FIRE AND SILVER

*FIRE AND SILVER*
Part 2


Eomer left the stables and walked slowly back to the main hall, slipping his shirt back on as the cool outside air hit his damp skin. He could hear the revelry going on inside but didn’t really have the heart to join in so he walked around behind the building and looked out to the mountains.
He could sense Bronwyn’s presence before she even spoke. He was more aware of her than she realised and it was something that confused and irritated him. At a time like this he didn’t need a woman to distract him.
He remembered the night he had kissed her. They had been celebrating some victory and he had got pleasantly drunk and on his way to search for some more mead he had stumbled into her in the corridor.
He didn’t know why he had kissed her. Perhaps it was the way she had looked up at him with those large emerald eyes or the way her lips had parted in surprise that he hadn’t been able to resist. Pulling her against him he had savoured the taste of her and had been pleasantly surprised at her response, instead of pulling back she had opened to him. An intoxicating mix of desire and innocence.
It hadn’t been Eowyn’s voice that had made him pull back but at his own reaction to her. She had grown up around him and Eowyn and he had never really looked at her lately, with the constant fighting he was away a lot and somehow she had grown into a woman without him noticing. But he noticed now.
“Are you not joining the others?” Bronwyn spoke from behind him.
Eomer turned slowly to face her and sat back on the railing, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I’m not really in the mood for company,” he told her more surly than he meant.
Bronwyn smiled faintly, “You’re worried about Eowyn.”
Eomer started then frowned slightly, “Why should I be worried about Eowyn?”
Bronwyn sighed and stepped to his side, leaning against the railing also. “She loves the Ranger but he loves another. As her brother you don’t want to see her hurt, you’ve always looked after her.”
“Not this time,” he muttered angrily, “There’s nothing I can do to help her in this!”
Bronwyn placed a soothing hand on his arm and said, “Believe it or not she is a grown woman. You have to let her find her own way in this.” She smiled again when Eomer merely grunted in response, “It’s amazing how brothers always see their sisters as little girls needing protection, even when they’ve become women – just as their friends have.”
Eomer tensed at her words but refused to look at her, deliberately not understanding her meaning. He remained still as she moved closer to him and he could smell the scent in her hair, the floral scent pleasant in his nostrils.
Bronwyn reached out and placed her hand against his cheek so he turned to look at her. His eyes were dark and fathomless; his face was blank so she couldn’t read his emotions at that time. But she had decided to risk all in the short time left to her before he would go, perhaps never to return.
“Do you remember that night you kissed me?” she asked. He didn’t reply but a flicker in his eyes told her that he did. “You didn’t think of me as a little girl then. You felt something as I did but you refuse to see it. You have always been proud and stubborn even as a boy.
But the final battle is coming and who knows what will happen then. Perhaps Good will triumph or perhaps we will all perish. I only know that I want to be with you and only you.”
Her hand caressed his face as her eyes searched his but he only sat with the same blank look on his face. Slowly her hand dropped away and she sat back, her face showing her dismay.
Eomer had learned long ago to keep his features blank so as not to give away what he was thinking to enemies. Although Bronwyn may have thought he felt nothing, underneath he was in turmoil. He hadn’t been listening to her words all he could think of was the feel of her hand on his cheek, her body leaning into his side and how beautiful she looked in the moonlight.
Her hair, such an unusual pale blonde even for Rohan, shone like fine strands of silver in the moonlight and her eyes shone with her passion. When she drew back his skin felt cold where her touch had been.
Bronwyn stood up and started to leave but a hand grabbed her arm and as she turned Eomer was pulling her to him. His mouth came down on hers and she melted against him, thankful for his strong arms around her, as she would have surely fallen. One hand was stroking her hair while the other held her tight against him and she could feel his need for her pressing against her belly.
Eomer plundered her mouth until she could no longer think. The hand that was in her hair pulled her head back so he could trail hot kisses down her neck to her shoulder. Pulling her gown down off her shoulder it slid down until one breast was exposed and he greedily took the rosy nipple between his lips.
Bronwyn moaned and let her head fall back while she clutched at him. She’d never felt such sensations and didn’t want them to stop. She knew she should feel ashamed for her wanton behaviour but it only left her wanting more.
It was a moment before Eomer heard the voice that was calling him. Looking down at Bronwyn he’d never seen her more beautiful. Her lips were red and swollen from his kisses and her hair had come free from its braid, tumbling around her face and shoulders. Her eyes were half closed and she looked slightly dazed mixed with desire and he couldn’t help wanting to kiss her again but he heard his name being called again.
One of his men was calling him and he was getting closer. Abruptly Eomer let her go and she stumbled back, her senses coming back to her. Looking at Eomer he had that blank look on his face again before he turned and walked away, calling back to his comrade.
Bronwyn sagged to the floor, overcome by all the new sensations running through her. But mostly because he had left her. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes but she angrily brushed them away. One thing she knew for certain – he wanted her. He might try to deny it but even she in her inexperience could tell that much and she was quite willing to give him what he wanted.
Standing up she straightened her gown and with renewed determination she decided to join the revellers. Lord Eomer obviously needed a little more encouragement.