A/N: I am not JRRTolkien, or any of his decedents. I make no claim on these characters, and seek no monetary compensation for this story.
Though I do not think it is necessary to read my first story No Secrets Between Us (Faramir and Eowyn), this story does continue in that story line.
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Lothiriel's excitement was affecting her horse. Barely content with the steady pace the Swan Knights around her kept, Lothiriel's horse walked a few steps, then trotted, only to return to a walk. After watching this process for a few minutes Amrothos rode over to her.
"You will tire Mirime out if you keep riding like this." He pointed out, but his eyes sparkled mischief.
"We are so close, dear brother," she replied, in a formal tone. "How can you expect me to remain calm?"
"Is it the potential to lie in a real bed tonight that has you so worked up? Or the prospect of a bath? Oh, I know, it's the chance to wear something that does not smell like a horse."
Lothiriel laughed. "We are in Rohan." She drew out the name of the country as if Amrothos was slow to understand. "We have almost made it to Edoras, the seat of the Horselords. Everything is going to smell like horse." She smiled. "And you know why I am excited, so do not play with me."
Amrothos nodded gravely. "Yes, it is a foolish man who plays at the heart of a woman in love."
"I beg your pardon?" Lothiriel was honestly confused. "In love?"
"Yes, we ride to see your great Horselord – the one you dragged me on a ten day journey to visit. But you have yet to tell me who it is – Eothain… no he's married." Lothiriel started laughing. "Erkanbrand is twice your age but he might do well for you as a husband. No. I know. It is the King of Rohan himself who has caught your eye, and all the better for our countries." Lothiriel laughed harder.
"Oh yes." She replied, gasping for breath. "You have found me out dear brother. I am madly in love with the King of Rohan, a man I have spoken to directly but three times and each time it has been to scold his care of his sister. From those three times he has irrevocably fallen for me and now I ride to his side where I shall stay forever."
"I knew it to be so." Amrothos responded, continuing the jest. "But tell me, little sister, how ever shall I bear the separation from you? When you leave for Rohan I shall never see you again, for I have nothing as motivating as love to encourage me to ride for ten days straight for a visit."
"Then you shall have to do as I do and ride ten days to see a good friend." Lothiriel smiled, though her tone became serious. "I was anxious to leave Eowyn here alone for the winter, though she promised it would turn out fine."
"The Lady Eowyn is not one to tell false tales. If she told you she would be fine here with out you then it was so. You were much better off serving the Queen this winter, and now you have leave to fulfill your promise to your friend." It was an old argument that was moot at this point as they were almost on the doorstep of Edoras.
"I wish I could have been there for her more, though." She put in the last word. "Her letters were not as cheerful as I hoped for."
Amrothos gave her arm a small squeeze. "You are too kind, dear sister. You want to solve all the world's ills. It becomes you, but it is not practical."
"And you are always a great source of practical advice." She added dryly.
"No, but I'm ironical. I never say what you expect." He pulled his horse away and went to talk to one of the Knights.
Lothiriel smiled. It was a good thing to be so close to seeing Eowyn again.
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At the gates of Edoras Eomer King, and his Marshals met them. After dismounting their horses were led away to the stables, and Lothiriel turned to greet Eomer King. She was slightly apprehensive about their greeting; it was true what she told Amrothos. She had only spoken to Eomer King two or three times and each time it was a scold for his callous treatment of his sister.
She gave a deep curtsy, and to her left Amrothos bowed. He then stepped forward and Eomer King grabbed him in a one armed hug. This was her real plan for bringing Amrothos with her, though his escort was one of the reasons her father allowed her to go in the first place. Over the past year Amrothos and the King had become close friends. She hoped that having her brother with her would smooth any past awkwardness between her and Eomer King, and that his presence would allow her to be able to spend more time with Eowyn and less time with her host.
After greeting them in his own language, Eomer King restated his words in Western. I hope Eowyn has told him that Amrothos and I have studied the Rohirric language over the past months and now know more than polite greetings. But she did not let this show on her face, and instead gave a grave and traditional reply in Western.
They were ushered inside the gate and began the walk up the hill. Lothiriel was engrossed in refreshing her memory of the pathways, and did not hear Eomer King ask her a question.
She heard her brother call her name though. "Lothiriel." She turned to see both him and Eomer King looking at her. It took her a second to realize she missed something.
"I beg pardon, Eomer King," she blushed and gently inclined her head. "I was remembered where the roads led, from my previous trip here."
He nodded in response. "I asked if your travel was pleasant."
Lothiriel bit back a smile at that. "While I certainly enjoyed parts of the days on the road, I would say that my favorite part of any travel is arriving at the final destination."
"Lothiriel has being putting her horse through her paces today," Amrothos laughed, unable to resist a chance to tease his sister. "She was too excited to keep at the mild pace set by our guards."
She resisted making a face at her brother, and gave her most polite smile instead. "I have looked forward to seeing Eowyn again for many months now. The last few hours were almost unbearable."
"She is looking forward to seeing you as well. She enjoyed reading your letters over the winter months."
"I am glad to hear she received pleasure from our correspondence." Lothiriel agreed, blandly. Inwardly she sighed. This was as bad as the formal court dinners under her Uncle Denethor. Next she supposed she would have to make some inane comment about the weather.
Fortunately it seemed that Eomer King had nothing more to say in such dull conversation and instead looked to Amrothos to ask about the new patterns of arrow fletching the Gondorian fletchers were attempting. Lothiriel couldn't help but turn her attention to the conversation. She was truly excited by the new designs and brought some arrows specifically to show Eowyn.
Don't respond she reminded herself, when Amrothos erred in one of his explanations. You don't want any more attention than you need.
The road turned in a slight curve and when they rounded it the hall of Meduseld stood but a few feet away. Eowyn waited to the side of the short flight of steps, as she had when Lothiriel visited last time. She's still wearing white, Lothiriel noted with a mental sigh, and then looked with a healer's eyes to try to spot any of the visible signs of distress that plagued her friend the last time they met. It was hard to tell. Eowyn held herself proudly as she welcomed her guests in Rohirric. Unlike her brother, she did not translate her words and her eyes sparkled a challenge to Lothiriel.
Instead of curtsying as if to noble host in Gondor, Lothiriel placed her hands flat against her legs and gave, she hoped, a credible bow. "It is good to be here again my friend." She responded in the same language, wincing slightly at her pronunciation. It was hard to get her voice used to speaking different vowel sounds.
Eowyn smiled, and it was a rare moment when Lothiriel saw her friend's true face – the face that time, trouble, and despair almost erased. "You have improved much," Eowyn said in Rohirric. "But your accent is terrible." She added, switching fluidly to Western.
"We practiced the best we could, Lady Eowyn." Her brother added in Rohirric, his accent was not as bad. "But tutors are few and far between in Gondor." He had to switch to Western for the last part; their vocabulary was not very large yet.
"I am certain that you will find some one who will be able to teach you here." Eowyn said, and Lothiriel noticed that Eowyn's body had stiffened somewhat as Amrothos stepped closer to greet her.
"If not here, then nowhere." Amrothos smiled gently and backed away on the pretense of putting his arm around his sister's shoulder. This Lothiriel did not mind at all, and she smiled at her brother's perceptive nature.
"There is a light midday meal prepared for you," Eowyn continued though her voice was slightly more brittle than before and her smile had lost its ease. "Would you like to see your rooms before you eat?"
Amrothos and Lothiriel shared a look. "I believe we are agreeable to that plan, but we will not hold you up for long, my Lady," Amrothos accepted for the two of them and they were led inside.
Eowyn guided them along the hallways and stopped by one door that led to Amrothos's room. Lothiriel's was a little further down the hall, and Eowyn stepped into it with her.
"Our rooms connect you see," Eowyn said, answering the question Lothiriel did not ask. "Forgive me, for we have finer rooms, but we have had visitors showing up unexpected or at short notice of late. I would rather have you in the connecting room than a stranger."
"The room is beautiful Eowyn," Lothiriel replied. "I have nothing to complain of." The room was lovely – the curtains were a rich green that matched the bedspread and small carpet. The other dominant color was the deep mahogany of the wooden bed that matched the small table and chair that were placed facing the window.
"The view is what makes this room special," Eowyn told her as they moved to take it in. Lothiriel basked in the sun as she looked out over the plains to the snow capped mountains in the distance. Though magnificent, Lothiriel could not see much difference between this room and the one she had occupied before. She turned a questioning glance to her friend, which made Eowyn laugh. "Give it a month and a half, or so. You'll see. I'll leave you to change if you wish. There's water behind that door, and space for your clothes in the small chest of drawers you find as well."
"I'm sure I will find everything I need." Lothiriel reassured her friend. "If you give me a few minutes I will be ready to leave."
Eowyn nodded, then left, not through the door that joined their rooms together, but out through the door that led to the hallway.
Lothiriel gave an inward sigh of relief. A half a year of planning, convincing her father, convincing the King and Queen, convincing her brother, and two weeks of travel were over. It felt like a heavy load was off her back. She was here, in Rohan, with a mysterious window to observe, and more importantly she had time – months of time – to spend with Eowyn and help her in any way possible. Then at the end of her months she would accompany Eowyn to Minas Tireth and do everything in her power to make sure that Eowyn settled there.
Then what? Her mind queried as she found a simple afternoon gown from her belongings and went to wash up. She couldn't answer the question. Too much of it depended on things beyond her control. The Queen had hinted that they might need her to secure the loyalty of one or another nobles. That meant marriage and moving to a new part of the world. Otherwise perhaps she would stay in court with the Queen for a while, or perhaps she would go home to her father's house.
Putting it out of her mind for the time, Lothiriel finished washing up and made herself ready for her first day in Edoras.
True to the time Lothiriel suggested, Eowyn knocked lightly at the door connecting their two rooms, and entered when Lothiriel responded.
"I thought…" Eowyn began and then stopped to take a deep breath. "I thought I might try to sleep with the door between our two rooms unlocked while you're here. You were right in your letters that I should try to open up parts of my life that he… that were lost during…" Lothiriel smiled encouragingly and waited. Eowyn shook her head as if trying to escape her thoughts. "I thought it would be good to try since I know you are a light sleeper."
"I am." Lothiriel smiled. "And I will sleep with my bow if you like, to give you extra security. I have brought some of the new arrows that I spoke of, as well as my light bow – the one that is made in the style of the Rangers of Ithilien."
Eowyn returned the smile with a small one of her own. "Does this mean that I am allowed to drag you on to the practice fields tomorrow?"
"I do not think dragging will be involved." Lothiriel laughed. "Unless you plan to make me shoot before breakfast. Then I might have to put up some resistance."
"I promise, breakfast first," Eowyn gave a true smile, and led Lothiriel out of the room. "Then perhaps we can go on a ride out to some of the surrounding villages. I promised I would stop by to see what they need to tide them over until the first harvests start to come in."
"I would enjoy that. I need help learning your language, and I can think of few better ways to study."
"I shall introduce you to some of the children in Edoras who are learning Western then, and you can teach each other."
"Do not, under any circumstance, put Lothiriel in charge of children." Lothiriel's brother's voice boomed down the hall. He stood a few feet off with Eomer. "Or else do not hold me responsible for any pranks that go on in your house. Lady Eowyn, you do not know your peril, for my sister is as crafty as her cousin Faramir."
"I believe, brother dear, that the long ride has addled your mind. You seem to be mistaking your behavior for jokes with mine. I cannot recall the last time something's gone awry when you were not at the bottom of it all."
Amrothos considered her statements. "I do believe you are right, but that does not change the fact that you have the potential to cause mischief. The same blood runs through our veins."
"And the veins of Erichen and Elphir. Does that make me a sailor and a captain as well as a jester? Eowyn, I am sorry that I brought him into your beautiful home. It will truly be on me if anything goes awry." Lothiriel apologized dramatically to her friend and had the joy of seeing Eowyn's smile reappear.
"You are forgiven. Our home has survived years of jests, and I do not believe anyone could cause as much damage as Eomer had in his youth."
"Indeed?" Lothiriel turned her gaze to Eomer, and looked him over as if assessing his potential to cause mischief. He looked taken aback at Eowyn's response, but a small smile grew on his face.
"Indeed, Lady Lothiriel." He replied mock gravely. "I am afraid to admit that it's true. But, if I admit it then, by your brother's standard, my sister must admit that mischief runs in her blood too."
Eowyn's smile held. "I will neither admit nor deny anything." She then gestured. "But we are being rude hosts, brother, to keep our guests from the table." She led Lothiriel down the hall, leaving their brothers to sort themselves out. "I did not plan anything special for our meal. We are still conserving food before the first harvests come." Lothiriel reassured her that they were there to visit, not to be entertained.
"When do you plan to depart for Minas Tireth?" Lothiriel asked as the four of them sat and were served bread with cold meat and cheese on the side.
"A little under two months." Eowyn replied. "I had also hoped you would help me prepare for this engagement banquet we are supposed to host for the nobility of Gondor upon our arrival."
"My time is yours Eowyn," Lothiriel said earnestly. "I came here with no other expectation than to be at your beck and call for the next two months."
"And to learn Rohirric." Amrothos added. She nodded at his point.
"If it's convenient." She added.
"I believe we could manage that" Eowyn answered in Rohirric.
It took Lothiriel a minute to work out what she said, and then Lothiriel replied "My thanks."
"Did Faramir give you a list of people attending your engagement banquet already?" Amrothos asked after they sat for a few minutes quietly eating.
"Yes." Eowyn replied. "I have not learned all their names yet, but there must be twice as many ladies coming as men."
Amrothos and Lothiriel exchanged a glance. "Why would Faramir wish to invite them?" Amrothos asked.
Lothiriel was answering even as he finished speaking. "He probably knows that there is very little option of who can be invited, and who cannot."
"But he must know they are not coming for the banquet, they are coming for the Hunt." Amrothos replied.
"We have not organized a hunt," Eomer King stated, clearly not hearing the emphasis on the word. "And hunting is best in the winter, even in Gondor, or so I am told."
Amrothos started laughing at that point, and Lothiriel struggled to keep a straight face. "My lord, you misunderstand my brother." She said after she got her emotions under control. "He does not mean a hunt for wild animals. He is crassly talking about the games noble Gondorian women will play in order to try to marry the most eligible male possible."
Eowyn's forehead puckered as she frowned a little. "But I thought you said that it was an arranged marriage for most women in Gondor."
"It is," Amrothos agreed. "But it depends from family to family, and on how much of a dowry the daughter will have, and on the rank of the family the daughter is from…" he trailed off. "For example, as much as we love her, Lothiriel will probably have little say in whom she marries. Father will try to give her some choice, but because she is the only daughter of the only remaining Princedom in Gondor it is possible that the King will try to use her to ally us with another country."
"However," Lothiriel sternly broke in, trying not to think of how depressing that sounded, "some families of lower nobility allow their daughter to choose. The ladies who are coming, I believe I could name many from that list, will come to try to catch the attention of your noble brother Eowyn. I will leave it at that, and ask how this cheese is made for it's nothing like I've tasted before."
After a few more mundane topics, they ended their lunch and went their separate ways.
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A/N: Three years ago I was moving down to NM, and one of the ways I kept myself sane was to edit, rewrite, write, and post my story No Secrets Between Us.
Now I find myself moving back eastward, and needing the same reassurance that I will have something to look forward to - such as posting this story that I have lived with for so long. As far as I plan, I will update on the first of each month though updates might be sooner as things return to stability.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it so far. Please share any thoughts, comments, concerns, or corrections.
If you wish to beta this, please PM me.
