Hey everyone!

I'm not even going to apologise for how long between updates. Real life just... bit bad in October and I barely had time to breathe. Anyway guess who decided to do NaNoWriMo and is actually writing again? That's right. Me. I'm also entering some calmer months for the winter so I doubt I'll hit the 50k monthly total but I'm writing again and starting to write every day again. I really hope to get back to some sort of normal pattern with updates and I'm hoping that this month will help me.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Lots of love,

LSH xx

LOTR Fic – Part 2:

Éowara quickly stood up as she saw Aragorn Elessor walking towards her. She might have been friendly with the King but she knew never to cross him.

"I see we have a guest," the King said as Éowara bowed her head and greeted the King with the respect he deserved and he looked at her, "that is enough of that. I see there is a feast for us to attend," he said as he looked at her before heading towards his wife and sat down in his seat.

"We had started a little before you as we were not sure how long you would be," Queen Arwen told her husband as he and Éowara joined her at the table.

"That is fine. I was aware that Lady Éowara was seen in this direction," the King said as he began to eat, "where are you going next my Lady?" he asked and Éowara shrugged her shoulders before apologising and looking up at the King. She wasn't going to reveal much.

Silence fell on the three as they ate and drank for a while and Éowara kept her head down as Aragorn and Arwen discussed the results from the council meeting and Arwen was pleased that it went well and certain things were progressing as they should have been. Éowara remaining quiet as they listened to the conversation between the King and Queen before she felt eyes on her.

"I will be riding to Amon Hen and onwards to visit my brother," she said before looking back down at her meal as she decided to fall silent again, not wanting to reveal anything else at all. She didn't know, however, if the King would believe her words or not. After all she had lied about staying at Dunharrow and not riding into battle with her sister and Merry the Hobbit.

"You cannot look me in the eye," Aragorn observed, "I suspect that you will go to Imladris for a few days and then you will go to Bree and then onto the Brandywine Bridge to meet your Hobbit friends at the Bridge," he said, "it is around the time of year that you go and then you will arrive back here in time for the festival."

"That is almost correct. We will be meeting in Annúminas as I cannot set foot in the Shire, even though I would like to," Éowara said boldly as she looked up at Aragorn, "I will not be going near the Shire," she said before she carried on with her meal. She liked to test and push anyone, no doubt as a result of Éowyn's influence as the only female who she could look up to… until Arwen had entered her life. Éowyn had nurtured the rebellious side of the young woman and now Arwen was the steadying force that had been needed far sooner than it had been. If Arwen and Éowara had crossed paths sooner the so much could have been different, could being the key word as Éowyn would have still heavily been influencing her younger sister.

"You do like to push boundaries don't you Éowara?" Aragorn said causing the young woman to look up at the King, "you say that you will not set foot in the Shire yet you wish to and you could easily defy me and yet to you do not," he said, "one day I feel you will though. I see the longing in your eyes. I can see why you want to see the lands you friends live in. It is the only part of the Northern Kingdom you have not set foot in."

Éowara watched Aragorn, wondering if he could read her mind before she nodded,

"You are correct but the one thing that I will not do is defy your orders my King," she said as she looked at Aragorn, watching him, "I broke my uncle's because… because my sister and I wanted to make a difference and we did that. We, along with Merry, killed the Witch King and that allowed the Battle of Pelinor Fields to be won. Surely that was a good thing?"

"That was a noble thing you did but it almost cost all three of you your lives, lives that I managed to save as well," Aragorn said and looked at Éowara, "you both were reckless and that is why I have to be firm with you sometimes," he said, "that is one thing I hate having to be with you because it ignites a defiant streak within you that can make you reckless at times as well," he said and Éowara looked down. The King knew her well it seemed, better than she'd ever known. She looked up at the King and nodded before falling silent and having a drink.

"You are so alike with your sister," Aragorn said, "it is almost she is here with us as well," he said glancing at the young woman, "I know you wish to see the land of your friends but that is now a protected land under the Northern Kingdom and that is the way it must be," he said, "no matter how much we wish things were different."

"You know that I would never defy you," Éowara said as she looked at Aragorn, eyes alight with fire, determined to push whatever boundaries that she could push. Of course she respected Aragorn, but she did like to test him sometimes. It was in her nature to do that, and Aragorn knew it.

"I have doubts about that. Yes you defied your uncle and it worked in all our favour but one day you will regret doing something," Aragorn said, "then I will be unable to help you. You need to think carefully sometimes, far more than you do already," he said, "do not break the rules," and Éowara looked at him before nodding.

The King could tell that something was on the young woman's mind, and he just watched her, waiting for her to speak her mind. He knew that she trusted him and Arwen but was it enough to simply trust her or not? He would never know. The fire inside Éowara was something that he felt would become controlled in the end but it would take a while before it was.

Éowara looked at the King.

"Do you honestly think that I would disrespect you after everything?" she asked, her eyes flashing with danger, "I know the rules are there and not to be broken. Do you know how hard it is to go to see Cissa, Brielle and Ellieana and not set foot in the Shire?" she asked before standing up, "I hate it!" she said before gasping and rising to her feet and excusing herself. She hurried away before stopping, torn between going back and apologising and running from Aragorn and Arwen.

The decision was soon made for her as she felt a gentle hand on her arm. Turning to see who it was she found herself face-to-face with Arwen.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that," she said, trying not to back down but knowing that she did wrong at the same time. Arwen placed a hand on Éowara's shoulder and slowly walked away with her.

"We know you didn't. Your fire is a reason we're protective of you, especially the King. He saved your life remember."

"I know. I can't control it sometimes," Éowara said as she looked at the Queen who looked at her and stroked her cheek softly.

"You will in time. You just need guidance and someone to steady you," she said and Éowara nodded before excusing herself to go to the library.

"I think there needs to be a meeting with Prince Faramir and the Lady Éowyn," Aragorn said, "Éowara needs help."

"That I will agree with," Arwen said, "we all must help her."