Joy and Sorrow

Joy and Sorrow

Chapter 3
Author: Frosty McGoogle the Wonder Poodle
Codes: Legolas, Eomer, Eowyn, Boromir, OC, AU
Rated: NC-17
Summary: On an AU plane of existence, Rohan celebrates the defeat of Sauron. Joining them are Boromir and Haldir, quite alive, and a few of the elves. Also, Eowyn keeps a secret and Eomer has issues.
Disclaimer: Consider it disclaimed.

*

Larelind growled as she stared into the mirror, trying in vain to pull her hair back. The dark locks kept falling forward into her face, causing her cheeks to flush in annoyance.

It was nearly dusk, and Larelind was late for her dinner with Eowyn. After speaking with Legolas for some time, she had gone to wake Eomer who, much to her displeasure, became very irritated with her for waking him. She had listened as he told her, in very colourful terms, to go far away, and had immediately gone to the washroom to get a pail of cold water to throw over his face. Eomer had not been amused. Her eyes grew hard at her reflection as she thought about how angry he had made her.

She barely spoke with him the rest of the day, telling him only that she was spending the night in Eowyn's room. Larelind hadn't asked permission from Eowyn yet, but there was no way she wanted to stay with Eomer. Sometimes he had absolutely no respect for her, and it made her so upset.

Throwing down her hair clips, she closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath. She desperately needed to relax, to stop allowing him to bother her so. Maybe it was because she had been alone so long during the war that she was having trouble accepting him back into her life. They had been together a while, and she cared for him, but she had to admit it had been nice having a break.

Slouching forward in her chair, staring at her reflection in the mirror, she let out a deep breath that fogged the glass. "I should talk to him," she mumbled to herself, knowing she wouldn't be able to relax until they had at least made peace with each other. Maybe she should apologize for the water-throwing incident.

Larelind got up and grabbed her cloak, pulling it around her shoulders as she walked quickly towards the winery, where Eomer would no doubt be with his friends.. Eowyn would understand why she was so late.

When she threw open the door and started inside, she was met with silence. Looking up, she saw many who she knew, through Eomer, staring at her with wide, surprised eyes. She wondered if maybe they had been talking about her.

"What's wrong?" she asked, closing the door gently and entering further into the wooden cabin. The fire soaked the walls in an orange glow and its crackling was the only sound in the room.

A soldier Larelind knew as Josiah stepped forward, setting his mug of ale down on a table as he approached her. "You're not supposed to be here," he hissed, grabbing her by the arm and jerking her towards the door, "Leave now."

"Let go!" she growled as she yanked her arm away and stumbled back. Rubbing it, she frowned at the group of men. "I'm here to see Eomer. Where is he?"

A sudden crash from a back room surprised her and drew everyone's attention away. Josiah made to grab for her again, but she maneuvered out of his grip and hastened down the hall. She heard Josiah calling for her, but paid him no mind. Larelind was mad and wanted to know what was going on. So she pushed open the door from where the sound came.

It was like her heart froze in her chest. She gasped quietly, wide eyes staring at the display in front of her. Eomer and the wall, and a woman in between them.

Larelind couldn't move. There was not a sound in her mind except the heavy breaths from the couple across the room. He didn't even know she was there.

"Do you mind?" said the woman, and Larelind jerked out of her stupor. "Get out."

Eomer turned slightly to see who she was talking to. His face was flushed and sweaty, but when his eyes found hers they widened in shock. "Fuck!" he hissed, pulling himself away from his conquest and doing up his pants. His loud words shook Larelind, and she turned on her heel and fled.

Her legs felt like rubber as she left the cabin, not noticing any of the men staring at her. The sky was dark when she got outside, and she didn't know where she was headed, but she had to get away from there. Her mind spun and her stomach ached with what she had seen. She felt ill.

"Larelind!" she heard behind her, and knew Eomer was fast approaching. Shaking her head she increased her speed, desperate to get away from him. She couldn't talk about this. Not now.

He caught up to her, though, and grabbed her arm roughly. "Leave me alone!" she said, her voice caught between a whimper and a scream. Her eyes didn't even meet his as she tried to walk away from him.

"Larelind," said Eomer, blocking her path. She ignored him, walking around. "Listen to me. That wasn't what it looked like!"

Her eyes grew hard as she stared at the ground, refusing to look at him. "It looked like you were fucking some peasant slut!" she growled, grabbing at her skirt so she could walk faster. By this time, people were staring in interest as they walked by.

Eomer stepped in front of her and grabbed her shoulders to halt her steps. She tried in vain to dislodge him, finally screaming out in anger. "Stop it!" he said, his teeth clenched. She eventually looked up at him, and when she did she saw anger in Eomer's eyes.

"If you think I'm going to forgive you for this, you are fucking mistaken," she said low, staring into his eyes. "Let go of me, or I will tell the whole of Rohan what you did."

His eyes flashed, something that Larelind knew well. He did not like being threatened. Wisely, though, he held his tongue and let go of her shoulders. Without bothering to speak, Larelind rushed past him, nervous that he would follow. When he didn't, part of her ached in sadness.

*

Eowyn peered out her window in the dark night, squinting at each of the moving forms below. None of them were her.

Taking a deep breath, she clenched her fists and made for the door. Something had to be wrong. Larelind was rarely late, and if she was going to be she always notified ahead of time.

The halls were quiet as Eowyn strode down them, taking a door that led out into the warm night. Not sure where to start looking, she began walking down a street asking people if they had seen her.

Halfway down the hill, she saw Legolas standing at the gates of Edoras, his arms crossed as he looked out over the hills. Eowyn ran towards him, but when he heard her approach he stepped away from the gates and came forward.

"Legolas," she said, catching her breath, "I am looking for Larelind. Have you seen her?"

His eyes sparkled a clear blue, but she frowned when his expression turned concerned. "She is outside the gates," he said quietly, looking back, "She's upset."

Eowyn shook her head, not understanding. "Upset?" she asked, "About what?"

Legolas licked his lips and lowered his head slightly. "I do not know," he replied, "She...is unaware that I have been watching her." As though he felt the need to prove his intentions weren't unfavourable, he raised his eyes to Eowyn's and added, "I only wanted to make sure she was alright."

Blinking softly, Eowyn nodded and headed towards the gates. When she got closer to the outskirts of the city, she could see Larelind sitting in the grass, her white gown pooling around her like water.

"Larelind?" Eowyn said softly, coming up behind her, "I have been looking everywhere for you. Are you alright?"

When Eowyn sat beside her, Larelind looked up at the hills and curled her legs up, resting her chin on her knees. She had been crying. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice catching, "I didn't mean to be late."

"It's alright, sweetheart," she replied, touching Larelind's shoulder, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Larelind sniffed loudly and wiped her cheeks. "I think...I think I need to keep it to myself for now," she said, turning to look at Eowyn, "I need to think about it for a while."

Eowyn's hand rubbed Larelind's shoulder softly. "Okay. Do you want to come back to my room?" she asked. When Larelind shook her head, she pressed on, "Do you want me to stay here with you for a while?"

Larelind nodded, her eyes filling with more tears. Eowyn wrapped her arm around her and pulled her close. "Is that elf still out there?" she asked softly, and Eowyn couldn't help but giggle.

"He is," she responded with a smile, "He's worried, you know."

"I know," she said quietly. Then, after a short pause, "I want to hear your happy news."

Eowyn rocked them slightly as her smile faded. "That can wait," she said, "It's not important."

"It is important," frowned Larelind, "I need some good news, Eowyn. Please tell me yours."

Sighing, Eowyn licked her lips and whispered, "I'm getting married."

Jerking out of her hold, Larelind stared at the blonde in disbelief. "What?" she said, "You're kidding? To who?"

"Lord Faramir." Eowyn couldn't hide it any longer.

There was an instant when she thought Larelind would disapprove, but she was greatly relaxed when a grin fell over her sad face. "Faramir," she said, her eyes bright, "That is wonderful, Eowyn, I'm so happy for you!" She collected her in a hug, and Eowyn exhaled in relief. "I want to meet him as soon as possible."

"You will," she replied as they broke apart. Eowyn smoothed the hair out of Larelind's face and tucked it behind her ears. "I only wish you had heard it under better circumstances."

Raising her eyebrows, Larelind leaned against Eowyn's shoulder and spoke, her feelings becoming increasingly angry. "As do I," she said, "Unfortunately, there are a lot of idiots in this world." She shook her head and snorted. "I don't know why I'm crying. Part of me isn't even surprised."

Eowyn frowned. She didn't know what could make Larelind so sad and so angry at the same time. Unless... "Larelind, did Eomer do something?" she asked. When Larelind stared off at the mountains and refused to answer, Eowyn's face took on an expression of anger. "He did, didn't he? What did he do?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. It's over now."

Absently rubbing her face, Eowyn patted Larelind on the back and got up, pulling her with. "Let's go back to my room," she said, wrappan aan arm around Larelind and starting towards the gates.

Larelind did not look up when they passed Legolas, who looked to Eowyn with questions in his eyes. She smiled discreetly, and he stayed behind as they made their way up the hill.

*

TBC