A/N: Here's the conclusion. Hope you find it satisfying! Thanks to all who reviewed - it's much appreciated.

Chapter 3 (Jan)

In the days that followed, Eomer seemed more receptive to Lothiriel's company, though she could never be certain what sort of mood he would be in at any given moment. Always she tried to keep their contact lighthearted, and often it did appear to lift his spirits. The cold, dark days of winter, however, appeared to prey upon his thoughts at times, and he would have seemed nearer if he were in Gondor.

He came to dinner one day in a strange mood, and said little during the course of it. After Eowyn had excused herself, and before Lothiriel could depart as well, he finally articulated what held his thoughts. Staring into the fire, he spoke in a monotone voice, observing, "You were right. I am become like my father, reckless and…dangerous. I cannot seem to stop flinging myself into battle, unheeding of the peril we face. More than once I have risked the lives of others so that.…" He stopped, consumed by his ponderings, and for a time Lothiriel did not respond.

At length, she told him, "Did you know that my father told me of his first glimpse of you?" Eomer's eyes flicked up to look at her in surprise. "He said you had watched Theoden die, and then discovered Eowyn among the fallen. You believed she was dead also and lost all hope, charging back into battle with a tremendous fury. You were outnumbered, even more than before, and though Father rode to your aid, the enemy was gaining the upper hand. Both he and you despaired when you spied the corsairs approaching, but then you glimpsed Aragorn's flag and knew that help had arrived. You rallied your men for a final defense, and when the dust settled, Men had prevailed."

Eomer's eyes were riveted on her as she recited this history, so familiar to him but seeming somehow different coming from her lips. Then she met his gaze steadily and added, "Father holds you in the highest esteem, Eomer, and he has never once spoken ill of your actions in battle, not even then. He understood how grief and despair had overwhelmed you that day, impairing your judgement, but he did not deem it a permanent character flaw. Neither should you. I have never heard any who has stood beside you on the battlefield speak ill of your actions."

To his surprise, a tear trickled down her cheek, but she did not seem to notice. And something inside of him loosened ever so slightly, almost as though a cold hard chunk of ice was slowly beginning to melt. Could it be so? Was that only a momentary lapse on his part, not entirely within his control? Part of him desperately wanted to believe it, and yet, since that time, he had recklessly charged into battle. But…. And for the first time it dawned on him that the subsequent times were different than that day on the Pelennor. There he had risked the lives of others, so caught up was he in his despair and rage. Lately, though, his recklessness had largely just been a risk to him personally. While it concerned his men, and they made every effort to keep him safe, he had not been endangering them much beyond the norm of any battle. Why had he done it? All he knew was that the thought of any orcs still infesting their lands filled him with unquenchable fury. How could the king of Rohan keep his people safe when such evil was still abroad? Only in their destruction could he feel some measure of success in doing his duty to the Riddermark.

Lothiriel watched the emotions flickering over his face, and kept silent. Perhaps her words had touched a nerve; hopefully they had triggered some introspection that would guide him to a resolution of whatever was eating away at him. She was tempted to slip away and leave him in peace, thinking her presence was intrusive, but she did not think he would want to be left alone just now, and so she sat quietly and waited.

At length, his eyes lifted and focused on her, filled with inexpressible gratitude. For several long moments, he just stared at her, before nervously clearing his throat and standing. "I should get back to my study. I have much yet to do today."

She rose as well, and then on impulse, asked, "Eomer, do the Rohirrim ever ride in such weather as this?" The past few days, though it continued to be cold and blustery, the snow was beginning to melt somewhat.

His eyebrows quirked and he nodded. "The Rohirrim ride in any kind of weather. Why?"

"I am unused to being indoors for such a long stretch, and I should very much like to go for a ride tomorrow. I would be pleased if you had time to join me, but if that is inconvenient, I am sure Eowyn would not mind."

The suggestion seemed to catch him off his guard, but clearly he found the notion appealing. "I will make time," he promised, giving her another nod of his head before exiting the room, and Lothiriel smiled.

xx

At break of fast, Eomer had suggested going just after the noon meal, as that was when it would be warmest. There was little remarkable about their outing, other than the fact that Lothiriel thought Eomer looked like a man granted reprieve from a sentence of death. Both he and his horse seemed eager to run, and though she knew her own mare could never match them over distance and this footing, she did her best to keep up. Eventually, Eomer had noticed the considerable distance he was putting between them, and had circled back to join her as they both drew their horses to a walk to let them cool off. The guard attending them was keeping a respectful distance, so conversation did not need to be censored, but even so, they both seemed content to ride in silence much of the time.

At length, Lothiriel suggested, "Why do you not show me some of your favorite sights in the Riddermark? I have seen little of your land other than the road between here and Gondor."

He nodded, saying, "I am happy to do so."

Turning to the southwest, he led the party to a sheltered area where they found a pond tucked amid some trees. "This is where Eowyn, Theodred and I would come to swim in the summer months," he reminisced. Then grinning, he added, "Likely it does not impress you very much. I have heard from your brothers that those in Dol Amroth enjoy swimming in the sea."

She smiled in return. "That is true, but the sea is far different from a pond, and each may be enjoyed for its own merits. On a hot summer's day, any bit of water would be welcome, I am certain."

Her easy response seemed to spur him to further remembrances, and they sat conversing for nearly a quarter hour as Eomer regaled her with tales of adventures he'd had here and elsewhere with his sister and cousin.

"Eowyn was much with you, then?" Lothiriel asked in surprise. "My brothers were not so accommodating of having their sister tag along with them."

"I confess I did not always want Eowyn along, but she has always been a force to be reckoned with! In some ways, I should have expected it when she snuck into battle with us as we rode to Gondor's defense. She never did like being left behind."

His comment seemed to be pulling him down into morose thoughts, and Lothiriel did not want that to happen. "Eomer, there was nothing you could have done to change what happened. Circumstances conspired against the both of you. She did what she thought was necessary and, more than anything, if the world ended, she did not want to be parted from you or Theoden."

He turned to look at her, and raised a questioning eyebrow. "Has she spoken of this to you?"

Lothiriel gave a shrug. "A little. Some of it I have interpreted from her silence, and determined from the things she did tell me. Though Grima never dared touch her, his words were just as destructive to her as they were to your uncle. She began to question everything about herself, and then when she could find no resolution in the world around her, she saw no recourse but a glorious end in battle. She truly believed that was the only way left open to her, and that the world was doomed anyway. Her despair is not unlike yours was when you believed she had perished alongside Theoden."

"I should have seen. I should have helped her," Eomer murmured in frustration.

"You could not," Lothiriel softly responded. "There are some things no one can fix for another person, not even a brother. And, in one sense, you should not have tried."

"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.

"In Gondor, there has long been the legend that no man could defeat the Witch-king. If that is true, then Eowyn needed to be there, skilled with a sword, to do what she did – what no man there that day could have done. Had she not, would it have made a difference in the outcome, do you think?"

Eomer fell into his thoughts, considering this. At length he shrugged. "I cannot say. Perhaps you are right. There are so many things in life for which we cannot tell all the repercussions of our actions."

They were beginning to get chilled sitting still so long, so Eomer suggested moving on to another location, this one on a hill top that afforded a good view of the plains, stretched white with snow before them. Though there were one or two trails broken through the powder, much of it was untouched from the instant it fell.

"How very like life, is it not?" Lothiriel observed.

Eomer glanced at her sideways. "How so?"

Turning behind them where the hooves of many horses had churned the snow considerably, she pointed to the furrows and explained, "No matter the past, however harrowed and difficult the passage through it," – she turned back and pointed to the unspoiled vista before them – "the future is always spotless. We cannot change what came before, but we can determine what comes from this point on."

For a long time, Eomer stared at the view, contemplating her words. Finally, he nodded. "I had never thought of it like that, but you are right." He turned and gave her an appreciative smile, and for the first time in a great while she thought it truly reached his eyes.

They had been out several hours and the sun was beginning to drop in the sky, the temperature along with it. "Shall we head back for some warmth?" Eomer queried, and Lothiriel inclined her head in consent.

xxxxx

How had the time passed so quickly? Already March was upon them, and last minute preparations for the trek to Minas Tirith were underway. Eowyn tried to conceal her steadily increasing nerves, with minimal success, but Lothiriel provided a calming, steady influence that helped her maintain control.

The improved relations between the siblings, since the easing of the tension between Eomer and Lothiriel, was giving rise to increased teasing of his sister by the king. Had she not been so pleased that he was more himself of late, she might have rebuked him, but she could not help being extremely grateful to see the change in him. She dared not speak too soon, but she very much suspected that her brother and Lothiriel might yet form an attachment, and that would be all to the good for him and for Rohan.

When February had arrived, there had never been any question in Lothiriel's mind that she would remain at Meduseld her full agreed upon time, despite the improved weather that would have allowed her to make good on her previous determination to return home early.

Eomer had not questioned her about it, seeming to fear that if he brought it up it would encourage her to go. The frenzied hustle and bustle attending getting all of Eowyn's things readied and packed, along with Lothiriel's belongings and whatever else might be needed for the trip, had not afforded a great deal of time for interaction between Lothiriel and the king. Other than at meals, they had not seen much of one another for nearly a sennight, and Eomer found he was missing their conversations greatly.

Too soon, they were gathered at the foot of Meduseld, loading pack animals and getting everyone mounted to begin their journey to the south. Eomer had this gnawing feeling that he needed to speak with Lothiriel before they reached Gondor. Nothing had officially been settled between them, and he did not want to face questions from her father or anyone else until the two of them had had the opportunity to discuss their preferences.

The second day on the road, after the evening meal concluded, Eomer invited, "Lothiriel, will you walk with me?"

She eyed him curiously, but nodded and took his offered hand to rise, then caught his arm as they moved away from the main body of the camp. Guards were ranged about the encampment some distance out, so while they knew they could not wander far, there was still some leeway for a private conversation.

They walked in silence for some time, and only when Lothiriel tugged her cloak a bit more snugly about her did Eomer ask, "Are you warm enough?"

"Yes," she assured him. "It had just shifted a little as we walked, and I was readjusting it is all."

Now that they had stopped and the silence was broken, Eomer took it as the moment to speak further. "Lothiriel…." He hesitated, trying to find the right words for what he wanted to say to her. A glance up showed her smiling gently at him, and he found that encouraging.

Clearing his throat, he tried again, "We…we have not discussed the possibility of our trothplighting once we reach Minas Tirith. I…I know I have done little to recommend myself to you, but I hope that you might still be willing to consider that possibility." He had been gazing at the ground, but now his eyes came up to look imploringly into hers.

Her features softened further, and she smiled more broadly. "I never entirely stopped considering the possibility, Eomer. The early months at Edoras were difficult, I will not deny, but I am yet inclined to make this alliance, if you would wish it." She glanced down and admitted, "For quite a while, I did not think you desired to go through with it."

He caught one of her hands in his and murmured, "For quite a while I could not imagine why you would even consider me. For that matter, why any woman would. I was lost, Lothiriel, and only through your help have I finally begun to find myself again. I will not lie to you – I am not convinced there will not still be dark days for me, but now I see hope where I did not before. I want nothing more than to have you beside me…I am persuaded that–"

He paused and when it did not appear he would continue, she prompted, "Persuaded what?"

Swallowing hard, he met her eyes, and his jaw tightened, as though preparing to be struck. "I am persuaded that I am come to love you. I have told myself it was merely gratitude, appreciation for all the help you have been to me, but I no longer believe that. I cannot say that I have ever felt love before, but I cannot imagine it being any more wondrous than this."

His eyes became wary, awaiting her response to this declaration, seemingly out of the blue. To his astonishment, and very great pleasure, she stepped in closer to him, allowing her hand to slide up his arm to his shoulder. "I do not find this news displeasing at all, Eomer. Indeed, I think I have long hoped for just such a thing," she murmured softly.

It took a moment for the words to register, and then his face flooded with relief. An instant later, he leaned in to tentatively press his lips to hers. They were warm, even in the cool evening air, and tasted of the wine from supper. As he began to draw back from the light kiss, her hand on his shoulder slipped into his hair and tangled there, tugging him back for more. Without hesitation, he complied with her demand, and this time his embrace spoke clearly of his feelings.

The couple was a long time in returning to camp.

xxxxxxx

Aragorn watched the party from Rohan dismounting and turning their horses over to stablehands. Eowyn could scarcely take her eyes off her betrothed, and it amused the king to note that his normally very attentive and focused Steward was having difficulty concentrating on the amenities when clearly all he wished to do was sweep his soon-to-be-wife into a passionate embrace.

Then Aragorn's eyes fell on Eomer. He had been concerned when last they had been together. Though Eomer hid it well, using the mask of grief for Theoden, something was greatly troubling the young man. Too well Aragorn knew how very proud the Rohirrim could be, and he knew his prying into Eomer's unrest would only prove embarrassing and annoying to Rohan's king. He could not help wanting to counsel with his friend, and offer some of the wisdom acquired over his many long years of experience, but he did not think Eomer would welcome such intimacy. It was not the way Rohirric men did things.

Now Aragorn turned his gaze to Lothiriel. She and the young king stood smiling together, sharing a private comment between them, and Eomer's face lit up as they talked. Excellent! When a marriage of alliance between the two had been suggested, Aragorn had suspected Eomer agreed to it only to quickly deal with one of the many problems he faced. It had worried him how the two might fare when the reality of the situation sunk into Eomer's troubled mind. Clearly, if there had been difficulty in that regard, the two had overcome it, for none seeing them together now could doubt their friendly intercourse. Aragorn had hoped that the peaceful, compassionate lady might prove balm to Eomer's wounded spirit, and there was every evidence it was so. Yes, this was certainly a welcome development for all concerned.

THE END

5/12/07 – 5/18/07

from Thain's book online, quoting some parts of Tolkien directly (www tuckborough net):

At dawn on March 15, the Rohirrim charged onto the Pelennor Fields. Eomer led the first eored, and Theoden rode before them all. Eomer rallied his Riders and they engaged the enemy. But then the knights of the King's household brought him to where his uncle lay mortally wounded from a confrontation with the Lord of the Nazgul. Before he died, Theoden hailed Eomer as King of the Mark, and Eomer wept. Then Eomer realized that his sister Eowyn was also among the fallen.

He stood a moment as a man who is pierced in the midst of a cry by an arrow through the heart; and then his face went deathly white; and a cold fury rose in him, so that all speech failed him for a while. A fey mood took him.

"Eowyn, Eowyn!" he cried at last: "Eowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death take us all!"

Then without taking counsel or waiting for the approach of the men of the City, he spurred headlong back to the front of the great host, and blew a horn, and cried aloud for the onset. Over the field rang his clear voice calling: "Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!"

The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," 119

The Rohirrim followed Eomer as he charged across the field, slaying their enemies as they went. But fury had made Eomer reckless, and his men were outnumbered and hard pressed. Prince Imrahil and other men of Gondor came to their aid, but the battle began to turn in favor of the Enemy and then the black-sailed ships of the Corsairs were seen coming up the Anduin. Eomer rallied his men for a final stand against the Corsairs and he raised his sword to defy them.

"Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising

I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.

To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking:

Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!"

The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 122

But then Eomer laughed and threw his sword into the air and sang as he caught it, for he saw the standard of Aragorn unfurled on the foremost ship. Eomer led his men across the field and the enemy fled before him. Eomer and Aragorn met in the middle of the battlefield as Aragorn had said they would.

After the battle Eomer learned that his sister still lived and that she lay in the Houses of Healing.