A/N

Last chapter before 2015 rolls around. So Happy New Year and I hope you enjoy.

New chapter will be out sometimes in late Jan, all being well :)

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Aedre felt her hands trembling as she clasped them tightly before her. The day had been and gone many hours ago and the evening's soft light bathed any wood exposed to the sky in a rusty glow. The corridor felt hot, near stifling, as she followed Sunniva down the all too familiar path to the King's chambers. She tried not to heed the thoughts that tried to worm their way into the forefront of her mind and did her utmost to still the nervous tremor that clutched unpleasantly at her stomach, fluttering and quivering against her insides as she was led to a new and all too intimidating meeting. Tonight she would meet the Lady Éowyn, and despite the comforting words Sunniva had laid in her ears, Aedre felt like much weight and consequence lay upon her shoulders.

The wooden door with all its elegant carving loomed before her eyes, somehow seeming bigger before her, or perhaps she had suddenly grown smaller under the pressure she felt? Sunniva gave a firm and reassuring squeeze upon Aedre's bony shoulder before she reached forward and knocked three sharp raps upon the wood.

The King was at the door within moments, widening the way for them to enter. The two women stepped inside and Aedre's gaze was instantly drawn to the blonde haired woman sat within a chair by the unlit fire. She looked comfortable but also stiff in the same instant, but her expression was calm and welcoming. Before Aedre could dwell more upon her thoughts a voice broke the short-lived silence.

"I am most happy you could come." Éomer directed his greeting at Aedre and her eyes met his; she gave a stunted nod as reply, wishing she could take some form of solace in his presence, but finding none. "It means much to me that you should meet my sister, as it means much to her." He grinned and Aedre tried to find her own smile, it was a difficult task. "Éowyn?" He motioned for his sister to stand, "It gives me great pride to introduce Aedre, the woman that I wish to become my wife." He wrapped Aedre's hand in his and urged her forward into the room, towards where his sister stood with a serene and kindly smile upon her lips.

"Aedre." Éowyn said, the word feeling warm as she spoke it aloud. "I come with gladness in my heart to finally meet you." She smiled warmly and Aedre felt her tension release a little and she too smiled, her hand coming to her breast in a tender and honest reply.

Éowyn motioned for her to sit, and both women sat almost in unison. Éowyn gave a small smile to Sunniva before she began to speak freely and with renewed confidence, aware that she would not gain much answer to anything she asked of the young woman, but knowing within that same thought, that she would gain some kind of response to her own inner questions.

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Éowyn left the King's chambers, allowing her brother some time alone with the young girl he professed to love. The meeting had gone well and had not felt awkward or forced, in fact Éowyn could genuinely say she had enjoyed Aedre's company. Seeing her brother within her presence, she had glimpsed the reasons and wants behind their pairing. It seemed little words needed to be said between them, it was as if the young woman was his shadow, knowing him to his very bone and soul. Éowyn had seen her brother relaxed and tranquil, his worries seeming to lift at Aedre's very nearness. The girl was indeed a wonder, if she had been through so much and was still so full of light and kindness.

She leant back upon the comforting warm wood letting out a strange sigh. Her eyes searched the ground, her brow fleetingly rippling a frown as she thought. Yes, Aedre had been sweet indeed and perhaps given time she would come to see the strength and personality that Éomer had come to love so well... but time was not a friend to the world of men, and time would not wait for a King. If the girl had been a girl of Rohan, of Edoras... maybe there could have been a chance, but as things stood... She didn't like these bitter fragments forming into thoughts, but the truth would not be denied and Éowyn knew she must heed it, she must listen. But she'd promised her brother she'd stand by him, could she discard her pledge now?

She clutched her hands into fists, the girl was pitiable and her nature good, but her bearing, her stillness, her scars... such awful scars... and her past all piled against her in one monstrous obstacle. With a queasy certainty, Éowyn knew this young woman would never be accepted as a Queen of Rohan, she would never be allowed to rule beside Éomer or bear his heirs. The people, the nobles, none would allow if. How could her brother be so blind? His wants stretched too far past what could be given to him. How could he not see this? Had love dazed her older brother so completely?

Her heart felt sickened by the truth, a truth that seemed so unfair and unjust. Her brother's words had been from his very heart and held so much child-like wisdom within them. Kings, nobles, working men, warriors, farmers... was there really a difference? Éomer's insight came too early for such lands and Rohan would see no reason to lower its pride for the wants of a King. For her, it had been so easy, to fall in love with Faramir, a man that was equal to her own station in life. But would her life have been so peaceful if she'd chosen a stable boy, or even a lowly warrior? No, she did not think so. She knew all would have been fiercely against it, perhaps even Éomer too...

She sighed again, feeling tears tug at the corners of her eyes, willing sorely to be shed, but she blinked them back.

She hesitated, there in the darkened corridor, wondering if she should dismiss this last murky thought... but had she not seen something strange and wild about Aedre's eyes too? Eyes that spoke of innocence and violence all within the same strange bond, it had disturbed her a little, and those eyes bore a dark sweetness she had seen before. The name flashed hard within her mind... Mildryth... with that name came a crashing of emotions so strong that she had to steady herself with a hand against the wall. Grima's face flashed in grotesque images from her memories, the blood... the water... the sorrow. It suddenly bore upon her like a great force. The thoughts flashed hard and sharp within her mind and it took her a moment to even grasp her own thoughts from within the chaos.

Was that why her brother held so steadfast to his will? Did he see this as a way to repair and forget the past? He had been so young, so unwilling then to fight against their uncle, their King, and fight Grima with his smooth, slithering slyness. Was Éomer fighting now to mend his own broken soul? Her eyes widened... did he even know that his past shadowed him so heavily and was the reason for his fierce battle?

Éowyn took in a deep gulp of air and pushed herself harshly forward, her steps quickly finding a steady and fast rhythm as she fled down the corridor in search of the only person that could condemn her thoughts or affirm them.

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She remembered so vividly the winding way to the servant's quarters, she had spent so many nights walking this same path as a child, when bad dreams or thoughts of her mother and father had raised her from her bed and she sought comfort. The door was larger than the others along the corridor and spoke of standing within the ranks of the Golden Hall. She knocked softly and waited, eager to talk and unburden herself of all the fears that had built up within her mind.

Sunniva's face soon greeted her with a warm smile. "My lady Éowyn" she said, a little surprised. "What brings you here so late? It will be dawn in but a few hours."

"I know Sunniva, forgive the hour. May I come in?" She placed a hand upon the door in urgency. "I must speak with you."

Sunniva's expression darkened a little in understanding that all was not well. "Of course you may."

Éowyn quickly entered and Sunniva closed the door softly behind her. "Whatever is the matter?" Sunniva asked concerned.

"I fear you will dislike my words... I fear I have too many thoughts and I... I." Éowyn tried to find the words but found her thoughts wrapped too tightly in panic.

"Calm yourself my sweet." Sunniva took Éowyn's hands and rubbed them comfortingly. "Come sit, speak when you have your wits."

Éowyn sat down upon a small wooden armchair and rested her body heavily against it as Sunniva busied herself with lighting another candle, giving them more light by which to talk. She then took a seat upon the bed and levelled a steady and knowing gaze at Éowyn, one which had been so common in her youth and folly.

"You came to speak of Aedre" Sunniva said, it was not a question but a bare bones fact.

Éowyn nodded, the action seeming to pain her. "I have... Sunniva I know you hold a bond with this girl, and I see she has a good and kind spirit... but there is more to her, more to this situation than being good... Éomer, he cannot marry this girl, you must know that."

"Aye" Sunniva breathed softly. "I know this all too well, my guts and bones tell me it every moment. But you know your brother as well, nay, better than I. He will not bend to words and laws. I have gone along with his wishes, I have tried to fool myself into believing it is all possible... but I know the truth my girl. I know it so much that my heart aches with the knowledge."

Sunniva bowed her head in sadness. It felt strange and distasteful to say all these words aloud. But she knew them to be true, even if she had not fully admitted them to herself before. The recent happenings in the Mead Hall, the death of Geune, all had strengthened the facts that already stood leering with obscene reality. She would protect Aedre to the end, but she had known from the moment she found the bloodied apron... Aedre could not stay here, not in the world of men and not by Éomer's side. It had taken Lady Éowyn's return to make her see it all clearly, but she now knew she had been aware of all this for a long time. She allowed many tears to slip down her cheeks as she wept for Aedre and for herself... and for Éomer too.

Éowyn was by her side in a moment, her arms wrapped around Sunniva's shoulder in a welcome embrace. "I am sorry" Éowyn whispered, fighting back her own tears.

"You have nothing to be sorry about my girl." Sunniva dabbed at her eyes with the linen of her skirt. "You should never be sorry for being truthful."

Éowyn buried her head into Sunniva's shoulder, taking comfort in the scent she knew so well, that reminded her of being safe, warm and home. "What is to be done?"

"I know not, I believe he loves her, in her way she loves him and I see no way to cause their parting without resulting in much hurt and anger." She sighed, "I wish so many things for them, I wish things were different." She sniffed loudly.

Éowyn released her hold of Sunniva and sat next to her upon the bed. "I see the sorrow that will come too. But... Éomer must surely see the parallels of Mildryth in this path?"

"He will not speak of her" Sunniva said sadly. "He refuses her very existence. But I see your mind, it echoes my own, for I too have thought he tries to mend and rebuild the past in his current actions."

"So much unhappiness." Éowyn bowed her head. "So much pain, and I see only pain for Éomer... but more so for Aedre. If they deny her, which I think the nobles will, she could be cast out, alone with no friend, no home."

Sunniva nodded, "I fear it would be the end of her."

"I must talk to him, he will hate me for it... perhaps he will never forgive me, perhaps I will destroy his love for me. But I must do it." Éowyn shook her head. "If only to save the girl, it must be done." She stilled herself and closed her eyes, knowing what would come would be the cause of much suffering.