Happy May everyone!
Camp NaNo was a success and I managed to write 20k so there are a few parts of each fic loaded and ready to go for the next couple of months...ish. I am excited to be able to work on writing again and I'm also planning a few events that I wish to happen in future updates. So, yes, there are events to look forwards to.
This chapter is dedicated to Sally, Aubrey, Julz, Copy, EmJ and all the other LOTRO twitch crew who have welcomed me into their lives.
Lots of love,
LSH xx
A Wild Heart – Part 20:
The three rode back to Edoras where they were met by Aragorn and Éothain, both having been worried when Gléoda had arrived back riderless and Éowyn had mounted Windfola and instantly took off.
"How is she?" Aragorn asked.
"Feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders, is afraid to disappoint everyone," Éomer said as Aragorn pulled him aside, "all her life she's lived in the shadows of Éowyn and myself and on a level with our sister and now she has the chance to step out from that shadow and make herself known and it is terrifying for her," he spoke and Aragorn nodded, "she also thought that I never loved her," he said, allowing a rare sigh to leave his lips as he looked at his counterpart.
"If I can get her into the Shire I think that will help her. I just need to get to Evendim and then set something up with Frodo and Sam and her friends and then I hope that she will settle a little," Aragorn spoke, "I can also see why she feels you never loved her as a child. Have you spoken to her about it?"
"Yes we have. I told her that I knew everything when she was a child, even if I never saw her. She understands now that I always have loved her and that has eliminated one of her troubles," Éomer spoke, "I do wonder if she would have been better to remain here in Edoras, rather than settling in Gondor…"
"Éowara would not have been able to see her sister or Arwen as often. My wife and Éowara go back to the time Boromir asked for her hand in marriage. I agree that more visits here may have helped her more and, once we are there, I hope that Evendim will help her to find her feet," Aragorn spoke, "it feels to me as if she is putting pressure on herself to succeed, rather than others expecting her to succeed."
"Can she succeed?" Éothain asked, having tracked the two Kings down.
"Éowara is far more capable than she wishes to show," Aragorn spoke, "she has started to come into her own at last."
"She is still only twenty-one years old," Éothain pointed out, "that's barely into adulthood for us," he said and Éomer nodded,
"She is not going to be left alone in Evendim is she?" he asked and Aragorn shook his head.
"No she will not. That part of the plan will come into fruition in the North," he spoke, "then when I return to Gondor that person will remain with her and I will ask the Hobbits to travel up to see her. The hope is that, with all the correct resources in place, she will be able to lead in my stead… without her truly knowing what she is doing. She knows that she'll be ruling the Northern Kingdom in my stead but that is as much as I want her to know. As we travel and then stop in Rivendell we'll discuss a plan to start and progress on the rebuilding so she'll have a plan to follow," he said.
"You're giving her the freedom with enough to keep her grounded and focus on," Éomer spoke.
"She needs that. Whilst she is growing into womanhood, she is still so young and that is something I had to seek Arwen's guidance on as she has taken our girl under her wing."
"The Elf-queen has taken Éowara under her guidance? That is interesting," Éothain spoke as he looked at Aragorn, "You said the two know each other?"
"They met in Rivendell when the Council of Elrond took place. Éowara had accompanied Boromir of Gondor and the two were to be wed and Boromir had asked Elrond's permission to marry Éowara. It was the first time I laid eyes on her. The second White Lady of Rohan. She seemed calmer there and yet I could see the pain in her eyes even then."
Éomer's eyes fell on his sisters as they were sat at a table in Meduseld.
"They are so alike and yet so different," he spoke and Aragorn chuckled.
"That is the one thing I can say that I have learnt about your sisters. Twins and yet not at the same time. I think one more day in Edoras and then we shall ride to Stoke and the Broadacres to see the Reeve and then Éowara and I will journey onwards."
"I will come as well to see Fríthild, then escort my sister here and then send her onto Minas Tirth. I trust the Wild Men will not trouble her journey," Éomer spoke.
"They know she will be passing through and will make sure that happens safely," Aragorn spoke before they broke off their discussion and went to join the sisters. They were informed of the plan and both nodded before Éomer asked for refreshments to be served.
The night passed without much trouble. Aragorn and Éomer had taken it in turns to watch Éowara to keep the nightmares away so she could sleep through the night. At one point Aragorn thought he heard Arwen's voice on the wind aiding him.
The group sat and dined together for breakfast before Éomer sent a messenger to Stoke to warn Reeve Fríthild of their arrival the next day before he, Aragorn and Éothain headed off to discuss affairs after Éomer asked someone to keep an eye on Éowara as always.
Éowyn retreated to her quarters and Éowara slipped out of Meduseld and into the daily life of Edoras. She didn't hide who she was and greeted everyone as they greeted her. Edoras had been the only place she'd ever called home.
"Lady Éowara," a small child spoke as he and his sister saw her wandering around.
"Hello. What can I help you with today?" she asked as she knelt down to their level.
"Are you staying here or leaving again?" the little girl asked.
"I will be leaving again. I have a big bit of rebuilding to do but I will always come back to Edoras. Here is home and it still is one of my homes no matter what," Éowara spoke as she tapped the child's nose and then carried on her walk around Edoras, feeling grateful that she had grown up in Edoras.
She still felt like she had the world on her shoulders but things with her brother had been cleared up and she did feel a little brighter and that was something she hoped would continue. She was nervous and excited about what laid instore for her but, at the same time, she was hoping nobody was expecting much of her either. She didn't want to disappoint anyone; that was the last thing she wanted to do.