(A/N: Thanks again to my beta LOTRlover23 for the polishing! Here's Chapter 9. I hope it'll be to your liking!)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything

~Chapter 9: Hidden Fears~

Eowyn pulled on a simple ice blue dress after taking a bath. She sat in front of the vanity and was currently combing her beautiful golden locks. Her handmaiden seemed to have disappeared and she wondered where she had been. Even if years had passed already, she still could not believe the changes that had happened to her. She was not known as a Shieldmaiden for nothing. She used to be a frosty person, a woman who built thick walls around herself because of what had happened to her. Surrounded by men, she had learned to become tough and brave but Grima Wormtongue had made her feel miserable and damaged her already fragile heart. But she would not deny the fact that if it were not for those sufferings, she will not have become so strong. It had turned her emotionless and cold, but now the thick walls of ice she had built around herself seemed disappearing, and she vaguely wondered if it was a good idea.

She may have looked physically delicate and fragile—and she hated it—but she was never a damsel in distress. Eowyn of Rohan is not to be taken lightly simply because she was a woman. She had proved it to the Marchwarden of Lorien. A smile slowly graced her lips as she recalled their sparring. Even if she had been defeated in the end she was satisfied that she had shown him that she could put up a fair fight.

"You look lovely as usual, my lady."

The White Lady of Rohan almost jumped from her seat as she saw the woman she had just been wondering about in the mirror. Ashelia stood beside the bed with a medium-sized bronze box in her hands. Her expression was a mixture of emotions Eowyn could not read. She wondered if her handmaiden was hiding something.

"Ashelia! How did you get in here?!" she asked, turning around to greet her.

"Through the door, my lady. I did knock…" Ashelia paused for a moment. "It seems that you did not hear me. I am sorry for surprising you."

Eowyn breathed in deeply. "It is alright. Just please don't do it again."

The handmaiden shook her head. "It will not happen again, Lady Eowyn. I have something for you."

"Oh? What is it?" Eowyn inquired curiously.

Ashelia opened the box. Slowly the lid revealed a necklace lying inside. The Lady of Rohan stared at the jewelry with wide eyes and gaping mouth. It was the most beautiful thing she had seen. The necklace was made of pure silver and a mirror-like pendant in a shape of crescent moon. It looked simple but she had a feeling it would rival any jewels the Elves possessed. Yet it was not only its appearance that attracted her. There was something else that she could not name. But she wanted very badly to put it around her neck. She felt as if it were calling to her, telling her it was hers to possess.

"I want to give this to you, my lady." Ashelia took the necklace from the box and placed it around Eowyn's pale neck. "It used to be mine, but I wholeheartedly give it to you as a sign of my loyalty and devotion."

Eowyn felt an invisible presence wrap around her neck. It made her feel warm inside, as if some strong power were pouring down on her. The brown-eyed woman then turned to her Lady. "My loyalty will always lie with you, Lady Eowyn. Whenever you need me I shall be here."

"I only met you a few days ago, but somehow I felt that I can trust you, Ashelia." Eowyn told her honestly, though she was curious as to why Ashelia was suddenly telling her such things. But what she said was no lie. Eowyn felt kinship with the woman in front of her. She knew that she found it hard to trust people, but something seemed to be drawing her to fully trust this servant of hers.

"I will never break your trust, my lady and by your side I should always stay," she said indifferently.

A wide smile broke onto Eowyn's face."Come then. You must join me at the feast tonight."

-LOTR-

"I am curious to why you have not returned to your homeland yet, Legolas," was Glorfindel's greeting to Prince of Mirkwood when he entered the huge dining hall of the Palace. Legolas turned to the Balrog-slayer, amusement written all over his face. "I should ask you the same thing, mellon-nin. You should already have returned to Imladris. Your army needs you there."

"The war is over. I have permission from Lord Elrond to linger for awhile." The Balrog-slayer took a goblet from one of the tables and sipped from it. "It seems that you, Haldir and I will remain."

The other elf's face hardened at the mention of Haldir. "Yes."

Glorfindel shrugged. "Even if we are dealing with a new Enemy, I still do not feel that we are in great peril."

"Not yet." Legolas told him seriously. "This is far worse than Sauron, at least before we have an idea of what we are fighting. Yet not even a single detail is within our reach."

"I know," Glorfindel agreed in a solemn tone. "I heard that Naerwen has not woken, and she is the only one who can tell us what really happened in Valinor. Anyway," he sighed, "there must be something keeping us here."

"Eru will not let anything happen without reason. If this is his will then so be it"

-LOTR-

Eowyn and Ashelia entered the Hall from the large double doors and they saw that the room was almost full. Eowyn noticed that Arwen was speaking with a few ladies but her husband was nowhere to be found. That's strange, she thought. Aragorn would never leave Arwen…unless it was something really important.

"Good evening." Faramir appeared from the left. He bowed and smiled at the two women. "It is good of you to grace us with your presence." His gazed stopped at the blonde Rohirric Lady.

Eowyn nodded. "Aye, it is a pleasure to be here again. I sense that we will stay longer for my brother has not yet finished with King Elessar."

"I must agree with you," Faramir said. "Though I am afraid that Aragorn will not be able to join us tonight."

"Where is he, if you do not mind my asking?".

"He has left on an important trip but he did not reveal where. He has been accompanied by Elrohir and Elladan. He has left me in charge while he is absent."

"I see."

Faramir continued looking down at Eowyn. The attraction was obvious in his eyes but the Shieldmaiden did not feel the same for him. He was a friend to her, noting more.

"If you do not mind, Lord Faramir, I will lead my lady to the table so she may eat," Ashelia said in a soft, calm tone.

The Prince of Ithilien looked at the other woman, who was now clad in forest-green dress. They were right about her, he thought. She did look like a forest sprite. Even the way she dressed was always acquainted with nature. "Of course I do not mind. Enjoy yourselves."

Ashelia led her to an empty table and pulled out a chair for her lady. "I could sense his attraction, my lady."

"I will not deny that. Arwen told so as well," Eowyn told her in a low voice. "But I do not like him that way."

The handmaiden chuckled lightly as she filled her plate. "I pity him, but I am sure he will be able to find someone else."

"Indeed. It is merely a passing fancy."

"What of you, my lady? Who does your heart desire?"

It took a minute before Eowyn answered, for she truly did not know.

"I am not sure, Ashelia. There is no one yet that I want."

Ashelia gave her a small smile."I picked some fruit for you, my lady. King Eomer told me that you like them, so I decided to pick many from Queen Arwen's garden."

Eowyn smiled. "I am delighted! Thank you, Ashelia."

-LOTR-

Glorfindel had already seen Eowyn and Ashelia enter the dining hall, but he made no move to go to them. He wanted to, but he wondered if it would be a good idea, especially after what had happened. He had passed the garden and seen Ashelia lying on the grass. She seemed to be in pain, and so he quickly forced her to drink an herbal medicine, and she calmed. He had asked for information on what had happened to her but she did not give him any clear answer. She had told him it was just a headache, but he was not convinced. She had looked extremely pale and very frightened. As he observed them, he noticed that Ashelia was afraid but was masking it with a cheerful attitude.

What is she hiding?

(Updated A/N: I forgot to tell, I already posted my new LOTR fanfic which mainly focused on Legolas and Eowyn! :) Hope you check it out and read my notes first before proceeding.)

What do you think Ashelia's hiding eh? :))

See you on the next chapter, readers!

~Angel