Hello there! I'm trying to update more often. So far so good. However, this update is a little shorter than the last two, but I'll try to get a longer one up soon. I hope you enjoy!

Twenty-Three (Eomer)

We arrived in Edoras long after the sun had set. A chill fall wind was blowing, much different than the balmy heat of Lothiriel's seaside home. We hurried into Meduseld and straight to our rooms. I could think of nothing besides falling into a deep sleep beneath the heavy furs that covered our bed.

Before I could do that though, a servant came in to inform me that there was a council meeting scheduled first thing in the morning and that Hama said my presence was required. There would be no rest for me.

I sighed, shutting the door and heading back to the bedroom where Lothiriel had changed into a heavy night shift and was sitting at her vanity braiding her thick hair.

I did not know if I should tell her about the meeting or not. Before our daughter's birth she had taken an active role on the council and had helped solve many a crisis.

"I have to attend a council meeting first thing in the morning," I said, pulling my tunic over my head.

"Well that is to be expected," Lothiriel replied with a small smile. "You are the King. Or did you forget after your getaway to the beach?"

She said nothing of her plans to attend the meeting or not and I did not ask. My wife stood, pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, and turned down her side of the bed.

I went into the bathroom to wash the dust and grime of travelling off of my face. When I was ready to get into bed, Lothiriel was already fast asleep. It took mere moments for me to join her in sleep after my head hit the pillow.

When I woke the next morning, still needing a few more hours of sleep, Lothiriel was gone. I found that strange, but did not have time to search for her before I was supposed to be at my council meeting.

I need not have looked for her anyway as I entered the council chambers she was the only one there. She sat at the far end of the expansive table with several stacks of parchment surrounding her.

I noticed also that she was wearing the thick, golden coronet that she had received on the day she had become my wife and queen. She had never used to wear it on casual days spent in council meetings, but I imagined that she was making a statement on her first day back.

Before I could speak to her, the rest of my councilors started shuffling in. Each one paused in the doorway, shocked to see Lothiriel in her old seat.

"Let us begin, gentlemen." I cleared my throat. "I imagine there is quite a bit that needs my attention."

And so order of business after order of business was brought before me. Lothiriel had seemingly gotten up very early in order to take full responsibility for the role she had previously held.

Once more, harvest was fast approaching and Lothiriel ran through a whole list of what fields would be ready to harvest when, where the crops from said fields would be distributed, and what we had in the storehouses in case things did not go as planned.

"Thank you, my lady," I said, trying to hide my smile at her hard work.

"If there is nothing else, we have worked late into the afternoon."

I looked around hoping no one would add anything else, but Hama gave a discreet cough.

"Your Grace, we have had reports of a considerable population of Uruk-hai near Harrowdale in the White Mountains," he spoke quietly as though not wanting to anger me with his less than savory news.

"There have been five deaths so far, countless crops destroyed. They are desperately reckless, starving more than likely. We do not have enough men posted there to protect the people in the valley."

I nodded. "I will think on this and we will work out a plan tomorrow."

I stood from my chair and everyone did the same. I waited for Lothiriel to gather her papers and then I offered her my arm and we left the chamber.

I was deep in thought and she remained silent. I hoped she was thinking of a plan of action as we had yet to face such a situation since the War had ended and our marriage began.

Harrowdale was supposed to be a fortress and a refuge for our people who lived near to the White Mountains and Dunharrow. Just thinking of that sanctuary being threatened made my blood boil.

"I must go there," I finally said.

"Eomer?"

I pushed my study door open and led her inside. "I cannot let my people suffer and live in fear."

Lothiriel nodded, but remained quiet.

"I will go and take a small eored to assess the situation and then send for more if necessary. As the King, I am the First Marshal and this is my duty."

"That seems wise," Lothiriel said. "Perhaps a few of my ladies and I should accompany you. We could take provisions for anyone who needs them. If their crops have been damaged we have enough to spare a few wagon loads from the stores."

It was my turn to remain quiet. I did not like the idea of Lothiriel going somewhere so dangerous.

"The women and children will need someone to look after them as well. To help them," she continued. "The people need food."

"It is not that you do not have a good point, Lothiriel," I sighed. "I do not want you somewhere so dangerous. I cannot always protect you."

My wife arched a dark brow. "There is too much for you and an eored to accomplish. You cannot secure the area and see to provisions and food and widows and children."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. Even though it had been some time, I remembered how stubborn and feisty she had been before we were married. I did not want to argue with her for hours or days even.

"Fine," I muttered. "I will discuss with Hama after dinner to learn what you can oversee in Harrowdale."

Lothiriel gave a satisfied smirk. "Very well."

I glanced over a few more documents before my stomach was growling.

"Shall we dine privately tonight?" I asked hopefully, exhausted.

"I will not hide from the court, Eomer," Lothiriel replied. "I have faced your council, perhaps I should just get it all over with in a day."

"The court will always be there."

"Yes, but I might lose the courage to face it."

I found that highly unlikely, but kept my mouth shut. Instead, I stood and once more offered her my arm.

My own palms began to sweat as we approached the dining hall. I had already heard what was being said about my wife and her family, but after all that Lothiriel had gone through; I did not want her to hear the hurtful things some of my people were saying.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked as I reached out to push the heavy door open.

"Eomer," she said, slight irritation in her voice.

As the door opened my court could be heard talking loudly. They stood in my presence as they normally did, but as soon as Lothiriel came into view everything went silent and they sat much sooner than protocol called for.

I placed my hand over Lothiriel's where it rested on my forearm. A low whispering began and I felt the urge to physically shield her from it. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and cover her ears at the same time.

As we walked among the tables to get to our high seats, the whispers became louder, bolder.

"She does not belong here."

"He should have married a shieldmaiden."

For the first time I was truly ashamed of my people. Their lack of tact was devastating to me.

I glanced down at my wife, but her head was still held high and so I did the same until we were almost to our table.

"Gondorian bitch," a man spat out as we passed. It was one of my riders. Those men had had the most problems with the affair and the royal family of Dol Amroth. Many of them had similar affairs and for it to be shamed in such a way had set their pride and tempers ablaze. They hated that something that was considered nearly customary for men of the Mark had been challenged by an outsider, especially when it was their King who was being challenged, in their eyes, forced to change my ways.

I saw red and practically lunged at the culprit. However, Lothiriel, jerked me by my arm so subtly and with a strength I did not know she possessed, that it looked as though nothing had happened.

"Absolutely not," she hissed so only I could hear.

"Give me your hand," she demanded in the same tone as we approached the stairs to our table.

I straightened my tunic and held out a hand. Lothiriel placed her hand in mine and gracefully ascended the stairs.

As the food was brought to our table, Lothiriel spoke quietly to me. "You must speak to me as though none of this matters; as though we are not affected."

I looked at her incredulously, but she was already going on about the weather or some such nonsense.

When we were through eating and heading back through the hall, which seemed leagues longer than it ever had before, the talking stopped again, but there were no more hateful whispers directed at my wife.

Once the door thudded shut behind us, my erect posture was lost and I slowed my pace considerably.

"We are still in sight of anyone," Lothiriel said more gently than she had on our way to dinner.

My wife had been trying to protect me all evening. She had refused to let me make a scene or act as if any of the words had bothered me. The words had not been directed at me though.

Lothiriel acted as though nothing had been out of the ordinary and walked calmly to her vanity where she removed the golden coronet and rubbed at the red marks it had left on her forehead.

I paced furiously at the foot of our bed.

"You will wear a groove in the floor, Eomer," Lothiriel said, unruffled, distracted as she unwound the tight bun at the nape of her neck.

"This is unacceptable," I said, louder than I had intended, still pacing. "I will speak to that man before we leave for Harrowdale. He had no right."

Lothiriel turned on her low stood to face me and her expression was defeated. I stopped in my tracks and looked down at my wife. I had no more words to say. Clearly, I could not protect her from what was happening around us.

"You will do no such thing. It will pass," she said in the same gentle tone she had been using, as though I were a child. "We must be unfazed. You can have this evening to gather yourself, but after that no outward emotion."

"I could have killed that man," I replied. "I should have."

Lothiriel sighed. "What would that have accomplished?"

"I would feel better," I said after a moment's hesitation.

"It will pass," she repeated, standing in front of me and placing her small hands on my chest.

I wrapped her in my arms. "I just want to protect you." The irony of my statement struck me so that my stomach rolled. If I had honored Lothiriel as I was supposed to honor my wife and queen then people would not be so blatantly disrespectful to her. I was hardly paying penance for my actions, but my wife was being humiliated no matter how brave she was.

She rested her head on my chest and I ran my fingers through her soft, raven hair.

"We have bigger concerns," she murmured.

ooooOoooo

We were riding down the winding path that led from Dunharrow to the settlement of Harrowdale in the valley as night was beginning to fall. It had been a long journey and we were all slumped in our saddles. I could see the lights of our settlement and desperately yearned for a bed, even if it is was of lesser quality than mine in Meduseld. After being a soldier for so many years, I had learned how to sleep anywhere.

A shout from the back of our eored had my spine stiffening as I turned to see what was going on. I heard broadswords being drawn and the all too familiar grunting of Uruk-hai. At the first clang of metal on metal, I turned to Lothiriel.

"Ride into the valley with the women."

Lothiriel looked panicked, grey eyes flashing as she looked toward the fighting. Roheryn was prancing around beneath her, neither of them having ever been so close to fighting.

"Go!" I yelled at her as I wheeled Firefoot around to charge up the hill.

ooooOoooo

"It is a flesh wound!" I insisted as I was helped into Lothiriel and I's room as the sun rose.

"You should still rest," Hama replied, calmly, knowing the injury was not too serious.

Lothiriel stood from a wooden chair near the window immediately, looking as though she had not slept at all.

"Your Grace," Hama bowed to her, but she waved it away.

"What happened?" She asked him, as though I were not there or incapable of making my own response.

"Those damned beasts were so unorganized it was impossible to figure out what was going on," I answered. "I am not sure we brought enough men." Wincing, I lifted my arm to examine the cut in my side.

Lothiriel's face paled as she saw the blood.

"Send for a healer!" She demanded.

Hama shuffled his feet. "There really are not any here."

"What?" Lothiriel raised an eyebrow, and I could see how baffled she was by this.

"If there is a desperate need for one we will send one of ours from Edoras," Hama trailed off.

"Lothiriel, I am alright. This is not nearly that desperate. It just needs to be cleaned and wrapped and then I will rest." I looked at my friend. "You may leave us, Hama."

Lothiriel looked around wildly after he left. "Well who is going to do it?"

"Just get a warm, wet cloth and wrappings."

"I am no healer!" she exclaimed frantically.

"It is no real wound," I assured her, a bit of amusement in my voice, though I let out an involuntary groan as I pulled my tunic over my head. My undershirt had soaked up much of the blood and was stuck to my side.

Lothiriel was conversing with Adela who came back a moment later with a basin of steaming water, cloths, towels, and a long role of bandages. She quickly sat them down near where I sat on the bed and left with a last glance toward her mistress.

I struggled out of my undershirt and Lothiriel's face blanched even more. She seemed to pull herself together a little as she reached for a cloth and dipped it in the basin.

I inhaled sharply as she pressed the rag to my side. Lothiriel jerked her hand away and looked up at me imploringly. I gave a stiff, unyielding nod for her to continue and she did.

By the time she finished, her blood covered hand was trembling so badly she could barely tie the wrapping so it would stay in place.

I took her hand in mind, wiping the blood away with an unused rag. "Lothiriel," I murmured her name. I gently turned her face up to mine, distraught to see the tears welling in her eyes. "I am fine. I have suffered much worse injuries than this, I can assure you."

One fat tear rolled down her cheek.

I wiped it away and hauled her into my lap, biting back the sharp sound of pain that tried to escape my lips.

"You must stop this nonsense," I said into her hair as she buried her face in my neck. "I have never seen you so senseless."

That brought her face up. Her grey eyes had steeled over. "I have recently felt as though I had just gotten you back. I do not want to lose you!" She said fiercely. "Do not mock my feelings."

I sighed. "I am not. Now why do you not go and see to the handing out of the provisions."

She looked at me skeptically.

"I will be alright. I am just going to take a rest."

My wife nodded and I gingerly settled myself back in the bed. I barely heard the door open and close before I fell asleep.

I had frenzied dreams of everything from riding my first pony as a child, which turned to a Nazgul beneath me, to standing at the burial mounds watching a procession of my dead loved ones being placed in the mounds before my eyes.

Both of my parents, followed by Theodred, and then Theoden, and I hoped it would end at Artanis, but it did not. Lothiriel was carried past me on a funeral bier, but her procession stopped in front of me before entering the mound. Her three brothers were carrying the bier and one corner rested on little Alphros' shoulder. They all turned their practically identical faces toward me as I stared down at my wife.

She looked like the Rohirric Queens of old with her long hair unbound and a deep red dress on, the bodice embroidered with gold stitching. Her delicate hands were folded over her stomach and as I went to touch one her grey eyes snapped open.

"It was my heart," she said in a solemn whisper. "You broke it."

"Eomer!"

It was Lothiriel speaking again and someone jostling me by the shoulders.

"Eomer! Wake up!"

My eyes opened and Lothiriel was hovering above me. I quickly reached out to her. "You are alive!"

She looked frightened. "What do you mean? Of course I am alive." She rested a cold hand on my forehead.

"You are freezing," I said.

"No, you are scorching." She glanced at Adela who stood in the corner. "Send for Hama and bring me a basin of cool water and cloths."

Lothiriel seemed less disconcerted than she had when dressing my wound that morning. My vision began to swim and so I closed my eyes even as Lothiriel was vigorously rubbing my feet. I wanted to tell her that it sort of tickled.

"Eomer!" She snapped. "Keep your eyes open!"

I tried with all of my might, but it was the most difficult thing I had ever done it seemed.

"Lothiriel, I am exhausted. I have been riding a Nazgul."

I saw the horrified look on her face only for a second before I had to close my eyes once more.

When the door banged open I felt as though I were floating above the room. I could hear the conversation, but was separate from everything going on around me.

"What is going on?" Hama demanded.

"He has a very high fever. He is not in his right mind."

Lothiriel's hands moved away from my feet and I was glad of that.

"You must find the closest thing to a healer you can," she ordered my friend.

There was a cool wetness on my face and neck and I thought it must have been the most heavenly thing I had ever felt.

"Do not just stand there!" Lothiriel exclaimed. The last thing I heard was Hama's heavy footsteps and Lothiriel whispering that everything would be alright.

There you go! Let me know what you thought!

Happy reading,

Avonmora