Hello everyone!

I am so sorry this is late but it's up now! Just means there will be a shorter gap between July's updates. I'm writing and have ideas for the fic going forwards and I'm looking forwards to writing them. I hope you will continue to follow the adventures I'm planning.

Lots of love,

LSH xxx

A Wild Heart – Part 24:

Éowara was sat in the Mead Hall of Stoke when Éomer and Fríthild walked slowly over to her. It was the next day and, once they'd seen that Éowara was going to be fine, Faramir and Arwen had returned to Minas Tirith.

"What happened sister?" Éomer asked as he looked at his sister, sitting down infront of her. He would never admit it aloud but he thought he'd lost his sister again. Once was heartbreaking, two was… unbearable.

"Fríthbert and Edhild had wanted to show me their new toys so I agreed. I didn't see the harm in it as we were going to be back in time for the meal," Éowara said, "I heard the door open and knew Engifu was at the Mead Hall as were all of you so I told the children to hide under a bed. As soon as they'd done that I kicked a chest infront of them so they couldn't be seen."

Éomer nodded as he listened to his sister's words,

"What happened after that?"

"I snuck into the shadows and knew I had my daggers and that was better than nothing," Éowara said, looking down at her hands, "I came out of the shadows as the man neared the bed the children were under. I revealed myself and he was shocked not to find the Reeve. I told him who I was and commanded him to answer. That was when he mentioned Ordlac. We fought before he realised that they must have been there but I said he'd have to kill me before I'd reveal where they were. We fought and you know how it ended."

Éomer had his arm around his sister. Yes he was the King but he was also a brother wanting to find out what had happened to his sister. He looked at her.

"The man and Ordlac will be dealt with. We will have to call a council. To harm a Reeve's children in certainly serious but to attempt to murder the sister of the King? I will have to think about what will be done about that. I have never heard of this happening in my lifetime. I need to think what Uncle would have done," Éomer said as he glanced at Fríthild.

"I will have to seek advice from the Council as well," she said, "not only were my children threatened but someone I see as a daughter was as well and that is something I will not allow in Stoke or the Broadacres," she said as she looked at Éomer, "not including the obvious fact that she is the sister to the King."

Éowara just sighed as she remained silent before noticing his sister and Aragorn watching them. He silently nodded at Fríthild before the two rose and left leaving Éowara sat alone to stare out of the window. She tucked dome hair behind her ear and watched as the rain poured down in the Broadacres. She'd discovered a love of the rain and sighed once more before seeing Éowyn approaching her.

"I know what happened now," she spoke, "Éomer has informed me and I would call you a fool for going with them alone but you were also armed at the same time so I cannot say anything about you being unarmed," she said as she sat down opposite her sister.

"There will be a Council before we depart for the north," Éowara spoke, "and Ordlac will have to be handled by Éomer as well. I feel like I made things worse here for Fríthild…"

"You have not. You may have brought something that Fríthild should be aware of and now that can be dealt with," Éowyn spoke, "do not feel that you have made anything worse for her." Éowara simply nodded before having some water.

A Council was assembled the next day and Éomer and Éowara sat either side of Fríthild, Aragorn next to Éomer and Éowyn the other side of her sister.

"We are here to decide what should be done about Ordlac of Oserley," the Reeve spoke as she glanced to see her children with Engifu, "an attempt was made on the lives of my children. That cannot be ignored."

"Is it true that there was an attempt on the Lady Éowara's life?" someone spoke.

"It is true," Éowara spoke, "the man confirmed that he only answered to Ordlac when I commanded him to answer before I pulled my daggers and started the duel before he could surprise me. He was armed with a sword and tried to make me reveal where Fríthbert and Edhild were but I refused," she spoke, "I knew that he would attempt to harm the children if I fell and I was not going to let that happen. I love those children as if they were mine," she said before falling silent and looking down at her lap. Never had she truly confessed how she felt about Fríthild's children.

"I knew Ordlac was after the Seat of Reeve but to do what he has done?" said Torferth of Torsbury, "now I know why King Éomer is at the Council."

"Ordlac must be held accountable," Éomer spoke, "I have control over this but I would like the Council to decide as much as possible before I pass my judgement. My sole action will be to decide what should happen with the attempt of my sister's life. That is the only incident that I have a direct opinion on."

Éowara had to recount everything about what had happened and everything that had been said, even though she'd only just done that, but this was in more detail. It felt like the thousandth time but she knew that the Council had to know the whole timeline of events. Gasps left mouths as Éowara recounted the moment she'd been pushed and she hit her head before falling.

Aragorn spoke and told of the injuries and bruises that Éowara had suffered before the man was brought in along with Ordlac. His cold stare reached straight into Éowara's heart and she glared at him.

"That's the man!" Edhild said as she went to her mother's side, "he's the man who hurt Éowara," she said and Fríthbert came over and looked at the man and nodded in agreement.

"That is the man," Éowara confirmed, "he is the man that attacked me," she said, "the one who named Ordlac."

"They lie," Ordlac said, "I did not order anything on the Lady Éowara but I did for the children. I should be Reeve. A man should be Reeve."

"I think," Torferth spoke, "that was just the confession that we all needed to hear. Lúfa had spoken of Ordlac's plans a few times," he said with a glance at his wife, who nodded.

The Council deliberated for hours over what should be done before it was decided that Ordlac and the man would have to leave the Broadacres and never return; a new Thane of Oserley would be appointed.

"Now…" Éomer spoke as he stood up, "the small matter of what to do about the attempt on my sister's life," he said, "it matters not that you never meant to harm my sister, Ordlac, she was caught up and your assassin did try and harm her, possibly fatally had I not caught her. I cannot see another option other than to banish you both from Rohan under pain of death. An attempt on the life of the King's sister is something that cannot be taken lightly," he spoke, "jail could have been the answer had it only been the Reeve's children but my sister was involved and that increases the seriousness of the crime," he said before looking at the Council who needed in agreement. He looked at Fríthild who nodded in agreement.

"I agree with that course of action. My children and Éowara could have been murdered and that is something that I cannot ignore. Guards please take the two and make sure they are taken out of West Rohan," she said before she turned her attention to her children as the two men were escorted from the Mead Hall and banished from Rohan by order of Éomer. The only question now was when would Éowara feel ready to leave for Eriador.