aaaaawwwwwwww
and another couple happy. Took them long enough as it is. It was a very very good and entertaining story, with a believable plot even.
Now you only need to make the king happy and everythings perfect.
I'll stay tuned for that story.
Thanks for this one

Author's Response: The King's story is in the works and hopefully be complete by the time I finish posting the nest story. The next story moves (I think) a little faster though it has a darked section that some might not be crazy about but work well into the story...I do not think I could right a plain, happy love story--always need to have some adversity. I will start posting as soon as I get it back from my Beta! Hang tight--this one will deal with the 'younger' crowd! ~G

Nice two chapters. Aragorn will probably be very glad to see she's finally somewhere she belongs to, he seemed to be concerned at the beginning of the story that Thea would always stay a wandering soul, never belonging anywhere and never quite fitting in.

Elfhelm would probably have had the same problems in her position. He fits in with the people in Rohan, but he is more a warrior than anything else, I think he would have suffocated, too, in societies where etiquette dictates the public life in dogmatic ways, where only pretence matters.
;-) just my persoa interpretation of his character, correct me if I'm wrong...

So: was worth the wait...
and now the second NC-17 is in coming :D

Author's Response: You nailed his persona--Rohan is a simple land that does not stand on pomp and circumstance (that will come out in Eomer's story) That's what makes them so perfect for each other! And tomorrow...the long awaited final NC17 chapter! Hope it warms things up for ya! ~G

Now this chapter shows just why …omer is such a good king. He gives everyone what they want and the bad ones are not satisfied. Good job. But i would pity anyone who has to put up with Ethelfled, be it in Rohan or Gondor. I cannot wait for the end.

It is alright if you want to check the next chapter again, but hurry or I will die from withdrawal.

Author's Response: New chapter should be up in a day or two---don't want to blow the whole story on a crappy ending. I always imagined that Ethelfled will be humbled (just a bit) in Gondor and eventually find a pompous gentleman of the court who will dote on her and let her strut around like a peahen (to his peacock) while the rest of the world just looks on and laughs!

Now it comes to a head ... just let me sum this up :
a morning grouch of a king confronted with a slightly stunted sense for matters of the court confronted with a full-grown love-scandal surrounding a brother in arms, a sister in heart and a harpy ... in everything. And all that before finishing breakfast.

Sounds like a lot of fun! At least reading it was a lot of fun for me, eagerly waiting for more!

Author's Response: Awesome sum-up! Hit the nail on the head. Tomorrow you can see what will transpire in the Throne room...needless to say, all hell will break lose! Glad you enjoyed reading 'Eomer's and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day'... no really it is a book! Okay, so it's Alexander and not Eomer but the title still fits! ~G

Thank goodness! And I thought she would manage to flee to Gondor and get a piece of Aragorn's mind ;-)
This version is way better! You made my evening after 20 chapters of waiting and hoping ;-)

Now I'm curious if our dearest Ethelfled will make an intrigue against her. She seems to be smart enough to think of some things or another to make her life ... at least a lot worse.

Author's Response: Oh it is not smooth sailing yet and that woman still has a few tricks up her sleeves! Just you wait.

And me again!
I was right with the eyes by the way, Elfhelm was one of my 3 possibilities.
Well, Thea did not get very far with her escape. I prefer it this way. But I am a little afraid about Ethelfled's reaction when Elfhelm will be honest with her. I fear what she might try afterwards to get rid of Thea.
I guess I'll have to wait until you post again ...

Author's Response: Oh the trouble she could make!! After all, 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'!! More soon...and who do you think returned her bags if not Elfhelm? She would not have gotten away with out notice even if Elfhelm had not gotten to her first.

A rather short chapter but with as much content as the others. But before I continue *ties Thea to a column* Now she can't leave. I mean, she did not exactly get a yes from Elfhelm, but she didn't get a no either. I think everyone who follows this story agrees with me, those two need to talk. Maybe after she comes back from Gondor, we'll see.
As to that woman ... if the timeline fitted I would say it is Gríma reborn but as it doesn't fit I have to say she and Gríma are related, at least mentally. I'd love to practice my archery with her as the target =)

Author's Response: I know it was short (I have been trying to keep chapters short 'cause I usually make them 4-5 pages long so I am working on being concise) I really needed a little segue for the next chapter--and a little hint for Éomer’s story (yet to come). Ooh a Grima-Ethelfled relation....that would have been neat, unfortunately, he hails from the West of Rohan and she from the Eats. Anyway, both are despicable though she is not as disgusting (only a gold digger and Elfhelm's not getting any younger). I am sure you will definately want to use her for target practice before it is all said and done---you might have to take a number though as it seems she is well hated! Perfect :) If you would not mind untieing Thea for a moment...she has something to do before she actually takes off.

oh, well, I do not hate you for this chapter. I like you all the more for it. Thea is slowly dying, true BUT I hope Elfhelm comes by fast enough to save her AND tell that annoying woman to go home (HER! home).
I know I read too many romance stories.

Author's Response: I love romance and I am glad you do not hate me for all this. The good news is she s not fading (not in the elvin sense) but she is terrible, emotionally, drained. And it will take something more to get rid of Ethelfled as her 'home' is the East-mark! Elfhelm is the Marshal there...nope, gonna have to come up with a better solution-- More tomorrow :) ~G

I won't threaten you because I'm almost sure you won't kill him ;-) but even so ... this is a very mean place to stop! You and cliffhangers, I swear! ;-)

That being said: I totally understand his decision to stay and I think Thea overreacted. The people of a nation pay taxes so that they are protected. Elfhelm as a member of the guard of Rohan is duty bound to protect its people and as there were unprotected villages nearby he had simply no right to leave them fending for their own. Of course he also has to keep his men from harm and therefore I would expect him as an experienced Marshal to keep out of a skirmish as long as possible but not to shy away from it when necessary.
And as I assume that he did exactly that I am totally on his side in that matter. It was simply not Arathea's place to question his decision directly in front of his men, so I can even understand that he became rude.
And yet, I do understand her, too. She is afraid to lose him, but she has to learn that he is a warrior and will have to run into danger sometimes for the sake of others. Nothing to do with heroism. It's his job and at the very least what he gets paid for.

And about my last comment: I didn't want to say that I thought Elfhelm was behaving dishonorable, he really is a gentleman in every sense of the word and he does not lead Ethelfled on, so there's nothing to fault him for. Especially after this chapter I have more respect for him then ever ;-). It's just that he is so stubbornly refusing to see that she is no legitimate heir to *anything* whereas he is the Marshal of the East Mark, trusted friend of his king who played his role in the defense of his country and Minas Tirith!

Ah, well. They’ll come to their senses soon, won’t they? At least if he is okay ... ;-)

Author's Response: Let me start by saying I really love the depth of your comments! Now, Arathea is a reasonable woman and would not openly challenge the Marshal (she would start discrete like when they entered Lorien). They only had a guard of 15; Elhelm sent 9 with Thea and took 5 with him to hunt wargs. Now I tried to make it seem like the pack was big and they were close to Edoras. The smart thing would have been to either: A. sent a message to Eomer and have him dispatch riders or B. to send only 1 or 2 guards with Thea since they were to ride non-stop. Remeber...they have been traveling for days at this point. Thea's fear was more for the men as a whole. You could imagine the conversation starting off quietly but then began to grow. Both had feelings of trepidation about returning to Rohan so they were a little cranky. I am glad to see that Elfhelm maintained his honor in your eyes. I really wanted to paint him as fun loving, down to earth--kind more jovial than the more subdued, stoic Rohirrim (they seem do somber in the movie!) And as far as coming to their senses? Well... Time will tell :) Thanks again! ~G

Hello again,
after you asked me to take some time and look into your other story ... well, here I am.
Of curse I read the first story in this series first. Well, I like all of it up to now, so I decided to stay with this story as well.

Author's Response: Yay! Love to have new readers!! Hope you like this story/series! Thank you, thank you , thank you! This is what makes me excited and gets me writing! And I so need it--the last fic in this series is Eomer's and he is just giving me a difficult time! Incentive...you reviews are incentives...off to write! ~G