Lotr oneshots

Stay - Éomer x reader

For LordoftheCosmere

The castle was freezing that night, and every corner seemed way too quiet. Everything had felt wrong for weeks, ever since Théoden started... changing. You didn't have the right word for it-he just wasn't himself. He barely looked at anyone, and Wormtongue was always whispering something in his ear. Now, apparently, Théoden had ordered Éomer to leave. And just the thought of that tore you apart.

You found him in his room, buckling his armor, getting ready to leave as if it were some regular duty, but you could see the pain in his eyes. He didn't want to go. Neither did you.

"Éomer," you said, your voice almost breaking. He looked up, and for just a second, his expression softened. But then his shoulders stiffened like he was bracing himself.

"(Y/N)," he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion and something else you couldn't quite place. "Why are you here?"

"I came to stop you," you said, stepping closer, your heart pounding. "Please, don't go. Théoden is... he's not himself. This isn't his will, Éomer. He's being manipulated-you know it." You reached out and placed a hand over his, hoping he'd just listen, just stay.

He sighed, and his eyes closed for a moment. You could tell he wanted to believe you. When he opened them again, though, that sadness was still there, hidden beneath a resolve that only made your heart ache more.

"I know," he said softly. "But I can't just stay here while our people are suffering. Wormtongue's twisted the king against me, and Saruman's forces are preparing for war. If I stay, I'll be ordered to watch it all crumble. I can't do that."

He stepped forward and cupped your face in his hands, his thumb brushing over your cheek, a softness in his voice that he didn't let anyone else hear. "But leaving... it doesn't bring me any peace. You're here, and if I could, I'd stay by your side." His voice dropped, barely a whisper now. "But what kind of man would I be if I let my people down?"

"You don't have to go," you pleaded, feeling the desperation rise in your chest. "You don't have to do this alone. Stay. We'll figure it out. I'm not afraid to stand with you. Just... don't go, Éomer."

He looked at you, torn. For a moment, you could feel his resolve waver, like he might actually stay. But then his jaw tightened, and he pulled himself back. "You deserve better than this life," he said, his voice rough and heavy. "Better than a man who might not return. Rohan needs me now, and I... I have to go."

You gripped his hand tighter, refusing to let him go just like that. "But what about me, Éomer? What am I supposed to do if you leave? How am I supposed to wait here, wondering if you'll even come back?"

Something in him cracked then. He pulled you closer, pressing his forehead against yours, his breath warm against your skin as he whispered, "If I could choose, (Y/N)... if I could, I'd stay. I'd stay with you, and we'd be together."

A silent moment passed, both of you standing there, breathing in the words he couldn't say. And then, with a deep breath, he pulled back and kissed you, desperate and fierce, like he was trying to remember every part of you, like he didn't want to let go. His fingers lingered on yours, like he was holding on to this last moment.

"If there's any chance I can return," he murmured, voice almost breaking, "I will. I swear it."

As he turned to go, you called out after him, your voice barely holding steady.

"Come back to me, Éomer."

He didn't look back, but you saw him nod, his words carrying like a promise in the dark. "I will."

And then he was gone, his shadow fading into the darkness beyond the castle walls.