The Elf and Future King
folder
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
14
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Category:
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
14
Views:
2,232
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Meeting Theodred
Thanks to my beta Viv
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JRR Tolkien owes everything except Amrun.
Chapter Two
Meeting Theodred
Swimming peacefully in the cool water of the crystal clear lake, Amrun smiled in delight of the peacefulness of her blessed retreat. Sounds of horses coming towards the banks startled her out of her serenity. She moved swiftly to her clothes on the banks. Before she reached the banks, two men came from the trees on their large horses. Recognizing their armor and judging by their attire, Amrun could see they were men of rank from the Golden Hall of Meduseld. Thankfully, she had not yet reached the shallow end of the lake and moved to lower herself into the water further. Both men appeared more surprised to see her then she was to see them. From her viewpoint, the two men were total opposites save their sultry midnight eyes: one man was rugged with hair the shade of honey, the other boyish with a pitch-black mane.
“Have we interrupted you fair elf-maiden, or are my eyes playing tricks on me? Since when is an elf seen in the Riddermark?” the one man with the dark hair asked her with twinkling eyes lighting up his young face.
“If your eyes are playing tricks on you cousin, then mine are as well. Perhaps if all elves are as lovely as this blessed creature, we should bid them welcome in Rohan,” the other man responded.
Amrun's face blazed with fury at her predicament
“Perhaps it is for lack of manners from the riders of Rohan that keeps elves hidden from your eyes.” She retorted.
Both men chuckled. They seemed unable to turn away from the sight of her. Neither of them had seen an elf maiden before, and their first encounter with elven beauty was something of a revelation. She had long raven hair with eyes like emeralds and perfect skin like porcelain. She seemed entirely surrounded by a gossamer light that reflected on the water. Her high cheekbones had a soft blush, and her alluring full lips begged to be kissed. Even her delicately pointed elf ears seem bewitching to them.
“My lady, we have been hunting and felt the need to cool off with a swim, but it seems you claimed this lake as your own. Perhaps we could join you if we promise to improve our manners,” the darker one said, smiling in an arrogantly amused manner. “Éomer, do you think you could improve your boorish manners for a time?”
“Of course, Theodred, if it means this fair elf would not deprive us of her company.”
Amrun’s mind was conflicted. The way their eyes gazed over her made her very aware of her nudity. She should have known better to come to the lake. Despite the danger of being out in the open, her fascination of the water drew her to take a swim in the cool water on such a hot day. However, she did not want either of these arrogant men to feel as if they had bested her by chasing her out of her cherished water sanctuary. Her mother had long warned her about her temper and brazen behavior, yet her very nature wanted to shock the arrogance out of each of these men, especially the dark-haired one who still smiled at her.
“I feel that my swim has become less appealing. Feel free to swim to your hearts’ content,” she said with a smile.
Amrun then swam to the bank and, taking a deep breath, walked out of the water in all her glory. Her wet hair clung to her body, barely covering her breasts and leaving all else glistening and bare as the day she was born into this world. Gathering her clothes, she walked away from both men’s stunned faces.
A few paces into the forest, she hid behind a tree, leaning back against it and breathing heavy.
Unable to believe what she had just done, she smiled when she recalled their faces. This would not be something they would soon forget. Fortunately, these men were not the type to take advantage of her or she would certainly have encouraged that behavior. Realizing how dangerously foolish she had been, she reproached herself for her actions. Quickly slipping her dress over her head, she left off her undergarments so she could move quickly. Then as only elves can, she slipped quickly and quietly into the woods without a whisper of sound. Once she was a safe distance from them, she looked back. Both were sitting completely still, but their shock had turned into smiles and laughter.
“Did I just dream that, or was that the most beautiful sight I have ever seen?” the darker man exclaimed, looking at the other.
“Theodred, if this is a dream, it is one I do not wish to wake up from. If all elves are as beautiful and bold as that one, my heart no longer belongs to Rohan but to the elf maiden of the woods.”
“Dear cousin Éomer, keep in mind, I saw this beauty first. And, as the future king, I must demand first rights to the lovely water sprite,” Theodred responded arrogantly.
Swinging his leg over, Theodred jumped from his horse and walked to the tree Amrun had hidden behind. Without looking behind it, he asked her if she required any help getting dressed or finding her way home. When she did not respond to him, he peeked around the tree.
“She has gone!”
Éomer dismounted as well.
“She could not have gone far. We would have heard her walking through the leaves,” he replied.
Amrun smiled as they both looked around for her, exasperated. Her heart was pounding and she realized she was holding her breath. She tried taking deep breaths to calm herself but was unsuccessful. The king’s son! No wonder the arrogance he had. Perhaps he believed her willing to bow down before the future king. But she was not subject to a king even the King of Rohan although she had lived in Rohan for all of her years.
With her mother, Inwë, she had lived in the forest areas and kept away from the Rohirrim as much as possible. The elves Inwë had lived with previously had all been murdered along with Amrun’s father when Amrun was but an elfling. Inwë had fled with her child, barely making it to safety. Seeking the solitude of the deep woods of Rohan, Inwë had thought it was their safest choice, for they were too far from Imladris for her to make it there by herself with a small child.
They had stayed away from the people of Rohan whenever possible. If they encountered others of this land or had to go to the closest village, they hid their telltale elf ears and usually kept their faces down and their eyes averted. This was the first time Amrun had ever been caught unaware in her life.
Two winters ago when Inwë had been killed by orcs that had come through the forest on one of their evil errands, Amrun had withdrawn even further into the forest, rarely leaving the area close to her house. The house was hard to see unless someone knew to look for it. Inwë had found it abandoned and in horrible condition when they made their home in these woods a century ago. Having few options, she had traded some of her jewelry for the tools and supplies to make the place livable. When Amrun was older, the two of them had worked hard to make it a simple but cozy home. After living there so long and making it their own home, even when Amrun was old enough, Inwë had been reluctant to go to Imladris or Lothlórien.
Amrun did not always behave as proper elf. Her mother was the only elf she had as a role model. And although, Amrun’s mother did try to teach her the elven ways, since Inwë was the head of the household and had to make sure that everything from food to shelter was provided, Amrun frequently picked up her other attributes such as independence and determination when she was a young child. As she grew up, she began to help with household duties and soon became as competent as her mother with running of the house.
Fearing for her daughter’s safety due to her naïveté, Inwë warned her frequently about the lusts of mortal man. She told Amrun that some men were not honorable and would think nothing of taking her innocence then tossing her aside. When they were in the village, she would warn her of the soldiers. While some were very honorable, others were not, so she must always be careful to not get caught in a web of seduction. Inwë worried that her daughter would love a mortal someday, and she tried desperately to impress on Amrun’s young mind that mortals and elf-kind could not love each other without heartbreak. Inwë knew that someday that she had to go to live in one of the elven realms so Amrun was exposed other elves. But since the death of her husband and the horror of the orc attack that claimed his life, Inwë was reluctant to try to travel that far due to the dangers of the world now.
Inwë did not realize that her fears and warnings had such adverse effects on her daughter. Amrun grew distrustful of mortal men, fearing their motives. She became shy around others and feared that because she was different she would not be accepted. Sometimes she felt uncomfortable in her own skin because she felt she did not belong to the world of men nor did she belong to the world of elves, really. She never told her mother her fears, however, because she did not want to upset Inwë .
When Inwë was killed, Amrun grew more fearful and withdrawn. Her loneliness after her mother died caused her to become more insecure of her place in this world. She did not know what to do after Inwë died so she stayed in her house in the woods, despite the danger. She felt she could not go to the Rohan village to live: she was certain she would be rejected because she was elf-kind. She could not ride a horse, nor did she own a horse, and it would be dangerous for her to go to an elven city by foot. So she spent many days lonely and afraid, having very little joy or happiness in her life. The lake sanctuary had quickly become the one joy she indulged herself in. Usually she was more cautious than she had been today.
These were the first men she had come in contact with for many years. She had forgotten how the otherworldly beauty of the elves, including her, was sometimes hard to conceal from men, even from afar. She was pleased by their assessment of her beauty, for she had never been called beautiful, save by her mother.
When she looked upon the men now searching for her, she realized that they were both pleasing to look at. The fairest one had a strong build, which alluded to his strength, and she felt he would be a fierce and brave warrior. The darker one, this Theodred as his cousin called him, made her feel warmth in her body that she had never felt before. She felt heat rise to her face in a blush as if he could hear her thoughts. So curious was she, she did not hear the sounds from behind her.
“A she-elf all alone,” came a harsh voice.
Amrun whirled around and stared into the eyes of an orc. She quickly realized there were not one but three yrch. Their foul smell was thick and permeated the air; Amrun felt sick. Fear and disgust washed over her in waves.
“Do we keep her for ourselves or take her to the White Wizard?” the second one asked, reaching out and touching her wet hair, making her skin crawl.
Amrun gasped and jerked away from him. She started feeling around in the remaining clothes she was carrying for the hunting blade that she kept with her. The larger orc grabbed her hand and threw the clothes to the ground. He leaned over and picked up the blade.
“Were you searching for this?” he asked with evil grin.
“Yes, you orc scum,” she retorted.
Amrun felt a hard blow to her head from the orc and almost blacked out. Her situation had turned dire. Before she knew what to do, she felt an arrow whiz by her head and straight into the forehead of the orc. As he fell, the other orcs growled and started to run. Theodred and Éomer came from behind her, running. Theodred sliced into the second orc with his sword. While Éomer chased down the third orc and drove his sword into the creature’s back, Theodred bent over the two orcs on the ground making sure they were dead.
Theodred grabbed her arm and asked if she had been harmed. Too stunned to say anything, she nodded, causing her head to throb. Blood had started trickling down her face, and she looked down to see black blood from the orcs had splashed onto her white dress. Overwhelmed by the shock of the confrontation with the very creatures that had murdered everyone she had ever known, she fainted into his arms.
When she awoke, she was lying on her back looking at the green leaves of the trees above. She had been moved back to the lake and one of the men had washed the blood from her face.
“Theodred, she is awake,” Éomer, who was sitting near her, said softly
Theodred ran to her side. She tried to sit up and once, again the blackness started closing in.
“Slowly, do not try to sit up too quickly or you will only faint again,” he said. “How do you feel? Do you want some water?”
“I think I am well, although I feel like the world is moving quickly around me,” she replied, confused.
Theodred’s closeness disturbed her. Once again, she felt the heat of a blush come to her face. She did not understand why this man was having this affect on her. Maybe it was her encounter with the orc and the blow to her head. As she slowly sat up, she realized that her hair was almost dry. She must have fainted some time ago.
Éomer and Theodred both allowed her to sit up but kept their hands on her elbows for support. The look of concern on their faces made her feel shamed for her thinking earlier that they were arrogant. Maybe they were brave and honorable men and she had misjudged them.
“Darkness will fall soon, and I do not think we need to be in these woods after dark. We will take you home and stay with you until you are well,” Theodred said softly and pulled her slowly to her feet.
Amrun swayed slightly, and he held her tightly, causing her even more discomfort at his mere touch. Without any thought, she explained to her rescuers how to find her home, which had been hidden from all men her whole life.
Theodred mounted his horse, and Éomer helped her into the saddle in front of Theodred. He wrapped his arms around her, and she leaned back on his chest. Once Éomer had mounted his horse, they both started into the woods to her home. She had never been on a horse before, and at first she was scared. Theodred’s arms around her calmed her. His closeness and the musky scent of him were causing her to once again become warm, even though the night had gotten cold. She shivered at the feel of the cold air on her warm skin.
“Are you cold?” he whispered in her ear and held her closer.
His breath was now on her neck, and the sudden warmth rendered her speechless. They rode the rest of the way in silence. Once they came to her small house, he helped Éomer get her off the horse gently and then jumped down. As soon as her feet were on the ground, she felt dizzy and slightly nauseous so she went to lie down while the men unsaddled their horses. Soon she fell asleep.
Amrun awoke in her bed. Looking up, she saw Theodred sitting beside her, bathed in candlelight.
“Perhaps before you faint or fall asleep again, you should at least give me your name, fair lady,” he smiled
“Amrun, my name is Amrun,” she said softly.
“Amrun, such a beautiful name. What does it mean?”
“It is Elvish for sunrise,” she responded.
“Not quite as beautiful as you perhaps, but beautiful none-the-less.”
As the blush flamed to her face, he chuckled.
“A blush from a maiden who earlier today walked out of water in naught but her skin. Perhaps that bump on your head is worse than we thought.”
Theodred ran his hand over her temple, causing her to pull away.
“Does my touch offend you so much, my lady?” he asked.
“No!” she said without thinking. “Only it hurts where you touched me.”
Theodred stared deeply into her eyes without saying anything. His eyes were so dark they looked black in the candlelight. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze, but she was too proud to look away first.
“Where is Éomer?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“Perhaps his touch is less offensive to you?” Theodred asked harshly as he rose from the bed, turning his back on her and walking away.
“He has gone to find some food since it appears you have none here and apparently you cannot be left alone or you might find yourself in more trouble.”
Theodred heard an indignant gasp behind him and turned to look upon her angry eyes.
“I would be a fool not to prefer any man’s touch to yours. I have done well without you for over a hundred years. Maybe you are just a curse on me that has caused me bad fortune as of late! If you were to leave now and never stray here again, I would be perfectly fine without you.” Her eyes had narrowed as she jumped off the bed.
Amrun, however, jumped up too quickly and started to sway again. Theodred rushed over to catch her, but she fell on the bed, throwing him off balance as well, which caused him to fall with her. His weight on her and their sudden closeness caught her off guard. Recovering quickly, she tried to squirm away from him.
“Relax. I will not hurt you and I did not mean to end up in your bed so soon. Not that I am complaining, of course, but I do not usually have to throw myself at a woman to get her into bed,” he smirked
At this point, Amrun was fuming. She squirmed and wiggled even more to get him off her. Even as she did so, she felt the heat coursing through her body.
“I would appreciate it if you got off me and left me alone,” she said, furious.
Amrun put her hands on his chest and pushed as hard as she could. She could not believe how strong he was and was amazed at the feel of his muscles beneath his shirt. She felt his hand cupping her face and her eyes flew to his.
“That is not hatred I see in your eyes. Rather anger at yourself for feeling such passion for me. Have you ever felt passion, Amrun? The burning in your body that takes your breath away as you wait for one touch, one kiss from the man whom you desire? Have your lips ever been kissed until they felt like they were on fire? Do not be afraid. I will not hurt you, nor will I force myself on you, but I will kiss you. And if you do not stop me, I might continue kissing you until you beg me to stop.”
At that point, he lowered his head and caught her lower lip in between his teeth, lightly sucking on it. Then using his tongue, he traced the outline of her lips. He covered her slightly opened mouth with his lips, taking her breath away. As the kiss deepened, he pushed his tongue into her mouth. As this was her first kiss, she almost pulled away from him in surprise, but then she allowed him to taste her mouth fully. His hands moved from her face into her thick hair, and as he did so he brushed his fingers by her ears causing her to moan lightly. He nibbled on her lip as he was stroked her hair.
After a moment, Theodred pulled slightly away from her and said her name softly. Her eyes opened and she took a deep shaky breath. He did not look smug like she expected; rather he looked surprised and flustered himself, but his eyes burned with passion.
“You are so beautiful. I have never seen anyone or anything as beautiful as you are. I want to kiss you again, but I am afraid if I start, I will never stop. I do not want to take advantage of your weakened condition or your innocence. I have never tasted anything so sweet as your lips, and they cause my thoughts to become confused. Can you put your pride aside for one moment and tell me, my lady, if you felt as passionate as I did when I kissed you?” He sat back, giving her space to move if she wanted to.
Amrun sat up and touched his lips gently. As she ran her fingers along his face tracing his cheekbones and his brow, she looked into his eyes. When she spoke, it was very softly and as she was saying it she moved closer to him.
“I know nothing of kisses or passion as you say. You are the first man to ever kiss me or touch me the way you have. Is this passion I feel? This burning in my whole body that makes me want to touch or have you touch me again? Is that passion? Then, if so, then yes, I also feel passion for you, Theodred. I feel like I cannot breathe or think about anything but your lips, your tongue, your….”
Before she could say another word she had touched his lips with her own. He let her lead the kiss because he did not trust himself to touch her yet. She timidly put her tongue into his mouth, and he caught it with his own. When she lightly moaned, feeling his tongue rubbing hers, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. She gasped, feeling his solid chest against her own. He pulled her so that she was almost on his lap never once letting go of her lips. He then trailed his lips down her neck and kissed every inch of her neck as she breathed deeply unable to say or do anything. When his lips came to the neckline of her dress, he stopped suddenly.
“We must stop. If we do not, I will make love to you, and I would not want to so dishonor you. I do not want you to hate me for taking advantage of you. I am afraid this is all a dream and when I wake you will be gone, which would break my heart.” Then smiling, he said, “ My little elf maiden, I fear you have put a spell on me and I will never leave your side.”
Amrun blushed again and tried to recover from his kisses. Coming to her senses again, she realized that if Éomer were to walk in now, he would know what had transpired between her and Theodred.
“Theodred, you must get up. If Éomer were to see us, he would know what we were doing and think ill of me. After my behavior earlier, I would not be surprised if both of you thought I am anything but innocent.”
As she slowly left the bed, she tried to get far away from him. She walked across the room trying to clear her thoughts. When she looked back at him, he was smiling.
“Are you so worried about what anyone thinks of you? When I first saw you this morning, I thought you were a vision. When you got out of the water and proudly walked into the forest, I thought you were a goddess, for only a divine being could look so bold and powerful in nothing but her skin. Éomer’s thoughts of you are surely the same. He would fall in love with you if he were given the chance. But I do not mean to give him that chance. I would have my hands, my lips, and my body be the only one that ever touches yours. If this is a spell, I do not know, but I would give up my very life to have you as my own.”
Amrun smiled. Then her smile faded and her eyes were sad.
“Do not think me a fool, Theodred. You desire me but I also know that the son of the king would lay with an elf but not love one. I do not know what I was thinking letting you touch me the way you have. I have no desire to be with a man for his pleasure then tossed aside. I am not of your world, nor would I belong there, so we could never be together.”
Theodred got off the bed and walked towards her slowly, looking her in the eyes. He took her chin in his hand.
“You are a fool if you think desire is all that I feel. For from this day forward, there is no other woman who could ever compare to you, and I will have no other.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“I will prove to you my intentions before I will touch you again with such desire, unless you ask it of me.” He pulled away from her, and she was speechless.
“Now Éomer will be here soon and you should put on some different clothes. The orc blood on your dress makes me remember how close you were to dying today.”
Careful to keep herself hidden from both the open door -- and Theodred -- Amrun rushed to change her clothing. Her thoughts were confused. She thought him to be the arrogant son of a king who took what he wanted and left it behind when he was done with it. She had never known any other man, so she did not know what to expect. Her father was but a distant memory. Her mother rarely had spoken of him due to her own grief, so all Amrun knew of him was her small bits of memory. Since she grew up away from men, she had nothing to compare Theodred to. Perhaps all men were like him, despite what her mother had said. She did not know, but she intended to keep her guard up, fearful of being hurt.
When she was dressed, she went back to the fire and was pleased to see that Éomer was now in the room.
“You look much better than before. Before when you were covered in blood, not better than by the lake earlier.” He winked, causing her to blush.
Theodred did not smile as he said, “Cousin, do not forget your manners, lest I am forcedto beat them into you.”
Éomer was silent as he looked back at his cousin. For a minute Amrun thought they would come to blows, but then he turned and looked at her as though he finally understood. She looked away.
“Forgive me, my lady.”
“My name is Amrun. Please call me Amrun.”
Over the next week, Éomer and Theodred stayed with her. Theodred said it was to make sure she recovered and to watch after her while she did. But Amrun had an idea that Éomer knew as well as she that he was not ready to leave her, choosing to forget his obligations and duties and hide here in the woods with her.
One day when they were out walking, Theodred left her alone with Éomer for a short time. Éomer looked at her and smiled.
“Why do you smile?” she asked.
“I am just wondering how you were going to feel when he leaves, or if you will come with us.”
“I cannot come with you. I am an elf and would not fit in very well in Rohan.”
“Why? What about going into one of the villages of Rohan? I imagine you would be accepted there.”
“No, but I would not be accepted because I am elf-kind. Do you have many elves in Rohan?”
“No, you are right about that. But if you came back with Theodred and me, no one would dare question what right you had to be there,” he replied with conviction.
“So I could live in shame as people speculated about my relationships with you or Theodred. Or are you foolish enough to believe that the king would accept the relationship of his only son and an elf. No, Éomer, there is no place for me but here.”
Theodred walked up as they were talking in time to hear what she said. “You cannot stay here. It is not safe for you now. The orcs run freely through our lands now, and Isengard has fallen into darkness as well. We will not leave you here to die,” he told her sternly.
“You do not have a choice. It is not your decision to make,” she responded.
“I will not allow you to stay here and be murdered like your mother and so many others in this land,” Theodred snapped at her.
“Allow me? I have not asked for your permission. While I do not look it, I am much older than you are. And though I am young by Elf standards, I am quite wise compared to men. You are but a child to me, and you will not tell me where I can and cannot live. In fact, maybe it would be best if you went back to your Golden Hall at Meduseld and hid behind your father’s throne and left me at peace,” she retorted.
Amrun turned on her heel and ran away from the two men into the woods, trying to get as far from Theodred and his arrogance as she could. Hot tears spilled over her cheeks. She knew she cared for him, but she also knew that it could never be. She did not even know what she was to him now. Maybe it was better that they did not pursue any type of relationship; she could go through a lesser heartache now rather than she would have to endure later when her feelings grew deeper. She felt foolish for daring to hope that she could be part of his life, even when she knew in her heart that she could not.
If the woods were not safe anymore, maybe she should go to Lothlórien, Mirkwood, or Rivendell.
Still upset and confused, Amrun stayed in the woods for a long time, wandering the familiar paths. It did not surprise her that she walked her way eventually to the spot where she first met Theodred. The sun was setting, and it was reflecting on the water, making it more beautiful and peaceful than usual. She heard voices and ran back into the trees, but she relaxed when she saw that it was the two men. While she did not want to see either of them, they were not going to harm her like others in the woods might.
“Éomer, I will not leave her behind. If I have to tie her up and throw her over Brego’s back, I will do it.”
“I know you will. But if you want her to love you, I would not advise such a course. She has as much fire and stubbornness to her as Éowyn does. How many times have we tried to convince my sister to do something for her own good, only to have her refuse even more strongly? No, Theodred, you need to use some sense here. Talk to her, reason with her. Give her options like you would a man in your charge. If you treat her like a mere woman, she will never give in and you will lose her forever. She is so fearful of being rejected, or worse, perceived as just your lover to be used up and tossed aside for another, that she will not bend on this. You know as well as I do that your father will not accept her as a suitable wife. He expects that you will marry for status more than for love. But until you decide how you want Amrun to be a part of your life and how to resolve these other issues, you need to take her out of harm’s way. Worry about the rest at a later time. Bring her to someone in one of the smaller villages, someone you trust to protect her. Someone she can live with someone who she will not feel is being judgmental about your relationship. As long as she is not in Edoras, your father will never know, and, therefore, you will not have to worry about his reaction for the time being.”
Theodred was quiet for a few minutes as he watched the water. Smiling, he turned to Éomer. “When did you become wiser than me?”
Éomer sighed, then smirked, “I always have been, only you are too arrogant to admit it.”
Chuckling softly, Theodred again looked over the water. He was quiet, deep in thought for a few minutes.
Finally, he said, “I know someone who she can live with that I can trust. Plus he and his wife have many relatives and friends from far off regions. We could come up with a logical story to explain who she is, and neither he nor his family would question it. This way I will know she is protected and I can also see her as often as possible because it is not far from Edoras. But how do I convince her?”
Amrun stepped from the trees where she had been listening to them. The two men turned to look at her.
Amrun sighed, then looked at Theodred. “You already have convinced me. I will go, if you feel I would be in danger here. But I will come back to my home when it is safe. I can only promise to stay while there is danger.”
For a year, she lived with a nice family on a farm that was not within a village but near one. They were close by Edoras but far enough away that Amrun was out of the notice of Theodred’s family, other than Éomer. The family she lived with treated her kindly, and she soon grew very comfortable with them. She saw Theodred and Éomer when they were not off on duties of their own. They would spend hours together, either taking walks or having a picnic as the two men bantered between themselves causing her to laugh. They both tried to teach her how to ride a horse but she was so fearful that the horses inevitably sensed it and began to act nervously, which caused her to become more frightened. Finally, the two men gave up trying, deciding to wait until she was a little more trusting of the horses.
Theodred joked that her riding inexperience was convenient; it was an excuse to hold her close to him while he took her riding.
Sometimes, Éomer would come to see her without Theodred as well, and he would tell her of his life growing up in Edoras. She rarely spoke of her life, save her memories of her mother and limited memories of her father. Éomer often spoke of his parents, and they shared the bond of losing their parents. Sometimes she would sense him watching her, but when she would look up, he would look away.
When she was alone with Theodred, he often took her away from the farmhouse and would just hold her in his arms as they watched the sun set over the plains of Rohan He would kiss her for hours, and his touch made her ache for him. Over time, she fell in love with Theodred and cared deeply for Éomer as well. As her relationship with Theodred grew more intense, he became tired of the secrecy and wanted her to be closer to him and to be a part of his life in all aspects.
The last time she saw Theodred, he had decided that he would tell his father that he would give up the throne before he would give up his relationship with her, if that was what the king demanded. Theoden had become less of a king of late anyway. He kept counsel with Grima Wormtongue, who tried to convince the king many times that Éomer and Theodred were at fault for the problems with the orcs and the distrust of Isengard. Telling her he loved her as he kissed her passionately, Theodred had left planning to talk to Éomer of his decision before he spoke to his father. He hoped Éomer could lend him support, if his father grew upset.
Amrun did not know if he ever made it to Edoras. She was kidnapped by orcs and uruks the next day and taken to Isengard. Fortunately, Saruman had ordered her captors not to touch her, or she did not know what would have happened to her.
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JRR Tolkien owes everything except Amrun.
Chapter Two
Meeting Theodred
Swimming peacefully in the cool water of the crystal clear lake, Amrun smiled in delight of the peacefulness of her blessed retreat. Sounds of horses coming towards the banks startled her out of her serenity. She moved swiftly to her clothes on the banks. Before she reached the banks, two men came from the trees on their large horses. Recognizing their armor and judging by their attire, Amrun could see they were men of rank from the Golden Hall of Meduseld. Thankfully, she had not yet reached the shallow end of the lake and moved to lower herself into the water further. Both men appeared more surprised to see her then she was to see them. From her viewpoint, the two men were total opposites save their sultry midnight eyes: one man was rugged with hair the shade of honey, the other boyish with a pitch-black mane.
“Have we interrupted you fair elf-maiden, or are my eyes playing tricks on me? Since when is an elf seen in the Riddermark?” the one man with the dark hair asked her with twinkling eyes lighting up his young face.
“If your eyes are playing tricks on you cousin, then mine are as well. Perhaps if all elves are as lovely as this blessed creature, we should bid them welcome in Rohan,” the other man responded.
Amrun's face blazed with fury at her predicament
“Perhaps it is for lack of manners from the riders of Rohan that keeps elves hidden from your eyes.” She retorted.
Both men chuckled. They seemed unable to turn away from the sight of her. Neither of them had seen an elf maiden before, and their first encounter with elven beauty was something of a revelation. She had long raven hair with eyes like emeralds and perfect skin like porcelain. She seemed entirely surrounded by a gossamer light that reflected on the water. Her high cheekbones had a soft blush, and her alluring full lips begged to be kissed. Even her delicately pointed elf ears seem bewitching to them.
“My lady, we have been hunting and felt the need to cool off with a swim, but it seems you claimed this lake as your own. Perhaps we could join you if we promise to improve our manners,” the darker one said, smiling in an arrogantly amused manner. “Éomer, do you think you could improve your boorish manners for a time?”
“Of course, Theodred, if it means this fair elf would not deprive us of her company.”
Amrun’s mind was conflicted. The way their eyes gazed over her made her very aware of her nudity. She should have known better to come to the lake. Despite the danger of being out in the open, her fascination of the water drew her to take a swim in the cool water on such a hot day. However, she did not want either of these arrogant men to feel as if they had bested her by chasing her out of her cherished water sanctuary. Her mother had long warned her about her temper and brazen behavior, yet her very nature wanted to shock the arrogance out of each of these men, especially the dark-haired one who still smiled at her.
“I feel that my swim has become less appealing. Feel free to swim to your hearts’ content,” she said with a smile.
Amrun then swam to the bank and, taking a deep breath, walked out of the water in all her glory. Her wet hair clung to her body, barely covering her breasts and leaving all else glistening and bare as the day she was born into this world. Gathering her clothes, she walked away from both men’s stunned faces.
A few paces into the forest, she hid behind a tree, leaning back against it and breathing heavy.
Unable to believe what she had just done, she smiled when she recalled their faces. This would not be something they would soon forget. Fortunately, these men were not the type to take advantage of her or she would certainly have encouraged that behavior. Realizing how dangerously foolish she had been, she reproached herself for her actions. Quickly slipping her dress over her head, she left off her undergarments so she could move quickly. Then as only elves can, she slipped quickly and quietly into the woods without a whisper of sound. Once she was a safe distance from them, she looked back. Both were sitting completely still, but their shock had turned into smiles and laughter.
“Did I just dream that, or was that the most beautiful sight I have ever seen?” the darker man exclaimed, looking at the other.
“Theodred, if this is a dream, it is one I do not wish to wake up from. If all elves are as beautiful and bold as that one, my heart no longer belongs to Rohan but to the elf maiden of the woods.”
“Dear cousin Éomer, keep in mind, I saw this beauty first. And, as the future king, I must demand first rights to the lovely water sprite,” Theodred responded arrogantly.
Swinging his leg over, Theodred jumped from his horse and walked to the tree Amrun had hidden behind. Without looking behind it, he asked her if she required any help getting dressed or finding her way home. When she did not respond to him, he peeked around the tree.
“She has gone!”
Éomer dismounted as well.
“She could not have gone far. We would have heard her walking through the leaves,” he replied.
Amrun smiled as they both looked around for her, exasperated. Her heart was pounding and she realized she was holding her breath. She tried taking deep breaths to calm herself but was unsuccessful. The king’s son! No wonder the arrogance he had. Perhaps he believed her willing to bow down before the future king. But she was not subject to a king even the King of Rohan although she had lived in Rohan for all of her years.
With her mother, Inwë, she had lived in the forest areas and kept away from the Rohirrim as much as possible. The elves Inwë had lived with previously had all been murdered along with Amrun’s father when Amrun was but an elfling. Inwë had fled with her child, barely making it to safety. Seeking the solitude of the deep woods of Rohan, Inwë had thought it was their safest choice, for they were too far from Imladris for her to make it there by herself with a small child.
They had stayed away from the people of Rohan whenever possible. If they encountered others of this land or had to go to the closest village, they hid their telltale elf ears and usually kept their faces down and their eyes averted. This was the first time Amrun had ever been caught unaware in her life.
Two winters ago when Inwë had been killed by orcs that had come through the forest on one of their evil errands, Amrun had withdrawn even further into the forest, rarely leaving the area close to her house. The house was hard to see unless someone knew to look for it. Inwë had found it abandoned and in horrible condition when they made their home in these woods a century ago. Having few options, she had traded some of her jewelry for the tools and supplies to make the place livable. When Amrun was older, the two of them had worked hard to make it a simple but cozy home. After living there so long and making it their own home, even when Amrun was old enough, Inwë had been reluctant to go to Imladris or Lothlórien.
Amrun did not always behave as proper elf. Her mother was the only elf she had as a role model. And although, Amrun’s mother did try to teach her the elven ways, since Inwë was the head of the household and had to make sure that everything from food to shelter was provided, Amrun frequently picked up her other attributes such as independence and determination when she was a young child. As she grew up, she began to help with household duties and soon became as competent as her mother with running of the house.
Fearing for her daughter’s safety due to her naïveté, Inwë warned her frequently about the lusts of mortal man. She told Amrun that some men were not honorable and would think nothing of taking her innocence then tossing her aside. When they were in the village, she would warn her of the soldiers. While some were very honorable, others were not, so she must always be careful to not get caught in a web of seduction. Inwë worried that her daughter would love a mortal someday, and she tried desperately to impress on Amrun’s young mind that mortals and elf-kind could not love each other without heartbreak. Inwë knew that someday that she had to go to live in one of the elven realms so Amrun was exposed other elves. But since the death of her husband and the horror of the orc attack that claimed his life, Inwë was reluctant to try to travel that far due to the dangers of the world now.
Inwë did not realize that her fears and warnings had such adverse effects on her daughter. Amrun grew distrustful of mortal men, fearing their motives. She became shy around others and feared that because she was different she would not be accepted. Sometimes she felt uncomfortable in her own skin because she felt she did not belong to the world of men nor did she belong to the world of elves, really. She never told her mother her fears, however, because she did not want to upset Inwë .
When Inwë was killed, Amrun grew more fearful and withdrawn. Her loneliness after her mother died caused her to become more insecure of her place in this world. She did not know what to do after Inwë died so she stayed in her house in the woods, despite the danger. She felt she could not go to the Rohan village to live: she was certain she would be rejected because she was elf-kind. She could not ride a horse, nor did she own a horse, and it would be dangerous for her to go to an elven city by foot. So she spent many days lonely and afraid, having very little joy or happiness in her life. The lake sanctuary had quickly become the one joy she indulged herself in. Usually she was more cautious than she had been today.
These were the first men she had come in contact with for many years. She had forgotten how the otherworldly beauty of the elves, including her, was sometimes hard to conceal from men, even from afar. She was pleased by their assessment of her beauty, for she had never been called beautiful, save by her mother.
When she looked upon the men now searching for her, she realized that they were both pleasing to look at. The fairest one had a strong build, which alluded to his strength, and she felt he would be a fierce and brave warrior. The darker one, this Theodred as his cousin called him, made her feel warmth in her body that she had never felt before. She felt heat rise to her face in a blush as if he could hear her thoughts. So curious was she, she did not hear the sounds from behind her.
“A she-elf all alone,” came a harsh voice.
Amrun whirled around and stared into the eyes of an orc. She quickly realized there were not one but three yrch. Their foul smell was thick and permeated the air; Amrun felt sick. Fear and disgust washed over her in waves.
“Do we keep her for ourselves or take her to the White Wizard?” the second one asked, reaching out and touching her wet hair, making her skin crawl.
Amrun gasped and jerked away from him. She started feeling around in the remaining clothes she was carrying for the hunting blade that she kept with her. The larger orc grabbed her hand and threw the clothes to the ground. He leaned over and picked up the blade.
“Were you searching for this?” he asked with evil grin.
“Yes, you orc scum,” she retorted.
Amrun felt a hard blow to her head from the orc and almost blacked out. Her situation had turned dire. Before she knew what to do, she felt an arrow whiz by her head and straight into the forehead of the orc. As he fell, the other orcs growled and started to run. Theodred and Éomer came from behind her, running. Theodred sliced into the second orc with his sword. While Éomer chased down the third orc and drove his sword into the creature’s back, Theodred bent over the two orcs on the ground making sure they were dead.
Theodred grabbed her arm and asked if she had been harmed. Too stunned to say anything, she nodded, causing her head to throb. Blood had started trickling down her face, and she looked down to see black blood from the orcs had splashed onto her white dress. Overwhelmed by the shock of the confrontation with the very creatures that had murdered everyone she had ever known, she fainted into his arms.
When she awoke, she was lying on her back looking at the green leaves of the trees above. She had been moved back to the lake and one of the men had washed the blood from her face.
“Theodred, she is awake,” Éomer, who was sitting near her, said softly
Theodred ran to her side. She tried to sit up and once, again the blackness started closing in.
“Slowly, do not try to sit up too quickly or you will only faint again,” he said. “How do you feel? Do you want some water?”
“I think I am well, although I feel like the world is moving quickly around me,” she replied, confused.
Theodred’s closeness disturbed her. Once again, she felt the heat of a blush come to her face. She did not understand why this man was having this affect on her. Maybe it was her encounter with the orc and the blow to her head. As she slowly sat up, she realized that her hair was almost dry. She must have fainted some time ago.
Éomer and Theodred both allowed her to sit up but kept their hands on her elbows for support. The look of concern on their faces made her feel shamed for her thinking earlier that they were arrogant. Maybe they were brave and honorable men and she had misjudged them.
“Darkness will fall soon, and I do not think we need to be in these woods after dark. We will take you home and stay with you until you are well,” Theodred said softly and pulled her slowly to her feet.
Amrun swayed slightly, and he held her tightly, causing her even more discomfort at his mere touch. Without any thought, she explained to her rescuers how to find her home, which had been hidden from all men her whole life.
Theodred mounted his horse, and Éomer helped her into the saddle in front of Theodred. He wrapped his arms around her, and she leaned back on his chest. Once Éomer had mounted his horse, they both started into the woods to her home. She had never been on a horse before, and at first she was scared. Theodred’s arms around her calmed her. His closeness and the musky scent of him were causing her to once again become warm, even though the night had gotten cold. She shivered at the feel of the cold air on her warm skin.
“Are you cold?” he whispered in her ear and held her closer.
His breath was now on her neck, and the sudden warmth rendered her speechless. They rode the rest of the way in silence. Once they came to her small house, he helped Éomer get her off the horse gently and then jumped down. As soon as her feet were on the ground, she felt dizzy and slightly nauseous so she went to lie down while the men unsaddled their horses. Soon she fell asleep.
Amrun awoke in her bed. Looking up, she saw Theodred sitting beside her, bathed in candlelight.
“Perhaps before you faint or fall asleep again, you should at least give me your name, fair lady,” he smiled
“Amrun, my name is Amrun,” she said softly.
“Amrun, such a beautiful name. What does it mean?”
“It is Elvish for sunrise,” she responded.
“Not quite as beautiful as you perhaps, but beautiful none-the-less.”
As the blush flamed to her face, he chuckled.
“A blush from a maiden who earlier today walked out of water in naught but her skin. Perhaps that bump on your head is worse than we thought.”
Theodred ran his hand over her temple, causing her to pull away.
“Does my touch offend you so much, my lady?” he asked.
“No!” she said without thinking. “Only it hurts where you touched me.”
Theodred stared deeply into her eyes without saying anything. His eyes were so dark they looked black in the candlelight. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze, but she was too proud to look away first.
“Where is Éomer?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“Perhaps his touch is less offensive to you?” Theodred asked harshly as he rose from the bed, turning his back on her and walking away.
“He has gone to find some food since it appears you have none here and apparently you cannot be left alone or you might find yourself in more trouble.”
Theodred heard an indignant gasp behind him and turned to look upon her angry eyes.
“I would be a fool not to prefer any man’s touch to yours. I have done well without you for over a hundred years. Maybe you are just a curse on me that has caused me bad fortune as of late! If you were to leave now and never stray here again, I would be perfectly fine without you.” Her eyes had narrowed as she jumped off the bed.
Amrun, however, jumped up too quickly and started to sway again. Theodred rushed over to catch her, but she fell on the bed, throwing him off balance as well, which caused him to fall with her. His weight on her and their sudden closeness caught her off guard. Recovering quickly, she tried to squirm away from him.
“Relax. I will not hurt you and I did not mean to end up in your bed so soon. Not that I am complaining, of course, but I do not usually have to throw myself at a woman to get her into bed,” he smirked
At this point, Amrun was fuming. She squirmed and wiggled even more to get him off her. Even as she did so, she felt the heat coursing through her body.
“I would appreciate it if you got off me and left me alone,” she said, furious.
Amrun put her hands on his chest and pushed as hard as she could. She could not believe how strong he was and was amazed at the feel of his muscles beneath his shirt. She felt his hand cupping her face and her eyes flew to his.
“That is not hatred I see in your eyes. Rather anger at yourself for feeling such passion for me. Have you ever felt passion, Amrun? The burning in your body that takes your breath away as you wait for one touch, one kiss from the man whom you desire? Have your lips ever been kissed until they felt like they were on fire? Do not be afraid. I will not hurt you, nor will I force myself on you, but I will kiss you. And if you do not stop me, I might continue kissing you until you beg me to stop.”
At that point, he lowered his head and caught her lower lip in between his teeth, lightly sucking on it. Then using his tongue, he traced the outline of her lips. He covered her slightly opened mouth with his lips, taking her breath away. As the kiss deepened, he pushed his tongue into her mouth. As this was her first kiss, she almost pulled away from him in surprise, but then she allowed him to taste her mouth fully. His hands moved from her face into her thick hair, and as he did so he brushed his fingers by her ears causing her to moan lightly. He nibbled on her lip as he was stroked her hair.
After a moment, Theodred pulled slightly away from her and said her name softly. Her eyes opened and she took a deep shaky breath. He did not look smug like she expected; rather he looked surprised and flustered himself, but his eyes burned with passion.
“You are so beautiful. I have never seen anyone or anything as beautiful as you are. I want to kiss you again, but I am afraid if I start, I will never stop. I do not want to take advantage of your weakened condition or your innocence. I have never tasted anything so sweet as your lips, and they cause my thoughts to become confused. Can you put your pride aside for one moment and tell me, my lady, if you felt as passionate as I did when I kissed you?” He sat back, giving her space to move if she wanted to.
Amrun sat up and touched his lips gently. As she ran her fingers along his face tracing his cheekbones and his brow, she looked into his eyes. When she spoke, it was very softly and as she was saying it she moved closer to him.
“I know nothing of kisses or passion as you say. You are the first man to ever kiss me or touch me the way you have. Is this passion I feel? This burning in my whole body that makes me want to touch or have you touch me again? Is that passion? Then, if so, then yes, I also feel passion for you, Theodred. I feel like I cannot breathe or think about anything but your lips, your tongue, your….”
Before she could say another word she had touched his lips with her own. He let her lead the kiss because he did not trust himself to touch her yet. She timidly put her tongue into his mouth, and he caught it with his own. When she lightly moaned, feeling his tongue rubbing hers, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. She gasped, feeling his solid chest against her own. He pulled her so that she was almost on his lap never once letting go of her lips. He then trailed his lips down her neck and kissed every inch of her neck as she breathed deeply unable to say or do anything. When his lips came to the neckline of her dress, he stopped suddenly.
“We must stop. If we do not, I will make love to you, and I would not want to so dishonor you. I do not want you to hate me for taking advantage of you. I am afraid this is all a dream and when I wake you will be gone, which would break my heart.” Then smiling, he said, “ My little elf maiden, I fear you have put a spell on me and I will never leave your side.”
Amrun blushed again and tried to recover from his kisses. Coming to her senses again, she realized that if Éomer were to walk in now, he would know what had transpired between her and Theodred.
“Theodred, you must get up. If Éomer were to see us, he would know what we were doing and think ill of me. After my behavior earlier, I would not be surprised if both of you thought I am anything but innocent.”
As she slowly left the bed, she tried to get far away from him. She walked across the room trying to clear her thoughts. When she looked back at him, he was smiling.
“Are you so worried about what anyone thinks of you? When I first saw you this morning, I thought you were a vision. When you got out of the water and proudly walked into the forest, I thought you were a goddess, for only a divine being could look so bold and powerful in nothing but her skin. Éomer’s thoughts of you are surely the same. He would fall in love with you if he were given the chance. But I do not mean to give him that chance. I would have my hands, my lips, and my body be the only one that ever touches yours. If this is a spell, I do not know, but I would give up my very life to have you as my own.”
Amrun smiled. Then her smile faded and her eyes were sad.
“Do not think me a fool, Theodred. You desire me but I also know that the son of the king would lay with an elf but not love one. I do not know what I was thinking letting you touch me the way you have. I have no desire to be with a man for his pleasure then tossed aside. I am not of your world, nor would I belong there, so we could never be together.”
Theodred got off the bed and walked towards her slowly, looking her in the eyes. He took her chin in his hand.
“You are a fool if you think desire is all that I feel. For from this day forward, there is no other woman who could ever compare to you, and I will have no other.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“I will prove to you my intentions before I will touch you again with such desire, unless you ask it of me.” He pulled away from her, and she was speechless.
“Now Éomer will be here soon and you should put on some different clothes. The orc blood on your dress makes me remember how close you were to dying today.”
Careful to keep herself hidden from both the open door -- and Theodred -- Amrun rushed to change her clothing. Her thoughts were confused. She thought him to be the arrogant son of a king who took what he wanted and left it behind when he was done with it. She had never known any other man, so she did not know what to expect. Her father was but a distant memory. Her mother rarely had spoken of him due to her own grief, so all Amrun knew of him was her small bits of memory. Since she grew up away from men, she had nothing to compare Theodred to. Perhaps all men were like him, despite what her mother had said. She did not know, but she intended to keep her guard up, fearful of being hurt.
When she was dressed, she went back to the fire and was pleased to see that Éomer was now in the room.
“You look much better than before. Before when you were covered in blood, not better than by the lake earlier.” He winked, causing her to blush.
Theodred did not smile as he said, “Cousin, do not forget your manners, lest I am forcedto beat them into you.”
Éomer was silent as he looked back at his cousin. For a minute Amrun thought they would come to blows, but then he turned and looked at her as though he finally understood. She looked away.
“Forgive me, my lady.”
“My name is Amrun. Please call me Amrun.”
Over the next week, Éomer and Theodred stayed with her. Theodred said it was to make sure she recovered and to watch after her while she did. But Amrun had an idea that Éomer knew as well as she that he was not ready to leave her, choosing to forget his obligations and duties and hide here in the woods with her.
One day when they were out walking, Theodred left her alone with Éomer for a short time. Éomer looked at her and smiled.
“Why do you smile?” she asked.
“I am just wondering how you were going to feel when he leaves, or if you will come with us.”
“I cannot come with you. I am an elf and would not fit in very well in Rohan.”
“Why? What about going into one of the villages of Rohan? I imagine you would be accepted there.”
“No, but I would not be accepted because I am elf-kind. Do you have many elves in Rohan?”
“No, you are right about that. But if you came back with Theodred and me, no one would dare question what right you had to be there,” he replied with conviction.
“So I could live in shame as people speculated about my relationships with you or Theodred. Or are you foolish enough to believe that the king would accept the relationship of his only son and an elf. No, Éomer, there is no place for me but here.”
Theodred walked up as they were talking in time to hear what she said. “You cannot stay here. It is not safe for you now. The orcs run freely through our lands now, and Isengard has fallen into darkness as well. We will not leave you here to die,” he told her sternly.
“You do not have a choice. It is not your decision to make,” she responded.
“I will not allow you to stay here and be murdered like your mother and so many others in this land,” Theodred snapped at her.
“Allow me? I have not asked for your permission. While I do not look it, I am much older than you are. And though I am young by Elf standards, I am quite wise compared to men. You are but a child to me, and you will not tell me where I can and cannot live. In fact, maybe it would be best if you went back to your Golden Hall at Meduseld and hid behind your father’s throne and left me at peace,” she retorted.
Amrun turned on her heel and ran away from the two men into the woods, trying to get as far from Theodred and his arrogance as she could. Hot tears spilled over her cheeks. She knew she cared for him, but she also knew that it could never be. She did not even know what she was to him now. Maybe it was better that they did not pursue any type of relationship; she could go through a lesser heartache now rather than she would have to endure later when her feelings grew deeper. She felt foolish for daring to hope that she could be part of his life, even when she knew in her heart that she could not.
If the woods were not safe anymore, maybe she should go to Lothlórien, Mirkwood, or Rivendell.
Still upset and confused, Amrun stayed in the woods for a long time, wandering the familiar paths. It did not surprise her that she walked her way eventually to the spot where she first met Theodred. The sun was setting, and it was reflecting on the water, making it more beautiful and peaceful than usual. She heard voices and ran back into the trees, but she relaxed when she saw that it was the two men. While she did not want to see either of them, they were not going to harm her like others in the woods might.
“Éomer, I will not leave her behind. If I have to tie her up and throw her over Brego’s back, I will do it.”
“I know you will. But if you want her to love you, I would not advise such a course. She has as much fire and stubbornness to her as Éowyn does. How many times have we tried to convince my sister to do something for her own good, only to have her refuse even more strongly? No, Theodred, you need to use some sense here. Talk to her, reason with her. Give her options like you would a man in your charge. If you treat her like a mere woman, she will never give in and you will lose her forever. She is so fearful of being rejected, or worse, perceived as just your lover to be used up and tossed aside for another, that she will not bend on this. You know as well as I do that your father will not accept her as a suitable wife. He expects that you will marry for status more than for love. But until you decide how you want Amrun to be a part of your life and how to resolve these other issues, you need to take her out of harm’s way. Worry about the rest at a later time. Bring her to someone in one of the smaller villages, someone you trust to protect her. Someone she can live with someone who she will not feel is being judgmental about your relationship. As long as she is not in Edoras, your father will never know, and, therefore, you will not have to worry about his reaction for the time being.”
Theodred was quiet for a few minutes as he watched the water. Smiling, he turned to Éomer. “When did you become wiser than me?”
Éomer sighed, then smirked, “I always have been, only you are too arrogant to admit it.”
Chuckling softly, Theodred again looked over the water. He was quiet, deep in thought for a few minutes.
Finally, he said, “I know someone who she can live with that I can trust. Plus he and his wife have many relatives and friends from far off regions. We could come up with a logical story to explain who she is, and neither he nor his family would question it. This way I will know she is protected and I can also see her as often as possible because it is not far from Edoras. But how do I convince her?”
Amrun stepped from the trees where she had been listening to them. The two men turned to look at her.
Amrun sighed, then looked at Theodred. “You already have convinced me. I will go, if you feel I would be in danger here. But I will come back to my home when it is safe. I can only promise to stay while there is danger.”
For a year, she lived with a nice family on a farm that was not within a village but near one. They were close by Edoras but far enough away that Amrun was out of the notice of Theodred’s family, other than Éomer. The family she lived with treated her kindly, and she soon grew very comfortable with them. She saw Theodred and Éomer when they were not off on duties of their own. They would spend hours together, either taking walks or having a picnic as the two men bantered between themselves causing her to laugh. They both tried to teach her how to ride a horse but she was so fearful that the horses inevitably sensed it and began to act nervously, which caused her to become more frightened. Finally, the two men gave up trying, deciding to wait until she was a little more trusting of the horses.
Theodred joked that her riding inexperience was convenient; it was an excuse to hold her close to him while he took her riding.
Sometimes, Éomer would come to see her without Theodred as well, and he would tell her of his life growing up in Edoras. She rarely spoke of her life, save her memories of her mother and limited memories of her father. Éomer often spoke of his parents, and they shared the bond of losing their parents. Sometimes she would sense him watching her, but when she would look up, he would look away.
When she was alone with Theodred, he often took her away from the farmhouse and would just hold her in his arms as they watched the sun set over the plains of Rohan He would kiss her for hours, and his touch made her ache for him. Over time, she fell in love with Theodred and cared deeply for Éomer as well. As her relationship with Theodred grew more intense, he became tired of the secrecy and wanted her to be closer to him and to be a part of his life in all aspects.
The last time she saw Theodred, he had decided that he would tell his father that he would give up the throne before he would give up his relationship with her, if that was what the king demanded. Theoden had become less of a king of late anyway. He kept counsel with Grima Wormtongue, who tried to convince the king many times that Éomer and Theodred were at fault for the problems with the orcs and the distrust of Isengard. Telling her he loved her as he kissed her passionately, Theodred had left planning to talk to Éomer of his decision before he spoke to his father. He hoped Éomer could lend him support, if his father grew upset.
Amrun did not know if he ever made it to Edoras. She was kidnapped by orcs and uruks the next day and taken to Isengard. Fortunately, Saruman had ordered her captors not to touch her, or she did not know what would have happened to her.
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