Tolkien One-Shots Book 2!

Attacker (Eomer x reader)

(Mentions of violence, injury, and blood. Angst with a happy ending)

Your hands started shaking before you even let go of the knife. After what had seemed like hours of fighting, it was finally over. Questions swirled in your mind. How had he gotten in the keep? Why had he attacked you? But the question that burned your mind most was: What had you just done? You'd never even hurt someone before, let alone kill them.

You let go of the knife as your door burst open to reveal Eomer. His eyes bounced between you and the person on the flooring writhing in pain. Your eyes met Eomer's and you felt tears beginning to form. "I-I," you started, but couldn't get the words out. Eomer rushed over to you. "Are you alright?!" he asked, his voice tense with emotion. You shook your head before immediately starting to cry.

"He-He...I'm sorry, Lord Eomer." Eomer's brows dropped down over his eyes. "Whatever for?" You gestured to the man on the floor. "Did he hurt you?" You stopped for a moment, mentally taking in your physical health. It was then that you remembered the injury to your side. You nodded without speaking. Before you could protest, Eomer scooped you up in his arms, bridal style. You let out a little shriek of surprise.

Eomer's brows remained furrowed as he carried you to the healer. He didn't say a word, even after he laid you down. He moved out of the healer's way, but didn't leave the room. His eyes remained riveted on you while the healers did their work. You didn't know it, but his heart was threatening to beat out of his chest. He couldn't lose you. He'd already lost his parents and his cousin. His uncle was under the influence of the venomous Grima and his sister would most likely leave soon as well (whether to be free of Grima for herself or through marriage had yet to be seen). He couldn't lose yet another person he loved.

Eomer adored you. Everyone knew it. Well, everyone it seemed except you. He wasn't sure how you hadn't caught on yet. Eomer, while usually fairly stoic, made no secret of his feelings for you. He felt like a lovesick fool whenever he talked to you for more than a minute. Often times, he would completely forget pieces of a conversation because he would get lost staring at you.

When he heard the commotion coming from your chambers as he made his way down the corridor, Eomer had felt sick as two scenarios popped into his head. The first was an unpleasant thought but the second, and real scenario, had filled him with dread.

Now here you were, injured and in pain, while Eomer was kicking himself. If he had only told you how he felt earlier, he may have been in the room with you. If he had been you wouldn't have been attacked. You wouldn't have had to hurt another person. Eomer knew that you would have a hard time coming to terms with what had happened even though you had only been protecting yourself. He only hoped you'd allow him to be there for you. He was so lost in his thoughts, he hadn't noticed that the healer had finished and you were watching him with curiosity.

"Y/N is free to go. They need rest to heal, but they seem to be alright," the healer stated before scurrying from the room. "Should I escort you to your chambers?" Eomer asked and your eyes widened. The word "NO" practically exploded out of your mouth. You instantly looked embarrassed. Eomer slowly moved to he could sit next to you and take your hand in his.

"I cannot say I blame you," he whispered, "I could, that is, you could rest in my chambers until we get new ones for you." Your brows lowered over her eyes in confusion. "I couldn't ask you to that. You need rest as well." Eomer rolled his eyes. "Between the two of us, you are the one who is injured. You need rest. It will just be for the night."

You sighed, knowing how stubborn Eomer could be. You agreed and Eomer once again scooped you up in his arms. "Eomer," you hissed but he merely chuckled. "I can walk," you muttered. Eomer's smile fell a bit. "I know you can, Y/N. I just-let me have this moment?" You cocked your head to the side.

"I should have been there. If I wasn't such a coward, I would have been. I should have protected you. I should have told you long ago how I feel so I could have been there for you. I cannot protect you from the past, but I can be there now, if you'll let me," he explained softly, though his words echoed through the empty corridors.

"And how do you feel?" you asked in the same quiet tone Eomer had used. He didn't answer for a moment. He was still unsure of how to put it into words, but he knew he needed to. The attack tonight made certain that he knew that. Coming so close to losing you was the most frightening moment of his life. But how could he tell you that? It wasn't until you were safely in Eomer's chambers and he set you on the bed that he spoke again.

"I am utterly devoted to you. Everything about you. I love the way you argue with me. I love that you would do anything for those you care about, especially my sister. I love that you always avoid me before breakfast in the mornings because and I quote 'you would put the Great Goblin to shame with your foul temper'. I love that you believe me I say something feels wrong, but that you aren't afraid to tell me when I'm being ridiculous. I love that you can spend hours with your nose in a book even if it's one you've read a dozen times before."

Eomer grew tense when you didn't reply. He knew his words had been clumsy. Romantic confessions were not typical for him and now he'd made a mess of things. This was exactly what he'd feared. Rejection. "Eomer. Look at me." Eomer glanced up at you and you smiled. "I never thought I'd hear those words from you. Eomer, you are the most amazing man I have ever met. It pains me that it took an attacker to bring us together this way, but you have to know I much I love you." Eomer swore he would never feel as happy as he did now ever again...

...He was that happy again afew years later. When he asked you to marry him and you accepted.