Éomer Imagine: Hearts Fire.

Éomer Imagine: Hearts Fire. Part Sixteen

(Y/N) regretfully stuck to her promise, and solemnly waved her father off in the cool breeze of morning when he departed to continue his search for Yolina. The maid leaned up and pressed a small kiss to his cheek and then watched with a twinge of acute jealousy as Fredrin smoothly glided up onto his mare and pulled his knapsack tight against his back. "I wish you would let me come with you." The girl sighed, handing him a brimming water-skin.

"I know you do, my love. But you just stay here and stay safe. You hear me?" Fredrin glanced at her with an air of trepidation and an arched brow. "You stay in these walls. I will be back in a few days."

"Yes, yes. I promise." (Y/N) rolled her eyes and stomped down her sandal into the baked dirt.

Her father smiled sadly before he motioned for his horse to trot on out into the meadow, turning back his gaze only when he knew he was about to disappear from view. Fredrin gave (Y/N) a small wave of his mighty hand and then vanished into the dense brush of drying leaves that stretched out in sparse patches around the tundra. (Y/N) sighed dejectedly and stood for a while in the silence of the wind, while gathering herself and then slowly making her way to the golden hall, a resentment gradually building with each step she took away from the gates. She slumped into the servants quarters with a tense air, only to be greeted by an eagerly waiting Éowyn, who grinned as the pair hugged deeply.

"How are you?" The princess questioned as she grabbed onto her friends arm and started up the corridor. "I have not heard from you in a few days, I was starting to get worried."

"I'm okay, my lady. How are you feeling?" (Y/N) plastered on a fake smile and beamed at Éowyn enthusiastically, overly joyous given the current circumstances.

"Oh no you don't!-" Éowyn chuckled, studying the maids face. "-I can see right through that." The young royal smirked and yanked her closer to whisper in her ear. "I know you must feel saddened at my brother leaving in such a manor."

(Y/N) hesitated for a moment before she felt a knowing smile curl at the corners of her lips, almost tearing up at the thought of the intolerable distance. "I do, it upsets me. I will miss him greatly, but I'm sure the household will keep me busy."

"I will miss him also, but he is taking on the fight for a good cause. Éomer will be safe and will return when he can." The princess smiled beautifully, filling the air with a content confidence.

The pair slowly made their way into the great hall as they chatted nonchalantly, suddenly glancing upon the sight of Théoden King, who was sleeping in his ornate throne at the top of a short set of steps. Éowyn allowed her eyes to dart around, expecting to see Gríma pop up by his side, but the monarch sat unprotected except of the guard of two of Wormtongues men. The women both decided with a whisper to approach him cautiously, and had took the first few steps of advance, when a deafening scream filled the air. The two ladies felt their blood curdle at the heavy sound and Éowyn instantly broke into a run, heading off in the direction of the cries while panting with worry and terror. (Y/N) followed closely in her footsteps to find that a crowd had gathered outside the door of Théodreds room, gasping and placing their hands of their mouths at the sight that lay within. Once the maid had reached the door, her head began to spin as a young nurse was kneeling by the bed of the prince, wailing and moaning as his stiff body sat awkwardly on the floor, his limbs bent at wild angles as he had been trying to grip at the table by his bedside. His skin had turned a light shade of navy as the life had left his body several hours ago.