CHAPTER 1

I was sitting on window seat in my chamber, watching the waves coming and going, buried in my thoughts, when I heard Amrothos screaming: "Lothiriel, they are coming! They are here!"

Quickly, I went to the mirror, to make sure I looked well and then I went to see my father. He was sitting behind the massive desk in his study. Surrounded by papers and maps, he did not notice me when I walked in.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Father. Amrothos just told me, that the king of Rohan has been seen. They travel with a great speed and will be here soon."

"Lothiriel, I did not see you coming in … I am sorry, there is so much work to be done before you leave Dol Amroth for Rohan … ." He put down a piece of paper and slowly walked towards me. "I truly believe that Theodred will be a good husband and he will make you happy. He loves you, Lothiriel."

"I know but ...", I decided, it is better not to say anything, I did not want to upset my father. And besides he would go mad if I told him that I love another man! It would only create problems for all of us if he knew it was Theodred's cousin I loved, not Theodred himself. And now, it was too late, to say anything. Everything was prepared, the date of the wedding was set … and Eomer … Eomer would never admit his feelings for me, for he loved Theodred as his own brother.

"Is something bothering you, my dear?," he took my face into his hands and looked at me. " I know you too well, you cannot hide anything from me. What is wrong?"

"Nothing, father. Nothing. I … just … I will miss you so much!", and I felt tears coming down my face.

"We will miss you too, my darling! But it has to happen someday … we all knew that one day you will marry and leave to live with your husband.", he kissed me on forehead.

"Let us go! I do not wish to miss the welcome of such an important guests!", and we walked together down the stairs into the hall. Everyone was there. My brothers have been waiting for us, Elphir was so nervous that he let out almost a cry when he finally saw us approaching. He was the one in our family who always followed the rules! He has never broken the rules, at least not that I could remember. He was even worse than my father when it came to the law and rules. The future lord of Dol Amroth took his duty very seriously, he knew about everything that went on in our city and he always made sure, everyone was following the rules. I thought him boring most of the time and even we did not have a strong relationship, I loved him deeply, for I knew he had always my best interest in mind.

So, we were all here waiting for my future husband to come and take me away from everyone and everything I knew. Then we heard a sound of horses and people talking in the courtyard and then the door opened and inside came Theodred with Eomer by his side and few of their riders.

"Theodred, how nice to see you again!", father welcomed him.

"The pleasure is all mine, dear friend.", said Theodred and they embraced each other like an old friends.

All this time I could not take my eyes off of Eomer. He was standing so proudly next to his cousin. His hair was loose and his clothes covered in dust from the road but that did not make him look any less attractive. Suddenly, he looked at me, but at that moment, I would rather if he hadn't. He pierced me with his eyes … he was so cold, no smile, he was not happy to see me at all. Oh, well … how could I think that he would love me? He never told me that, it was just my imagination, I wanted him to feel something for me and clearly it is not true. Maybe, it's for the best. I am to marry his cousin, and he would never betray him! Never! At least it will be easier for me to learn how to love my husband. Father once told me that love can come with the time, he was so sure that I will learn to love my husband, I just needed time …

"Lothiriel! I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time! Finally the time has come when I can take you home with me and make you my queen!", Theodred took my hand and kissed it gently.

"I am happy to see you, my lord. You have come, at last.", and I smiled at him.

He offered me his hand and the whole company moved to the dining hall where everything was prepared for our guests.

"If you will excuse me, my lady, I would like to bath and change clothes before the dinner. It has been a long journey," he kissed my hand again and turned to my father.

"Of course, Theodred. Everything is prepared. The captain will show you to your chambers. I hope that it will require you with enough comfort after such a journey. Theodred, Eomer, we will see you later at the dinner. Come, Lothiriel, let them rest for a while.", he said and we left them alone.

I could not help myself but think about Eomer all the time. Does he have a lover back home? Is he in love with somebody else? And I thought about that evening a year ago, when he came with his family to visit Dol Amroth for the first time … how everything about him was so impressing and attractive and how I wished that he was Theodred. That evening, I was walking alone on the beach, when I saw him approaching. "Lady Lothiriel, what are you doing here? You should not be here alone, definitely not in the night!", he looked at me.

"But I am not alone! You are here now, aren't you?", I smiled at him and wanted to kiss him so badly, but I knew it's not a good idea.

"Yes, that's true and now I will take you back to the castle!", he grabbed my hand wanting me to follow him.

"You are hurting me, Eomer! Stop!", and I stopped. He turned to me. "I do not want to go back to the castle! I come here every time I want to be alone! This is the only time I can be alone!", I broke down and started to cry.

"I am sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. I just don't think it's wise for you to be alone here!", he kneeled and embraced me. "Did I hurt you so much?", he whispered in my ear.

"No, I just … needed to be alone. My father is overprotective, everywhere I go, I have to have the guards with me, he knows about everything I do every day … I just needed to get out from the castle!", and I wept in his embrace.

"Your father wants to protect you, that's all. I'm sure he doesn't want for you to feel that way. He wants you to be happy."

"All my life somebody is in the control of my own life! I cannot make the decisions for myself, it is always my father making the decisions! And also this marriage! I do not want to marry Theodred! I do not love him! I want to be with you! I wish this moment would never end!", I looked at him with eyes full of tears and waited for his reaction. He took my face into his hands. Did not say anything, just kissed me! Oh, I felt like I'm melting away. His lips, the smell of his hair, his touch. I have never felt such a pleasure before! Suddenly, he pushed me away and said: "What have I done? You are going to marry Theodred! How could I do this to him? Lothiriel, no matter what has happened today, it will never happen again! Never!" And he was gone!

Oh, that evening on the beach! I has to mean something to him! How can he pretend like it never happened? When all this time I have been bethrothed to Theodred, he has been the only thing I have been thinking of ...No, I don't believe! He loves me! He must have! A man doesn't kiss a woman like that if he doesn't love her!

And so my maid found me lying on my bed dreaming about Eomer. "My lady, they are all waiting for you in the dining hall.", she helped me to stand up.

"Yes, of course … I'm coming."