Lets all pretended Eomer, and Eowyn are older then they are in the books, so movie age. Thats all I can think of. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 3 Suspended in a compromise

Winifred woke abruptly. Jerking awake as if she had been falling. She noticed the surrounds of the room that have been her sanctuary. The sunlight wasn't as strong today. The wind had picked up a little. The flowers were still giving off the sweet almost familiar smell, but hung a little more limp then the days before. Just yesterday Gandalf had informed her of the legend of the blessed queen, and how she now a resident of middle-earth and will be for the rest of her life. Since then she had been left alone, by design or accident. With a great amount of fortitude she eventually stood up. From the little window in her room Winifred looked out. She couldn't see the fields of Rohan but it looked out onto the stone fortress. She saw men dressed in green, and white, all with blonde hair, Doing their daily duties and performing tasks. No one noticed her. It was all a lot to take in and believe.

There was a tray of food and a goblet of water on the nightstand. Her eyes felt exhausted from the tears shred yesterday. Winifred decided to venture out of this room and explore the fortress. She noticed a dress of green, with golden thread had been laid out for her on the chair. As well as a white under garment, by the foot of the chair was a pair of soft leather boots. I guess her hiking boots would not do in such a dress.

Slowly she dressed herself, trying to tighten the bandages holding her ribs, taking breaks to nibble at the food and lukewarm drink. Winifred pealed off the bandage form her forehead she needed a new one, she left the bandage around her wrist. She ran her fingers through her hair and left the room. Wishing she had a mirror to see what kind of a mess she looked like. She slowly ventured through the stone hallways and found herself in a great hall. It was all stone. It would have been a cold room if not for the numerous fire pits going though the center of the room. The walls were draped in tapsters depicting scenes of victorious battles and legends upon great steeds leading the charge. There were rows and rows of tables and benches the whole length of the room. Servants were going to and from cleaning up from the morning meal. A few groups of men still lingered in the room. All clad in green and white.

The men of Rohan had many similar traits. They were large with raw brawn, wide shoulders and thick arms. They reminded her of professional athletes, except their muscles we formed from practice of war making, not in a weight room or for vanity. They all shared they same color hair, blonde with slightly different hues. Most of the hair went beyond their shoulders, which was a peculiar site for Winifred, since most men in her time did not have hair go beyond their ears. Most also had some type of beard. She understood now why they had been referred to as brutes. She remembered from her reading they were a simple folk. A vast majority did not learn to read or write. They did not really mark time the way they would in other part of the world. Their focus was on breeding horses, and crops to feed their own. They were happy with this life.

While Winifred was breathing in the impressive room of the Hornburg and the equally impressive men within, Eomer spotted her from across the room. He was taller then the rest of the company, taller then most men of Rohan in fact. He also had broad shoulders, and wore armor that was in accord with his position. He bid is companies farewell and slowly approached Winifred. He noticed how she seemed more delicate then when he found her. She had lost color in her face and did not look well; there was a bruise cut on her forehead that had been bandage. He had almost reached Winifred, when she took notice of him.

"Eomer!" Winifred exclaimed. Eomer bowed before her. "My Lady" he responded warmly.

"I'm glad to run into a familiar face. Since you are only one of three people I know here." she said with a friendly smile.

"I am glad to have come across you then." He said. " I was not aware that you were well enough to leave your bed." He took note of her still bandaged wrist and how she held her chest, slightly hunched over. Clearly not fully healed. "Although I still have not been formerly introduced."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Winifred Farrell. I must have forgotten to mention that the other day." She held out her hand for him to shake on instinct. In her amazement, he grasped it softly with his worn hands and swiftly brought it to his lips.

"You had been through an ordeal, it is understandable." He reassured her, releasing her hand from his strong hand. There was a pause where Winifred blushing looked down at her feet. Eomer did not shy away from an opportunity to examine her face more openly, almost boldly.

"Were you looking for something or someone?" Eomer asked. Winifred looking back up "I just wanted to escape from my room for a little. Get some fresh air and use my legs."

"Would you like me to escort you to the wall? There will be plenty of fresh air." Eomer said almost uncertainly.

"Sure." Winifred replied softly. Turning, she walked next to him back out the great hall. After a silent walk down various hallways and corridors, they exited the hornburg and walked to the top of the wall. Once on top Winifred went to the edge and marveled at the ocean of green before her. With the wind brushing the tall green grass over the sloping hills. It was so vast is appeared to have no ending. It was partly cloudy out, giving the sky a pastel blue-grey hue. Behind Winifred was mountains but they held no interest to her at present.

"Wow. What a beautiful site!" Winifred was drinking in the landscapes. She had never seen such uninterrupted open field as this before. She imagined this could be compared to the mid-west, but she had never been to the mid-west.

"Yes, this is a beautiful land." He stood next to Winifred also enjoying the view, though he had seen the rolling hills of Rohan since birth.

Winifred heard horses. She looked below and saw a host of men and horse and quite a few carts below the wall. Every now and then men, horses, and carts would exit the gate and make its way down to join the group already assembled.

"Where are they going?" Winifred asked inspecting the group. "They are headed to the eastfold. It was a harsh dry summer. We need extra provisions. Helms deeps keeps extra stores within the caves. That's how we came to find you," he said looking at Winifred and catching her eye. "We were gather supplies deep within the caves when we heard a collapse in a room just down from ours. I went to investigate when I saw you in the wreckage." He said calmly. Winifred was pensive hearing this and looked back out to the open grass. Silently she hoped he didn't ask the obvious question as to how she got there.

"Well, I'm glad it was a harsh summer then. No one may have found me otherwise." She said looking back at eomer with a small smile. He gave the briefest of smiles.

"Gandalf would have, he arrived just as we were carrying you out. He seemed to almost be expecting you." Quickly Winifred changed to topic.

"When are they leaving?" Winifred asked. "Within the hour." Eomer answered.

"I leave with them. I must get back to the Eastfold. I have delayed my journey enough already." He said.

"How long do you plan to stay here in the hornburg?" he asked meeting her eyes again.

"That is precisely what I wanted to talk to Winifred about this morning before I noticed her missing from her room." Gandalf's stern voice said walking up to the couple. He looked like he had just enjoyed a private joke. "Are you ready to depart Eomer?" he asked innocently but Winifred knew better then to believe that farce.

"A few things left to do before I leave for the eastfold." Eomer stated finally breaking his gaze from Winifred. "I should complete the tasks. Farewell Gandalf." He said turning back to Winifred. He reached for her hand and gave it a quick kiss. Winifred was dazed. "Winifred." With that he left them at the wall, and made his way back to the hornburg.

"Why did you have to scare him off? He's one of the only people I know here." She said still looking in the direction of eomer. "Because there is still a great many things that must be decided about yourself, and my time with you is short."

Slowly they made their way back to Winifred's room. They passed many men in uniform. Some quickly going to hand out orders, or fulfill orders. Winifred was beginning to tire from all her activities that morning. They made it back to her room just before noon when a horn blew. Winifred looked startled.

"Eomer is heading back to the East mark. That was his horn." Gandalf said. "The company of horses and carts depart and begin their journey east." Gandalf added. Sighing Winifred gently laid her bruise self back into bed.

While Winifred was getting comfortable, a servant deposited the noon meal for herself and Gandalf and more bandages for Winifred's injuries. This made Winifred wonder how the servant knew to bring more in.

"Eomer instructed them to be sent up." Gandalf said. Winifred wanted to ask how he knew that but decided better. Gandalf thanked them and brought his chair back to sit in front of Winifred. He got a long bandage and wrapped it around Winifred's forehead. Then bandage her wrist up again.

"Now, my dear, you must rest. I intended for us to journey to Edoras within a week where you are to stay I think." He said.

"This all still doesn't seem real." Winifred said stubbornly. "Well regardless of what your feelings are arrangements must be made. We must also come up with your origins." He said matter-of-factly. Winifred frowned and sigh loudly.

"Eomer said you kept asking for a ranger." He looked at Winifred. She ignored him. "Most people in this part of the world are not familiar with any rangers so I think the best course of action is to say you are from the far north. Friends of the rangers, though not directly related to them. You can stay at Théoden's court. Its lacking excitement." He said. Winifred gave him an odd look. "I have commission for some dresses to be made for you. Since you didn't have any in your pack. Just enough to get you by for now."

"What will I have to do at court?" She asked feeling like she was in a time warp remembering all the books she had read of Henry the VIII and all the drama that happened in his court.

"You serve the king, but I have heard that mostly eowyn, his niece, tends to him. So there will be little to do." He said starting to eat his meal.

"Ugh, that worm will be there, he's so creepy." She said off handedly, while picking at her own food. Gandalf gave her a piercing contemplating look that she missed.

"You must be careful, you must be guarded at all times. It will be tiring at first but soon enough they will lose interest and go about their life as if you always were in court." He directed her, not wanting her to slip up.

With a mouth full of food she mumbled out "I'm more liking to give myself away because I'm not familiar with this style of living." She swallowed a mouthful of food. "My time is more advance then this, hundreds of years in fact."

"Which is why I am here, we shall spend the rest of the time here studying. I shall teach you as much as I can, more then most in this country even." He said confidently. Winifred was instantly relieved.

"Do you have a notebook and pen?" She added. He looked puzzled at her words.

The next few days went by swiftly. Winifred had brought a notebook and pen for her camping trip, a few pages we already used. By the time her study sessions with Gandalf we coming to a close, she had carefully used almost half. She had been careful to use small script and use every inch of space. Gandalf had drawn a rough map of middle earth, she indexed everything though, because his hand was too lofty and took up too much space for her liking. He chuckled at her frank assessment.

Gandalf covered many topics. He talked about the histories of middle earth, the origins of Rohan and Gondor, the relationship between the two countries. Winifred asked about the elves and the dwarfs. She found them more interesting since she had never seen one before. Gandalf pacified her interested but always came back to the men of middle earth. Winifred had many questions about the cultures, how to do the smallest tasks. How often do you clean your garments? She asked many questions as basic as this. Something that was simple back home with washers and dryers. The pace of this world was much slower, because of that this world was much bigger then hers. Time was slower to move. Information was slow to send and receive. The day was filled with the simplest of tasks that, in this time, took hours to do.

Gandalf instructed her on how to act in the presence of the king, and how she was expected to act as a noblemen's daughter. The roles she possible had to do at court. A few etiquette tips were given. But Gandalf reminded her that the best way to learn the customs of Rohan was through observations. Something she would have plenty of time to do since she was allegedly the future queen of Roan. Gandalf got a big eye roll from Winifred whenever he brought up this point.

Every now and again, Winifred would say something shocking.

"I don't know how to ride a horse." She said innocently enough. Gandalf gave her the most peculiar look.

"You don't mean to tell me you walk everywhere." He said between puffs from his pipe. Winifred laughed. "I have a car, of course." Answers like this lead to Gandalf asking the questions and Winifred answering to the best of her ability.

"Should I be telling you this?" She would ask eventually. "I don't see why not." He said with his forehead wrinkled with thought. "Won't this ruin something, change something? " her brain was tired from thinking so hard about what she was allowed to say. "Hmm" he responded taking a long drag from his pipe. Then he would start up again with teaching Winifred, and studiously, she would get back to taking meticulous notes.

As the days passed, Gandalf become more solemn, serious, and almost desperate, he needed to get back to figuring out what the ring was in Frodo's possession, although Gandalf never mentioned this to Winifred. It rubbed off on Winifred and several times she almost told him what the ring was in a state of anxiety. He remained adamant that she must not tell anyone of the future of middle earth. If the information landed in the wrong persons hand it could change the outcome. He also told her not to write it down incase someone was to find the notebook.

Every night when Gandalf finally left, Winifred remember all she could from the books. Every time she did she would remember more details. Some details wouldn't effect her life in Edoras but she wanted to remember every page if she could.

When the week was spent and Gandalf procured a horse for her to ride to Edoras, she packed everything she now owned, she put her gun into its cloth casing and attached it to the sling on the side of her camping bag. She kept everything from her home in her camping bag. Gandalf had dresses, slippers, jewels, purses, even an ivory hairbrush made for her. Everything she needed to pass as a noblemen's daughter from the north coming to seek refuge. Since most of her belongings were lost when she escaped her land.

The story they had settled on for Winifred required a lot of white lies. Winifred had escaped from her land in the far north with her guards while it was under siege from Easterling. The guards had orders from her father to take her to Gondor, very distance relatives of her people. Wild men had attacked her Guards and herself just a day after they had passed Isengard tower traveling southwest. She had run into nearby caves. By chance she had found the exit to the glittering caves. It was well concealed of course, since no one but the people of rohan knew its location, but by luck Winifred had happened upon it. And while she was stumbling around the caves, there was a collapse, and Eomer had found her. Of course, Gandalf was an old friend and wanted to make sure she was placed in Théoden's court, since the court of Gondor was none existent since the steward of Gondor's wife had passed many, many years before.

It was a good story, for the most part. She worried about when she met Aragorn, since he was a man of the north. Without thinking she had said her concerns out loud to Gandalf, first he was silently curious about her knowledge of Aragorn, then assured her, he would tell Aragorn to agree with all she claimed.

"He can be trusted. He would not expose you if I told him you were important. And all that you claimed isn't far from the truth I think" He stated.

All of her new possessions and more were in leather bags Gandalf had made for her knew life. She felt uncomfortable with it all. She didn't have any money to pay him back and she was sure it was all very expensive.

"Nonsense, I feel this will help with your story, and conceal your true origins. And it is an honor to assist the future Queen of Rohan." He said. Winifred begrudgingly accept his help.

The morning of the departure had come. Gandalf's horse and the one she was to ride were both packed and laden with provisions.

Winifred was bidding lady Eadgyth goodbye. "Thank you for taking such good care of me." Winifred said.

"Of course, it was an honor to wait on a friend of Gandalf's." she said. Gandalf was saying his farewell to lady Eadgyth husband, Lord Erkenbrand. Winifred had not had a chance to meet him, since Gandalf had kept her locked up for healing and studying. Erkenbrand was just like all those of Rohan, a strong man, with long blond hair with streaks of grey. He was retired from the service of the king, a legend in his own right. Although Winifred had not seen the second marshal of Rohan, Theodren, the Kings son, he was the master of Helms deep, it seemed he had been spending time in other regions of the west fold and time in Edoras. With a last bow to Lord Erkenbrand, they were off.

Winifred did not have any experience with a horse as she had informed Gandalf of and when they made camp for the night Winifred was glad that by the end of the day tomorrow they would be arriving in Edoras. The ride had irritated her ribs; her legs and rear were sore from riding. Gandalf had tied their horses together so she didn't have to worry about leading her horse.

The next morning Gandalf told her to wear the fairest dress she had. It was a deep blue dress, with silver beading in the bodice that extending into the top of the skirt but slowly faded down until just the material was left by mid skirt. It was a grand dress, it was soft and breathable, not as heavy as she expected. Something Winifred had never seen, except in period pieces. There was a matching robe made of the same material. In late summer she thought she would get over heated but this being the same fabric it also was soft and breathable. She ditched the bandage on her fore head; it was pale yellow and green, much reduced in size. Before they had left Helm's deep the stitches had been cut away. She would have a scar but it was off near her hairline, so Winifred didn't fret. She did a simple loose French braid, the best she could in the middle of an open fields. She keep the soft leather boots on. Luckily there was enough material in the skirt she didn't have to ride sidesaddle.

"You look like royalty my dear." Gandalf exclaimed when he saw her. She smiled.

"Well thank you for this beautiful dress." She blushed, running her hands over the soft materials of the dress. " I don't know how they could've made something like this is a week." She said off handily.

"Hmm" he said. Looking like he wanted to add something. "Let us break camp, we can reach Edoras just before the setting of the sun. I think this is best. You will make a magnificent site to see." With that they quickly packed and tied their horses together. Soon Gandalf was leading them onward to Edoras. Moving with more speed if one could believe.

Just as Gandalf expected, or predicted, just before the sunset, they came to Edoras. It stood in a valley, on top of a hill with snow peaked mountains as the backdrop. There was a river flowing past it. It was beautiful, something she had nothing to compare it too. She could see the city sprawled on the hill. As her eyes traveled higher on the hill, the larger the buildings became. Carved from wood, with intricate designs and personalities of their own. Finally at the top of the hill sat the golden hall of Meduseld. It was a splendid hall where the king ruled over Rohan, a place for gatherings of the king's advisors and where celebrations were held.

When they arrived at the gate to enter, they were stopped. Told they could not proceed until given permission by the king, or one of his trusted advisors. Before Gandalf could even balk from the affront, Eomer appeared on horseback, looking very striking.

"The third marshal of the mark will grant entrance to Gandalf the grey and his traveling companion, Winifred Farrell of the north, to the golden hall." He said firmly, no one would question such a command from the king's beloved nephew. The guard parted from the gates and allowed them to proceed. Gandalf nodded to the gates men and rode forth to greet Eomer.

"What a pleasant surprise Eomer. I thought you would be in Aldburg by now." Gandalf said to Eomer. Aldburg was the fortress of the third marshal of the riddermark, in the east mark, the original home of Eorl the young. Eorl the young being the first king of Rohan, the land being given to him from the Steward of Gondor after he gather 7,000 men on horse to Gondor's Aid over 500 years ago.

"I was called back to Edoras just as I entered the eastfold, for business with the king. My men know what to do with rations. I brought only a small group to journey with me to the golden hall." He said with a slight bow to Gandalf. Soon enough his eyes strayed to Winifred. Some of her hair had fallen out of the braid and framed her face. Her cheeks were flushed from riding all day. She was the most beautiful creature Eomer had the seen. In a country of blonde hair people he had never seen such a dark haired beauty before, he admired her beauty since the moment he saw her. Only now did she look like a noblemen's daughter. And if she did come from the far north as a distant relative of Gondor, then he knew that she would be pushed to marry his Cousin, The future king of the riddermark Theodred, Théoden's only son and child. This thought made him feel uncomfortable.

"Winifred." Eomer said giving her a bow, not meeting her eye. He turned back to Gandalf. "I will lead you to Meduseld, all those who pass through Rohan must be given permission from the king to do so. He has been made aware of your stay in helms deep." He added evenly. He rode with Gandalf at his side. Gandalf had untied their horses, and now Winifred followed behind the two powerful men, and was quickly out of earshot.

They steadily made they way through Edoras. Winifred admired the woodwork and designs on each building, carvings of horses on nearly every structure. Eventually she started to notice the people of Edoras, while this threesome was peculiar to any to see, she seemed to be getting most of the stares. Men, Women and children stopped what they were doing to stare at her. This made her uncomfortable and she turned to look t the backs of her companions, when she caught Eomer casting a piercing glance back at her. Winifred wish she could understand it; her mind went wild with possibilities. That's how she spent the rest of the Short ride.

They arrived in front of the golden hall. There were servants waiting to take their horse. Eomer jumped off easily, not looking back at his horse, the servant had the horse and led it away. Gandalf smoothly dismounted, and in short order his horse was also taken away. Winifred was taking in the hall; a guard had come up to her horse, to assist her with dismounting when she heard Eomer say he would assist the lady. She glanced down and saw Eomer with his arms out to help. Feeling like a noblemen's daughter she was pretending to be, she swung one leg around the horse are elegantly as possible. She felt his strong hands firmly hold her sides and ease her off the horse so her back was to him. As soon as her feet touched the ground his hands went away and she felt him take a step back. Soon enough her horse was also lead away.

"Welcome to Meduseld, The Golden Hall, and the seat of the Théoden king." Eomer said. Winifred glanced at him then back at the golden hall. It was much bigger then the great hall of the Hornburg. It had a straw roof, which made it appear golden from far away. This hall also had intricate Horse carvings. There were guards at the door. The group approached the large wooden doors.

"Halt, who appears before Théoden King?" The door Keeper asked.

"Gandalf the Grey and Winifred Farrell of the north request an audience with the king." Eomer said formerly. The Door Keeper nodded and the doors to the golden hall opened. The Door Keeper walked ahead of the party to announce them to the king. As they passed through the doors, it took Winifred's eyes a moment to adjust to the hall. This large wooded hall was warm and inviting with a high ceiling. There was one large grate in the middle of the hall. The hall had a few benches and tables, it being almost time for the evening meal. There were carefully placed torches through out the hall to add light to the room. On every wall of the golden hall there were colorful tapestry, similar to the one in the great hall of the Hornburg but not the same. At the far end of the hall sat Théoden king, in his thrown. He looked tired. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his beard was also unkempt. He didn't seem to be completely out of it like he is destined to become. This line of thought made Winifred Sad.

"Théoden king, Gandalf the grey and Winifred Farrell of the north have come to seek an audience." The doorkeeper proclaimed loudly just a few paces into the hall. There were servants milling around the tables setting up for the next meal. There were also men in full armor around the edges of the hall, some in groups clearly in the middle of a conversation. Others seemed to be standing guard. Winifred noticed a tall woman in white with long blonde hair and a face of stone standing off to the side of the king. Winifred made an educated guess that this tall stoic woman was Eowyn, sister of Eomer, Niece of Théoden King, and his caretaker. Winifred kept searching the hall for Grima, the kings most trusted advisor and spy of Saruman. No one knew of his betrayal yet. The thought of standing ideally by while he poisoned the king made Winifred extremely uncomfortable. He was a disgusting creature in his own right. She found him in a dark corner on the other side of Théoden King.

"Come forth." Théoden King said loudly with minimal difficulty. Gandalf and Winifred Continued into the hall. Eomer slowly walked behind them. Winifred noticed the stares she was getting from everyone in the hall. The firelight reflected off her beading and she could see bright reflections on the walls and floors all around her. A woman dress in a dark blue dress with dark brown hair in Meduseld was a site that had not been seen for many years. Later, she would find out that some people mistook her for an elf.

Gandalf and Winifred soon stood before the king. "Théoden King, it has been far too long." Gandalf said with a respectful bow. Winifred also did a deep curtsy, and then gentle rested her hands at her sides once it was completed.

"And what beauty have you brought along with you, for if you always travel with such company I think you would find every door of middle earth opened to you." Théoden king said sounding almost disinterested, coughing as he finished. Gandalf smiled.

"This is Winifred Farrell, from the north. She wishes to join your court, should you find yourself with space." Gandalf said.

"I see." Théoden said.