By the Snowbourn
By Alexcat

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Title: By the Snowbourn
Author Name: Alexcat
Contact Email: alex_cat_45@yahoo.com
Beta Name: Larian Elensar
Main Characters: Elrohir/ Éowyn
Rating: NC-17
Genre(s): Het romance
Word Count: 2897
Summary: Éowyn gets lost on her way to Helm's Deep.
Original Request: Requested Pairing = Éowyn/ Elf, Items/Rating Requested = R/ NC-17 Blanket Fic. Humor, fluff, light angst all ok. Blanket Fic: "Two (or more) characters trapped in a blizzard. It's so cold that falling asleep uncovered will undoubtedly cause hypothermia. One blanket. Endless Possibilities. Please DO NOT include = No character death (other than by reference), no extreme angst, No rape/ tort, no breathplay/ bloodplay/ showers/scat.

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Dunharrow, Mid-March, 3019

~

*The Lady Éowyn greeted them and was glad of their coming; for no mightier men had she seen than the Dúnedain and the fair sons of Elrond; but on Aragorn most of all her eyes rested.* -- The Return of the King, Chapter II

~

Éowyn was stunned when she saw the two men with Aragorn. They were friends of Aragorn? Her face colored as he introduced them.

"My Lady, these are the sons of my foster father, the brothers of my betrothed, Arwen. Elladan and Elrohir of Imladris."

Both men, or perhaps they were elves, bowed to kiss her hand but only Elrohir winked at her as well. Her face went from pink to blazing red.

"We met some years ago," Elrohir noted, never taking his eyes from Éowyn's and never losing his smile. "The Lady gave me shelter from the cold one snowy winter night."

Aragorn looked at Éowyn for a moment then nodded. She could tell by the narrowing of his eyes that he *knew* there was more to the story than that. She thanked the gods that he did not ask.

Elrohir bowed again deeply as he and his twin made their way to their tent among the others who had come from the north. Éowyn let out the breath that she had not even realized she was holding. She had too much to do to worry overlong about this… this elf whom she had met one winter only a year or two past her majority.

~

Snowbourn River, January, 3014

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*"But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?"* - The Return of the King, Chapter II

~

Éowyn was tired of being cooped up with a house filled with restless horsemen. Small children would have complained less and she could have given them cookies and milk and sent them to bed. Not so these men. They drank too much and despaired of one thing or another in a most dramatic fashion day in and day out.

The winter was still young too.

She decided to pack her horse and ride out to Helm's Deep. She knew it was in the mountains and she knew it was snowy but she could ride there in a day if the weather held. She could visit the families who stayed at the keep and bring them what news she had of the Mark. It had to be better than listening to Éomer singing drinking songs and despairing that his elder cousin was handier with the ladies than he was. Éowyn wanted to tell him he was a loutish oaf around the girls but she held her tongue. Instead she packed a small bag and sneaked down to the stables, saddling her best mare and heading out toward the Deep.

She never *thought* her sense of direction was that bad but she had to admit there was something wrong by late in the day. Nothing looked right in the chilly snow-covered world. Nothing looked familiar.

She dismounted and brushed the snow from a boulder by the trail. She sat down to gather her wits. She had no idea how she had gotten lost, none at all. She supposed she had spent a little too much time daydreaming about riding into battle and rescuing her brother time and time again. She ran a hand through her hair and stamped her foot.

There was no way that she was ever going to tell anyone about any of this. Never, even if she froze out here in the cold lonely …

What was that sound?

She heard something; water maybe. She walked toward the sound and saw how badly off course she was. She was still on the Snowbourn River. Maybe. She must have headed west instead of east. She wasn't afraid. She knew how to take care of herself. It was something children in Rohan learned at an early age. She could hunt, build a fire and she was fairly well provisioned with warm blankets and extra food. But she was lost! How embarrassing! How could she even call herself a shieldmaiden?

She fell so deep into thought that she did not realize that dark was falling around her. When she came to herself, she realized that she heard a sound other than the water running down the river. She heard … what?

The snow was not very deep but it was certainly deep enough to mute most sounds. But not all. She definitely heard the sound of leather and metal buckles as a horse moved slowly through the wood. Any Rohirrim knew the sound of a saddled horse and that is what she heard.

She pulled her sword from its sheath. It was no lady's sword but a wickedly sharp blade made for fighting. She was not slow nor was she awkward with it. She wielded it with grace, as any shieldmaiden should.

"Who is there?" Her voice was strong. "Come out and make yourself known to me!"

"And what is a young woman like you doing out in the wild all alone?" He rode into sight on a tall grey stallion. A dark cloak hid his face but his voice was as smooth as silk as he dismounted. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it could be dangerous out here all alone?"

"I am no child. I can take care of myself!" Her heart was beating so hard she was sure the man could hear it.

"I doubt it not. I hear the maidens of Rohan are as fierce as their men are."

"You hear true. But how do you know I am a maiden of Rohan?"

"I know a great many things. Right now, I know that I am cold and tired from a long day of travel and would like to rest for the night. Would you like to share a fire with me? Perhaps some tea and food?"

"Who are you?"

"I am from the north. I ride with the Rangers."

"I have heard tales of such men though I have never seen one with my own eyes. I always suspected they were a myth told to give hope to those who struggle and toil for little."

The man pulled his cloak back and she saw him in the twilight. He was the most beautiful man her eyes had ever set upon. His hair was the color of midnight, so unlike the blonds and reds of her own people. His eyes were grey, nearly the color of his steed. His face was the most handsome one she'd ever encountered. He had no freckles, no scars, nor any beard. His skin was smooth and appeared pale even in the waning light.

"I am Éowyn, daughter of Rohan. I am pleased to meet you and would gladly share your company this evening."

"I am Elrohir of the Rangers. I bring fresh fowl and some vegetables for a stew if you will allow me to make it."

Éowyn reddened. It was a good thing he offered. She had not brought a cooking pot since she did not expect to need one. If the truth be told, cooking was not her strongest suit anyway.

"I will defer to your expertise." She hoped he wouldn't ask for her advice in what to put in his stew.

She helped start the fire and she melted snow for their tea while Elrohir cut up the vegetables he carried in his pack and added them to the pot along with a couple of wild pheasants he had killed.

They ate huddled around their campfire. The night grew colder but their stew and hot tea helped to warm them a great deal.

"Where are you headed on this chilly night, my Lady?"

"I was headed from Edoras to Helm's Deep for a few days. I wanted to check that the families who live in the keep were well provisioned for winter."

She was surprised at his laugh. "My dear, dear Éowyn, you are heading in the opposite direction. You are headed up the Snowbourn River."

Her face turned red but she recovered rather gracefully. "I… directions are not one of the things that shieldmaidens learn. We are trained to defend our homes and fight beside our men if need be."

He did not point out that even the youngest child knew how to tell the difference between east and west. She was grateful for small favors. Instead he poured her another cup of tea and put another piece of wood on the fire.

Elrohir looked at the sky. "It looks as if it might snow again tonight. I think we'd better put up a tent of some sort to keep us dry."

Éowyn nodded and helped set up the tent he carried in his pack. She was better at that than directions, at least. They put blankets over their horses to keep them warm also, but that left them with a problem. They only had one blanket left. It was a large one but it was still just one blanket.

"I suppose we shall have to share." He said it with a grin that made Éowyn's stomach flutter. So far, she had done a very fine job of ignoring how handsome the young man was, how tall and dashing he seemed.

"I'll be fine without one. I have my cloak and my clothes are warm."

"You'll do no such thing. My father would tan my hide if I allowed a lady to sleep in the cold while I, myself, was toasty and warm."

She managed a smile. "Well, we'd not want your hide tanned, would we? It seems to me it looks fine right where it is."

They went inside the tent with their one blanket.

"You use the blanket." Elrohir handed it to Éowyn.

"No. I have no need of it. I am quite warm." And she was. Something about Elrohir made her face heat up. She was *quite* warm right now! She handed it back and he finally took it.

She lay down and closed her eyes. Just as she was falling asleep, she felt the warm woolen blanket cover her. She wanted to jump up and protest that a shieldmaiden did not need to be taken care of, but the blanket was so warm and she was so cozy that she allowed herself to drift into sleep.

Sometime in the night, Éowyn awakened to something a little more substantial than the blanket near her. It took her a few seconds to realize exactly where she was and who was snuggling up to her back and stealing the blanket from her at the same time.

She yanked it back only to have Elrohir throw his arm over her and pull her even closer.

"We can share but you need to get off me!" She pushed him away only to have him roll back. He mumbled something then his breathing became even and he stilled.

Éowyn couldn't move. Elrohir lay on her skirts so she couldn't get away unless she wanted to leave her clothes with him. She tried to relax and tried to go back to sleep but it was no use. Her eyes were wide open. She sighed loudly and wiggled as best she could in her trapped position. Elrohir still didn't move. She made snoring sounds, really loud snoring sounds. Nothing. She hit his arm. She hit him again. Not one single movement on his part.

She decided to try something desperate.

She kissed him.

Grey eyes flew open and both he *and* the blanket pulled away so fast one would have thought she'd tried to set him on fire.

"What?" He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"For a Ranger, you surely do sleep soundly! I've been trying to make you move for the last half hour!"

He looked outside by habit. "It's snowing again, and quite a snow by the looks of it. Perhaps we should try this sleeping thing again."

"Perhaps not! Just point me toward home and I'll go."

"Nay, my dear Lady. You would freeze in short order. Look outside." He held the flap open. "The weather has definitely taken a turn for the worse."

She crossed her arms. "Hmph," was all she offered in the way of a reply.

The stalemate didn't last long. It was considerably colder now and the wind was howling too. Elrohir put the blanket around his shoulders and held it open for her to join him. She did, though it was a bit grudgingly.

Soon the two of them were snuggled close and sleeping yet again. Éowyn was awakened with a kiss this time, just a soft kiss to the cheek.

"What are you doing?" She asked Elrohir.

"Your cheek was so soft and tempting that I had to kiss it."

She should have gotten angry and mustered up some righteous indignation but she didn't. His lips felt nice and warm. "Do it again?"

He did, only this time his lips moved a bit lower and he very gently and chastely kissed her lips.

"Again?" She whispered, her voice so soft he nearly didn't hear it.

He happily obliged her and shifted so he could pull her over to lie on top of him. "I can keep you warm better this way."

Éowyn was not terribly experienced but she was no virgin either. She felt his desire press against her stomach and knew exactly how he wanted to keep her warm. She had no objections at all.

"If I didn't know better, I might think you are trying to take advantage of me."

He grinned and pulled her head down to his. He kissed her again. This kiss was enough to warm her from head to toe as his tongue slid inside her mouth. She made a small sound as his hands slid down her back and pulled her hard against him.

He was careful to keep the blanket over them both as he reached up and slid the bodice of her dress down, uncovering her breasts. He did not know if they peaked because of the cold or because of desire nor did he care as he raised his head and captured a nipple with his lips.

Éowyn felt warm and liquid as she arched her back toward him, encouraging him to continue what he was doing. She freed her arms from her sleeves and sat up, lifting her dress from her body. She wore only a pair of unladylike trousers that made riding much easier than doing so in a skirt.

Elrohir stared at the blond beauty sitting astride him. He untied the laces on her trousers and opened them, looking hungrily at the pale skin and the beginnings of blond curls.

"Take them off," he commanded and she wiggled off of him and quickly obeyed. He pulled her naked body beneath the covers and kissed her again as his hands began to explore, finding her wet and quivering to his touch.

He rubbed her tiny nub until she clamped her legs tight and whimpered. Éowyn tried not to let him feel her pleasure but it was too intense and she cried out as he silenced her with another kiss. He slipped his fingers inside and brought her to another shuddering climax.

"Let me undress." He hurried out from under the blanket and made quick work of stripping off his clothes. Éowyn watched him as hungrily as he had looked at her. He was as beautiful naked as he was dressed. She opened her arms to him, and met his body with hers. She spread her legs beneath him and groaned when he entered her.

Éowyn clung to Elrohir as he moved slowly at first then faster, deeper, and harder until she wondered if the ground was shaking with the force of his powerful thrusts. Her nails raked his skin as sweet hot bliss shot through her yet again, followed by his release, a release every bit as intense as all that had gone before.

They lay still, not speaking but neither sleeping either for a long, long time.

~

She had arrived at Helm's Deep a few days later, moving slowly and gingerly but never ceasing to smile. All who met her wondered what had become of the serious shieldmaiden they had always known.

She never told a soul.

~

Dunharrow, Mid-March. 3019

Éowyn worried that if they rode the Paths of the Dead, she would never see Aragorn again. Nor his companion. She had her women help them pack for their journey. It still got quite cool at night and a woman of Rohan would know what they might need.

As the Rangers gathered together to begin their trip, Éowyn came to see them off. She wanted to weep and beg them to stay but when her eyes met Elrohir's, she could not help but smile.

"Make sure to take an extra blanket, my Lord. You never know when you might need one."

He nodded his agreement to her words and he and his companions set out, seeking help in their quest to make the world a safe place for people like brave Éowyn of Rohan.

~the end~