Summary: Suadade – a nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that bad been loved and then lost; "the love that remains".
Aragorn and his family stop to visit Eomer and Lothiriel in Rohan, but Eowyn's dreams follow her. Rated K+ by Savannah (Aragorn & Eowyn)

Year 10

Eomer stood on the threshold of the Golden Hall, leaning casually on the carved pillar. His eyes drifted lazily over the horizon, letting the wind blow over him, rippling over his loose-fitting shirt and picking up strands of his hair. "What are you looking for?" He heard a voice ask from behind him. He turned and saw Lothiriel standing behind him; he smiled and beckoned her to his side, pulling her into his arms. "You know your sister won't be here for at least two more days. Unless you've suddenly developed Elvish eyesight and can spy them coming from miles away."

Eomer laughed, squeezing her tight.

"No, you've never had the best eyesight," she said into his chest.

"I saw you, didn't I?" Eomer said, letting her go, but keeping her hand tucked into his big callused ones.

Lothiriel laughed, lifting her hand above her head and spinning slowly in a circle. "I personally think I'm quite hard to miss," she said, her eyes dancing.

Eomer's head tipped back as he laughed then took her face in both of his hands, kissing her deeply.

"When are you going to tell your sister about our news?" She asked when they parted.

Eomer smiled. "As soon as my bad eyes see her, I'll ride out to meet her with a banner."

Lothiriel laughed.

"I'll yell it to her from our ramparts, scream it over the wind." He turned towards the rolling fields and bellowed out, "My love is pregnant!" He threw his head back and opened his arms to the wind as he yelled. "I'm going to be a father!"

Lothiriel laughed, pulling him back into her arms and resting her forehead on his own. "You're a mad man." She smiled.

..::..

Eowyn took a long, deep breath, smelling the familiar warm hazy smell of the grasses of her homeland as they were crushed and bruised by the hooves of their horses. She tipped her head back and felt the caress of the sun on her skin. To her, the sun here would always be different. Anywhere else, the sun was harsh and unforgiving, blinding light reflecting off white stone. But here the light was sweet as honey, golden and warm, comforting like stepping into a warm bath. She heard the lazy sound of a horse walking next to hers and opened her eyes. Eldarion was beside her, his light hair the color of ripe wheat in the light. His skin had already darkened from the hour they had spent riding and the soft wind blushed his cheeks.

"How much longer until we arrive at the Golden Hall?" he asked.

Eowyn smiled sideways at him. "Not far if we picked up our pace," she joked.

Eldarion smiled to himself. "Is this not as fast as you're used to traveling, Mother?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at the entourage behind them.

Eowyn laughed and shook her head. "You know what would make us even faster?" She asked. "If we raced."

Eldarion raised his eyebrows at the challenge. Before he could accept Eowyn had kicked her horse into a trot. She looked over her shoulder, grinning expectantly at her son, wheeling her horse in a slow circle, taunting him to join her. Eldarion looked over his shoulder once then spurred his horse into a full gallop, rushing past where his mother waited. Within seconds he heard the pounding of her horse beside his.

Together they rode over the plains, the wind whipping their hair behind them, the sun streaming down on them. Eldarion laughed as Eowyn stood in her stirrups, her arms outstretched, letting the wind whip her dress around her. On the horizon the sun glinted off the Golden Hall.

"Meduseld," Eowyn called, slowing to a trot. "My home for many years," she said as Eldarion slowed beside her. Over the wind came the sound of trumpets announcing their approach. "First to the gates is the winner," Eowyn said, letting Eldarion start off slightly ahead of her.

Eldarion crouched down in his saddle, letting the wind ring in his ears. His hands gripped the horse's neck, feeling its hard muscles move to the pounding of its feet. He leaned forward as much as he dared, leaning his face as close as he could to the horse's ears and began to speak to it. His lips stumbling over Elvish words he didn't even know the meaning of. The horse whinnied as if in response and Eldarion felt it jolt forward, pulling ahead of his mother, leaving her in a wave of trampled grass.

Eldarion's face broke into a smile as he saw the gates of the Golden Hall opening before him, a man standing in their center, his golden hair so much like his own. Uncle Eomer, he thought to himself. Eldarion felt the ground under him change from soft grass to hard paved stone and knew he had won. He looked up, watching the battlements pass overhead. His horse raced on straight for the gates where his uncle, the king, stood.

Any other man would have jumped out of the way of a charging horse, but Eomer stood grinning with his arms crossed as Eldarion approached full speed. At the last second Eomer lifted his fingers up to his lips and whistled. The horse came to a screeching halt then reared up, its front hooves flying in the air above Eomer's head. "Eldarion!" Eomer grinned, coming to stand beside the horse, running his hand over the wet sweat on its back.

"Uncle Eomer." The boy smiled back, swinging down from the horse to embrace the man before him, his arms circling his waist. "How did you do that?" He asked, looking up at him expectantly. "Get the horse to stop like that?"

Eomer rested one hand on the boy's shoulder and reached for his heart in mock hurt with the other. "Did you forget your uncle's gifts so quickly?" He asked "Or worse, did you think I would give you a horse I had not trained myself?"

Eldarion laughed. "It's good to see you," he said.

Eomer nodded, looking down at the boy with a deep love in his eyes. The last time Eomer had seen him he was still a child, curls bouncing as he ran. But now, his hair brushed his shoulder and his body had lost some of the softness of a child's.

They both looked up as Eowyn's horse charged past them, wind picking up their clothing as she went. She slowed and turned over her shoulder beaming at them, giving Eldarion a wink as she turned her horse back around to meet them.

Eomer was at her side in a moment, his hands reaching up for her waist, pulling her down off the horse and right into his arms. Eowyn laughed through tears that tracked down her face as they held onto each other, her face pressed into his chest, his hand cradling the back of her head. "It has been too long," Eomer said, still not letting her go. Eowyn nodded, finally letting go only to move her hands to his face, looking into his eyes. "Especially since you're getting slow in your old age," he said with a devilish half smile. "Letting children best you."

Eowyn snorted and pushed his face away lovingly. She turned around in his arms, taking the opportunity to plant an elbow into his stomach, finding it still rock hard. She grinned at Eldarion, not bothering to look as Eomer doubled over groaning dramatically.

Eldarion laughed. "I did beat you though, Mother."

Eowyn smiled proudly at him, cupping his chin. "Yes, you did," she said, bending slightly so their faces were close. "But that doesn't make me slow or old," she said, pressing their noses together playfully.

"Where is everyone else?" Eomer asked, watching as Eowyn looped an arm around Eldarion's chest, holding his back close to her body affectionately. It made him think for a second of his own child, growing inside Lothiriel. "Or did you decide to leave the very old, very slow man behind?" He joked.

Eowyn laughed, looking out over the field. "They are coming," she said. "Perhaps it would be wise to keep you age comments to yourself. Aragorn may be old, but remind him of that and you'll find out just how quick he still is."

Eomer laughed. "I have no doubt."

..::..

Empty plates littered the tables of the Golden Hall. Trays, once overflowing with food, now lay picked over. Eowyn sat on the long benches, her back tucked into Aragorn's chest, her head resting in the dip of his shoulder. A knee was pulled up to her chest, a giant mug of ale resting on it. Eomer sat across from them finishing off his own large mug.

Aragorn reached for a crust of bread on his plate, having already finished three other platefuls of roasted meats and vegetables, all dripping in delicious spiced sauces. "This was quite the feast," he said, soaking up the last bit of juice from his plate and tossing it into his mouth.

"It's been a while since my baby sister has come home," Eomer answered, filling up his mug again from a large pitcher. "And we both know how much she likes to eat," he said, glancing at his sister with a sly smile. "And drink."

Aragorn chuckled, Eowyn's head bouncing with the movement. She groaned at the bouncing which just made Aragorn chuckle more. He put his hand on her forehead, tipping her head back to meet her eyes. "Drunk already?" he asked.

Eowyn rolled her eyes. "No," she said, pulling out of his grasp to lean her elbows on the table. "I just have a slight headache."

Aragorn and Eomer smirked at each other over the table.

"I must be tired from the ride."

Eomer laughed out loud, slamming his mug down on the table in disbelief. "Tired!" He practically yelled. "From riding? No, Eowyn, you've never once been tired from riding, if anything you're even more wild when you get off."

Aragorn nodded, looking sideways at his wife. "More than you know," he said, earning himself a kick under the table.

"Momma," a voice said from behind them. Eowyn turned and found Eldarion standing her, Awena on his back, her head leaning on his shoulder. "I'm tired," she yawned.

Eowyn held out her arms and Eldarion moved so Awena slid into them then sat down on the bench beside them. Eowyn held Awena tight, planting a kiss on her forehead. "It is late," she said looking around the almost empty hall. "Do you remember where Uncle Eomer's old room is?"

Awena shook her head, her eyes pulling to stay awake. Eldarion leaned his head on Eowyn's shoulder, sleep bringing out the small boy in him.

"Okay, let's go tuck you two in," Eowyn said starting to stand.

Aragorn put his hand on her back, stopping her. "It's alright, I'll take them. You stay and talk with your brother." Then under his breath he added, "Maybe slow down on the ale though or I'll have to carry you off to bed next."

Eowyn smiled up at him as he stood, taking Awena from her arms. The sleepy girl immediately tucked her face into his neck.

Eldarion stood up as well. "Goodnight, Mother," he said, following after his father, his head drooping.

"Now they might be tired from the ride," Eomer said, waving to Awen who looked over Aragorn's shoulder as he walked away.

Eowyn smiled and nodded, picking at a pile of lush berries then popping one into her mouth. "Speaking of tired, why did Lothiriel retire so early? I would have thought any wife of yours would be up for the party."

Eomer laughed. "I guess most women can't keep up with your drinking habits, he said as Eowyn began to hiccup. "No," he said after a pause. "There is another reason she needs her sleep."

Eowyn lifted her eyes. "Perhaps the same reason she did not partake of the drink at all," she said expectantly.

Eomer smirked. "Nothing gets past you, sister," he said.

Eowyn threw her hands in the air. "I win!" She yelled. "I bet Aragorn she was pregnant."

Eomer's smirk faded into a genuine smile and he couldn't help the joy that made his whole body buzz with excitement. In a rush Eowyn was on him, flying around the table and into him, holding him so close he could barely get in a breath. "Eowyn, Eowyn," he said, adjusting her grip on his neck. "You're going to leave my child fatherless."

Eowyn sank down beside him, finally releasing her grip, but only to move to hold both of his hands. Tears streaked down her face "You will be such an amazing father," she said, smiling through her tears. "This will be the first of many beautiful children, I'm sure."

Eomer squeezed her hands and nodded. "I can only hope they love each other as much as I love you," he said.

Eowyn wrapped her arms around his neck again, unable to hold back a sob. "I love you too, brother," she said. "I love you so much." Tears poured down her face. She pulled away, staring into the mirror of Eomer's eyes, unshed tears glistening in them.

"What have you done to my wife?" Aragorn asked, startling them both.

Eowyn let out a noise that was half laugh and half sob and turned to him, tears dripping off her chin.

"You really are drunk," Aragorn said, leaning across the table to cup her chin, smiling.

"I'm just so overwhelmed by how rich I'm going to be," Eowyn said, gripping his wrist lovingly. "Now that I've won our bet."

Aragorn laughed and Eomer rolled his eyes. "Are you both already fabulously wealthy?" He asked.

Aragorn crossed the table and Eomer stood to met him as Aragorn clapped him on the back. "Congratulations, brother," he said, grinning as he pulled him into a hug.

Eowyn stood up as well, smiling at the two men she loved most in the world.

"We will congratulate Lothiriel as well in the morning," Aragorn said, releasing Eomer.

Eowyn nodded in agreement. "I'm so happy for you both," Eowyn said through a sob.

Eomer reached out and took her hand. "I hope it's a girl," he said, looking down at her delicate fingers resting in his own calloused hands "I think it's time Rohan had a queen."

Eowyn looked up at her brother in surprise. "You would leave your throne to your first born regardless of their gender?" She asked, thinking of long birth lines before them, of males who ruled.

"Theoden's line ended when Theodred was killed and I was crowned," Eomer said, looking at the tears swimming in his sister's eyes.

"He always counted you as his son," Eowyn said, shaking her head.

"No, I do not mean to diminish his love or kindness to us after our parent's death," he said, squeezing her hand. "But his direct bloodline ended and so now is a time for change. You showed me, Eowyn, that power does not lay in gender but in spirit." His free hand landed on her cheek, her tears of happiness spilling over his fingers as she closed her eyes lovingly at his touch. "You showed the entire world that."

Eowyn opened her eyes and pulled her brother into a tight hug, standing on her tiptoes. She tried to find the right words to tell him how good he was, how he was everything her country had needed, and how her pride for him swelled so much in her chest that it ached. But she couldn't find them, so instead she buried her face into his neck, feeling his hand caress the back of her head, holding her to him.

"So yes," he breathed in her ear. "I hope Lothiriel gives me a daughter, a girl with your spirit."

Eowyn broke the bug and huffed out a breath of air. "I just can't stop crying," she said, laughing.

Aragorn smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "The children are asleep, I think it's time I take care of you now," he said, kissing the top of her head before scooping her up over his shoulder, eliciting a cry of surprise from Eowyn. "Goodnight," he said to Eomer, walking in the direction of their room, Eowyn's childhood room.

"Aragorn," Eowyn protested, trying to lift herself off his shoulder. But he only laughed as he used her backside to push open their door. Eowyn couldn't help but gasp as Aragorn tossed her down on the bed. "Aragorn," she groaned, tenting her elbow over her eyes as he crawled into bed beside her. His hands on her waist, pulling her body close to his and tucking her into him. "I'm so drunk," she said, laying her cheek on his chest, her world spinning.

Aragorn nodded, smiling and rolling slightly to lay face to face. Eowyn's head shifted to lay on his arm, their bodies pressed together. He brushed their noses together tenderly, breathing in the same air as her.

"I'm going to be an aunt." She smiled; eyes still closed.

Aragorn wrapped his arms around her small frame, pulling her as tightly to him as he could. Listening as her breath became slow and easy as she drifted to sleep in his arms.

..::..

Eowyn knew she was dreaming. The same dream had come to her on many nights, the blood blossoming over her body, the forest of white light. She could almost walk through the movements like an actor knowing their part in a play. But when she tipped to the side, letting darkness overtake her, the world of her dream tipped with her, rolling over into another scene.

A whole new place and yet familiar to her. She had laid here before in her dreams. The damp sand under her, the sound of the lapping water along the shore; she had not been here in a long time, she thought to herself, trying to remember through the fog in her head. Then it came rushing back like a dam breaking. The pain of childbirth, the blood-soaked bed, Aragorn's cool fingers on her face as the world slipped away.

The slipping away had always led her here, to an in between place. The water calling her to let go and sink into its depths. She sat up, she was far from the waterline, it's indigo waters a line on the horizon. She remembered who she found here and scrambled to her feet. Looking around the dream it turned closer to a vision as she grabbed hold of the reins, no longer watching as things happened to her, but able to control her own thoughts and actions.

Eowyn walked along the white sand, glancing at the grey sky above her. "Arwen!" She called, scanning the horizon, daring to let her feet take her closer to the water's edge. "Legolas!" She yelled over the sound of the waves. Spinning around, she waited to be joined by those she loved so much but had lost. But she was alone.

..::..

Aragorn's eyes slid open as Eowyn's body began to twitch in his arms. He realized he had fallen asleep as well, holding her to him, still in his clothes and boots laying on top of the covers. He stroked a hand over her head, letting his eyes close again. "You're dreaming," he said softly touching their foreheads together. She began to mumble under her breath. Aragorn felt exhaustion pulling at him, but he moved only slightly to place a hand on her face, letting his thumb run over her cheekbone. Since he had shared a bed with Eowyn she had always had vivid dreams. Only sometimes they were nightmares that left her screaming and clawing at the sheets. Then he would wake her, calling her back to him and hold her until she knew the horrors were only in her mind.

"Arwen," Eowyn's voice called clearly into the night, drawing Aragorn's eyes open again.

Aragorn brushed their lips together sleepily. "It's only a dream, Eowyn," he said and she stilled.

..::..

Eowyn sat alone on the stone dais of the Golden Hall, her eyes drifting over the plains blowing in the wind, rippling like the sea. She has slipped out of bed quietly in the light blue hours of morning, the sun not yet high enough to banish the mist that had come down from the mountains. She pulled the blanket she had brough with her up around her shoulder and laned back into the chair she had found, as if it was waiting for her. She closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh morning air, clearing her mind of the dreams that kept her from deep sleep the night before. The sun had risen fully now and shone down, warm and friendly on her cheeks. She opened her eyes again as she heard footsteps approaching her, Eomer and Aragorn rounded the corner, steaming cups of tea in their hands.

"I had a feeling we might find you here," Eomer said, sitting down in the chair next to her.

Eowyn stood, letting Aragorn sit down in the chair then sank back into his lap, taking the mug from his hand and holding it close, letting it warm her hands.

"We also thought you may need that tea this morning," Eomer said, grinning.

Eowyn glared. "I see that you've made the Golden Hall into your personal patio," she shot back.

Eomer shrugged. "Lothiriel and I like to sit out here together in the morning. What good is being king if you can sit and look out over your lands?"

Eowyn couldn't help but smile at the thought of her brother and his wife sharing a private moment together before the duties of the day began. "Where are the children?" She asked, leaning back into Aragorn's chest, swinging her legs over the arm of the chair.

"With Lothiriel," Eomer said. "She's going to take them down to the orchard." Eomer smiled while sipping his tea. Everything felt right in the world; having his sister beside him again, his wife picking apple with his niece and nephew, soon his own baby would join their family. He watched in silence as Aragorn twirled a strand of Eowyn's long hair through his fingers, pressing his lips to the top of her head. If Eowyn was the sun, he thought to himself, then Aragorn was the world orbiting around her forever. Their lives beautifully intertwined, their souls dancing around one another into eternity.

"Eomer," Eowyn said, snapping him from his thoughts. "Do you remember our lessons about the old gods?" She asked.

Eomer took a second to process what she had said. "I spent most of our lessons dreaming about riding or practicing swordplay in my head," he said sheepishly.

"More likely dreaming of which girl to flirt with next," Eowyn corrected.

"We were children," Eomer said in mock horror, making Aragorn chuckle, but Eowyn only shook her head.

"He started young," she said to Aragorn who nodded in belief.

"Why are you asking about the old gods?" Eomer asked. "Perhaps you have some sins to atone for? Like endlessly berating your doting older brother." He raised his eyebrows at her over his mug.

"When did you even start drinking tea?" Eowyn asked. "I thought you were more in the habit of starting the day with a glass of ale."

"Again, with the false accusations," Eomer said, looking to the heavens. "Forgive her."

"You know your conversations would be much more direct if you two didn't insist on teasing each other for ten minutes before getting on with it," Aragorn said, smiling.

"Where's the fun in that?" They asked in unison.

"Cut from the same cloth," Aragorn said, laughing.

"Do you remember if there was ever a place between life and death?" Eowyn asked, quieting the two men's chuckling.

"A place?" Eomer asked, considering the question, trying to think back to when they were children leaning of a religion long since forgotten by most.

"Between life and death," Aragorn echoed. "Do you mean like unconsciousness?"

Eowyn shook her head, sitting up to look at him as well. "No, a place, like world in between this one and the next. A place a spirit can go and yet still be call back, or go down to the water and join the dead."

Eomer's brows knit together and Aragorn sat up, staring intently into Eowyn's eyes. They had both been there in the room after the Battle of Pelanor Fields, when Eowyn had been in death's grasp and Aragorn had called her back. Eomer watched again in his mind's eye as her breath filled her lung again. "The water?" Eomer asked. "Have you been to this place, Eowyn?"

Eowyn perched on Aragorn's knees and stared down into her mug. "More than once," she said quietly. "The first time was after the battle, I was waist deep into the water then," she said, looking into the comforting grey of Aragorn's eyes. "Then after, in the day when you both rode off to the fates of Mordor. I woke up on the sand many times, I would see Arwen and Legolas far away from the shore. I would call to them to come back to me, scream myself hoarse, then wake up in our bed." Something close to anger flashed through Aragorn's face and she knew it hurt him to think of her alone. She smiled sadly at him and cupped his cheek. "Then once more," she said, looking to Eomer. "The night Awena was born. Arwen came to me on the beach, gave me Awena and sent me back."

Eomer shook his head at her words, his heart aching at the memories she shared. He could feel the emotion rolling off of Aragorn beside him and knew he felt the same only amplified.

"You don't remember anything about a beach or an ocean?" Eowyn asked, almost hopefully. Eomer could only shake his head in answer. Eowyn let out a long breath and stood facing the rolling hills, she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She had hoped for some kind of answer from her brother, something to make sense of her experience and even more of the dreams she had. She felt hands on her arms and she tried to wipe away her tears before she turned around. She found tears in Aragorn's own eyes as he turned her to face him.

Aragorn had bristled, every part of his body held taut as a bow string. "Why are you asking about this now, Eowyn?" He asked, his shoulder stooped to be at her eye level. His mind replayed her sleepy mumbles from the night before.

"I just haven't had the time to ask my brother before," Eowyn said, looking up at Aragorn as he straightened, looking back at her, concern writing hard lines into his face. He waited, still holding her arms tightly. "I'm alright, Aragorn," she said, smiling.

Aragorn glanced down at her middle, his hand moving to spread his fingers over her stomach. "You're not?" He said quietly.

"No," she said, covering his hand with her own. "I'm perfectly fine and healthy," she said, looking up into his pleading eyes. "And happy," she added, glancing to where her brother now stood, his arms folded over his chest.

Aragorn folded her into his arms, letting out a long breath and resting his cheek on head to breath in her smell. "No more talk of death," he said, holding her as tightly to him as he could.

..::..

Awena sat in the long grass watching Eldarion climb a ladder into the apple trees above her, dropping ripe apples into Lothiriel's waiting hands. Lothiriel smiled down at Awena brining a handful of apples to Awena's waiting basket. The early morning light streamed through the leaves, the air crisp and smelling of sweet ripe fruit.

"When will your baby come?" Awena asked, fascinated by Lothiriel's pregnancy.

Lothiriel paused for a second, considering her question "Well," she said, thinking of the last time she had bled two months ago and counting forward. "In the spring," she said, sitting down in the grass next to the young girl. She picked up her long dark curls, much like her own hair and though about having a daughter. Lothiriel leaned in and gathered Awena's hair in her hands, starting to work on braiding it around her head in a crown. She was just tucking in the last of her curls when Aragorn, Eowyn and Eomer joined them in the orchard.

Eldarion waved at them form where he had climbed even higher in the tree. "Father!" He called, holding the hem of his shirt that was filled with apples.

Aragorn smiled proudly up at his son and walked under the tree, catching apples that Eldarion dropped down to him. He tossed one to Eowyn who caught it out of the air effortlessly, biting into the flesh smiling at him as she wiped the juice from her chin.

"Come walk with me," Eomer said, taking Eowyn's arms.

Eowyn looked up at him with a question in her eyes but followed as he walked. As they passed them, Eomer bent to cup Lothriel's chin, smiling down at her.

"You look beautiful," Eowyn said, smiling down at her daughter, making her giggle and look up at Lothiriel lovingly.

Eomer and Eowyn walked together through the lines of trees in silence, arm in arm. Eomer looked down at his sister and felt a pang in his chest. He glanced behind him and determined they were out of earshot. He turned to Eowyn, resting his hands on her arms, looking at her trying to find the right words to say. "Are you alright?" He finally asked, looking deep into her eyes. He had hoped she would laugh at him, punch him in the arm and tell him he was crazy, but she only looked to the ground. "Why are you asking about this beach? We've seen each other many times since Awena was born. Why have you never brought it up to me then?" He asked when she didn't answer his first question. He ducked his head trying to look at her eyes. "Eowyn, talk to me. I'm your brother, you know you can tell me anything. Why are you so troubled?" He paused, feeling emotion rise up in his chest. "Why are you going to Rivendell now, after so much time?"

Eowyn looked up at him and tears slipped down her cheeks. She swallowed hard, unable to form words. Eomer raised his hands from her arms to her cheeks, brushing the tear off her cheeks with his thumbs. Eowyn sank down in the grass, Eomer sitting beside her and taking her hand to hold in his lap as he waited for her to speak. Eowyn looked across at her brother and took a long inhale. "I just want to go one more time," she said. "I want to show its beauty to my children.

Eomer looked across at her, his brows knitted together in confusion and worry. "What do you mean, one more time?" He asked, turning to face her, squeezing her hand tight.

"That dream," Eowyn said quietly. "The beach, going down into the water." She glanced up at Eomer. "I've started having it again."

Eomer stared back at her, trying to comprehend her words. "You're safe, the war is over. Aragorn," he stammered, "Aragorn would kill for you, would die for you."

Eowyn smiled through her tears at him. "I know," she said, gazing to where she could just barely see her family through the trees. "Every night I have the same dream," she said, turning back to Eomer. "I wake up in a forest. I see Alida, she doesn't know me. Then I can't breathe, blood blooms over my body and then it goes black."

Eomer took a shaky breath, disturbed by her words.

"But last night the dream continued and I dreamed of the beach. It feels like it's chasing me, this sense of dread. I feel it pushing in around me, no matter where I run it's ahead of me, even here."

Eomer brought her hand to his chest, pressing it to his heart. "You are safe here," he said. "I will keep you safe."

Eowyn nodded and smiled at him, wiping her tears away. "I know," she said, touching Eomer's cheek. She stood and offered Eomer her hand, pulling her brother up beside her, but Eomer kept moving, crushing Eowyn to his chest.

"Eowyn," he said into her hair. "Eowyn, please," he struggled to find words, he tried to tell her that she young and vibrant, that she had beautiful children. He wished that he could take her dreams away, her fear, but all he found was, "Please don't leave."

Eowyn laughed and pulled away from him. "Is a week not long enough?" She asked. "We want to cross the Gap before there is a chance of snow."

Eomer shook his head, she had missed the point entirely He turned as Awena came running towards them. Eowyn cupped his cheek in both her hands. "We will stay as long as you want," she said and she turned, walking to Awena.

"Lothiriel is going to teach us how to make a pie!" Awena said excitedly, running up to her mother, the rest of the group on her heels.

Eowyn smiled at her sister-in-law. "Sounds delicious," she said.

Lothiriel smiled back, leaning back into Eomer's chest, letting him wrap his arms around her shoulders. "Will you join us?" She asked Eowyn.

Eomer snorted and Aragorn began to chuckle. Awena looked between the adults, trying to figure out what had been funny about Lothiriel's offer. "Children," Aragorn started, grinning at Eowyn. "Do you remember ever eating something your mother cooked for you herself?"

Eldarion considered the question. "But we have cooks at home, they make our food," he said.

Aragorn smirked. "And that is precisely why we are all not poisoned."

Eowyn rolled her eyes. "If you give me simple tasks," she said, turning to Lothiriel. "I would be happy to help."

"Perhaps cutting the apples," Aragorn said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and kissing the top of her head. "My wife may not be a cook, but she's very good at hacking things to bits."

As they walked back with everyone carrying bushels of apples, Eowyn said under her breath, "You could have at least said I had skill with a blade."

..::..

Aragorn walked out of the Golden Hall's large front doors, savoring the cool breeze after the warmth of the fires within. The sun had just set, leaving the world painted in dark blues. His mind remembered a time long before when he had stood here beside Legolas thinking of Frodo. When the fate of the world had seemed a hair's breadth away from death and destruction. That felt like lifetimes away now. How much had changed? There was so much sadness that if Aragorn let himself dwell on it he knew it would crush him. The memories of those they had lost flooded him.

But Aragorn had also gained much. Images of his children replaced his thoughts; their bright eyes, the way they laughed and played. But most of all, he had Eowyn. He saw her smiling up at him, the sun streaming through her hair, her eyes alight with laughter. Those eyes that held him captive since the first time he had looked into their depths. Everything he loved most in the world was contained in those eyes. All he asked for was that he never had to be separated from her. Let us die in each other's arms so we may wake up next to each other the in next life, he prayed silently to the stars above him.

"Aragorn?" A voice said from around the corner, startling him. Eomer had been leaning on a pillar just feet from him the whole time, staring out at the same stars without ever hearing Aragorn leave the hall. "Still as quiet as a ranger," Eomer said, coming to stand beside him, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Where is Eowyn?"

Aragorn smiled. "Filling my children's dream with images of the trouble you two got into."

Eomer laughed. "You may not want to give them any ideas," he said, thinking of the headaches they gave their uncle. Always finding trouble to stick their heads into.

They stood in silence for a moment, looking up as the stars lit one at a time across the heavens. The night was perfectly clear. Finally, Eomer broke the silence. "There have been reports of Orc bands coming down from the mountains," he said with a sigh.

Aragorn turned towards him, his brow crinkling. "I thought we had killed the large bands, left any stragglers to rot?"

Eomer nodded, letting out a long breath and pinching the bridge of his nose. "It seems like those we let go into the mountain didn't die of cold as we had hoped. They've started breeding with the Goblins under the mountain."

Aragorn glared at the horizon. "I didn't even know that was possible," he said, the idea of their mating made his stomach turn.

"None of us did," Eomer answered. "I didn't think they were even smart enough to form bands and lead attacks."

"I suppose their drive is only hate and death," Aragorn said. "They wish to drink the blood of men still."

Eomer ran a hand through his hair. "I lead the Rohirrim to the border tomorrow. I hope we find nothing and this talk is rumor alone."

Aragorn nodded. "I'll ride beside you, brother," he said, reaching out his arm, but Eomer did not take it.

"No," he said adamantly, taking Aragorn by surprise. Eomer turned away from Aragorn and walked a few feet to the stairs, bending to sit on the cold stone. Resting his elbows on his knees, he thought about what to tell Aragorn. He had promised to keep his sister safe; she had trusted him wither dreams and then he had turned around been called to leave. There were years when he hadn't been near Eowyn and Aragorn had always kept her safe. He saved her from Grima when Eomer should have known all along. He saved her again when she dressed as a man and fought beside Eomer without him even knowing it. Eomer swallowed, he could leave her now with Aragorn, there was no danger and he would be beside her the entire time.

Aragorn's arm slowly dropped as he watched Eomer walk away from him. "Haven't we ridden side by side so many times before?" He asked, walking to stand over Eomer. "Held swords together, bled together?" He sat down next to Eomer on the stairs. "You're my brother because I married your sister, yes, but you're also my brother in arms. Why do you refuse me now?" He placed a hand on the other man's shoulder, feeling the weight that seemed to crush him.

Eomer looked sideways at Aragorn. "Of course, I would have you ride with us. It would be my honor," he said resting his hand on his heart for emphasis. "But you should stay here with your family." He moved his hand to Aragorn's knee. "Stay here and look after them. Spend your time away from your kingly duties with them."

Aragorn sighed, looking up at the sky. "You're asking me to lounge around your palace while you fight?" He chuckled.

"I am king of this country," Eomer aid. "It is my duty to protect those who live in it. But if you're here then I know my family is safe. My wife, my unborn child; I leave them in your care." Eomer knew he had convinced him when Aragorn's face softened at the mention of his child. He knew Aragorn's weakness for children, knew his fierce protectiveness of his own children. He knew Lothiriel would be safe and had never worried for her. But he needed something for Aragorn to hold onto.

"Do you think we can rid the world of Orcs and Goblins and everything foul that Sauron created in our lifetime?" Aragorn sighed. "Or do you think they will plague our children's rules as well?"

Eomer sighed, standing. "Not if I have anything to do with it," he said, offering his hand to Aragorn and pulling him up beside him.

Aragorn smiled. "I have no doubt," he said. He rested his hand on Eomer's shoulder.

Eomer returned the gesture. "We leave at dawn," he said and Aragorn nodded, watching as he walked back into the hall.