Happy second half of June everyone! Can't believe we're nearly halfway through the year already. It's been a better year than last so that's something. I'm also managing to get double updates out again as well. I am loving seeing people reading my stories and I hope that you are still enjoying them.

Lots of love,

LSH xx

A Wild Heart – Part 23:

Hours had rolled by since Aragorn, Éomer and Fríthild had burst into the Reeve's home just as Éowara fell from upstairs. They'd soon joined the dots together as soon as Engifu had remembered about the toys. The Reeve had instantly rushed to protect her children as Aragorn apprehended the man, who was now behind bars in the Stoke jail, and Éomer had barely managed to catch his sister before what could have been a fatal fall.

Éowyn was comforting Fríthbert and Edhild in the Mead Hall as Aragorn worked to heal Éowara as best as he could as Éomer and Fríthild maintained a vigil.

"She was ready to die for them…" Éomer spoke as he glanced at Fríthild, "she knew what could happen if she'd fallen."

"Ordlac has been after my seat for years," the Reeve sighed, "ever since Lúfa ended their marriage and married Torferth of Torsbury. I never dreamt he would send someone after the children… I knew your sisters loved Fríthbert and Edhild but I had no idea that they would give their lives for them…"

"Éowara, especially, has so much love to give and doesn't know how loved she is in return," Éomer spoke, "she is loved by more than she knows and I need to tell her that more, tell her that I do love her."

Silence fell in the Mead Hall as the children fell asleep on Éowyn and the adults of the group were slowly drifting off when Aragorn felt movement finally.

"Éowara…" he breathed as he saw her trying to open her eyes. Éomer and Fríthild instantly back by the woman's side.

"Edhild and Fríthbert…" Éowara said as she tried to sit up to see where the children were.

"Safe and alive, asleep on our sister," Éomer spoke as he pushed his sister back onto the makeshift bed, "you held him off enough for us to get into the house but I only just caught you…"

"I had to keep them safe. I couldn't let them…"

"Rest now my girl. You have proved yourself enough and will be sore," Fríthild said softly as she placed a gentle kiss on Éowara's head, "you kept them safe and didn't reveal they were there. Justice will be served when you are healed."

"I shall have to get word back to Minas Tirth. Arwen and Faramir need to know what has transpired as that will delay our departure from here," Aragorn spoke to Éomer, "they will want to come and see her but I cannot leave the City without a leader. That will cause trouble."

"Maybe I can offer assistance…" came a voice that Aragorn had not expected to hear.

"Mithrandir…" Aragorn spoke as he stood up to greet the wizard.

"How is she?" the wizard asked.

"Alive but sore and our departure from here will be delayed," Aragorn spoke, "I need to send word to Arwen and Faramir. They will wish to see her but that leaves the City leaderless…"

"With your permission I will rule the City in your stead. I shall summon Legolas Greenleaf and Gimli to my side. I trust Faramir, the Queen Arwen and the Lady Éowyn will return to the City and you will continue north?" Mithrandir spoke and Aragorn nodded,

"When Éowara is able to travel, yes. You shall be allowed to travel through the land of the Wild Men and so will my wife and Faramir," he said, "as long as you mean them no harm they will allow you to pass through with my permission. How did you know where to seek us?"

"Éothain," Éomer spoke, "the wizard must have gone to Meduseld, spoke with my cousin and he is now here," he said and the wizard nodded before moving to Éowara.

"She has had a lucky escape. Who caught her?" he asked as he rested a hand on the woman's head.

"I did," Éomer spoke, "the Reeve, Aragorn and myself had barely set foot in the house when I saw her fall. Fríthild rushed to her children, Aragorn to apprehend the man before he could escape and I had seconds to react before my sister would have fallen to…" Éomer stopped speaking. Everyone knew what could have happened, but it didn't. Éowara would be fine in a few days but Fríthild would need help cleaning up the chaos that had unfolded. Not only had an attempt been made on the lives of her beloved children but the sister to the King of Rohan and that was not something Éomer was going to let slide.

"She's stable and will sleep for a while and when she wakes, the Queen and Faramir will be here. I will leave on Shadowfax and go to Minas Tirth," Gandalf said before he was gone.

Night turned into day and with the dawn brought two children waking up from their sleep and they moved to sit with Éowara thanking her over and over for what she did for them. They may have been young but had soon realised that the man had been there to cause them harm.

Fríthild had sent everyone to get some sleep and she kept a cool cloth on Éowara's head before the door opened and in walked Faramir and then the High Queen Arwen. Remembering the two from Éowyn's wedding, Faramir now Éowyn's husband of course, she went to greet the two.

"Welcome to the Broadacres," the Reeve spoke, "I wish it was under better circumstances," she said.

"Thank you Reeve," Arwen spoke as Faramir had gone to sit by Éowyn until she woke up, "where is she?"

Fríthild had been about to speak when Aragorn walked up to them and kissed his wife gently.

"You travelled swiftly," he said before the three headed over to Éowara and Arwen produced a couple of gifts for the two children and they thanked Arwen before the Queen turned her attention to Éowara.

"You healed her well," Arwen said before looking at Aragorn and then she kissed Éowara's head and watched as the woman began to wake up.

Éowara groaned as she opened her eyes and her body almost screamed in pain and she had to bite her lip hard.

"Don't move…" Aragorn spoke as he gave her some athelas infused water, "you need to drink this first," he said and Éowara knew better than to argue with Aragorn when he was in healer mode.

"Will she be OK?" Edhild asked eventually, needing to know, her little voice full of nerves and Arwen moved to sit the girl on her lap.

"She will be. Aragorn will make her better… Edhild isn't it?" she spoke.

"You know our names?" the little girl asked.

"Éowara has spoken of both of you to me a lot," the Queen said, "I know a lot about you both," she said and it appeared to ease the childrens' fears of the Queen.

Everyone was now awake again and Éowyn had delighted in Faramir having arrived and Éowara was now sat up in a chair, the children sat close to her as she had some light food.

"We will need to know what happened Éowara," Éomer spoke, "Ordlac will be brought to justice for what he attempted to do."

"Later," Fríthild spoke, "for now Éowara needs rest and to build some strength back up before questions are asked," she said and everyone agreed to that, hoping that nothing else would happen.