Disclaimer: Nope, still haven't got it. I'm just borrowing it to play around with. I only own my two OCs.

A.N: There, finally up! My grandmother, who has recently moved in, has been driving the whole household nuts always with a gigantic load of IAs to get ready. Bleurgh. That's why it's taken me so long. Sorry! Also, it's been awhile since I've seen the movies so the dialogue might be a bit messed up. "" is speaking, '' is thoughts and italics is another language, usually Elvish. A new one is ** is a quote from a book. Please, please review I love them.

Meeting Éomer and Being Mistaken for a Man

I was so sick of running! It was boring and exhausting, but unfortunately a necessary evil. I could feel blisters forming on my heels and my little toes. I'm not a bad runner but this was INSANE! My ribs were aching due to the stitch in my side and my breaths were coming out ragged, my mind going numb from misery, grief and boredom. I was constantly trying to keep my mind occupied so I won't have to think about Boromir and how much pain I was in from all this stupid running. The landscape also distracted me, the wide, grassy plains with the wind whipping through them, the huge boulders stacked on top of each other and vast blue skies.

'How poetic.'

I felt bitter but I had to push those thoughts aside and concentrated on trying to remember how the first bassoon went in Dvorak symphony no. 8. We had been running for three days and nights and I was so tired, along with Gimli. For some reason little Miss Sunshine was peppier than ever. Then it hit me. We'd soon meet Éomer, who was pretty smokin' and the battle of Helms Deep would be soon. I always suspected she had a bloodthirsty side to her. I groaned and wondered what the exact date was. I knew that my birthday would be in a week or two. I would probably hide out in a room somewhere and read.

'Not exactly how I envisioned my 20th birthday.'

I grimaced, barely noticing that we had stopped for Aragorn and Legolas to detect where the Ocrs were going with Merry and Pippin. I really wanted them back as they were funny, sweet and naive. The total opposite of the group I currently with, who were ridiculously somber and tight lipped. Megan was attempting to sympathetic but it made her look insane. I think it was her attempts, attempts being the operative word here, at pulling sympathetic faces, but there was something off. I think she just isn't a sympathetic person, but there was a hungry gleam in her eye.

'Must be from the idea of Éomer.'

The rest were quiet and focusing on finding Merry and Pippin, perhaps to ignore the fact that they had lost two of their number so soon. It must be a bitter blow for them, seeing as I knew Gandalf would be back, to have lost their friends and so quickly after each other. It must have made them start thinking about the risks that were there and what they had gotten themselves into. A whacking great reality check at a high price. I sighed and decided that a trip to the brown study would be a good idea. And off I went.

*Face in a pit, never a nice way to start the day.*

I heard the sound of hooves coming towards us at great speed and realised that we were now on the flat. I drew to a halt with the others as the horsemen surrounded us and pointed all their spears at us.

"Well that's cheerful." I muttered.

Gimli raised an eyebrow at my sarcastic remark.

"What business does an Elf, two Men, a Woman and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!

'WHAT THE HELL? I know I'm flat, but come on!'

"OI! I'm a woman!" I snarled.

Éomer looked at me startled. He stared at me in shock. A beat pasted before I said anything.

"An apology would be nice!"

Éomer blinked and had the decency to look abashed before he said anything.

"My apologies my lady. Your short hair and the hood disguised you. I'm very sorry."

He bowed his head and I nodded in acceptance of his apology.

He turned his head to the rest of the group.

"Well? Speak!"

"Give me your name, horse-master, and I shall give you mine."

At this remark Éomer hopped down from his horse and stormed towards the dwarf. Aragon looked irritated and placed a hand on Gimli's shoulder.

"I would cut off your head, Dwarf if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

Legolas whipped out his bow, looking fiercely at him. Good to see that Megan hadn't dissolved the upcoming friendship between the elf and the dwarf.

'Hooray!'

And back to the story.

"You would die before your stroke fell."

At these words all the spears became suddenly a lot closer. A lot bloody closer. In an attempt to diffuse the situation Aragorn spoke up whilst pulling Legolas arm down, out of Éomer's face.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathron. This is Gimli, son Gloin, Legolas of the Woodland Realm. The two women here are Nina and Megan. We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your King."

At the last remark Éomer's face tightened with stress and anxiety.

"Théoden no longer recognises friend from foe. Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

Éomer pulled off his helmet and ran his fingers through his extremely long hair. He looked exhausted.

"We are not spies. We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They've taken two of our friends captive."

"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

Gimli became anxious.

"But there were two hobbits. Did you see two hobbits with them?"

"They would be small-only children to your eyes."

Éomer looked upset before replying.

"We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them."

He pointed to smoking pile in the distance.

"Dead?" asked Gimli.

Éomer looked down and nodded.

"I'm sorry."

He looked genuinely sorry and then caught Megan's eye.

'Oh shit. Why now you crazy bit-'

My thoughts were interrupted by three horses coming forward.

'That's not good. It was meant to be two horses, not three horses. What means three people died, not two.'

I caught Megan's eye and gave her an icy glare. There were too many people, which meant that another person had to died for her. And me as well. I felt sick.

The smell of burnt orc flesh was overpowering. I felt sick and I was now trying to breath through my mouth but that was even worse as it added a rotten egg taste to my mouth. I gagged and wrapped my scarf around my face. Megan was looking sickly and pale, but the other seemed unaffected by this, more distracted for looking for Merry and Pippin. I then noticed the Orc head on top of the spike and grimaced, as it's tongue was lolling out still. Aragorn, unable to find them kicked one of the helmets, which I'm certain still had the head in it, and scream in rage before falling to his knees. It was then he noticed the place where Pippin had lay before the pair had run into Fangorn Forest. We ran off, following the track, light banter taking place now that they knew that there was a possibility that they were alive. I barely noticed, as I knew that soon we would be getting to Rohan and then getting a decent bed. Which meant no more running for a little while more. However, it did mean that the Battle of Helms Deep was coming up. I briefly wondered what day it was before we stopped. It meant that we would see Gandalf again.

'Hooray! Someone to talk to who knows about my little secret and is alive. As well as totally badass.'

I grinned up at him and he grinned back. I suddenly felt that things were going up.

We were walking towards the castle (is it a castle? It sometimes looks like an awesome Grand Hall. You know what? I'm over thinking this.) When the guards stopped to search us. I handed over my butterfly sword and a few of my throwing knives. The rest were hidden and I decided that it was best if I kept them. Out of sight, out of mind.

"We need to take your staff." Said one of the guards.

"Oh, but you wouldn't take an old man's walking stick form him, would you?"

To an effect to his words Gandalf leaned more heavily on the staff and Legolas offered his arm to Gandalf to take. Megan and I catch each other's eyes and had to look away in fear of laughing and ruining the effect of it.

'WHOA! Hold your horses Nina, whatcha doing, having a moment with Megan?'

We stepped inside and I blinked in shock. Theoden looked a wreck. His hair was a shock of white, his skin colourless and papery and his eye bloodshot and glassy. He was clearly not all there, but Grima on the other hand was. He was a disgusting specimen and scowled blackly at him. His hair was black and greasy, his eyes were pale blue and constantly shifting around and he was hunched over. The doors closed behind us and all of the group looked over their shoulders before turning back to face the throne. I was to the right of Aragorn and both of us saw the small group of soldiers following us on the side.

"The courtesy of our hall is somewhat lessened of late Théoden, king."

I saw Grima whisper something to Théoden but did not quite catch.

"Why should I welcome you Gandalf, storm crow?"

"A just question my liege. Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Last spell I name him, ill news is an ill guest."

"Be silent, keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy words with a witless worm."

And cue staff and Grima getting outraged and the creepy soldiers attacking. I darted behind Aragorn and minded his back, taking out a soldier who was about the clock him one. Meanwhile, Gandalf approached Théoden, but I didn't hear everything as I was a bit busy knocking out men who weighed twice as much as me.

'Yeah, because this is totally normal.'

Gimli leapt upon Grima and growled in a menacing manner.

"I would stay still if I were you."

At this I snickered. We had knocked out all the attackers and were now waiting for Gandalf to finish off Saruman. Théoden or was it Saruman? Started laughing. Gandalf whipped off his grey cloak. I then noticed Éowyn running up to defend her uncle, but Aragorn pulled her back and told her to wait. I sidled up to her and gave her a reassuring look. We then let Éowyn go to run up to her uncle and we watched as the age disappeared from Théoden's face. It was incredible. I pretty sure there was a collective sigh of relief as Théoden rose, looking regal. He drew his sword and Grima made an attempt to get away but Gimli held him. Ooh ho ho ho, I was going to enjoy this next part. Just call me mean.

Grima rolled down the steps, Théoden hot on his tail and was about to get beheaded when Aragorn stopped Théoden. We returned to the hall/castle with me grinning like an idiot. I never did like Grima, especially with his thing for Éowyn. It made my skin crawl and gave me the urge to smack him. I liked Éowyn, despite her small crush on Aragorn. Then Théoden turned to the rest of suddenly asked the question I had been dreading.

"Where is Théodred? Where is my son?"

'Oh shit.'

Théoden's face twisted with horror and fear at the possibility of his only child being dead. I felt my stomach twist and no one spoke. Éowyn moved forward, afraid of saying anything. I remembered that she had been by her cousin's side when he had died, alone. She was blinking back tears before she spoke.

"I'm sorry Uncle but…but Théodred…" she didn't finish the sentence, but it was enough. Everyone left to leave the pair to mourn privately. I ended up wandering around the castle/hall until Éowyn found me, her eyes red-rimmed but much calmer.

"I'm so sorry."

It was the first thing I said. Éowyn smiled and very broken, miserable smile.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, I've been amiss in my duty."

"It's completely understandable."

"I'll show you to your room. What is your name?"

"Nina. Just Nina."

Just then Megan came along. She looked up at Éowyn with a mix of admiration and fear. She leapt forward confidently to greet Éowyn. Éowyn gave Megan the 'WTF?' look, though she probably didn't know the 'F' part.

"Hello I'm Megan."

"Nice to meet you Megan."

"Well you look very miserable."

I delivered a swift jab to her kidney, forcing her to double up and shut up. Ah pain and silence at the same time, perfect.

"Ignore the idiot. Which way are the rooms?"

I changed the subject with a wrench, which thankfully distracted Éowyn and we set off down one of the long, cold passages.

'I will kill you Megan for what you said to Éowyn. Or, at least break every bone in your body.'

A.N: Oh, the book I'm referencing is Miranda Hart. It makes me cry with laughter every time. Pretty please review.