Disclaimer: I don't own the canon characters mentioned, but Gwenel and Dolgaran are mine. That's all.
Freedom
That's the word that came to mind whenever she thought of Rohan - freedom.
A breeze ruffled Lothiriel's long black hair as she perched on a large boulder on the outer edge of the camp. She drew her knees up to her chest in an effort to keep warm. It was chilly especially compared to the mild coastal weather she was used to. But, it was worth it . . . at least, she hoped it would be.
Gwenel couldn't understand why Lothiriel wanted to be woken up "at that unearthly hour and just to see that barbarian country." as she had so eloquently put it. But she didn't understand what Rohan symbolized to Lothiriel.
For as long as she could remember, Lothiriel had dreamed of the freedom she thought Rohan had to offer. After the untimely death of her mother, Lothiriel had lost any freedom that might have been given to her. Her hours were taken up with running a household and meeting with any nobles that passed through. She had been taught what was expected of the Prince of Dol Amroth just as her older brothers had; times were uncertain, and war seemed to loom on the horizon.
And it wasn't just the added responsibilities that made her dream of Rohan. The society of Gondor was a confining place for a girl. All girls were useful for was bearing children. There were no women soldiers, or merchants, or rulers. The most famous women were the ones who made life horrible for their husbands. Lothiriel had never understood why no women were exalted.
But there was another reason why Lothiriel dreamed of the freedom of Rohan . . . Dolgaran.
"Lady Lothiriel?" Lothiriel nearly fell off her rock at the sound of a man's deep voice.
"Oh! My lord king." she whispered, starting to get up to curtsy to the king of Rohan. He waved her back down.
"I didn't mean to startle you, my lady. I wasn't expecting you to be awake yet."
"I was eager to see your country, my lord," Lothiriel said shyly, "I have heard so much about it recently." the king grunted softly. Silence hung uncomfortably between them for a few minutes but the king broke it abruptly.
"Do you miss the sea?"
Lothiriel pondered the question for a moment. "No my lord. I don't." she paused, but felt that the king deserved a better answer. "I was betrothed, last year and he drowned. So I began to hate the sea.Everyone thinks of it's vastness, it's beauty, it wildness. I think of it's confinement-ness." The king chuckled.
"I don't think that's a word, my lady." Lothiriel blushed at his words, grateful that he wasn't looking at her. He was staring out over his land.
She turned to follow his gaze. The sun had risen a little in the time they had been talking, and she could see the land.
It was better than she had dreamed. Grass, golden in the sunlight, waved in the breeze. There were no trees in sight -- nothing to break the landscape. Birds were singing somewhere in the distance.
"Isn't it beautiful?" the king asked in hushed tones.
Lothiriel merely nodded. She promised herself that someday she would come live here, free, no matter what it took.
End
Gwenel: maiden of a star
Dolgaran: red head
Author's note: This is something silly I had banging at the inside of my head. I wanted to get it down, and had nothing better to do on Christmas Eve; it's not likle I was about to fall asleep any time soon, so I decided to write. This is my first attempt at a LotR fanfic, so please be nice in your reviews, but be honest. I want constructive criticism. I'm sorry there are no dividers, but I couldn't save them. I don't have the right program, apparently. Well, I'll go. Happy holidays to all! God bless you!