A/N: Hey there! I've been reading all the EomerLothiriel fics for a long time and decided to write my own for when I've read all that's new. So I hope you enjoy. Please, if you could let me know how to get the accents over the "i" in Lothiriel's name and the "E" in Eomer'sI would greatly appreciate it. So here is it! Enjoy!Taima
Between a Princess and Soldier turned King
Family Honor
There was a princess who lived in a majestic land beside the sea. Beside her family's palace on the cliffs of Dol Amroth the waves had crashed for centuries carving the land of Middle-earth. But the stone and mortar of the ancient land were strong, proving the sea's attempts tedious and the lands beside the surging sea changed only little by little over the centuries. During stormy weather the dark, raging sea's raw power contrasted with the smooth and tranquil city of Dol Amroth, but the builders had been inspired by the sea's grace and curvature. The people of the city were dark and fair like most Gondorians, but there was a quiet strength in them that came from living beside the mystical sea of old. Gondorians from Minas Tirith saw them as stubborn, and aye, that they were, but they were a people forever taught to follow their hearts and persevere as long as the sea continued to crash upon the shores, rubbing away at Middle-Earth. They were a humble people as well, all understood that they lived beside a dangerous beauty and respected their lands greatly. The only reason their city had not been swept off the cliff face before was because the gracious Valar were protecting them. So, despite what anyone in Gondor would tell you about the valiant sea-faring people of Dol Amroth, their position taught them many a lesson that is not perceived by others of their kind until many-a-year into maturity they have passed.
Despite the tempests and quick-changing nature of the sea, it was usually quite tranquil throughout the year. At sunrise the sky awakened, slowly changing from the vast black and deep-blue hues of night to a warm gray. Silver spread along the horizon until it created a thin layer between the sea and light gray sky. Princess Lothiriel sat on the wide rail of her white stone balcony gazing peacefully at the horizon. Her feet dangled over the edge, her silken nightgown tickling her ankles. A salty breeze rushed to greet her and her long dark hair sighed gently against her shoulders at its departure. Lothiriel closed her eyes and took a long whiff of the last night wind. When she opened her eyes radiant beams of light shot from the East into the sky and the silver water turned to fire! Oh, how beautiful the sunrise in Dol Amroth! Without further ado, the brilliant sun peaked over the horizon, sending the silver lining skittering into the North and South to mingle with the mists of those far away lands across the sundering seas.
Lothiriel stretched exuberantly and smiled as the sunshine touched her fair face. It was a short-lived smile however, as she felt suddenly a stifling presence behind her. With the coming of the sun, the sky brightened all around– except to the Northeast, where a pall covered the land and stretched it's dark fingers across the sky. Lothiriel had known of its presence, but had refused to acknowledge it on her last day in her home. She was going with her father and brothers to Minas Tirith for the battle against Mordor, and needed the reassurance of her homeland as crystal clear as she could remember it for the dark days ahead.
" Thiri, are you awake?" Amrothos' quiet voice called to her from behind her door. He never knocked this early, it was too jarring if she had been asleep; which she never was.
"Yes, come in Amrothos." She said over her shoulder. Her eyes drifted back across the landscape as her brother walked in, softly closing the door behind him. Striding slowly across the room to the balcony he took in the magnificence of their surroundings as well. The ever-churning sea, the sea grass rippling along the cliffs to the west with the salty breeze, his young sister in her night-gown curled comfortable on the rail.… and that creeping shadow that could not be seen from Lothiriel's balcony, but from his own, which faced North. For his own part Amrothos was glad that his sister did not have to wake every morning noticing that the darkness has spread ever-so-slightly farther across the horizon above the mountains. It brought him nightmares and terrors that he swore never to allow her to know. He was glad that his sister had been given one of the rooms in the house which opened to full view of the sea. She loved it and he would not trouble her about the uncomfortable place his own quarters had become of late.
" It's beautiful." The young prince sighed with wonder as he looked upon his homeland. Lothiriel nodded silently, knowing full well all Amrothos meant with and without speaking. They were closest of all the siblings; the youngest two.
" I only hope that our toils in the North will allow it to remain as it is, and always was….." He breathed quietly, trailing off as he faltered on his own misgivings.
"-For our people." Lothiriel finished and turned understanding green eyes to her brother. She knew her family wished not to speak of the evil of Mordor in her presence, but there was no way around it, and she accepted it as her duty to know the perils of her people. She did not enjoy being treated like she was a young helpless lass. There had been an appropriate time for that, ranging from age one to about twelve, but now that she was grown she felt that it was rather rude of her family to treat her like such a fragile girl. Lothiriel had proven many times over to be a stubborn, loyal, and daring ally in the family arguments.
" Forgive me sister, I have no right to doubt when such doubt could be our undoing." Amrothos said ashamed of himself and frustrated with the hopelessness of the situation. Could they truly beat the Dark Lord?
" You need not ask forgiveness, dear brother." She replied as she took his hand and looked into his sea-gray eyes. "The thought occurs to us all, no doubt. I only ask you to put on your brave face, so that although your heart may be troubled, none shall know, and it shall be sung how courageously the princes of Dol Amroth faced Doom… no matter the outcome."
" Tis a valiant request, Daughter." Prince Imrahil stepped out onto the balcony, followed by Erchirion and Elphir, his two other children. How suddenly he had gotten there puzzled the two young royals for a moment, but they dismissed it as opportune timing nonetheless. He turned to face all his children, " I would ask you all the same. Do not give in to fear, for things have been foretold that have not yet come to pass, yet, let us also have the courage to remain truthful to those we love." As he finished, Prince Imrahil saw how grown his children had become and how they already bore the burden of the battle within their hearts through the grim determination in their eyes. Eyes that he had given them. A silver tear appeared in his eye as he looked upon his children and asked them to be strong. Lothiriel, though usually quiet and watchful, quickly embraced her father as did all her brothers. The royal family of Dol Amroth stood there, upon the South balcony, breathing in the sea air of their home and weeping, that they might never return.
Then, with a kiss upon each child's brow, Imrahil sent his children to pack for Minas Tirith, and when they left him, he stared out to sea until the sun had risen above the nearest peak of the southern march of the Ered Nimrais mountains. His eyes were stormy, yet not fearful.
That was in early February. Since then Sauron has been defeated. The free people of Middle-Earth have rejoiced and Gondor has finally witnessed the Return of the line of Earendil to the throne. With Aragorn came great feasting and work as those who survived the War of the Ring, began to rebuild their lives and countries without the threat of Mordor. This is where the story begins, with hope, as all things do.