Chapter Thirteen- Cold Water, Warm Heart

The four companions traveled for several more uneventful days, making various camps along the forest line, staying as close to the nourishing river as possible.  The river provided not only fresh drinking water for the companions and their steeds, but it also fed various types of edible vegetation, as well as several types of small game.  Since their departure, the group had barely even touched their packed rations of dried meat and hard breads.  They had been feeding on berries, roots, tubers, and animals that they caught in snares.

“As soon as the snow starts falling we’ll be thankful for the extra food.  It’ll be a lot harder to find food and game along the river when the air turns cold.”  Gaviwyr was turning a small animal on a make-shift spit over a little fire.

Xanthe laughed sarcastically, wrapping her blanket more tightly around her.  “WHEN the air turns cold?  I think I am about to go into hibernation.”

All three men laughed, shaking their heads.  Eomer, who was sitting next to Xanthe, rose and casually walked towards the fire.  He stopped a few feet away and turned slightly, throwing his blanket at Xanthe.  He then nonchalantly stooped down to help Gaviwyr prepare the meal, knowing that Xanthe wouldn’t likely accept his blanket.

Xanthe gathered up the blanket and held it out to Eomer, who purposely had his back turned to her.  “Your Highness, take your blanket back, please.  My blanket and this fire are enough to keep me warm.”

Eomer still did not turn to face her.  He did however grunt apathetically, “the cold is relative when you have slept on the plains all your life.”

Xanthe made an obvious sound of displeasure and continued holding the blanket out to Eomer’s back.  Olihre and Gaviwyr exchanged amused glances, neither saying anything.  Eomer continue ignoring her, pretending to be occupied with turning the spit.  He only started to worry when he saw Gaviwyr and Olihre looking at him expectantly, trying to stifle laughs.  Turning around, he saw that Xanthe was still holding the blanket out to him and her arm was beginning to shake very slightly from its weight on her fully extended arm.  She had a look of stubborn defiance on her face, and did not make eye contact with anyone but the King. 

Eomer chuckled and took his blanket back, only to deliberately set it right back down at Xanthe’s side.  He quickly moved away and sat next to Gaviwyr on the other side of the fire, glancing furtively at Xanthe through the flames.  He was delighted to see a truly exasperated expression come over her fair face.  I can be just as stubborn as she can.

The test of wills was interrupted when Gaviwyr declared, “This overgrown rodent is ready for the devouring my friends!”  With that he began to carve the animal into sections, putting a large portion on each person’s tin plate.

Xanthe wrinkled her nose and the thought of eating an ‘overgrown rodent,’ but she also couldn’t help but smile as the aroma of roasted meat wafted up to meet her nostrils.  She began passing out the boiled tubers that she had gathered from the rivers’ edge.  “These are the roots of the clystrine plant.  Not only do they taste sweet like rose petals, but they are also a wonderful muscle relaxant.  We should all sleep well tonight.” 

Gaviwyr smiled, nodding his head appreciatively.  “Eomer, if there was any doubt before as to Xanthe’s abilities as a healer, they can all be laid to rest now.”  Xanthe ducked her head slightly to avoid showing her slightly reddened cheeks. 

Dinner passed silently and quickly, the powerful root soon making itself apparent to all of the weary travelers.  Olihre yawned and set his plate down beside him.  “I propose that we turn in now and do the cleaning up tomorrow morning.”

Gaviwyr nodded his head, “Well, if you’re volunteering, I suppose I’ll have to second that motion.”      

Eomer laughed, taking everyone’s empty plates and stacking them neatly by his feet.  “You can all turn in.  I am going to wash these dishes so as not to attract any unwanted scavengers during the night.”

Xanthe rose quickly, “I can do that Sire.  You need to see to the horses anyway.”

Eomer smiled, handing the small stack to Xanthe and then headed off to make sure the horses were bedded down for the night.  Olihre and Gaviwyr looked at each other.  “Do you suppose we should help?” Olihre asked. 

Gaviwyr shook his head as he laid back and wrapped his blanket around himself.  “No need, it isn’t a big job.  We can both see to breakfast tomorrow and let them sleep in.”

“Sounds like a fair trade to me,” Olihre yawned as he slid his back onto the ground, staring at the fire until it’s brightly colored flames lulled him to sleep.  Gaviwyr also drifted off into oblivion, allowing the sound of the crackling fire and the gurgling of the stream to carry him off into a deep sleep. 

Eomer finished with the horses and then started towards his own bedroll.  He took off his boots and crawled into his blanket, allowing his eyes to close and his aching muscles to relax.  He smiled complacently as he felt a cool breeze on his face, blowing the camp-fire smoke here and there.  Just as he felt himself drifting off he sat up suddenly.

I can’t fall asleep until Xanthe’s back! 

He waited for several more minutes, blinking his eyes repeatedly, trying to keep the sleep out of them.  Finally, when he was sure she should have been back, he stood and walked swiftly towards the river.  He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the deliberate swishing of water and the soft murmur of a woman humming.  Walking into the clearing he stopped short.  Brief memories played through his head as he saw a familiar sight.  Xanthe had stacked the washed dishes next to the river and was now sitting on the bank, her leggings rolled up to her knees as she washed her feet in the water.

When Xanthe heard someone enter the clearing she turned quickly.  “Hello,” she said simply when she saw Eomer. 

Eomer looked frightened.  “I am sorry mi’lady.  I wanted to make sure everything was alright.”

Xanthe nodded, understanding perfectly why the King looked so nervous.  “No need to apologize, Your Highness.  I’m just trying to wash up as best I can before I turn in for the night.”

Eomer nodded, relaxing slightly.  “An old habit?” he questioned her with a guilty grin on his face.

Xanthe laughed aloud, pleased that the King could laugh at their uncomfortable situation.  “Yes, though it is a bit too cold out now for a full swim.”

In response to Xanthe’s jest, Eomer felt a bit more daring.  “Frankly I am surprised that you brother hasn’t followed you here.”

Xanthe raised her eyebrows in mock defiance and asked, “How do you know he hasn’t?”

Eomer chuckled.  “You have effectively drugged us mi’lady.  They are both sleeping like babies by the fire.”

Xanthe nodded.  “I admit I am starting to feel the effects of the root as well, though this cold water is doing a good job at keeping me alert.”

Eomer furrowed his brow and wandered next to Xanthe, dipping his bare feet into the water.  The cold shot though his body like a bolt of lightning.  He quickly jumped back, stamping his feet frantically.  “You have an outstandingly high pain threshold!”

Xanthe laughed, “I thought it was all relative My Lord?”

Eomer nodded in concurrence, “I did say that didn’t I?”

Xanthe nodded, watching as the King sat down beside her.  “I think it is all a matter of progression,” she said.

“Progression?” Eomer asked in earnest.

Xanthe looked carefully at the King, wondering if he indeed had any interest in her at all, or if she was just fooling herself with false hope.  She smiled thoughtfully, wording her reply very pointedly, hoping that the King would pick up on her subtle hinting.  “Some situations may not seem favorable at first, but if you give them time, they may in the end be enjoyable.”

Eomer narrowed his eyes, looking at Xanthe closely, trying to read her face.  “So this water may at first seem unapproachable, but if given time, it will warm?”

Xanthe emitted what sounded like a mixture between a laugh and a snort, “The water may warm a bit, but the idea is that YOU, in time, will become used to its temperature.”

“Ah,” Eomer said as he rolled his own leggings up his calves.  “Then I suppose I should begin getting accustomed to it now, as I am eager to fully immerse myself as soon as possible.”

Xanthe tried but failed to restrain a surprised gasp.  If indeed the King understood what she was talking about, he was certainly being very forward.  She quickly turned her attention back to him as he eased his feet into the icy water.  She watched as his entire body tensed, his hands gripping the bank, pulling up patches of dirt and grass.  Xanthe couldn’t help but laugh.

Eomer turned to her and let out a playful ‘hmpf.’  “Well, you’re not being very encouraging, are you?” he said, raising his eyebrows at her suggestively.  “One would think that maybe you didn’t want me becoming accustomed to the temperature, so to speak.”

Xanthe turned her head away quickly, not wanting the King to see her blush.  Now she was sure he was speaking of something more than just water temperature.  Is he interested?

As if in answer to her silent question, Eomer reached over and turned her face back towards him.  His fingers lingered on her cheek only for a moment before he pulled his hand back away.  “You are more beautiful than this river Xanthe, though just as elusive.”

Xanthe looked down at her lap as her eyes widened and her breath quickened.  She intertwined her fingers nervously and tried to answer, but only managed to mumble incoherently. 

Eomer took a depth breath, thinking that he had surely made a mistake in suggesting to her his feelings.  He cleared his throat hesitantly, causing Xanthe to look up.  She saw the distress in his face and realized that she was leaving him in limbo.

“Your Highness…” she began. 

“Eomer,” He pleaded, drawing her into a gaze that she could not break.

Xanthe continued, trying desperately not to let his exquisite eyes entrance her.  “Eomer then…I do not mean to be elusive; I suppose I don’t even know exactly what it is that I am eluding.”  

Eomer couldn’t help but chuckle.  Xanthe had a way of diverting responsibility, and she had, once again, forcing Eomer to either tell her how he felt or change the subject entirely.  “I am loath to bring this up, but I feel it is the only place to begin.  The night I saw you at the river…I truly did not look upon you with lust, and yet I could not look away…your beauty was so radiant I forgot all manners, all responsibilities.”

Xanthe was now blushing furiously, but she could not break the King’s intense stare.  “Your High…Eomer I mean…I wish you to know that I have all but forgotten that situation.  You should not worry yourself about it any longer.”

Eomer reached out again, tentatively taking her nearly trembling hand.  “But I have not forgotten, though it no longer troubles me in the way that it once did.”

“Then how does it trouble you?” Xanthe asked, allowing her hand to relax in his strong but gentle grip. 

Eomer looked down, finally releasing Xanthe from his gaze as he studied the hand that he held in his own.  “I worry that any chance I may have had to become close to you is now dashed.”  Xanthe began to interject but Eomer continued on.  “I worry that regardless of what you may feel for me, your family-- especially your brother, will never let me become close to you.”

Xanthe felt chills ripple over every inch of her body.  The person sitting next to her was a King, but for the first time since they had met, she saw him only as a man.  This man seemed to adore her, though she knew not why.  She looked at him boldly, knowing that he was now waiting for her to either put his mind at ease or bury his hopes once and for all.  Without thinking through what she was doing, Xanthe leaned towards Eomer, keeping her right hand in his, and putting her left hand on the back of his neck.  She hesitantly pulled him down towards her, stopping when their faces were only a hair’s width apart. 

Eomer felt as if everything in Middle Earth was suddenly moving in slow motion.  The rushing river suddenly sounded like no more than a trickling stream.  The wind blowing fiercely through the tree leaves sounded more like windblown grasses on the plains.  His heart slowed to a near stand-still as he watched the goddess before him move.  Her hand grasps mine… he marveled.  Eomer wanted to move towards her upon his own will, but found that he couldn’t.  He wanted to put his other hand around her waist and pull her to him, but still, he couldn’t.  He could only sit and watch, almost terrified, as she leaned in towards him.  Closer and closer she came, until just before he could finally taste her, she stopped.  Her enormous eyes stared pleadingly into his.  Her lips were parted, as if she were about to speak. 

Eomer finally found the capacity to move.  He tilted his head ever so slightly, touching her lips with his.  She did not respond to his touch, only closed her eyes and waited for more.  Eomer moved his hand to her face, stroking his thumb across her lips before kissing her once again.  This time he lingered, and in the brief moment before he pulled away, she responded.  She drew his lower lip between hers and pulled away slightly, enticing Eomer to pull her frantically back to him, drawing her into a deep kiss.  He was elated to find her as eager to explore as he was-- she ran the tip of her tongue softly over his lips, slowly working her way into his mouth until she found his anxious tongue. 

For many minutes the two explored each other in silence, speaking no words, nor desiring any to be spoken.  Finally, when she felt her lungs could take no more, Xanthe pulled away from Eomer, dropping her hands to her lap.  Eomer took a deep breath and moved his hands from Xanthe’s face to her wrists, which he held securely against his pounding heart.  He leaned towards Xanthe again, placing a tender kiss upon her cheek. 

Xanthe sighed and curled her lips into a pleased smile.  “It is strange Eomer that I am a healer, and yet it is you who heals me.” 

Eomer grinned guiltily once again.  “Perhaps, but I shall certainly need your abilities if your brother learns of this encounter.”

Xanthe laughed aloud, her voice echoing off of the water.  “Maybe we should keep this between ourselves for the time being.”

Eomer frowned, “For the time being.  I don’t know how long I can keep my affection for you a secret.”

Xanthe couldn’t help the enormous smile that spread over her face.  She pulled Eomer towards her once more, kissing him rewardingly for his comment.  Soon they arose, gathered up the dishes, and walked quietly back to camp. 

Hand in hand…for the time being.