*All rights to the character Jasper belong to Stephanie Meyer and her association with Twilight; as well as the reference to Eowyn, belonging to LOTR but not the character herself

Eowyn's POV

I thought waking into Heaven would be less excruciating, I had imagined that all the aching of this life would simply be washed away and I would be welcomed into God's hands by my family. Instead I felt my head throbbing, my skin burning, eyes fluttering to open. I felt my smile beaming as I imagined hugging my father and showing him all the noble work I accomplished like he'd hoped. I did not go out without a fight; I was brave and upright until the very end.

My eyes opened as I took in my surroundings, not of Heaven but of chambers. Military chambers and I fought back dread and anxiety once more, gasping and kicking at my attacker who certainly lay near. I had not died but even worse yet; I had been brutalized and kept alive for torture. Was this what I deserved? This was my punishment? No it was not…

Ringing in my ears I heard, "Never stop fighting, never give up"; these were my father's last words to me and as long as I had breath in me, I would obey.

"No… No…" I mumbled

"NOOOOO!" I grabbed at him with every ounce of strength I could muster, flushed with pulsating rage and adrenaline. Blood flowed from my wounds, both arms were raw but I held on.

My attacker kept an unyielding grip on my arms, not ceasing even as I attacked at him relentlessly… I couldn't win this battle and had no strength left in me. Valiant effort that would not save my life, now I understood when soliders' begged for more time what it truly felt like. WHY ME? WHY NOW? Didn't seem fair, not that life was. I knew that full well but I thought I had lead a good life, a life of serving others.

Screaming again, "Just let me die, Please! Just let me die….I….can't…"Anguish washed over me, I hoped he would show mercy where there was none.I let my head fall back in defeat; muffling cries with my eyes pursed shut, hoping he would finish me off quickly.

"Look at me!" He commanded.

"….. Please no…. Someone, please help me…." I pleaded in my mind as I took in ragged breath.

His coarse grip lifted my trembling chin to meet his gaze, "Please look up at me."

With a trembling heart and tears streaming down my swollen cheeks, I opened my eyes to reveal not the rancid creature I envisioned but the Major; the man whose kindness allowed me a moment's solitude before my attack. Could it really be him, I thought?

"You are safe ma'am, stop trying to fight me please… I am only here to help you." The Major said as he gathered me up from the floor, then cradled me in his arms, holding my head to his chest, trying to keep me from lashing out again.

A breathy, lifeless Okay was all I could get out before I let go.

"Shhhh…. Ma'am, you will be okay. You are protected in my care…." He continued to run his hand down my hair to calm me down, soothing me with his voice.

All my strength melted away, all the fight I had left in me had gone and I clutched at his neck and shoulder length hair. Silent tears streamed down my face, his serenity enveloped me and I let myself take solace in a man I did not know but whose compassion saved my life. He put his arm around me for comfort, understanding that in this small consolation lay what I needed most in the world. Safety…

After what seemed like minutes instead of the true hour which had passed, I stirred out of his grip. He continued looking at me as though a single incorrect uttered word might break me into crystalline pieces, he knew we needed to break the silence but wasn't sure how. His eyes looked for the right way to speak to me, what could be said, what had happened, how to address a lady in this condition wasn't something he looked used to.

"Ma'am, are you well enough to walk with me a bit?" That seemed like an odd request, but the gentleness in his eyes warranted my trust. He reached out his hand expecting me to take his but I smiled back instead.

"Thank you for your kindness sir, but I need to get back to the hospital. I'm sure they are in great need of my help and have been missing me." I didn't want this perfect stranger to feel any more obligated to tend to me than I had pressed upon him already. Getting this evening out of my mind was necessary, the sooner the better.

He sat up, looking at me as though I might have hit my head harder than I thought, and gently touched my cheek, then my arm. OUCH! Searing pain shot up into my shoulder and finger tips, I struggled back a scream as I bit down on my lower lip again. Peering over to my open wounds, where he had grabbed, I took notice to the stitches I had in up and down my arm, perfectly sewn. Such a strange happenstance he knew the ins and outs of medical procedure and yet, had his wits about him to know when to strike.

Had he done that without aid? I thought

His kindness overwhelmed me as I took in a pensive breath, waiving him ahead and allowing him to speak his mind.

"I'm sure you can manage a while longer before duty, however you are not well just yet. I admire your strength but there are times you need to tend to yourself first. This is that time." He motioned us forward and I obliged. He took my arm as a gentleman would, aiding my slow pace as we walked down a small ravine where I could hear water roaring by.

Stopping just shy of the river, we sat and took in the quiet serenity this valley provided. The Major stared off in the distance, distracted, allowing me a sideways glance and an opportunity to revel in the young Major standing before me. He could not have been much older than I, but his presence was alluring, inviting. Almost seductively he stood near 6 feet tall in full military regalia, threadbare but well pressed; I noticed he took his hat off momentarily which allowed his chin length wavy hair to fall around his pallid skin, then brushing it behind his ears while he continued. While he walked he kept perfect marching timing, shoulders square and straight, head high but this facade had to be from grooming not by choice. Below the surface roared an entirely different air, one that if you didn't look for, could easily be dismissed as cruelty; he wore his uniform with honor but the blood he allowed to soak glassed a disgust for depraved indifference. A gleaming crooked smile revealed flawless white teeth and when I was fortunate enough to get a glimmer of joy, this reached up to his eyes. Piercing emerald green eyes that changed shade as the mood allowed. As I breathed in his leathery scent my thoughts lingered over this brow to boot perfection, bringing a smile across my own heated cheeks.

Shaking my head clear of his image and foolery, I still didn't quite grasp what had happened nor did I have a grasp on why this decorated Officer had any interest in the goings on of a lowly nurse in practice… my curiosity got the best of me. Stopping him again as we paced along the edge of the river, I turned to him, "I don't understand, why would you risk yourself for me? I'm no one of consequence. Certainly not worth the time of an Officer of your obvious stature…" Turning me quickly to him, his eyes glowering down and his hands tightly grasping my arms, I tensed up to his touch but did not show fear.

"No one deserves to be treated like that, especially a lady. A man is not a man who need lay hands on any woman. It is never above my station to lend a hand where I am able." With his penetrating eyes upon me, he took my bruised cheek softly into his palm and whispered, "A world without valor is not one I hope to live in." I thought all valor and recourse had gone from the world, these were godless days filled with hatred for our fellow men and here stood before me a Major who lived by a credence which could never be taught. There may be hope just yet.

"Indeed, sir. Truly." Breaking away from his intrinsic glare, I took his hand from my face and shook it in accord. "I am Eowyn. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

"So, what may I call you sir? After all, I owe you my life and I would hate to repay the favor without the kindness of a name" I urged

"Major Jasper Whitlock, ma'am. And there is nothing to repay, you owe me nothing."

I tilted my head in question which he picked up on quickly, puzzling me even further, "Your safety any woman's safety, is my charge and there is no debt to be paid." He tipped his hat and without taking his eyes from mine, bowed before me. For the first time all night, in fact the first time in an exceedingly long while to be sure, I let out a laugh. He seemed to carry the light of the sun upon him, an intensity and charisma I had not felt in my lifetime. Something about this man drew you in, made you feel safe at first glance, first touch and no matter what he said, you knew it to be true. As if your life depended on it.

Pulling myself away from his heavy stare, I kneeled down to the water and tore pieces of my skirt away, using it as a bandage to cool my swollen stitches and cheek and cleanse them. I noticed the sun began to peek over the hills and I realized the lateness of the hour in which my return to my duties would be. Embarrassed that I had kept him up tending to me knowing he carried his own burden and tragedy, I tried to raise myself up from the banks but found him still holding my arm in his, wiping away the blood and dirt from my sutures. Such a strange sensation, to be cared for and not the one doing the tending. I blushed again, turning my face away not to give any more hints of my inner monologue about this lovely creature beside me. I did not have time for such fancy, I had no such luxury. Turning back around, I found myself asking a question that had been weighing on my mind since the moment I met him.

"You do this often, Major? Come to the aid of a lady in distress, stitching her up in such orderly fashions?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, almost in jest.

"In the field, you learn to care for your men as if they were your family and they become such. You seem surprised that I can lift my own hand to aid others? Do you think all I know is war? To fight, kill, slash and destroy as I go?" His intensity burned behind his eyes "No ma'am! That is not all we are. We are men and know of life, of friendship and joy. My best friend taught me that there are still some things in life worth fighting for, worth dying for. He was right."

There was something he was not telling me and as curiosity often does, my thoughts have gotten the best of me. I pressed further.

"Does that explain the blood on your uniform? I wished I could have taken back the words as soon as they left my cursed lips, I could see the anguish stream across his face. I felt as though I had been slapped across mine again. What a horrible thing to say to the man who just saved your life. I felt the fire rise up in my face as I spoke, "I…. I…. " Grasping to choose the right words "I didn't mean that. Please forgive me." Hanging my face in shame once more, I let out a defeated sigh. My mother always told me to watch what I said, to be mindful of others and once again, I had overstepped my bounds.

JASPER's POV

Although I didn't imagine she'd be above noticing the pools of blood on me, I had hoped she'd pass on that conversation. No such luck… When she did finally get her nerve up to do so it still took me by surprise the raw edges of hurt I thought I concealed so well, I could see my pain reciprocated on her face and didn't like the feel of it. The exquisite agony of losing him came waving over me; I closed my eyes, trying to fight the images of his last words, his last goodbye from my mind. Clutching the tears away by pinching the bridge of my nose, I took in a hesitant breath.

"This" I glanced my hand over the front of my bloody uniform breast "is the last remnants of a courageous man, my best friend in this life, who gave his to save me. I didn't deserve his kindness, just as you don't think you were deserving of mine but here we both are. Casualties of war"

I tried to muster a smile but all I got was a smirk, cleaving to the idea my charisma could carry me through any conversation I found myself in a situation which needed more than I could offer. As the weight of the world bore down on my shoulders, I lifted my head and as I spoke, nothing came out. Clearing my throat, I began once more…. She was staring at me, pensive on what she was missing. I opened my mouth to try and explain but still nothing; fearful that my strength had finally faltered and my weakness barred through, I closed my eyes and held my breath.

Noticing that my failed attempts at speaking lay in ruin through my broken raspy voice, she held out her hand, running it gently through a lock of my hair to quiet me and accepted my hand in hers.

"Please, you don't need to speak of it anymore. I can feel your pain more intensely than my own, I wish you no more heartache and no more sorrow by my hand. You have done your duty, sir. Please take solace in the truth your lost friend knew you cared for him. I see that in your eyes and I am as certain as rain he knew it to also be true." She smiled, paused as she regarded my feelings and drew in a harsh breath as she finished her sentence. "Major, take me back to camp so I can rid you of my company before the dawn turns into day and we are both missed." She smiled, hoping that would be the end of it.

Taken by surprise at her calm demeanor, I was rescinded by her singular command. As I scrutinized any pause she may have taken, she glanced at me with determination and resolve. She placed her hand on my chest, near my heart and said, "I can never repay your kindness save this"

She closed the gap between us leaving nothing but thin air, took my face into her caressing hand and laid her gentile, silky lips onto my cheek. I could feel the warmth of her kiss and my heart beat forcefully in my ears, deafening me with indulgent bliss. I prayed that my calm demeanor held as she turned her eyes to me. Her sapphire gaze eased the uncertainty building up in my gullet as she smiled affectionately, taking my arm to lead her away from the embankment; I could only oblige her last request even if deep in my heart it was not truly what I wanted.