Title: A Rohirric Betrothal
Rating: T
Pairings: Éomer/Lothíriel
Genre: Romance/Humour
Summary: They found each other in the woods. But what does a Rohirric betrothal actually mean? Sequel to "Found in the Woods".
Disclaimer: The Lord of The Rings is the property of J. R. R. Tolkien and his estate. This is a work of fanfiction, written for the enjoyment of myself and others. No financial profit is made by writing this.
Author's Note: Well, what do you know. Here I am, writing a sequel that wasn't supposed to be. I truly believed I was finished with this storyline, but then a lovely reader who goes by the name of Anon posted a delightful review to the final chapter and wondered what a sequel could be like, and it had my imagination running wild immediately. So a sequel was born and here is its first chapter. If you haven't read Found in the Woods yet, then I suggest you go and check it out first, as I'm not sure this story will make sense without it.
Though I haven't drafted this very far along, I do have some ideas already and much of it is inspired by Anon's review. If you want a better credit with some other nick, I would be happy to oblige. In any case I'm most thankful for feeding my muse with something so entertaining! For the time being, the rating of this piece is T, but it may change later on.
As for the story I mentioned in the last chapter of Found in the Woods, it will be put on hold for the time being. But we'll get to it once the time is right!
I hope you enjoy this little story, and let me know what you think!
Another morning dawned in the fragrant wood of Ithilien, and Lothíriel, Princess of Dol Amroth, was wakened by birdsong and the first murmurs of the Riders outside her tent. She had slept deep and untroubled, much as she had ever since the lovely evening in the garden of Emyn Arnen. Smiling, she stretched and allowed herself a small giggle under her breath. Past few days, she had been laughing more than... well, she couldn't recall when she had last laughed so much.
Knowing the King's Company did not revel in slow mornings, she got up from her bedroll and dressed quickly. Hers was the only tent in the entire camp, for the others slept outside under the summer sky. But Faramir and Lady Éowyn had insisted to supply her with this thing, even though the weathers remained beautiful and they wouldn't spend many nights on the road. Lothíriel had tried to insist she would be entirely comfortable under the sky, but her objections were firmly ignored.
She braided her hai into a simple plait and collected her things for a quick wash by the river before the breakfast, which she would take with her brother Amrothos and the Riders of the King's Guard. They had been travelling together with Rohirrim to Minas Tirith, where they would meet her father, and then hopefully, when things had been made official, she would know the date when she travelled to Rohan to her betrothed.
The idea almost made her laugh in wonder again. Éomer, her betrothed. It was still hard to believe, and moments came when she felt like pinching herself to make sure this wasn't merely a wonderful dream. Of course, it was agreed only as far as the two of them and Rohirrim were considered, and they still needed her father's blessing, but everyone seemed to believe he would have no qualms about the matter. Even Amrothos had told her Father wouldn't mind after he got over first shock. Surely he would be glad to approve of their intentions, if he just saw how very happy she was with Éomer?
Indeed, the past week, spent in the sunny woods of Ithilien, had been wondrously happy. Her king had scarcely been very far from her, almost to the point where Amrothos started to complain she was monopolising Éomer's time and attention. But the Rohir didn't seem to mind. He was glad to spend hours and hours by her side, conversing at times ceaselessly and then falling silent in calm contentment. And stealing kisses when others were not looking.
Needless to say, she loved him more than ever. And by a strange chance, he appeared to be falling for her, too.
These thoughts warmed her cheeks and Lothíriel shook her head, realising she was daydreaming. It wouldn't do, for they still had a long day's ride ahead of them. So, after making sure she had everything she needed, she lifted the door flap and made to exit.
And almost stepped on someone's face.
Lothíriel let out a small cry of fright, which was answered by a surprisingly high-pitched squeal from the person she had nearly trampled. Amrothos!
"What in the name of Elbereth do you think you're doing? Why are you sleeping at my doorway?" Lothíriel demanded to know when her brother sat up and blinked his eyes. His bedroll was directly across the entrance. What had got into him to choose this spot and nearly startled her witless?
"Lothíriel! What do you think you're doing! You nearly stepped on my nose!" he complained, rubbing his face.
"I was trying to step out, obviously!" she groaned at him. "There's an entire forest around us for you to pick your sleeping place from, and you just had to plop yourself down here!"
"Where else? Someone has to watch over you", he muttered, not meeting her eyes.
"Watch over me? In a camp full of Rohirric Riders and their king himself?" she inquired critically. After the battle in the woods, she had developed a healthy respect for the skills of these men and frankly there was nothing that could scare her when they were nearby.
"Precisely!" Amrothos said and made a face. "I'm just being a good brother. And a son, for that matter."
At last, she understood the reason why her brother had decided to place himself between her tent and the rest of the camp. Once more, she could feel her face growing warm.
"Well, that makes you the only one in this camp who thinks so, because according to Rohirrim, it's well within his rights to visit me any time he likes!" she announced fiercely and stomped off towards the river.
Éomer's riders greeted her with smiles and bowed heads as she made her way, but Amrothos was probably still too much asleep to dash after her. Ever since the morning she and her horselord had made their announcement at Emyn Arnen, her brother had been tailing her as though he was her shadow. She had quickly realised he was trying to chaperone for her. His manner had been quite suspicious, too, and Éomer had wryly commented someone must have filled him in with the details of what a Rohirric betrothal meant. And so Amrothos was following them everywhere they went, eyeing them as though he suspected foul play at all times, and only on a few occasions he agreed to let Lady Éowyn to act as a guardian.
Lothíriel snorted to herself when she remembered the dinner on the second night of their stay. She had sat next to Éomer, and as often as their eyes had met, so had she brushed her hand against his. Then she had felt his foot touching hers under the table, and shyly she had placed her hand on his knee. When she had looked up, Amrothos had been staring at them with narrowed eyes, and every meal that took place afterwards, he would always position himself between her and the King of Rohan.
As such, it wasn't easy to find chances to steal a few kisses, and eventually they had just determined to make Amrothos as frustrated as they were. It had been more fun than Lothíriel had expected to tease her brother by gradually going closer to Éomer and pretending to be about to kiss him, until the moment came her brother interfered. It amused her king very much and caused a great deal of exasperation to Amrothos. It served him right, truly, after the way he had initially treated the whole matter as a joke.
She was smiling to herself when she reached the river Anduin. It glittered in bright sunlight and the woods were green and fair. If only they could keep on going forever! However, she knew they would reach Minas Tirith some time this evening. And then, probably after a few days, Éomer would be leaving – but hopefully not for long.
Quickly she washed her hands and face in the river and then patted them dry. She undid her braid and combed through it with her fingers, thinking idly of the Rohirric braids Éowyn had showed to her. While Éomer seemed to like it when she had her hair made like the maidens of the North, his favourite was when she wore it open.
"Good morning, fair lady", a voice spoke, and as ever when she heard him speak, her heart leaped. Lothíriel turned and saw him standing nearby, golden and glorious. In times before now, she had almost felt like she was looking at the sun when she glanced at him; he was just as brilliant to her eyes, but also painful and blinding if stared at for too long. For she had believed he'd never notice her, or look at her with love.
She bounced on her feet and went to greet him.
"Good morning to you as well", she said, wondering if this feeling of breathless excitement might be vanishing any time soon.
He smiled and pulled her close by waist, and then he bent his head down to kiss her. There was a boldness in his touch, which was very thrilling, but always gentleness, too. He surely knew how to make her heart race.
Éomer did not pull away when the kiss ended. He remained close and gazed at her with warm, soft eyes.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked her.
"Like a baby", she answered, resting her arms around his neck. Lothíriel made a face, "Apparently, Amrothos slept the night blocking my doorway."
He snorted in laughter.
"I noticed. It amused my men very much", he commented and kissed her again. "To tell you the truth, his action almost had an opposite effect. I was tempted to try and enter just to spite him."
Lothíriel felt a delightful shiver run down her spine at this information. She could imagine it all too well – and liked it dangerously much. Éowyn had told her a little more about Rohirric betrothal traditions and the princess had spent the rest of the day blushing, because there was intimacy to their ways she hadn't really understood when Éomer had first told her what they had accidentally announced to his Riders. But when she had later reflected on Éowyn's explanation, especially in relation to Éomer, it had awakened in her something she had not really comprehended before. It was both exciting and a little frightening.
"Poor Amrothos", she said at length, smiling at her horselord. "Then again, I think he has rather deserved it."
"Very much so", Éomer said with a rather wicked smile, "I have absolutely no intention of making it any easier for him."
"Good!" said Lothíriel and tiptoed to get a better access at his mouth. He seemed to like that, and they were blissfully focused on one another until a shout interrupted them.
"Oi there! That's quite enough!" Amrothos announced as he finally arrived to watch over his errant sister. She broke off from her betrothed, but did not try to hide her grin. And Éomer still held her hand in his own.
Amrothos groaned.
"I swear, I leave you alone for two minutes -" he muttered linking his arm with hers. "Are you finished? There is breakfast."
"As you say, brother", Lothíriel said cheerfully and let him lead her back to the camp. But over her shoulder, she threw a wink at her horselord.
Behind them, Éomer was smiling.
To be continued.