, my lord. I only meant that…it was early in the day and I recall your advisors wished to speak with you."

"You'll also recall that I said I had more important things to tend to," Eomer reminded her. "You, my dear, are much more important than listening to old men, extremely past their prime, telling me I need to breed an heir before I am past mine. I shall speak to them in the morrow. Until then…" He pressed a tender kiss to her temple before continuing, "…sleep well in my arms, Isolde. I shall protect you from this storm and many others if you wish."

"But—"

"If you say once more that I have better things to do than watch over you, I shall kiss you until your lips are swollen," Eomer warned through a smirk, making her look up at him with wide eyes as he looked to her, and their gazes met, locking instantly. "Or would you like me to that anyway for you, my dear?"

Isolde swallowed, her gaze falling to his lips before she licked her own, not realizing she was inching toward him, slowly. Eomer's smirk fell as he pulled her closer, moving in on her just as slowly until their lips met, softly. She sighed as he pressed his lips firmly against hers and her arms slid around him again, his pulling her closer still. His tongue slipped past her lips making her give a small, catlike mewl against his lips before he slowly pulled away to look into her eyes, but they were still closed. Her eyes fluttered open a second later to meet his charming, warm smile and she couldn't help but give a sweet smile of her own.

"Sleep now, if you can, Isolde," he murmured, jokingly. "Your heart is thumping so hard, it shall surely leap from your chest."

"And I'm sure you would catch it with capable hands, my lord," she murmured, making his smile widen before he moved in on her again, this time trailing sweet kisses from her cheek to her jaw and neck, making her giggle. He froze and slowly pulled away to stare at her with wide eyes making her frown in wonder. "My lord?"

"I've not heard you giggle thus," he explained. "You are surely a fairy of some sort with a laugh such as that."

"You must stop showering me with such affection," she murmured, a blush over her cheeks.

"I will not," he argued. "You are deserving of it, and if you say you are not, I shall make you giggle like the nymph you are."

"My lord—"

She was cut off with a giggle when his fingers found her ribs and she laughed, almost maniacally as she tried shoving him away, to no avail.

"Eomer! Stop!" she laughed between breaths. "I shall not say it! Please! I cannot breathe!"

He laughed heartily before moving his hands from her sides to take her hands in his and kiss them, warmly as she panted for breath. Their eyes met as a smile still graced her rosy lips and he smiled warmly at her.

"And now that I've riled you," he smirked, moving a wild, blonde curl from her face, "we must get some sleep. It's well past midnight, I'm sure."

"Yes, my lord," she giggled. "Have sweet dreams."

"If I am dreaming of you, my dreams certainly will be sweet, Isolde," he murmured, and her blush returned as she gave a shy smile. He pressed a kiss to her cheek before shifting onto his back to pull her against his chest, making sure the blankets were covering both of them. "Good night, sweeatheart."

"G-Good night, Eomer," she murmured, unable to help snuggling against him.


The Next Morning...

Eomer thrust his sword toward his opponent who dodged it with perfect finesse and parried with a sword of his own. He smirked before attacking again, clangs echoing through the empty hall as the blades hit each other and their suits of armor. His sparring opponent attacked next, and Eomer quickly parried, effortlessly.

"So what do you think of it?" he wondered, panting to catch his breath from sparring for nearly half an hour. "I'm sure my advisors will not like the idea. They wanted—"

He growled as he spun his opponent's sword off of his before he was attacked again, and he spoke between blows.

"They wanted…a lady from court or a…noble woman," he continued then shoved the opponent's blade away before sighing and leaning on his sword to rest for even a moment. "So what do you think? Can you do without her until you find a new handmaiden?"

Eowyn yanked the helmet from her head with one hand, tossing it to the floor with a clang before using her free hand to shake her hair out, her sword in the other.

"Whew! Stuffy," she sighed, then turned to Eomer again. "I will allow it…only if you swear to me that this is not some sort of infatuation that will last another week and you will find someone else to marry. Someone a bit more to your advisors' standards, for example."

"Eowyn, I am hurt that you would think I would do such a thing to such an innocent beauty," Eomer replied. "Deeply hurt."

"I must be thorough, brother," she explained. "She is not only my handmaiden. She is also my friend. It would be remiss of me not to ask what your true intentions are. Do you plan to take her as a wife and treat her thus, or do you plan to use her as a brooding mare alone?"

"There are plenty of women in court that I could take for a wife for an heir alone, sister," he retorted, shoving off his sword to stand tall and sheath his weapon, as did Eowyn with her own blade. "Isolde is different from any woman – or elf – that I've met. She is…special."

Eomer glanced away with a smile over his lips, and Eowyn looked to his gaze, giving a smile of her own before nodding in understanding.

"Well, I am certain that I know that look," she nodded hugely again, catching his attention and making him frown at her as she leaned over to pick up her helmet and head toward a trunk to her left. "That, dear brother, is the same look you had on your face when you thought of Lady Penelope when you turned seventeen."

"That was a long time ago, Eowyn," he reminded her, heading toward the trunk as well as he began un-strapping his armor as she did the same with hers. "Lady Penelope was my first love and I have had many since then to know my own feelings."

"I was there as well, brother," she smirked, dropping her sword into the trunk. "Enough to know your feelings as well and whether they are genuine or not. From that experience, I will allow Isolde to remain here…if she agrees to it as well."

"I am certain she may," he smiled, tossing the last of his armor into the trunk, but keeping his sword on his hip before he turned to his sister and scooped her into a tight hug. "Thank you, Eowyn. I know she is your friend, and I promise to take care of her as a husband and a king should, if she accepts me."

"I am sure you will, brother," she smiled as they stepped away from each other. "For I shall hold you to it."

"I am sure," he chuckled, then nodded to the exit. "Now go. I shall spar with the air for a bit before telling my advisors the wonderful news. Tell Isolde I shall call on her soon."

"Very well, brother," she nodded before placing a kiss to his cheek and grinning, "I'm so happy for the both of you, Eomer. Truly. I am glad I encouraged the association."

"Yes, I am sure you are having a great guffaw over knowing my taste in women so well," he muttered. "Now go."

"Yes, my lord," she retorted with a deep, mocking curtsey before turning and heading for her chamber.

Eomer smirked, watching her walk away for a moment before pulling his sword from its sheath and spinning it in his hand as he strolled toward a random spot to take a position. He took a deep breath before slicing and swinging his sword through the air in lunges and parries, as if he were fighting an opponent, but now he could use all his force. He'd been holding back when he had sparred with Eowyn. Had he used his full strength, he would've hurt her, he was sure, and she was sure as well.

He imagined the Orc he'd fought the day before and swung his sword harder with a roar of anger, imagining that he was hacking the thing's head off again and again. He lowered his sword, pacing in rage at the fact that Isolde had been in danger that day, stripping off his sweat-soaked tunic and tossing it away. He turned to his invisible opponent and began slicing his sword through the air again. He was glad he'd been able to get to Isolde before she swept away from him, and he wouldn't let it happen again.

As he continued sparring alone, he didn't notice the figure slowly walking along the wall, hidden in the shadows of the columns around the room. Sea-green eyes watched him closely as the figure stopped and hid from sight behind one of the columns. Isolde felt her breath come ragged as she watched Eomer swing his sword through the air, her mouth suddenly going dry. She licked her lips, trying to moisten them as she felt her heart thumping in her chest.

She had never seen so much power wielded by one man.

He stopped with a deep sigh as he straightened on his feet before sheathing his sword and glancing around at the floor. She frowned at the gesture but soon panicked when she saw him look in her direction and she pressed her back to the column, trying to make herself disappear. Her eyes shut as she heard footsteps heading toward her and bit her lip, holding her breath.

Eomer leaned over and grabbed his tunic, but before he stood tall again he caught sight of the hem of a pale green gown and frowned before looking up behind the column. He grinned as he stood tall and stepped around the column to see Isolde, frozen in her place, her eyes still closed as she still bit her lip. Unable to help himself he leaned on the column, his hands n either side of her and his smile grew when her eyes suddenly shot open, a deep blush spreading over her cheeks.

"Hello, my lady," he murmured, his eyes scanning over her face in an adoring gaze. "What brings you here to me? Was there something of importance? Another storm I must protect you from, perhaps?"

"N-No, my lord," she muttered, looking down at her hands to twiddle her thumbs. "My lady told me you wished to speak to me and told me where I might find you."

"My sister is as devious as ever," Eomer smirked, making her look up at him with a wide-eyed frown. "I was going to call on you a bit later. But, as you are here, I shall tell you what my sister and I spoke of while sparring."

"I did not mean to disturb you, my lord," she replied, quickly. "I shall leave you in peace."

"I said I would tell you what we discussed," he chuckled, blocking her attempted escape back down the hall and her gaze met his again. His heart must have stopped when their gazes met, because his breath hitched and he felt his throat close for a moment before he cleared it, nervously. "W-We discussed whether Eowyn can live without you or not so that you could stay here…with me…if you wish to."

Isolde's eyes widened to an unimaginable roundness as Eomer swallowed in anticipation. They were both silent for a moment before she began chewing on her lower lip again, her gaze still locked with his.

"And…" she breathed, "what did she say?"

Eomer let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and replied, "She said she could do without a handmaiden until she finds another. She also wanted to be sure of…my intentions with you."

"My lord?" she frowned in wonder, but instead of answering her unspoken question, he took her hands in his, dropping his tunic again and her frown deepened, but he kept his gaze on her hands.

"I want to be sure that you understand my intentions as she now does," he finally began, his gaze coming up again to lock with hers, and this time she felt her heart skip. "I am not asking you to stay because I need a wife and heir. I am asking you because I care for you, and I want you to stay. I will understand if you wish to stay with Eowyn. I will not force you to stay. I would not want you to be miserable."

"My lord, Eomer," she breathed. "I…I know you asked me to stay with you last night, but…I am sure that I am not the choice your advisors would have you make for a queen. I am a lowly handmaiden, not a noble lady."

"I make the decision on who I will marry, Isolde, not my advisors," Eomer replied before letting go of her hands and leaning on the column behind her again, moving his face closer to hers to brush his lips against her cheek, unable to help teasing her before pressing his lips to her ear to whisper to her. "Handmaiden or not, I have chosen you, Isolde. I may be a king now, but as I told you before…I am still a man."

His hands fell from the column to stroke her upper arms before slipping his arms around her waist to pull her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple as her hands raised to settle on his arms and she gave a sigh.

"I hope by week's end, I have your answer," he whispered. "Whether you stay or not, I shall accept your decision."

"You are gracious to let me have time to consider my answer," she whispered, afraid to speak any louder. "I thank you, Eomer."

"You are quite welcome, Isolde," he smiled.

With a final, tender kiss to her cheek, he slowly released her, kneeling to pick up his tunic again, and smiled before he headed toward his chamber. All that needed to be done was give his advisors the good news. Though he had a feeling they wouldn't like it one bit.


Advisor's Chamber...

"Tomorrow I will choose the men who will serve as my generals," Eomer informed his advisors as they sat at the long table, his seat being at one end to face them all. "And as for the matter of my marriage, it is settled. I have chosen a bride."

"That is excellent, Your Majesty," one of the men smiled with a nod of approval. "Pray, tell us, who is the fortunate lady?"

"My sister's handmaiden, Isolde," Eomer replied, leaning back in his chair to lift his feet onto the table, casually.

All eyes shot wide at him before they looked to each other in complete and utter shock. Eomer smirked, enjoying the scene before they all turned to him again.

"My lord," one of them began. "Surely, you jest."

"I most assuredly do not," Eomer shot back. "You suggested I find a wife and have an heir. If she accepts my proposal by week's end, we shall be married by the end of the next."

"If, my lord?" one of the men questioned.

"I made my proposal, now I shall wait for the answer," Eomer nodded. "I am unsure if she will accept me. My hope is that she does."

"My lord, forgive me, but I must speak frankly," another man spoke up. "You are acting rashly, and it seems you are throwing a tantrum, like a child would because of our suggestion of marriage. You are choosing this servant girl to annoy us purposefully."

The room was dead silent as Eomer slowly moved his feet from their perch to stand from his seat and lean forward on the table, sending a burning glare to each man around it before looking to its surface.

"I will make this abundantly clear so that you may all understand it," he began, holding his temper as best he could. "You may think that the best course of action is to make a man miserable by forcing him to marry a woman he does not love, but what you do not realize is that, if you were to do that to me, I shall be more cross than any of you have ever seen me. It will effect my decisions in government of Rohan, and I assured you, gentlemen, when the king is miserable, all his subjects suffer for it.

"As for this 'tantrum' I am throwing, I think it is well within my right to do so when my advisors pressure me to find a mate. Well, I have found one, and I shall go about this the way I choose. You are all wise men, and I am sure you will realize that it would behoove you all not to anger me."

Eomer stood tall as he gazed over the men who were now bowing their heads in shame as they twiddled their thumbs on the surface of the table.

"And now, gentlemen, I bid you good day," he nodded before turning and heading out the door to march toward his chamber.

His fists clenched at his sides as he set his jaw. They had not seen a tantrum, he hoped they were assured of that now. He would have to find new advisors soon if they crossed another line like this again. His feet suddenly had minds of their own and led him past his chamber…past Eowyn's chamber, and stopped him at Isolde's chamber door. He licked his lips, wondering if she was even there, and if she wasn't, he would wait for her. Gripping the handle he stepped in without knocking.

Isolde jumped where she sat on her bed, shooting a wide-eyed gaze to the door. She was instantly on her feet and bowed her head in respect.

"My lord," she murmured. "Lady Eowyn decided to visit her horse in the stables."

"I did not come to see my sister," he admitted, shutting the door behind him and she glanced toward him, but said nothing more as her gaze fell again when he began stepping toward her. "I came to see you."

"For what purpose, my lord?" she wondered, meekly.

Eomer stopped in front of her and brought his hand up to gently grasp her chin and bring her gaze to his. He was taken back to the night they met, when he first saw those deep pools of sea-green she used for eyes. Once again, he was lost in them, and this time, he could stay there as long as he wanted, or as long as she would let him.

"My lord," she breathed, bringing him back to reality, and he realized a deep blush was gracing her cheeks.

"Forgive my stare," he murmured, closing in on her. "I cannot resist those gorgeous eyes of yours."

Without another word, he pressed his lips to hers gently, coaxing her to kiss him in return. She sighed in contentment before hesitantly slipping her arms up and around his neck as he slid his arms around her to pull her close. His tongue slid between her lips and she gave a soft moan as she meekly returned the kiss before he pulled away to set his forehead against hers, both catching their breath.

"I spoke to my advisors," he whispered, snuggling her closer to him. "They infuriate me beyond words." He lifted his head to smile down at her as she looked up at him in wonder. "Being near you calms me enough to think properly."

"I am happy to be of service to you, my lord," she murmured, making him scoff.

"Isolde, you are not a servant girl to me," he explained. "You are a beautiful woman that I hope to call my own soon. Until then, may I visit you?"

"Of course," she nodded, shyly. "You are the king. You may do as you please, and I have no right to refuse you."

"Do not think of me as a king," he urged. "Think of me as the man that is courting you. I shall ask you again: may I visit you?"

Isolde swallowed, looking into his eyes and licking her lips she gave a hesitant nod before whispering, "Yes, Eomer. You may visit me…whenever you wish. I…I would like it is you visited me, often."

Eomer grinned before pressing a lingering kiss to her cheek before hugging her close.

"Thank you, Isolde," he whispered.


A/N: and yes, i'm dragging it all out. again, so sorry i took so long