'My king, you look as healthy as any of us!'

Éomer smiled at his riders, who came the next morning to see him. He felt much better indeed, his mind clear, his body vigorous. He also enjoyed seeing his people so happy — not in the ecstasy of battle, not intoxicated after the victory — just happy with good food, quiet sleep and beautiful weather. They chatted about the fish they saw in the pond in the gardens and Fraca was almost mad when his friend said he didn't believe that was carp there, but more of a bream. They started calling each other names very soon and Éomer roared with laughter at their jibes. But when the lunch passed, Éomer couldn't help but look at the door, imagining he had heard light footsteps approaching. Whole day long he was listening to the slightest sounds and voices outside, hoping that his comrades thought he was fully involved in their conversations. When the servants brought in candles, Éomer became cranky, and only then did he learn about the pharadine's absence.

'See, Dimbold, the princess was right, when she said there would be no rain today. Hope her journey went well then,' said Fraca, peering out of the window in the cloudless starry sky.

'I bet she'd go even if it was storming out there,' answered Dimbold, chewing his bread with cheese and grapes. 'I've never seen a princess like her, so restless all the time, with all those people at her doorstep seeking help, judgement, cure...'

'Don't think you've seen many princesses, my friend', laughed Fraca.

'I have, okay?' snapped Dimbold. 'What of those Gondorian ladies? Doing embroidery mostly and looking in the mirror, not a day adjusting customs fees...'

'So the pharadine's gone?' ventured to ask Éomer, hoping that he sounded unbothered.

'Yes,' was the answer. 'The children in some hamlet suffer from an obscure illness, so she went there early. What a horse she rides, my lord!'

'And rides well, mind you,' Fraca added. 'The beast understood her truly, it was much like animals get on with the elves.'

'Ah, sire, and she said that from tomorrow you are free to go anywhere in the palace, but she wants you to stay here for a week more or so to check your health.'

'I wish we could stay longer,' groaned Fraca and began to count the dishes he wanted to taste once again.

'They are tired of war,' thought Éomer. 'They want to go home, sleep in a bed, kiss their babies, help their families with the crops. And I? Do I really want to return to Edoras?' And he thought of dark, empty chambers of his there in Meduseld. Well, that's not fair to keep his people at war all the time just because he can't endure the peace.

The next morning Éomer was wakened by the most terrible cry. He sprang onto his feet just to find that it was a peacock perched on his windowsill. The bird let the shrill sound once more and flew down. Éomer laughed at himself. In the afternoon he went for a walk in the gardens and found the palace was even greater than his people described. There were fountains and streams, flowers and leaves in abundance, neat alcoves, bridges decorated with golden statues. The air was fragrant and the servants brought wine for Éomer and left it with fruit and desserts in a peaceful nook with cushions. Éomer heard Fraca and Dimbold quarreling somewhere as usual, but didn't want to join them lest to disturb the quiet and beauty he was to enjoy.

Two days have passed. On the third in the evening agitated riders told him that they were invited downstairs in the Great Hall.

When they entered the Hall, Éomer immediately saw that Princess Lûne was there, looking as if she had just returned, her whole look somewhat outworn, but magnificent as always. Éomer was invited to sit beside her, but the princess said nothing after the greeting. She gave an approving look to his healthy frame and turned her eyes away. She was obviously occupied with her thoughts and worries, thought Éomer. Many nobles were present at the Hall, but they spoke Westron a little and no Rohirric at all. So Éomer was to sit there and enjoy a wonderful meal and an interesting performance. First in front of them were jugglers and acrobats. It was quite a sight, and Éomer heard his men gasping from time to time. Then in came a snake-charmer, and the Rohirrims were so absorbed in it, that they almost forgot to eat. After an hour Éomer noticed Lûne to clap her hands and the servants brought in drinks and sweets. The scene also changed. A dozen of very beautiful women ran into the hall and began dancing. So little clothes they wore, so entrancing they moved, that Éomer couldn't take his eyes off them. After he finished three glasses of wine, he noticed that the pharadine called for a servant and whispered something in his ear. To the king's surprise, the servant bent to him and passed the message.

'My queen says that you can kindly choose any of the dancers to your liking and take her with you.'

Éomer couldn't understand the message at first, but when he did, blood rushed to his face and he turned to the princess, not bothering to send a message with a servant.

'My dear lady, if I take a woman to spend a night with me, that would mean I've chosen a wife for myself and a queen for my country. For we only marry once and consummate our marriage once as well. Perhaps I should pick a queen more wisely.'

He stood up and left the table.

The princess looked very surprised.

...

Éomer was pacing up in his room in exasperation. So here was some strange custom of Southerlings, but why was he so mad at princess? Perhaps because he wanted more of her attention after her absence? Or maybe he didn't want her to be so cool about proposing him to spend a night with another woman? Nonsense, he doesn't care for the Haradrim princess and her feelings whatsoever. Does he?.. He half hoped for her to come up to his chamber and talk to him, but everything was quiet. Éomer was disappointed and when he finally went to sleep, his dreams were troubled.

...

Éomer King woke up early the next day, but he didn't haste to call for servants. He still felt exasperated and even wanted for some peacock to fly in, just to have the pleasure to flush it. But suddenly a door opened and Éomer saw the pharadine entering.

She wore today a pale yellow dress, very simple, but as all her dresses that one also made Éomer admire the outlines of her waist and hips.

'Good morning, Éomer King!' said she with a smile. 'I want to have a look at you once again, please, if you don't mind. I need to make sure that you're well.'

Éomer obediently took off his shirt and vest and laid down. He thought for a second, that pharadine's eyes flashed for a moment and her lashes dropped, but than he blinked and she was sitting in front of him as cool as she ever was.

'How are those children in a village you visited?'

The pharadine was suprised by his knowledge, but answered readily.

'It turned out to be not half as dangerous as I feared. So there is nothing to worry about now.'

'I envy you,' said Éomer quietly. 'You can fight death and bring people back to life. And I am just fit to kill, that's the only thing I am able to do.'

Lûne looked at him earnestly.

'That's not that simple, Éomer King. You fight to keep people alive, by taking one life you save many. And I... my hands sometimes give the sleeping drought to my patients, the strongest one. Both you and I are capable of taking life or saving one. It is a big responsibility. And a gift as well.'

Éomer sighed.

'Perhaps you are right. But what if I take away the life that I shouldn't have? How do I know if I'm right to do so?'

'I am sure that is not a question for you. You are good through and through, and you would never be mistaken, my friend.'

'No, that's not true,' Éomer thought. 'What if I met you some months earlier? I would have killed you just for your black braids. I don't think that it would be right at any time to kill a creature so good and so kind.'

There was so much tenderness in his eyes, that Lûne almost read his thought. Her cheeks went pale.

She touched Éomer's chest lightly and he jerked his head as if her fingers were made of fire. The princess asked him to make several turns and was pleased to find him in a good shape.

'That looks even better than I expected,' she said joyfully, probing his scar and Éomer's ribs. And at that moment something happened, for at her tender touch and breath on his chest Éomer's breeches suddenly went very tight and a huge bulk appeared under his waist. The king turned red and so did the pharadine. But when she got up swiftly and averted her eyes she uttered,

'That is nothing to be ashamed of, you are young and you are healthy. I am glad to know that nothing threatens you anymore.'

And she left the room, but Éomer was still scarlet and that day he never found the strength to come down for dinner.

...

Later that evening a servant brought him a tray of food with a note. There in a slanting writing the princess asked him to join her walk in the morning. Éomer was happy to read it, though he felt embarassed still, and, after a servant left, he hid the note in his vest.