This is it! The last chapter of the story. I'm going to miss writing it, and daydreaming chapters for it during school hours. But school has ended, I've graduated and now it's time to end the story. I definitely feel sorry for letting it end, but it has to end. I might take a break from because I definitely need to study for my MAJOR MAJOR exams and also I want to write a bit more for my FictionPress account. But for , I'm currently playing around with this rather strange idea for a new story so that's something for people to watch out for!

TO CALAFAIR : Hahahaha thanks for the offer Bel, but I don't think Dan will be employed in this story. I'm sure he's very grateful to you for trying to get him a job, though. But Elfwine won't be kidnapped in this story. If you want, though, I'll add you in the next story of mine and get you kidnapped, okay?

Meren watched in a daze as Éomer gave her a smile and left the stables. His words were just beginning to sink in. Elfwine loves me? It seemed to good to be true, but Éomer had no reason to lie. Then it had to be true. It stunned her to the core. She got up and went back to her room without really realising that she was moving.

Lying on her bed, Éomer's words were just beginning to sink in. It all made sense. It would explain why Elfwine was so different around her, why he always seemed to stiffen whenever Elboron was mentioned. She had always thought that he wanted to distance himself from her, but now she realised that Elfwine had been jealous of Elboron. A laugh burst out of her suddenly, she couldn't believe that he had been so silly; that he didn't notice that he was the one she loved. But you were silly too; you didn't even realise you love him, and that he loves you. A smile broke through her happy tears.

The clouds were positively menacing. They blocked out the sun, and although it was only about two in the afternoon, it was dark out. Elfwine looked out of the window restlessly, his mind on Meren. Was she out of her mind, going riding when the clouds looked like that? What if she was caught out in the storm that was, without a doubt, coming? As if to reinforce his worries, thunder rumbled in the skies, and his frown deepened.

The door opened and he turned to see his mother. "What are you worrying about now, Elfwine?" she asked, coming to stand by his side. "With all the worrying you do, it was as if you were king already."

"I'm just thinking about Meren, Mother. She said that she was going riding."

"In this weather?" Lothíriel frowned too. "That is something to worry about. I would say that I'm a reckless person, but not even I would venture out in this weather."

"You're not reckless, Mother," Elfwine replied absently. "I wonder how far she's going to go. It might not be safe for her if things worsen." He sighed. "I said that I would meet her after the meeting."

Lothíriel touched his arm. "You don't have to attend the meeting; I'll speak to your father. It's pointless if you're worrying about something else the whole time anyway. The most important thing that a king has to do is to do what he thinks is right."

Elfwine turned to look his mother. How he loved her! She had been there for him through everything for as long as he could ever remember. She had always found ways to make things right. She was like a rock in his life, and she had never let him down. She was looking at him with that kind, gentle gaze that had reassured him so many times before, and he smiled at her. She was right, as usual. "Thank you, Mother." He gave her a kiss.

"What are mothers for?"

Lothíriel stayed in Elfwine's room for a while after her son left. She had a good feeling that everything was going to be all right, which was why she had encouraged Elfwine to go after Meren despite the threatening weather. The time had come for Elfwine to do what he believed was good for himself. She had to stop trying so hard to take care of her boy. Elfwine has grown up. It felt strange, that feeling of release. Since he was sixteen she had always thought to herself that her son was now a man, but it was only now that she really felt it. And it was a sad yet sweet feeling.

She smiled as she went on her way to attend the meeting on her son's behalf.

Elfwine hurried into the stables and saddled his horse. It was strangely quiet; everyone had gone home, wanting to just wait out the storm.

The first drops of rain fell as he was riding towards the gates. The guards looked as if they wanted to speak up, but he waved them away and rode out of Edoras. He blinked the rain out of his eyes, peering about for Meren. He didn't see her anywhere. Where could she have gone? It's so dangerous for her to be out alone! What am I going to do if something happened to her? Frustrated, he fought against his common sense telling him that he should get back, that she had probably turned back herself already. He looked about wildly, hoping and praying to see her somewhere, as the thunder shook even the grounds.

"My lord!" One of the guards had ridden out after him. "My lord, you should get inside, there's going to be a storm!"

"I can't, I'm looking for Meren!" Elfwine yelled over the thunder.

The guard shook his head. "You should get inside, my lord! No one rode through this afternoon!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am! Come and get back inside, my lord!"

Elfwine followed with no protest. As soon as he took care of his horse, he was out running in the rain again. This time to Meren's room. He stopped at the door, soaking wet. Still panting, he knocked and waited, bouncing on the balls of his feet impatiently, oblivious to the water dripping off his sleeves and hair.

After what felt like eternity, Meren opened the door. "Elfwine!" she exclaimed. "You're soaking wet!"

"I thought you went riding. I was looking for you."

"Oh… I'm so sorry. I didn't go riding after all. I'm sorry, Elfwine."

"Well, you're safe now," Elfwine replied awkwardly, suddenly at a loss at what to do. "I was worried. You could get sick if you were caught out in the rain. I mean… you could… it'd be cold and you… ah… you could get a cold… or even pneumonia."

A smile spread over Meren's face. "Elfwine?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you just kiss me?"